Blog - The Purbottar

02 Jan

For Udasin Bhakats, Assam launches monthly aid scheme

Banasree SarkarAssam

Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, introduced a financial aid program for Udasin Bhakats, giving celibate Vaishnavite monks affiliated with Satras around the state Rs 1,500 each month. The plan has now been formally put into action after being included in the state budget last year. Speaking about the launch program here, Sarma promised that any beneficiaries who could have been overlooked will be included and that the help would be directly credited to the bank accounts of qualified Udasin Bhakats. A total of 620 Udasin Bhakats will gain from the program. With 474 monks, Majuli has the…

02 Jan

Assam Begins Land Acquisition for Umiam–Silchar Corridor Project

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Land acquisition for the Umiam (Barapani)-Silchar high-speed corridor project in Assam is underway, with Chief Secretary Ravi Kota announcing that 85% of the needed land is in Meghalaya, and its acquisition will be handled by the Meghalaya government. The remaining 15% in Assam is already being acquired. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has completed project planning, and environmental clearance is anticipated within four to five weeks. Tenders for the construction are expected to be issued by February 28, with completion projected within 48 months. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted that the express highway will…

02 Jan

ICICI Bank launches capital gains account scheme for tax exemption benefits

Business BureauBusiness

ICICI Bank has announced the launch of the Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS), allowing customers to deposit un-invested long-term capital gains or sale proceeds from specified capital assets to claim tax exemptions while earning interest. The scheme is available from January 1, 2026, following the Government’s approval of ICICI Bank as an authorised institution to manage CGAS deposits. The facility is currently open to resident individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), with availability for non-individuals and NRIs to follow. It is designed for taxpayers who are unable to reinvest capital gains before the Income Tax Return filing deadline. Accounts can…

02 Jan

As Sikkim Governor O.P. Mathur turns 74, birthday greetings have been pouring in

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Friday extended his warm birthday greetings to the Governor of Sikkim, Shri Om Prakash Mathur, who turned 74 today. In a message released to the public, the Chief Minister conveyed his heartfelt wishes and praised the Governor for his steady guidance and sense of duty towards the State. The Chief Minister said the Governor’s dedication, wisdom and leadership have been a source of strength and inspiration for the people of Sikkim. He also wished him good health, clarity of mind and continued ability to lead the State with patience, compassion and commitment. CM…

02 Jan

Supreme Court Moved with PIL Over Racial Attacks on People from Northeast

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court to seek judicial intervention for addressing racial discrimination and violence against citizens from northeastern states and other frontier regions of India. This legal action follows the tragic killing of Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, who died on December 26 from injuries sustained in a racially motivated attack in Dehradun. Anjel, originally from the Unakoti district, was stabbed in front of his younger brother, Michael, after moving to Dehradun for his studies. His family demands capital punishment or life imprisonment for the accused. The PIL is filed…

02 Jan

Renault India records 33% jump in December sales as H2 CY2025 recovery gains pace

Business BureauBusiness

Renault India announced strong sales momentum in the second half of calendar year 2025, reporting 18.2% year-on-year growth during the period, backed by refreshed products and strategic initiatives. The company’s performance strengthened further in the fourth quarter with sales rising 27.3%, marking a clear turnaround in customer demand. December 2025 became one of Renault India’s best-performing months of the year with 3,845 units sold, reflecting a 33.4% increase over the same month in 2024. The recovery trend began in the third quarter and accelerated in Q4 as the new Triber and Kiger variants reached dealerships across the country. Speaking on…

02 Jan

India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper to Connect Kamakhya–Howrah, Promising Faster Overnight Travel

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train service soon, connecting Kamakhya in Guwahati with Howrah in West Bengal. The launch is likely to take place in the second week of January, marking another important step in the modernisation of Indian Railways. According to official documents, the new service will operate under the Northeast Frontier Railway and will run as a fully air-conditioned overnight premium train. The Vande Bharat Sleeper will cover a distance of 966 kilometres between Kamakhya and Howrah in about 14 hours and 30 minutes. As per the tentative schedule, the…

02 Jan

Centre Appoints New Pro-VC at Tezpur University, Orders High-Level Enquiry into Governance Crisis

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Ministry of Education has appointed Professor Amrendra Kumar Das of IIT Guwahati as the new Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University, even as it constituted a high-level committee to probe the ongoing crisis and allegations concerning the institution’s functioning. An official communication issued by the Department of Higher Education confirmed that Prof. Das, currently serving in the Department of Design at IIT Guwahati, has taken charge as Pro-Vice-Chancellor with immediate effect. His service terms will be governed by the Tezpur University Act, Statutes, and Ordinances, and the appointment has been approved by the competent authority. Simultaneously, the Ministry issued an Office…

01 Jan

Illegal immigration: Assam Govt plans tougher pushback drive next year

Priyanka BhowmickBreaking News

The Assam government plans to further intensify its crackdown on illegal infiltration in 2026, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserting that the state will not be allowed to become a ‘breeding ground’ for undocumented foreign nationals.Reiterating his government’s hardline stance against illegal immigration, Sarma asserted that the state would intensify its pushback operations in 2026 after what he described as a major drive in the past year.Taking to social media, the Chief Minister claimed that a “massive push back effort” was undertaken in 2025 to expel a large number of illegal Bangladeshi nationals from Assam.“In 2025, we undertook a…

01 Jan

TVS Motor partners with Manba Finance to boost three-wheeler financing across India

Business BureauBusiness

TVS Motor Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Manba Finance Limited to expand retail financing options for its commercial mobility customers across India. The agreement covers the full range of TVS passenger and cargo three-wheelers, including both internal combustion engine and electric models, and aims to make vehicle ownership simpler and more affordable for small businesses and fleet operators. Under the partnership, Manba Finance will provide EMI-based loan solutions with competitive funding schemes and faster loan processing. The companies said the move is expected to improve access to structured finance, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, supporting last-mile…