Business - The Purbottar

24 Apr

From West Bengal to the national stage: Reshmi Deokota’s journey to Miss Grand India 2026

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For Reshmi Deokota, the road to the national stage has been built on years of determination, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in her dreams. Now, the young woman from West Bengal is preparing to represent her state at the prestigious Miss Grand India 2026 in Delhi, carrying with her the hopes, culture, and spirit of West Bengal. What makes Reshmi’s journey special is not just the glamour of the pageant world, but the story behind it. She stepped into modeling at the age of 15, long before she knew where the path would lead her. Over the years, she worked…

24 Apr

380-match digital push: SportVot, Assam FA tie up to stream state football globally

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In a major boost to grassroots football, SportVot has partnered with the Assam Football Association (AFA) to live stream and digitally enable key state-level competitions, marking a significant shift towards a structured digital ecosystem in Assam’s football landscape. The initiative will cover nearly 380 matches across tournaments including the Assam Youth League (U13, U15, U17 for boys and girls), Assam State Premier League, and the Assam Women’s League. Streaming of youth league matches will begin from the quarter-final stage. All matches will be available globally via SportVot’s mobile app and web platform, along with highlights and fan engagement content. SportVot…

24 Apr

Meet Sprite’s new flavor: Sprite adds a minty twist to summer with its first-ever flavour – Sprite Lemon Mint

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Beverage major The Coca-Cola Company has launched Sprite Lemon Mint, the first flavour innovation for Sprite in India, as the company looks to tap into rising consumer demand for cooling summer beverages inspired by familiar local tastes. The limited-edition drink combines Sprite’s signature lemon-lime flavour with mint notes, a combination the company said reflects the common Indian habit of adding mint to chilled summer drinks for extra refreshment. The launch is backed by a new advertising campaign conceptualised by WPP’s StudioX and features actor-comedian Sunil Grover promoting the brand’s “Thand Rakh” message of staying calm in stressful moments. Sumeli Chatterjee,…

24 Apr

China emerging biggest beneficiary of West Asia conflict, says Major Gaurav Arya

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Former army officer Gaurav Arya has claimed that China is emerging as the biggest beneficiary of the ongoing West Asia conflict, warning that India must sharply increase defence spending and strengthen manufacturing capacity to counter rising geopolitical threats. Speaking at Kotak Private Banking’s “Take and Counter Take” (TACT) forum, Arya said global attention remains focused on Israel, Iran and the United States, while Beijing is quietly gaining strategic advantage. He argued that China has spent decades building economic and military strength, allowing it to exploit global instability and expand influence over supply chains and energy routes. The discussion, moderated by…

24 Apr

Britannia 5050 expands premium snack range with new cheeze and caramel dipped sandwiches

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Britannia Industries has expanded its premium snacking portfolio with the launch of Britannia 5050 Cheeze Dipped and Caramel Dipped Crunchy Layered Sandwiches, marking a new phase for the brand that has been part of India’s snacking culture for over three decades. The new products aim to redefine the brand’s signature “50-50” identity by combining contrasting textures of crunch and melt in a single snack format. The newly launched sandwiches are made with 22 baked layers designed to deliver a structured crunch, while the cheese and caramel coating adds a smooth melting texture. According to the company, the products are positioned…

24 Apr

The impact of climate risks on construction and infrastructure in India

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India’s construction and infrastructure sector is facing mounting financial and operational pressure from climate-related risks, with extreme heat and flooding emerging as major threats to long-term project sustainability, according to global professional services firm Aon. In an analysis released on April 22, Nisheeth Srivastava, President and Head of Property, Construction, Power and Infrastructure at Aon India, said climate volatility is increasingly disrupting infrastructure projects across transport, energy, housing and digital infrastructure segments. He noted that flooding continues to be one of the biggest causes of economic losses in South Asia, leading to project delays, supply chain disruptions, higher repair expenses…

24 Apr

ASUS unveils AI-powered ExpertBook Ultra, expands business laptop portfolio in India

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ASUS has launched its flagship AI-powered business laptop, the ExpertBook Ultra, in India while significantly expanding its ExpertBook P series portfolio aimed at enterprises and business professionals. Announced in New Delhi, the new ExpertBook Ultra is positioned as a premium Copilot+ PC designed for CXOs and business leaders, featuring an ultra-light aerospace-grade magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis weighing 0.99 kg. The laptop is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor and integrates advanced AI computing capabilities, alongside a 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED touchscreen display, Dolby-certified six-speaker audio system, up to 26 hours of battery life, and enterprise-grade security features…

23 Apr

Medanta stresses early rehabilitation for better neurological recovery outcomes

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Patients recovering from stroke and other neurological disorders require long-term rehabilitation and family support to regain independence, experts at Medanta - The Medicity said while highlighting the growing burden of neurological illnesses in the Northeast. Sharing the case of Pranjal, a young professional from Guwahati, doctors said he suffered a stroke despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He was later diagnosed with severely uncontrolled high blood pressure, aggravated by stress and a family history of stroke. A year after the attack, he still struggles with speech impairment and limited movement on the right side of his body, affecting both his emotional…

23 Apr

HPCL delivers 263 lakh LPG cylinders in 21 days amid rising nationwide demand

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Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has delivered more than 263 lakh LPG cylinders across India between April 1 and April 21, 2026, amid a sharp rise in demand, driven by the coordinated efforts of its dealers, distributors and delivery personnel working extended hours to maintain uninterrupted household supplies. The company said distributors have been operating near round-the-clock cycles to manage bookings, replenish stocks from bottling plants and maintain supply in high-demand areas. Delivery personnel have also been covering longer distances and handling increased workloads across congested urban centres and remote locations to ensure timely doorstep deliveries. HPCL said changing consumption…

23 Apr

India must prepare for global shocks every two years, says Neelkanth Mishra

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India should prepare for geopolitical disruptions every one to two years and use the current global uncertainty to push structural reforms, Axis Bank chief economist Neelkanth Mishra said at Kotak Private Banking’s TACT forum in Mumbai. Speaking during a discussion moderated by Nilesh Shah, Mishra said the temporary ceasefire between Iran and the United States may have reduced immediate tensions, but global instability linked to the wider US-China rivalry is likely to continue. Mishra warned that conflicts increasingly hurt economies through disruptions in supply chains, energy flows, logistics, chemicals and aviation rather than direct battlefield impacts. He said even a…