Blog - The Purbottar

11 Apr

BIBA launches Rongali Bihu festive edit, expands seasonal offerings with gifting range

Business BureauBusiness

BIBA has unveiled its summer festive edit to mark Rongali Bihu, aligning its latest collection with the spirit of Assam’s new year celebrations. The launch comes as Bohag sets in, bringing with it traditional festivities, community gatherings, and cultural vibrancy across the state. The collection features a wide range of kurta sets crafted in lightweight cotton and mul fabrics suited for the summer season. Printed suit sets in earthy tones and bold florals are paired with sharara sets and A-line silhouettes, designed for both daytime rituals and evening celebrations. The edit also includes separates such as kurtis, tops, and bottoms,…

11 Apr

Road accidents a preventable crisis, says Fortis Doctor urging public responsibility

Business BureauBusiness

Road traffic accidents continue to pose a serious public health challenge in India, with hospitals witnessing a steady influx of trauma cases that are largely preventable, according to Dr Anindansu Basu, Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Fortis Hospital Kolkata. Drawing from his clinical experience, Dr. Basu said emergency rooms routinely handle injuries ranging from fractures to life-threatening trauma, often resulting in long-term disability or death. “Road safety is far more than compliance with traffic rules. It is a critical public health concern that requires collective responsibility,” he said. Global estimates indicate that road accidents claim over 1.35 million lives annually.…

11 Apr

iQOO marks six years with anniversary sale, rolls out offers on flagship smartphones

Business BureauBusiness

iQOO has announced a limited-period anniversary sale to mark six years of its operations, offering discounts and deals on its smartphone lineup from April 6 to April 10 across Amazon and its official website. The company said the offers cover key models including the iQOO 15, iQOO 15R, iQOO 15 Apex, and iQOO Z11x. Over the past six years, iQOO has built a community of over 7 million users, referred to as “Questers”, whose feedback has shaped product development. Among the highlights, the flagship iQOO 15 features a Samsung 2K OLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, triple 50MP…

11 Apr

ILP Checks in Dimapur for People Returning from Assam After Polls

riya EditorAssam

Authorities in Dimapur have intensified Inner Line Permit (ILP) checks across the district following a visible influx of people returning from neighbouring Assam after the recently concluded Assembly elections. A significant number of individuals, who had temporarily relocated to Assam during the election period, have returned to Dimapur, prompting the district administration and police to heighten vigilance. Checkpoints at key entry points have been reinforced, with strict verification of ILP documents. Officials manning the checkpoints said individuals with valid ILP were being allowed entry after thorough verification. The officials also said that those without ILP but possessing valid identity proofs…

11 Apr

Assam Reviews Expansion of CNG, PNG Infrastructure in Task Force Meeting

riya EditorManipur

In its first meeting, the State Level Task Force for PNG and CNG Expansion (ASLTF-PCE) reviewed progress in the rollout of clean energy infrastructure across Assam. The meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota, reviewed the progress of key projects, including the completion of the Barauni Guwahati Pipeline (BGPL) and the significant advancement of the North East Gas Grid (NEGG), which is now over 85 per cent complete. The ongoing expansion of PNG connections was also assessed, with AGCL achieving near 100 per cent of its recent targets and further expansion planned across multiple districts. Emphasis was laid on…

10 Apr

Police doing their job: Assam CM on action against Pawan Khera

Paromita EditorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the state police was doing their job by trailing Pawan Khera in connection with a case filed by the former's wife over allegations that she held multiple passports and offshore properties.Sarma also took a swipe at state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi over the British nationality of his wife and children and asked how a person who "could not have an Indian family serve us".Talking to reporters in Guwahati, he said, "We have put the police after Khera. Whom else will we task it with? It is not the ULFA that is after…

10 Apr

RBI holds rates steady, likely to stay data-dependent: Kotak Mahindra Bank economist

Business BureauBusiness

The Reserve Bank of India has kept key policy rates and its stance unchanged, in line with expectations, according to Upasna Bhardwaj, Chief Economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank. Reacting to the latest monetary policy, Bhardwaj said recent measures, including restrictions on offshore speculative activity and easing geopolitical tensions, have provided some relief to the Indian rupee. This, she noted, gives the central bank room to better assess the evolving impact on growth and inflation, as well as the persistence of the balance of payments (BOP) deficit. She added that the RBI is expected to remain firmly data-dependent amid the current…

10 Apr

HPCL ramps up nationwide supply, steps up enforcement amid fuel, LPG demand surge

Business BureauBusiness

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited has activated a nationwide supply and enforcement mechanism to manage a temporary surge in fuel and LPG demand across select markets, the company said on April 8. In the first week of April, HPCL recorded fuel sales of 2,64,548 KL of Petrol and 4,77,030 KL of Diesel between April 1 and 7. To meet rising demand, the company dispatched 48,099 tankers carrying petrol, diesel and subsidised kerosene, ensuring steady replenishment across its retail network. The LPG segment also operated at full capacity, with 89 lakh cylinders delivered during the same period. HPCL enhanced last-mile access by…

10 Apr

Shyamkanu Mahanta Moves Court for Bail in Zubeen Garg Murder Case

Paromita EditorAssam

A day after voting concluded for the Assam Assembly elections, Shyamkanu Mahanta, an accused in the Zubeen Garg murder case, reportedly filed a bail application on Friday. The plea is set to be heard in a special fast-track court, with the hearing scheduled for April 22. Meanwhile, a separate hearing was held regarding whether “Mahabir Aqua,” owned by Siddharth Sharma, should be reopened. The Gauhati High Court has authorized the special fast-track court to take a decision on this matter. During today’s proceedings, serious allegations were raised against Siddharth Sharma. He is accused of misappropriating several crores belonging to Zubeen…

10 Apr

Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam amendment process advances; government moves closer to 33% women representation rollout

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Indra Hang Subba, Member of Parliament from Sikkim, has welcomed the Union Cabinet’s approval of a draft amendment Bill aimed at implementing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies from 2029.According to reports, the Centre is preparing changes to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to make the long-awaited provision operational. The move is expected to ensure that one-third of seats are reserved for women starting from the 2029 general elections. To enable discussion and passage of the proposed amendments, the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament has been extended by three days, from April 16…