Blog - The Purbottar

25 Mar

Life Insurance sector pays ₹6.30 lakh crore in FY25, signals strong fundamentals amid rising protection gap

Business BureauBusiness

India’s life insurance sector reported total benefit payouts of ₹6.30 lakh crore in FY2024-25, reflecting strong fundamentals and its growing role in household financial planning, according to the IRDAI Annual Report 2024-25. The data highlights a structural shift in the market, with 92% of payouts attributed to living benefits, indicating increased adoption of life insurance as a long-term savings and liquidity instrument. Industry metrics such as robust persistency ratios, near 100% claim settlement and solvency levels above the regulatory threshold of 1.50 underscore operational stability. Withdrawals and surrenders accounted for ₹2.33 lakh crore, up 1.77% year-on-year, suggesting planned lifecycle exits…

25 Mar

Tata AIA launches three innovation-focused funds to tap India growth, Ggobal AI boom

Business BureauBusiness

Tata AIA Life Insurance on Monday announced the launch of three new funds—Large Mid Cap Innovation Fund, Large Mid Cap Innovation Pension Fund, and Global AI & Technology Leaders Fund—aimed at helping investors benefit from India’s innovation-led growth and global technology trends through its Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs). The New Fund Offer (NFO) will remain open from March 24 to March 31, 2026, with units priced at ₹10 for domestic funds and $10 for the global fund. The funds are regulated under IFSC norms and designed to offer a mix of wealth creation and life insurance protection. The Large…

25 Mar

SMWA Athletes Meet Governor After National Championship Success

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

A group of athletes from the Sikkim Masters Weightlifting Association (SMWA), along with medal winners from the 5th National Masters Weightlifting Championship 2026, met the Governor of Sikkim on Tuesday in Gangtok. The delegation was led by SMWA President Lakpa Sherpa. The team had recently taken part in the national-level championship and delivered a notable performance, marking an important step for masters weightlifting from the state. During the meeting, the Governor welcomed the athletes and congratulated them for their achievements at the national event. He acknowledged their effort and discipline, noting that their performance was a matter of pride for…

25 Mar

Bengal Voter List Row: Missing Comprehensive Rolls Prevent Omitted Voters from Appealing

nanika EditorState News

A cloud of confusion hangs over Bengal's rural heartland today, as millions of citizens struggle to verify their voter status. At 11:55 PM on Monday, the Election Commission published the first supplementary roll, intended to clear up tens of lakhs of "under-adjudication" cases. However, the method of publication has left many of the state’s most vulnerable voters in the dark. State government officials report that the list was published exclusively online, with no hard copies displayed at BDO, SDO, or district magistrate offices until late Tuesday evening. For the rural population—many of whom are not tech-savvy—finding their names on a…

25 Mar

Philips launches ‘OneChef’ smart appliance to simplify Indian cooking

Business BureauBusiness

Philips Home Appliances has launched ‘OneChef’, an all-in-one smart cooking appliance aimed at simplifying everyday cooking for Indian households. The product was unveiled at a “Chef’s Tasting Table” event in Mumbai, curated by celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, where guests experienced live tastings and interactive food stations showcasing India’s diverse cuisine. At the launch, Ranveer Brar, along with Gulbahar Taurani, MD & CEO of Versuni India, demonstrated how modern kitchen technology can simplify complex recipes while retaining authentic flavours. The appliance combines 33 cooking functions, including air frying, stir frying, steaming, and boiling, into a single unit. Powered by AmbiHeat™ technology,…

25 Mar

Kids and Parents to Enjoy Adventure Day by Culture Club Preschool with House of Play on March 29

riya EditorAssam

Guwahati will host its inaugural junior obstacle race, 'Junior Circuit', aimed at children aged 3 to 15 years and their parents, on March 29 at Arya College Playground. Organized by Culture Club - preschool and powered by House of Play, the event focuses on fostering physical activity, building confidence, and enhancing family bonding through a non-competitive format, emphasizing participation over rankings. The obstacle course will extend roughly 900 to 1000 meters and include 15 challenges such as crawling tunnels, balance beams, and cargo nets, with parents joining their children to create a shared experience. Nikhil Mozika, Founder of Culture Club,…

25 Mar

Singapore Coroner Concludes Zurule Died by Accidental Drowning

riya EditorAssam

Delivering the final findings, a coroner’s inquiry in Singapore into the death of Zubeen Garg has ruled that the singer's death was due to accidental drowning. Zubeen drowned during a swim off Lazarus Island in Singapore on September 19, 2025. Delivering his findings, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said there was no reason to disagree with the Police Coast Guard’s investigation conclusion after analyzing the evidence before him. A death certificate issued by the Singapore General Hospital listed the cause of death as drowning. Zubeen had consumed alcohol and refused a life vest before jumping off a yacht, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)…

25 Mar

Severe Weather Hits North Bengal and Sikkim, Disrupting High-Stakes Election Campaigns

anuprova EditorNorth Bengal

The political landscape in North Bengal and the Himalayan state of Sikkim has been met with an unexpected hurdle as a wave of stormy weather and unseasonal rainfall sweeps across the region. With the election season in full swing, various political parties were gearing up for a series of high-profile rallies, door-to-door campaigning, and public outreach programs. However, the sudden atmospheric turbulence—characterized by heavy downpours, occasional hailstorms, and strong gusty winds—has forced several top-tier leaders to either cancel or indefinitely postpone their scheduled events. The northern districts of West Bengal, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri, reported significant waterlogging in low-lying…

25 Mar

ED Seizes Assets in ₹400 Cr DB Stock Scam Linked to Fake High-Return Scheme

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a major action against financial fraud, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth ₹13.41 crore in connection with a money laundering case linked to DB Stock Consultancy and its proprietor, Deepankar Barman. Officials said the action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.The case is related to an alleged Ponzi scheme that reportedly cheated thousands of investors across the country. According to the ED, the firm collected huge sums of money by promising very high returns, which later turned out to be unsustainable.The investigation began after an FIR was registered at Paltan Bazar Police…

25 Mar

Nomination Check Pending in 2 Seats as Assam Election Process Nears Final List Deadline

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The process of checking nomination papers for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections has been largely completed, with election officials clearing candidates for most of the constituencies across the state. According to an official statement issued by the Joint Chief Electoral Officer, scrutiny of nomination papers was carried out for 124 out of the total 126 Assembly constituencies. The process for two constituencies: Barpeta (SC) and Dhekiajuli could not be completed and has been postponed. The scrutiny for these two seats will resume at 11 am on March 25. After the verification process, nomination papers of 776 candidates have been found…