Blog - The Purbottar

10 Jan

Renault tests new Duster for over 1 million km across 3 continents

Business BureauBusiness

Renault India has announced that the upcoming new Renault Duster SUV has completed over 1 million kilometres of testing across three continents, covering temperatures from –23°C to 55°C. The company said the SUV was tested in a wide range of difficult environments to ensure strength, safety and long-term durability for real-world road conditions. The Duster also proved its capability in high-altitude terrain, including Leh-Ladakh, where it completed a test run at Khardung La at 18,379 feet, one of the world’s highest motorable passes. Renault said the vehicle went through dust tunnel testing, water-wading, steep climbs, city traffic drives and highway…

10 Jan

Assam IED seizure case: NIA files chargesheet against two additional accused

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet indicting two additional suspects, Bhargab Gogoi and Sumu Gogoi, in the IED seizure case related to the Assam Independence Day event of 2024. This recent filing in the NIA Special Court in Guwahati brings the total number of individuals charged in connection with this case to five. In June of the previous year, three others were charged. Both Bhargab and Sumu Gogoi, residents of Dibrugarh district in Assam, were apprehended in June 2025 after the NIA took over the investigation from Dispur police in September 2024. The NIA's probes revealed…

10 Jan

In Sikkim, the Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps begins a pilot program to deliver medications to veterans’ homes

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

As part of a pilot initiative to enhance veteran welfare, the Indian Army's Trishakti Corps has launched home delivery of essential medicines for entitled veterans through the ECHS Polyclinic in Gangtok. This project, in collaboration with the Department of Posts and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, aims to provide safe, timely, and hassle-free medication delivery, particularly for veterans in remote areas. The polyclinic has identified around 58 long-distance beneficiaries in South, North, and West Sikkim who struggle to collect their medicines due to challenging terrain and mobility issues, especially among the elderly and vulnerable. Following the pilot's success, the service…

10 Jan

Camera trap study charts leopard movement across Guwahati

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

A comprehensive scientific camera trap study has been conducted in Guwahati to evaluate leopard presence, habitat use, and movement patterns, representing the first grid-based leopard estimation effort in eastern India, according to forest officials. The study involved deploying camera traps in key forests, wildlife corridors, and urban fringe areas, aiming to provide crucial data for mapping leopard habitats and movement routes, which will bolster science-based wildlife management and promote human-leopard coexistence in the rapidly urbanizing capital. Survey teams examined all significant hill ranges around Guwahati, including Adingiri, Gotanagar, Nilachal, Kharghuli, Hengerabari, and Bhangagarh. They recorded multiple signs of leopard presence—such…

10 Jan

Jio Platforms May Enter Public Markets Without Heavy Equity Give-Up

Preeti SinghBusiness

Jio Platforms Ltd. intends to sell a 2.5% stake in its planned IPO for 2026, potentially establishing it as India's largest IPO at over $4 billion. Led by Mukesh Ambani, the parent company of Reliance Jio, which boasts over 500 million users, this IPO is the most anticipated in the country for the year. In November, Jefferies estimated Reliance Jio's valuation at $180 billion, meaning a 2.5% stake sale could generate $4.5 billion, surpassing Hyundai Motor India's $3.3 billion IPO. Over six years, Jio has diversified into AI and attracted investments from KKR, General Atlantic, Silver Lake, and the Abu…

10 Jan

786 students from NE visit ISRO centres under NE-SPARKS

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

A total of 786 students from the Northeast ISRO centers under the Northeast Students Programmed for Awareness, Reach, and Knowledge on Space (NE-SPARKS) in 2025. According to an official statement, NE-SPARKS was executed in eight batches between April 2025 and December 2025, with a minimum interval of one month between consecutive batches. Each batch comprises 90-100 students representing the eight Northeastern states, accompanied by 10 coordinators who facilitated and guided the educational journey. An initiative of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region, Government of India, the Northeast Students Programmed for Awareness, Reach, and Knowledge on Space (NE-SPARKS) is a flagship initiative designed…

10 Jan

Two-day Assam visit: PM Modi scheduled to arrive on Jan 17

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Assam on January 17 for two days. During his trip, he will lay the foundation for a 34.5-km elevated corridor at Kaziranga National Park on January 18, as announced by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. On January 17, PM Modi will also attend a large cultural event featuring nearly 10,000 Bagurumba dancers at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in Guwahati. Additionally, he will virtually flag off two new train services: one from Dibrugarh to Gomti and another from Guwahati to Raota. This marks PM Modi's second visit to Assam within…

10 Jan

Historic milestone: Assam Don Bosco University set to launch Northeast’s first satellite

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

Northeast India’s first satellite, LACHIT-1, was launched aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62 on January 12, marking a significant advancement in space technology for the region. Developed by Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space through its Polar Access-1 program, LACHIT-1 was created with the involvement of over 50 students and faculty from northeastern states including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur. The satellite is named after Lachit Borphukan, an esteemed Ahom general, reflecting a deep historical connection. The satellite's creation involved students from ADBU (Assam Don Bosco University) working closely with Dhruva Space on various stages such as integration workflows, functional testing, and launch readiness.…

09 Jan

Cong-led Opp parties desperate to promote ‘Miya identity’ in Assam: BJP

SonaliAssam

The BJP today claimed that the opposition parties of Assam, led by the Congress, have come together in a desperate attempt to patronize the Miya community and promote the rise of Miya identity in the state. This comes in the backdrop of open claims by Badruddin Ajmal regarding his eligibility to become the Chief Minister of Assam, the joining of Ajit Bhuyan — who became a Rajya Sabha MP with AIUDF votes — into the Assam Jatiya Parishad, and the controversy over deletion of 11,000 Miya voters from the Sarupathar Assembly constituency.In a press statement issued today, State BJP spokesperson…

09 Jan

Human–elephant conflict turns deadly in Hojai, three killed within four days

Sonakshi SarkarNews

Hojai district is experiencing an acute crisis due to increasing incidents of human–elephant conflict, as evidenced by three fatalities in the early days of the New Year. The latest victim, Prakash Biswas, was trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in the Radhanagar area on January 4, after the elephants invaded his home, resulting in significant destruction and chaos. The previous incidents included the deaths of Basudev Chouhan on January 1, attacked while grazing his cow, and Anil Kumar Singh on January 2, who was overwhelmed by elephants while returning from a picnic. The frequent elephant incursions into…