Blog - The Purbottar

19 Feb

Thums Up leverages India–Pakistan T20 showdown with Hanumankind anthem activation

Business BureauBusiness

Beverage major Thums Up transformed the high-voltage India–Pakistan ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter into a high-energy cultural spectacle, bringing its iconic “Aaj Kuch Toofani Karte Hain” philosophy alive inside a packed stadium. Hip-hop artist Hanumankind headlined the match-day entertainment, performing the brand’s latest anthem Taste the Thunder alongside select tracks, amplifying the electrifying atmosphere of the marquee clash. The performance featured signature static-glitch visuals across LED screens, a dramatic countdown, and coordinated lighting, smoke, and aerial choreography, culminating in a high-energy finale led by dance crew Kings United India. Hanumankind said performing during such a match was “incredible,” adding…

19 Feb

Mars appoints Manish Syag as India Pet Nutrition MD; Salil Murthy moves to global role

Business BureauBusiness

Mars, Incorporated has announced the appointment of Manish Syag as Managing Director of its Pet Nutrition division in India, while the current Managing Director Salil Murthy has been elevated to Global Vice President, Enterprise Transformation, Mars Pet Nutrition, based in London. Syag, an alumnus of IIM Lucknow, brings over two decades of FMCG leadership experience, having held senior roles at Hindustan Unilever and GSK Consumer Healthcare. He joined Mars in 2024 as Chief Sales Officer and will now lead the company’s India Growth Agenda, focusing on expanding operational capabilities and strengthening leadership in the fast-growing pet food category. Mars’ portfolio…

19 Feb

Government Primary School Taksang Kaizaley Head Honoured with Rashtriya Navachari Shiksha Ratna Samman for Reviving Rural Education

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Dharni Prasad Neopaney Sharma, Headmaster of Government Primary School, Taksang Kaizaley in Sikkim, has been conferred with two national awards recognising his contributions to social service and educational innovation. Sharma received the Rabindra Ratna Puraskar 2026 from the Veyil Foundation for his humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when access to medical services was severely disrupted, he provided free vehicle services to patients, helping them reach hospitals and essential care facilities. His support extended beyond Sikkim to Delhi, assisting individuals facing hardship during the crisis. He was also honoured with the Rashtriya Navachari Shiksha Ratna Samman 2025–26…

19 Feb

Kikam Bhutia Appointed Head Coach of North East Zone Women’s Team Ahead of Inter-Zonal One Day Trophy

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The North East Zonal Selection Committee met in Guwahati on February 13 to finalise the 15-member North East Zone squad for the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal One Day Trophy, beginning March 5, 2026.Selectors from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim attended the meeting, along with executive members of the six state associations. Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA) was represented by President Tika Subba and Honorary Secretary Nayan Tshering Bhutia. From Sikkim, Miss Primula Chettri (all-rounder) and Miss Preetika Chettri (batter) earned selection based on their performances this season. Primula impressed with both bat and ball in the recently concluded Senior…

19 Feb

Hyderabad Biryani Check Exposes ₹70,000 Crore Tax Evasion Racket Across India

nanika EditorIndia

A routine inspection of biryani restaurants in Hyderabad has led to the exposure of a massive ₹70,000 crore tax evasion scam spanning across India. What initially appeared to be a standard compliance check soon uncovered widespread manipulation of restaurant billing systems.Investigators found that over one lakh restaurants were using common billing software to record sales. However, many restaurant owners allegedly tampered with the system to underreport income and evade taxes. Officials analyzed nearly 60 terabytes of data from about 1.77 lakh restaurants using advanced digital tools and artificial intelligence.The probe revealed that after customers paid their bills, several transactions were…

19 Feb

Priyanka Gandhi to Offer Prayers at Kamakhya Temple, Hold Key Election Strategy Talks in Guwahati

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi will arrive in Assam today for a two-day visit as the party begins the crucial process of selecting candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. She is the Chairperson of the Congress Screening Committee and a Member of Parliament from Wayanad. According to party leaders, she will begin her visit by offering prayers at the Kamakhya Temple. She will then proceed to Rajiv Bhawan, the State Congress headquarters in Guwahati. Screening-related meetings are scheduled from 11 a.m. and are expected to continue till late in the evening. The visit was formally announced at a press conference…

19 Feb

Himanta Biswa Sarma Says BJP Has Finalised Assam Rajya Sabha Candidates as Debabrata Saikia Denies Defection Buzz

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Election Commission of India on February 18 announced that biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states will be held on March 16. Assam is among the states where three seats will fall vacant. While the poll schedule was widely expected, the political developments that followed have drawn sharp attention in Guwahati.Within hours of the announcement, speculation began circulating in political circles that senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia could be looking at a Rajya Sabha berth. There were claims that such a move might come with the backing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata…

19 Feb

Amit Shah will travel to Silchar for a three-day trip to Assam

Banasree SarkarAssam

Only a few weeks remain until the Assembly elections, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Silchar tonight for a three-day trip to Assam. According to officials, he will spend the night in Silchar, in the Cachar district, before going to the BSF's Natunpur border outpost on the India-Bangladesh border on February 20 to assess the security situation. The forward post visit coincides with increased attention being paid to border security in the run-up to the elections. The Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), a Central initiative to improve lives and fortify infrastructure in border areas, will be introduced by…

19 Feb

Assam Has Identified 1.7 Lakh Illegal Migrants Over Nearly Four Decades, Minister Says

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In Assam, over 170,000 illegal foreigners have been identified since the enforcement of the Assam Accord in 1985, as reported by the state's Accord Implementation Minister, Atul Bora, in the State Assembly. He revealed that approximately 31,000 individuals have been repatriated since the Accord's inception. In the last year alone, 1,421 illegal immigrants were expelled under directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and an additional 52 individuals were removed in accordance with the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act of 1950. Bora detailed that out of the identified immigrants, 137,152 had entered Assam after March 25, 1971, while another 33,485…

19 Feb

Assam Rajya Sabha Polls: BJP Close to Finalising Candidates for Three Seats, Says Himanta

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday that the ruling BJP party plans to contest all three Rajya Sabha seats in Assam. He stated that candidates for these seats are nearly finalised, as confirmed to the media. The Election Commission of India has scheduled the biennial Rajya Sabha elections for March 16, which will span across 10 states, including Assam. This election will fill the seats that are becoming vacant due to the terms of incumbent members Rameswar Teli, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and Ajit Kumar Bhuyan expiring. Sarma expressed confidence in the BJP's ability to achieve a clean sweep…