Blog - The Purbottar

27 Feb

BHIM launches UPI circle to enable safe, controlled payment access for families

Business BureauBusiness

BHIM Payments App has introduced a new feature called UPI Circle, aimed at making authorised UPI payments simple, structured and secure for shared household use. The feature allows a primary user to extend controlled payment access to trusted individuals such as children, elderly parents or staff, without sharing UPI PINs, passwords or device access. UPI Circle enables a primary user to add up to five secondary users and authorise them to transact from the primary user’s UPI-linked bank account within preset limits. A monthly spending cap of up to ₹15,000 can be set, with validity ranging from one month to…

27 Feb

Cricket season sparks 46% surge in travel searches; Tier-2 cities see sharp rise in bookings

Business BureauBusiness

India’s upcoming cricket season has triggered a sharp spike in domestic travel, with new data from Airbnb showing a 46% rise in searches across key match-hosting cities. The surge is being led by Gen Z travellers, nearly 60% of whom plan to travel to attend live cricket matches in 2026. Searches between February 5 and June 2 recorded steep year-on-year growth in emerging cricket hubs. New Chandigarh topped the list with a 318% jump, followed by Raipur (232%), Ranchi (118%) and Thiruvananthapuram (114%). Jaipur and Lucknow also reported strong double-digit gains, signalling a shift beyond traditional metro centres. During the…

27 Feb

Bombardier Eyes Long-Term Growth in India’s Expanding Aviation Market

nanika EditorEconomy

Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier sees strong long-term potential to expand its business jet sales in India as the country accelerates investments in aviation infrastructure, the company’s chief executive officer Eric Martel has said.Speaking in Montreal, Martel highlighted that nearly 60 Bombardier business jets are currently operating in India. However, he noted that limited aviation infrastructure has been a key challenge for further expansion. With the Indian government now investing heavily in airport development, the outlook appears increasingly positive.“They are building a dozen airports, and possibly more,” Martel said, pointing to ongoing infrastructure upgrades across the country. He added that sustained…

27 Feb

Seat-Sharing Talks Near Conclusion as NDA Eyes March 10 Deadline: Himanta

riya EditorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the seat-sharing agreement for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections will be finalized by March 10. He emphasized that the arrangement with allies is effectively “a done deal,” with ongoing discussions with the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) expected to conclude shortly and talks with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) due to finish by March 9-10. The NDA includes the BJP, AGP, United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), and BPF, while the Rabha Hasong Joutha Sangram Samiti (RHJSS) and Janashakti Party (JP) are part of the alliance without assembly…

27 Feb

Northeast Frontier Railway GM Inspects Mariani–Simaluguri–New Tinsukia Section

riya EditorAssam

Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, general manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), carried out a thorough Annual Safety Inspection of the Tinsukia (TSK) Division, encompassing the 152-kilometer Mariani-Simaluguri-New Tinsukia segment. In keeping with its ongoing commitment to enhancing operational safety, infrastructure dependability, and passenger amenities throughout its network, NFR conducted the inspection. In order to examine crew booking procedures, rest areas, and adherence to safety regulations, the NFR general manager started the inspection from Mariani by looking over the Crew Lobby and Running Room. In order to enhance operational management and real-time monitoring, he also examined the recently installed Large Format…

27 Feb

Fast-Track Court Decision: Zubeen Garg’s Wife Hails Cabinet Move

riya EditorAssam

The State Cabinet's decision to establish a fast-track court to speed up the trial in the singer's death case has been applauded by Zubeen Garg's widow, Garima. She said she hoped it would speed up the trial and the administration of justice. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presided over a Cabinet meeting late on Thursday night that resolved to create a special court to expedite the case's trial. After the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Sarma stated, "The State Cabinet has approved a proposal for the creation of an exclusive/dedicated Sessions Court in accordance with Section 346(1) BNSS, 2023 for the…

26 Feb

Centre approves green hydrogen jetty at Paradip Port: Sonowal

Paromita EditorNews

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) has approved the development of a dedicated jetty with alliedfacilities for handling green hydrogen, ammonia and other liquid cargo atParadip Port at an estimated cost of Rs 797.17 crores, said Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.The project will be implemented by Paradip Port Authority on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.The proposed facility will have a handling capacity of 4.0 million tonnes perannum and is designed to strengthen Paradip Port’s role as a hub for greenenergy cargo. The infrastructure will include a dedicated jetty, storage systems, pipelines, handling equipment and associated facilities.Sonowal said the approval reflects…

26 Feb

Gauhati High Court Issues Notice on PIL Seeking Restraint on Alleged Hate Speeches by Assam CM

Paromita EditorAssam

The Gauhati High Court on Thursday issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and two connected petitions seeking directions to restrain Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from allegedly making hate speeches against minority communities in the state. The division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury directed that notices be issued to the Union of India, the State of Assam, the Director General of Police (DGP), and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The court also issued notice on the plea for interim relief and listed the matter for hearing after the Bihu holidays in…

26 Feb

Protein Day marks a change in the trend of protein consumption in Kolkata

Business BureauBusiness

In Kolkata, food has always followed rhythm and ritual. Sunday afternoons mean mangsho and bhaat shared with family, office mornings begin with neatly packed tiffin carriers, and evenings are often spent at para joints over rolls and cutlets. Chicken, in many forms, has long been part of these familiar meals, whether cooked slowly at home or picked up on the way back from work. People never stopped to think about what these meals provided beyond taste and comfort. But that is beginning to change. Across households and younger consumers, there is a growing awareness of protein and its role in…

26 Feb

Jamaat Chief Slams Bangladesh President for “Hiding Truth” About Yunus and Hasina

anuprova EditorInternational

The political climate in Bangladesh has intensified as Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the chief (Ameer) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, launched a scathing attack on President Mohammed Shahabuddin. This backlash follows explosive claims made by the President regarding the 18-month interim tenure of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which concluded after the February 2026 elections. In a series of public statements, the Jamaat chief accused the President of "suppressing the truth" and providing a distorted narrative of the events surrounding the August 2024 ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Rahman argued that the President is now making contradictory claims about Hasina’s resignation…