Assam - The Purbottar

18 May

Assam Cricket Association Hosts Annual Awards Ceremony To Honour Outstanding Performers

Paromita EditorAssam

Assam Cricket Association (ACA) on Monday hosted its Annual Awards Ceremony at the Auditorium of 91 Yards Club, ACA Stadium Complex, Guwahati, honouring players, teams, coaches, curators and support staff for their exceptional performances and invaluable contributions during the 2025–26 cricketing season. In a grand gesture of appreciation for sporting excellence, Assam Cricket Association distributed cash rewards amounting Rs 12 lakh among 12 distinguished best performers who excelled across various categories during the BCCI Domestic Season-2025-2026. The semi-finalist Assam Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy Team was also honoured with a cash reward of Rs 12.5 lakh in recognition of its remarkable…

18 May

BJP MLA Diganta Kalita questions use of loudspeakers for Azaan near Assam Assembly

Paromita EditorAssam

Diganta Kalita has raised concerns over the use of loudspeakers for Azaan in areas surrounding the Assam Legislative Assembly, stating that while he has no objection to the religious practice itself, he questions the need for amplifiers. Speaking to reporters, the BJP legislator said he has been residing near the Assembly premises for the last five years and hears the Azaan being recited five times daily. “I have no objection to the Azaan itself. Muslims are free to perform the Azaan five times a day, just as Hindus also follow their own religious practices. But why must it be done…

18 May

High-Powered Review Board of Brahmaputra Board to Hold 14th Meeting in Guwahati Tomorrow

Paromita EditorAssam

The High-Powered Review Board (HPRB) of the Brahmaputra Board will hold its 14th meeting tomorrow (May 19, 2026) in Guwahati to review the progress of river basin management initiatives and provide strategic guidance for the future roadmap of the Board. The meeting will be chaired by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Paatil. The Union Cabinet Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, will attend the session. Other Union and State Ministers, senior officials from the Government of India and the North Eastern States, technical experts, and…

18 May

Light Rain Likely in Guwahati as IMD Reports Low Rainfall Activity Across Kamrup Region

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

India Meteorological Department on Monday said Guwahati and nearby areas are likely to witness generally cloudy skies with chances of light rain over the next few hours. According to a nowcast issued at 7 am by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Guwahati, rainfall activity during the three-hour period ending at 5:30 am remained low across most parts of Kamrup Metro and Kamrup districts. Among the observation stations, Sualkuchi recorded the highest rainfall at 1.0 mm during the period.Downtown University and Guwahati Rupnagar recorded 0.5 mm rainfall each, while Mirza Circle Office also registered 0.5 mm rainfall. The weather department also…

18 May

Assam Pushes Citizen-Centric Urban Development with Focus on Sanitation and Infrastructure in Guwahati

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the progress of several urban development projects in Guwahati and directed departments to give priority to flood mitigation, sanitation and access to clean drinking water in the city and other urban areas of Assam.The review meeting focused on the ongoing works and future plans of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department, including projects being carried out by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Guwahati Jal Board and the AMRUT mission. During the meeting, the Chief Minister said urban development should remain citizen-centric and asked officials to focus on improving the daily lives of residents…

17 May

Athena Opens Northeast India’s Largest Integrated Psychiatric Hospital in Guwahati

riya EditorAssam

Athena Behavioral Health has announced the launch of Northeast India’s largest integrated private psychiatric hospital in Guwahati, marking the organization’s expansion to five hospitals across the country. The launch comes at a critical time, with nearly eight percent of Assam’s population, roughly one in 12 people, experiencing mental health morbidity, according to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS). Regional studies have also highlighted rising levels of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide-related distress, alongside a severe shortage of structured psychiatric and de-addiction infrastructure across the Northeast. Founded in 2021 with a single hospital in Gurgaon, Athena Behavioral Health has…

17 May

Assam Sees Sharp Decline in Crime, Higher Charge-Sheet Rate: DGP

riya EditorAssam

Assam DGP Harmeet Singh on Saturday chaired a virtual crime review for March and April 2026, joined by all officers-in charge (OCs), superintendents of police (SPs) and range officers. During the review, a significant decline in crime indicators was noted across the state as the police force continued its sustained crackdown on crime, while strengthening investigative efficiency across the State. According to official figures shared after the meeting, the crime rate per lakh population has declined to 100.2 from 121.5 in 2025 and 349.5 in 2021. Case pendency has reduced to 10,902 from 11,140 in 2025 and 1,33,982 in 2021…

17 May

AI-Driven Governance Gets Boost as Assam Reviews Department-Wise Implementation Strategy

riya EditorAssam

Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on Saturday chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on AI Adoption and Implementation, constituted to deliberate on the strategic roadmap for adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across government departments for improved governance, public service delivery and administrative efficiency. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary reviewed the progress made till date, including the AI inventory exercise which has identified 343 project ideas across 50-plus departments, organized into 11 thematic clusters. He emphasized the need to move from inventory to implementation through a prioritized approach, adopting a “build once, use by all” model with common AI…

16 May

Chief Minister Launches India’s First Digital AI-Driven Bank Branch in Guwahati

Paromita EditorAssam

Taking a major leap in the digital and AI ecosystem, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated India’s first AI-powered “phygital” banking branch of Slice Small Finance Bank at GS Road in Guwahati.It may be noted that this next-generation banking space blends physical and digital services seamlessly through AI-enabled self-service kiosks, paperless cash deposits and withdrawals, and streamlined digital onboarding. The branch is designed to make banking more accessible, and inclusive for customers across segments, combining physical trust with digital convenience. Through an expanding physical presence and robust digital infrastructure, the bank will reportedly extend access to responsible credit, savings,…

16 May

Himanta Says July Budget Will Reflect Poll Promises

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the first full-fledged annual Budget of the new state government, expected to be presented in July, will lay out the administration’s development plans and policy priorities for the next five years.Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at Batadrava Than in Nagaon district, the Chief Minister said the Budget session of the Assam Assembly is likely to begin on July 5 or 6.Sarma said the annual Budget could not be presented earlier in February or March because the state was preparing for the Assembly elections.“The upcoming Budget will reflect our government’s plans and…