Business - The Purbottar

17 Dec

Recharge-linked handset insurance adds peace of mind

Business BureauBusiness

Telecom operator Vi has rolled out India’s first recharge-linked handset theft and loss insurance plan for prepaid customers, offering much-needed protection for smartphones lost or stolen. The move is expected to benefit a large number of mobile users in Meghalaya, where prepaid connections dominate the telecom market. The new insurance facility is available for both Android and iOS devices and comes bundled with select prepaid recharge packs. Under the plan, customers can claim insurance coverage of up to ₹25,000 in case of handset loss or theft. This is significant, as traditional handset insurance policies usually cover only accidental damage and…

17 Dec

West Bengal among top 10 crypto states as Kolkata investors show balanced approach: CoinSwitch report

Business BureauBusiness

West Bengal has emerged as one of India’s steadily growing and balanced crypto markets, according to the CoinSwitch Annual Report 2025. The report places the state among the country’s top 10 crypto states, contributing 5.3 per cent of India’s total invested crypto value. In the Kolkata market, investors are showing a cautious yet diversified approach to digital assets. The report notes that 29.9 per cent of investments from West Bengal are in large-cap assets, while small caps account for 28 per cent. Mid-cap assets make up 22.5 per cent, reflecting a well-distributed portfolio strategy. Bitcoin continues to dominate investor preference…

17 Dec

ACC honours East Medinipur contractor Ananda Maity for 16 years of construction leadership

Business BureauBusiness

ACC has recognised Mr. Ananda Maity, a well-known contractor from East Medinipur district of West Bengal, for his 16-year journey in the construction sector, highlighting his steady rise from a helper to a trusted local contractor in Haur Market under Panskura Taluka. Mr. Maity currently manages 18 active construction sites across the region, with 14 of them using ACC Gold cement. He leads a workforce of 55 workers and has emerged as a key figure among contractors, masons and home builders in the local market. According to ACC, Mr. Maity shifted to its products in October 2023 after facing quality…

17 Dec

Bank of Baroda Strengthens Presence in North East India through Hornbill Festival 2025

Business BureauBusiness

Bank of Baroda has partnered with the Government of Nagaland for the Hornbill Festival 2025, reinforcing its commitment to expanding financial inclusion and supporting regional development in the Northeast. The festival, held from December 1 to 10 at Kisama Heritage Village, saw the participation of the Bank’s MD & CEO Dr. Debadatta Chand and Executive Director Ms. Beena Vaheed, who were felicitated as special guests. A dedicated engagement stall was inaugurated by Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along in the presence of senior government and Bank officials. The stall showcased digital banking services, product information and interactive sessions with artisans, entrepreneurs,…

16 Dec

Apraava Energy’s AI solution wins national recognition at Power Ministry meet

Business BureauBusiness

Apraava Energy has received national recognition from the Ministry of Power for its Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-based solution aimed at improving India’s power distribution system. The recognition was conferred at the National Conference on the Use of AI and ML in the Power Distribution Sector, held under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The company’s solution, Discom GPT (Grid.), was showcased under the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider category. Developed in partnership with Work On Grid, the platform focuses on data-driven decision-making, operational automation, and improved consumer services. The Apraava Energy team received the runner-up award from Union Power…

16 Dec

Shringla backs electoral roll revision, flags West Bengal concerns in Parliament

Business BureauBusiness

Former Foreign Secretary and BJP MP Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla strongly defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Parliament, describing it as a necessary step to protect the credibility of India’s democratic process, with specific reference to West Bengal. Speaking during the discussion, Shringla said elections form the backbone of democracy and any compromise with voter verification weakens public trust. He stressed that the SIR is not a routine administrative exercise but a constitutionally mandated process to ensure that only genuine and eligible citizens are included in electoral rolls. Referring to developments in West Bengal, including areas…

16 Dec

Podcast breaks down the science behind India’s street food oils

Business BureauBusiness

A new podcast series featuring culinary explorer and Delhi Food Walks founder Anubhav Sapra is drawing attention for simplifying the science behind Indian street food and the confusion surrounding food labels. The series explains why oils especially palm oil play a central role in the taste and texture of snacks like samosas, pakoras and kachoris. In the first episode, Sapra highlights palm oil’s high heat stability, neutral taste and reliable frying performance. The next episode focuses on misleading “No Palm Oil” labels, urging consumers to read full ingredient lists and not rely on bold front-of-pack claims. Kolkata’s street food landscape…

16 Dec

State Bank of India (SBI) has appointed Ravi Ranjan as its Managing Director

Banasree SarkarBusiness

According to a regulatory filing by the nation's biggest public sector lender, Ravi Ranjan has been appointed as Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI) by the Finance Ministry's Department of Financial Services (DFS), effective December 15. Previously, Ravi Ranjan was the Deputy Managing Director of SBI. He will continue to serve until his superannuation on September 30, 2028, or until further orders, whichever comes first, according to the announcement made in compliance with the State Bank of India Act, 1955. Before assuming the role of Managing Director, Ravi Ranjan oversaw SBI's Global Markets for almost a year as…

16 Dec

32-Year-Old’s Severed Thumb Successfully Reattached in Complex Surgery by Manipal Hospital Mukundapur

Business BureauBusiness

Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, one of the units of Manipal Hospitals Group, successfully carried out a highly complex microsurgical reimplantation of a completely severed right thumb, underscoring the hospital’s advanced emergency care and surgical expertise. The intricate procedure was led by Dr. Akhilesh Kumar Agarwal, Consultant – Plastic Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur supported by a multidisciplinary team. Proloy Bose, a 32-year-old businessman from Subhashgram, Sonarpur, was brought to the hospital after his thumb was accidentally amputated while cleaning his motorcycle. His thumb got caught in the motorcycle’s chain cover, the protective casing over the moving chain. The injury caused severe crushing…

16 Dec

Guwahati SMEs urged to reassess insurance cover amid rising fire incidents

Business BureauBusiness

A series of fire incidents across the country, including recent cases in Goa, has renewed concerns over the preparedness of small enterprises, particularly in Guwahati, to withstand major disruptions. Industry observers note that while the city hosts a wide mix of businesses from tea warehousing and logistics to retail, hospitality, and small manufacturing many units remain either underinsured or inadequately insured, increasing their exposure to fire, natural disasters, and business interruption risks. TATA AIG has called for immediate reassessment of insurance protection among SMEs. Its SME Business Insurance Solutions offer cover for fire and allied perils, machinery breakdown, employee hospitalization…