Blog - The Purbottar

02 Dec

“Dalai Lama’s Crane” reaches the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh

Sonakshi SarkarArunachal Pradesh

A black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis), also known as the ‘Dalai Lama’s Crane’ and referred to as Thrung Trung Karmo, arrived in the Sangti valley of West Kameng district. This bird is a symbol of peace, prosperity, and good fortune for Buddhist communities in Tibet, Bhutan, and the Arunachal Pradesh regions of West Kameng and Tawang. Obang Tayeng, from the Bomdila Divisional Forest Office, reported that they had been anticipating the crane's arrival, with the Dirang range officer's team closely monitoring it. Following an incident last winter where a crane was injured by feral dogs, the DFO has enacted measures to…

02 Dec

Amit Shah extends wishes to the people of Assam on Asom Divas

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has extended wishes to the people of Assam on Asom Divas. In a post on ‘X’ platform, Shah said, “Warm wishes to our sisters and brothers of Assam on Asom Divas. This occasion commemorates the glory of the Ahom era and fortifies our commitment to protecting the rich culture of Assam, in which every Indian takes great pride.” December 2 is celebrated in Assam as Asom Divas, in the honour of the first Ahom king, Chaolung Sukhapha. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that “In the last 9 years…

02 Dec

‘If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it’: Minister on govt’s mobile tracking app

Purbalee DuttaBusiness

Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has clarified that the government-mandated Sanchar Saathi app can be removed by users. His remarks came a day after the Centre’s order to pre-install the app on all smartphones triggered a wave of privacy concerns. Speaking to ANI on December 2, Scindia said, “If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional,” adding that the government’s responsibility is only to introduce the app, not force people to retain it. The app is promoted as a tool to verify the authenticity of devices and help trace lost phones. However, privacy advocates and Opposition…

02 Dec

Roi Roi Binale’ Roars Past ₹33 Crore, Sets New Benchmark in Assamese Cinema

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Roi Roi Binale, the final film featuring the legendary Assamese singer-actor Zubeen Garg, has achieved remarkable success at the box office, amassing ₹33,30,82,825 in just four weeks and three days since its release. This film is now recognized as one of the biggest commercial triumphs in the history of Assamese cinema. Despite moving into its fifth week of screenings, the emotional drama continues to attract large audiences, with daily showings in 70 theaters across Assam, totaling 282 performances each day. Fans of Zubeen Garg are flocking to view the movie, perceiving it as a heartfelt tribute to the beloved icon.…

02 Dec

As tensions over ST status demand rise, the BTC Winter Session gets underway

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The two-day winter session of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) began on December 1 under an unusually heavy security presence, as protests across the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) intensified over the Assam government’s move to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six additional communities. The session opened with BTC Speaker Tridip Daimary presiding over the proceedings. The day started with the Question Hour, where members raised queries related to key development schemes and ongoing projects under the BTC. Representatives from the BPF, BJP, and UPPL attended the first day’s sitting, and a detailed round of debates and discussions is anticipated…

02 Dec

At WorldSkills Asia Competition 2025, India finishes strong, secures 8th rank in its first-ever participation

Purbalee DuttaNorth East

India achieved a major milestone on the global skills map by securing the 8th position in its first-ever appearance at the WorldSkills Asia Competition (WSAC) 2025 held in Chinese Taipei. Competing against 28 other nations, the Indian contingent demonstrated strong discipline and innovation across 21 skill categories. Led by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the team included 23 competitors and 21 experts, backed by NSDC and technical partners. India bagged one Silver, two Bronze medals and three Medallions for Excellence. Muskan won Silver in Painting & Decorating, while Komal Panda earned Bronze in Industrial Design Technology. In…

02 Dec

IIT-Guwahati Alumna Wins Prestigious 2025 Quad Fellowship

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Souraja Kundu, an alumna of the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G), has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Quad Fellowship. The Fellowship aims to foster cross-national collaboration, interdisciplinary innovation, and leadership development. A graduate from the Batch of 2021–25, Souraja had received her B. Tech. degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering during the 27th Convocation of IIT Guwahati. She is also a recipient of the Governor of Assam Gold Medal. Considered as one of the world’s most competitive international fellowships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), it will enable Souraja to pursue her Ph.D. in Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon…

02 Dec

Mia by Tanishq strengthens Northeast outreach through Hornbill Festival partnership

Business BureauBusiness

Mia by Tanishq, India’s leading contemporary fine jewellery brand, has come on board as the Official Style Partner for the Hornbill Festival 2025—one of the country’s most cherished celebrations of cultural heritage, artistry, community, and creative expression. Through this partnership, Mia brings its “Precious, every day” philosophy to a festival that beautifully mirrors the very values the brand stands for: individuality, confidence, craftsmanship, and the power of personal stories. Ms. Shyamala Ramanan, Business Head – Mia by Tanishq, shared the main dais with the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Ambassadors and Ministers at the inauguration and addressed audiences reinforcing Mia’s leadership…

02 Dec

Border Fencing Work Gains Momentum, Target Set for Completion by 2026

Sonakshi SarkarMeghalaya

After a lengthy period of interruptions lasting nearly two decades, fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is now progressing significantly. The Border Security Force (BSF) is optimistic that the entire 443-km stretch will be completed by the end of 2026, representing a crucial step in bolstering border security. Inspector General (IG) Upadhyay reported that approximately 20 km of fencing was finalized and made operational in the previous year. However, this progress has been hindered by various challenges, including ongoing legal disputes, objections from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and pushback from local communities. Despite these barriers, the BSF has…

02 Dec

Rising Fundamentalist Activity Across Bangladesh Border Prompts Heightened Vigilance by BSF Meghalaya

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

The Border Security Force in Meghalaya has expressed concern over a steady rise in fundamentalist activities inside Bangladesh, particularly in regions situated close to the state’s international boundary. According to the BSF, such incidents have grown noticeably over the past eighteen months, with several pockets along the Meghalaya–Assam border now being viewed as sensitive. Despite this, BSF Meghalaya Frontier Inspector General O.P. Upadhyay has assured that the situation remains firmly under control. “Our troops are maintaining close watch on every development. We are fully alert and prepared to counter any fallout of this emerging trend,” he stated. He emphasized that…