Blog - The Purbottar

11 Mar

Woman critically injured after being assaulted on witchcraft suspicion

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A 62-year-old Adivasi woman was critically injured after she was assaulted by a group of people on suspicion of practising witchcraft in Assam's Dibrugarh district, police said on Tuesday. The woman, a resident of Romai tea estate in Lahowal police station area, was rescued from near a river where she was dumped by the mob after the assault. She has been admitted to Assam Medical College Hospital (AMCH) here and her condition is stated to be critical, a police officer said.

11 Mar

Nissan-backed evolvAD project advances UK’s autonomous driving readiness

Business BureauBusiness

Nissan, alongside four industry partners, has successfully completed evolvAD, the UK’s most rigorous autonomous driving (AD) research project, marking a major step in preparing the country for self-driving technology.Funded jointly by the UK Government and the consortium partners, evolvAD builds on Nissan-backed HumanDrive and ServCity projects, further refining AD capabilities. Over an intensive eight-year period, more than 16,000 autonomous miles were driven across motorways, urban streets, and rural roads—without a single accident. David Moss, Senior VP of Nissan AMIEO, highlighted the project’s impact: "These research initiatives have significantly enhanced our understanding of AD technology. Beyond improving safety and efficiency, this…

11 Mar

Discover the miracle aloe vera can perform to remove dark spot

Banasree SarkarLifestylealoe vera

Apply an aloe vera gel mixture with honey, turmeric, or lemon juice to the problematic region, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse it off to combat dark spots. This article explains how to create and apply aloe vera face packs for dark spots. You can buy store-bought aloe vera gel or use fresh gel that has been scraped from the plant. Aloin can lessen dark spots and hyperpigmentation, is found in aloe vera, which also has calming and restorative qualities. Before washing with cold water, apply a thin layer of aloe vera gel to the…

11 Mar

Sikkim’s Amit Patro honored at 19th Media Excellence Awards in New Delhi

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Amit Patro from Sikkim has been honored with the 'Best Journalist of Sikkim' award at the 19th Media Excellence Awards, held in New Delhi on March 8. The event, organized by the Media Federation of India, recognized outstanding contributions in journalism, with Union Minister of State for Corporation, Highway, and Transport, Harsh Malhotra, attending as the chief guest. Dr. Sandeep Marwah, Chairman of AAFT University, was present as a special guest. Several journalists, media educators, and public sector officials were felicitated for their efforts in raising societal awareness and promoting journalism excellence. In his address, Arun Sharma, Founder and President…

11 Mar

Himanta Biswa Sarma lifts ban on inter-religious land transfers in Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a significant policy shift, permitting inter-religious land transfers under state supervision. The decision marks a departure from last year's ban, which was imposed due to concerns over communal sensitivities. Addressing the media, CM Sarma said, "Assam is a sensitive state, and our priority is to maintain communal harmony. While we had earlier restricted land transfers between religious communities, we have now allowed such transactions, provided they receive prior approval from the state government. This will ensure a thorough review of each case to prevent potential disputes and misuse." Beyond land reforms, the…

11 Mar

The Assamese language is required in English-medium schools by the Assam government

Banasree SarkarAssamAssam government

The Assamese language will soon be required in all English-medium schools connected to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the state board, according to a major policy change announced by the Assam government. This ruling complies with the Justice Biplab Sarma Committee's recommendations and is consistent with the Assam Accord's Clause 6, which places a strong emphasis on the advancement of the Assamese language. In announcing the new policy, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining and advancing the Assamese language in the classroom. The goal of the new policy is to help students…

11 Mar

Indusind Bank shares drop 20% as lender reports Rs 1,530 crore derivative portfolio mismatch

editorBusiness, News

Shares of Indusind Bank Ltd tumbled 20% on Tuesday after the bank discovered discrepancies in its derivatives portfolio during an internal review. The detailed review revealed that the bank's total assets are estimated to be adversely impacted by about 2.35% by December 2024, equivalent to a potential loss of Rs 1,530 crore. The bank's total assets stood at Rs 65,102 crore at the end of December 2024. Indusind Bank's total assets are estimated to decline by Rs 1,600 crore to Rs 2,000 crore. The Hinduja-promoted lender plans to absorb this loss in its fourth quarter earnings or the first quarter…

10 Mar

Illegal entry by Chinese-origin US Nationals raises alarm over Sikkim’s border security

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Two Chinese-origin US nationals were deported twice from Sikkim for illegally entering the state without obtaining mandatory clearances, raising concerns over border security lapses. The two women, including 31-year-old Tenzin Choeney, attempted to enter Sikkim via the Karma Dolma Rangpo Checkpost on February 14 but were turned away for failing to produce the required Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clearance. As per Indian regulations, foreign nationals of Chinese origin fall under the Prior Reference Category and must secure MHA approval before applying for a Restricted Area Permit (RAP). Despite the rejection, the duo illegally re-entered Sikkim on February 20, bypassing…

10 Mar

Bandhan Mutual Fund launches ‘The Equal Calculator’ to bridge financial gaps in career breaks

Business BureauBusiness

Bandhan Mutual Fund has unveiled The Equal Calculator, a first-of-its-kind online financial planning tool designed to factor in career breaks. Launched on the occasion of Women’s Day, the tool addresses a key gap in traditional investment calculators, which typically assume uninterrupted earnings. The Equal Calculator recognizes that career pauses—whether for family, education, or personal growth—are a reality, especially for women. By accounting for these breaks, it provides a more realistic financial roadmap, ensuring that stepping away from work does not mean falling behind in wealth creation. Users can access the tool at equalcalculator.in. “At Bandhan Mutual Fund, we believe financial…

10 Mar

Finance Minister Ajanta Neog presents Rs 2.63 lakh budget for financial year 2025-26

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assam government on Monday presented a Rs 2.63 lakh crore budget for the 2025-26 fiscal, with a deficit of Rs 620.27 crore, proposing to exempt professional tax on a monthly income of up to Rs 15,000 for all salaried individuals in the state, where assembly polls are due early next year. Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, presenting her last full budget for the fiscal, also announced to extend the tax holiday for green tea leaves for two more years to alleviate the challenges faced by the tea industry. Neog said to support the hardworking middle-class families, the budget proposes exemption…