Guwahati - The Purbottar

05 Jan

IIT-G Unveils Green Technology to Transform Carbon Dioxide into Methanol Fuel

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed a new photocatalytic material that can convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into methanol fuel using sunlight, addressing critical energy needs while mitigating environmental harm. The project, led by Prof. Mahuya De and her scholar Nayan Moni Baishya, was published in the Journal of Materials Science. The research highlights the ongoing dependence on petroleum-based fuels contributing to carbon emissions and global warming. It aims to transform CO₂ into clean fuels via photocatalytic methods, employing graphitic carbon nitride, a low-cost and non-toxic material, combined with few-layer graphene to enhance energy retention and reduce…

05 Jan

Guwahati to Host GAFF 2026 from January 22–25; Film Lineup Revealed

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

The Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) organizers announced the film lineup for its second edition at a press conference in Guwahati. Scheduled for January 22-25, 2026, at Jyoti Chitraban, GAFF is supported by Trending Now Media, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), and the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The festival will open with the Uzbek feature "Sunday," directed by Shokir Kholikov, and close with the Iranian film "In the Land of Brothers," directed by Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli. Notable attendees include Chief Guest Girish Kasaravalli and Special Invited Guest Sonali Kulkarni. GAFF celebrates Asian cinema's diversity and…

05 Jan

Family Unveils Prose Collection Honouring Late Music Icon Zubeen Garg

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

In the aftermath of the death of Assamese singer-composer Zubeen Garg, Assam's publishing scene has experienced a remarkable increase in books focused on his life, music, and legacy. Within three months of his passing, a diverse array of titles—including songs, poetry, and biographies—has emerged, especially highlighted at the Guwahati book fair where these works dominate sales. A notable publication, Zubeener Gadya, was recently launched, featuring prose writings by Zubeen Garg, both published and unpublished. Inaugurated by his wife, Garima Saikia Garg, and his sister, Pami Barthakur, this book aims to ensure authenticity and respect for Zubeen Garg’s intellectual legacy amidst…

03 Jan

Justice Revati Prashant Mohite Dere Appointed Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Justice Revati Prashant Mohite Dere has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, following a presidential order issued on January 1, 2026. Currently a judge at the Bombay High Court, she will take charge after the transfer of the current Chief Justice, Soumen Sen, to the Kerala High Court, effective post the retirement of Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar on January 9, 2026. Justice Sen’s transfer is executed under Article 222 of the Constitution, which governs the transfer of High Court judges. Additionally, in a related judicial reshuffle, Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo has been appointed as…

03 Jan

Zubeen Garg Trust Formed Amid Family’s Call for Speedy Justice

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Over three and a half months following the tragic death of singer Zubeen Garg, his wife Garima Saikia Garg and sister Pami Barthakur held a press conference to introduce a trust aimed at preserving his legacy and furthering his unfinished projects. This trust, based in Zubeen's Kharghuli residence, will focus on arts, culture, social initiatives, and wildlife conservation, with operations including the Kalaguru Foundation, Abhinaya Performing Arts, and a research center dedicated to Zubeen's contributions. Pami Barthakur emphasized the importance of community support from fans and artists to realize Zubeen's vision. Garima announced the allocation of ₹2.90 crore in GST…

03 Jan

2025 Turns the Tide for Guwahati Policing: Sharp Rise in Convictions, Fall in Backlogs

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

The year 2025 was a transformative period for Guwahati Police, with substantial improvements in law enforcement as evidenced by official statistics. The city saw a decrease in registered crime cases, with 5,786 incidents in 2025 compared to 7,412 in 2024 and 9,393 in 2023. This decline is attributed to intensified patrolling, quicker response times, and improved operational coordination. A notable aspect of 2025 was the drastic reduction in pending cases, bringing the backlog down from 35,396 in 2021 to 2,882 by year-end, with over 32,000 cases disposed of in the preceding four years. Investigative outcomes also saw significant advancements, with…

02 Jan

Guwahati to Get Second Medical College with ₹1,201.16 Crore Funding

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

The Assam government has sanctioned Rs 1201.16 crore for the construction of its second medical college in Guwahati, marking it as the 14th medical college in the state. A revised administrative approval was granted for this funding. The new college, named Pragjyotishpur Medical College, will feature two campuses located at Kalapahar and Mohendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH). The National Medical Commission approved an intake of 50 MBBS students for the college. The Kalapahar campus will include 480 beds, 46 ICUs, 7 high-tech operating theatres (OTs), along with accommodation for 450 students and 100 interns. The MMCH campus will accommodate 800…

30 Dec

Gauhati University Professor Becomes Indian Air Force Flying Officer

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Dr. Hemen Kumar Kalita, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Gauhati University, has made history by becoming the university's first Indian Air Force Flying Officer. This event has been described as a moment of immense pride for Gauhati University, as Dr. Kalita also serves as the first Associate NCC Officer (ANO) in the NCC Air Force Wing to achieve this rank. He will take on the important role of mentoring and encouraging NCC cadets at GU, motivating them to aspire to join the armed forces. Dr. Kalita completed rigorous Pre-Commission Training (PRCN) and was commissioned as a…

26 Dec

Guwahati Hosts Talk on Optical Tools for Biodiversity Conservation

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

An interactive session in Guwahati has highlighted the transformative role of modern optical technologies in biodiversity and wildlife conservation, stressing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and community participation to address pressing environmental challenges. The event, titled “Scope of Optical Engineering in Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation in North East India”, was organised by Aaranyak under its Environment Education and Capacity Building Division (EECBD) on December 22 at the organisation’s administrative office. Delivering the keynote, Dr Iftak Hussain, a scientist at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), explained how optical engineering, artificial intelligence, and smartphone-based technologies can support environmental monitoring,…

22 Dec

Enforcement Directorate Arrests Guwahati-Based Businessman, Audi Confiscated Under PMLA

Sonakshi SarkarGuwahati

Priyanshu Boiragi, the owner of Guwahati's Purbashree Printing House, was detained by the Guwahati Zonal Office of Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a Rs 118-crore printing fraud under the terms of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).The case concerns the fraudulent awarding of contracts totalling Rs 118 crore by the Assam Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board (ABOCWWB) between 2013 and 2016. The ED also searched the accused's property and confiscated electronic devices, one Audi vehicle, and other incriminating evidence.The accused appeared before the Special Court (PMLA), Guwahati, and was placed under five days of ED custody.