India - The Purbottar

25 Feb

Launch of Direct Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Train Put on Hold

anuprova EditorIndia

In a sudden reversal of plans, the Railway Board has suspended the highly anticipated extension of the Vande Bharat Express service between Jammu and Srinagar, which was originally slated to begin on March 1, 2026. The decision came on the night of February 24, just hours after Northern Railway had officially announced the new schedule and capacity upgrades. While the local railway division had already shared details regarding a shift from 8-car to 20-car rakes to accommodate over 1,400 daily passengers, the central board intervened to put the notification "on hold until further advice." Senior officials cited "unavoidable circumstances" for…

24 Feb

Seven Victims of Jharkhand Air Crash Taken for Medical Exam

anuprova EditorIndia

Authorities have successfully recovered and transported the bodies of seven individuals killed in the tragic air ambulance crash in Jharkhand to a local government hospital for mandatory post-mortem examinations. The victims, who include the pilot, co-pilot, a medical team, and a critical patient being airlifted for emergency treatment, lost their lives when the aircraft went down in a remote, hilly region shortly after takeoff on Tuesday. Local police and rescue teams worked through difficult terrain to reach the crash site, eventually securing the remains and moving them to the mortuary under heavy security to ensure a smooth legal and medical…

19 Feb

Hyderabad Biryani Check Exposes ₹70,000 Crore Tax Evasion Racket Across India

nanika EditorIndia

A routine inspection of biryani restaurants in Hyderabad has led to the exposure of a massive ₹70,000 crore tax evasion scam spanning across India. What initially appeared to be a standard compliance check soon uncovered widespread manipulation of restaurant billing systems.Investigators found that over one lakh restaurants were using common billing software to record sales. However, many restaurant owners allegedly tampered with the system to underreport income and evade taxes. Officials analyzed nearly 60 terabytes of data from about 1.77 lakh restaurants using advanced digital tools and artificial intelligence.The probe revealed that after customers paid their bills, several transactions were…

14 Feb

Hawk-Eye Over Meerut: Operation Sindoor Drives India’s First Dedicated Drone Runway

editorIndia

In a major leap toward technology-driven warfare, India is set to build its first dedicated drone runway and aviation base in Meerut, following key lessons from Operation Sindoor that underscored the rising importance of unmanned systems in modern combat.Planned by the Indian Army and executed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) under the Ministry of Defense, the Rs 406-crore project will span over 900 acres. The facility will feature a 2,110-metre-long and 45-metre-wide runway tailored for High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), along with C-295 and C-130 class transport aircraft.Designed with ICAO CAT-II compliant lighting and advanced…

05 Jan

Majuli Records First Inter-Country Adoption as US-Based Couple Adopts Two Brothers

Sonakshi SarkarIndia

Majuli district has witnessed its first-ever inter-country adoption, with a couple based in the United States adopting two brothers from the river island on Saturday.Rimpi Borah, coordinator of the Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA), Majuli, said the siblings, aged eight and seven, were formally handed over to the adoptive parents—an Indian-origin couple—during a ceremony held at the conference hall of the Majuli District Commissioner’s office complex.Majuli Deputy Commissioner Ratul Chandra Pathak officially completed the adoption process in the presence of district administration officials, police personnel, the District Child Protection Officer, and members of the Child Welfare Committee. A representative of the…

17 Dec

Army Contingent Departs For India–UAE Exercise Desert Cyclone 2025

Sonakshi SarkarIndia

An Indian Army contingent has left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the second edition of the India-UAE Joint Military Exercise, named DESERT CYCLONE-II, which is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 18 to December 30, 2025. This exercise will feature a contingent of 45 personnel from the Indian Army, primarily drawn from a battalion of The Mechanised Infantry Regiment, and will be matched by a similar-sized group from the UAE Land Forces, represented by the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion. The primary objective of DESERT CYCLONE-II is to enhance interoperability and bolster defense cooperation…

15 Dec

Mukul Dismisses Speculation Over Joining NPP

Sonakshi SarkarIndia

Mukul Sangma, Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister of Meghalaya, dismissed rumors about joining the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), calling them 'wishful thinking.' He responded to speculation following his presence in New Delhi, coinciding with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong's visit. Mukul asserted he was in his constituency, Songsak, engaging with residents and focusing on strengthening his party amidst poor phone connectivity. He emphasized that interactions with Conrad and Prestone are common among colleagues and do not signify a political alignment, highlighting differences in their political ideologies. Furthermore, he mentioned the challenges…

12 Dec

16th Under The Sal Tree Theatre Festival Begins December 15 in Assam

Sonakshi SarkarIndia

Badungduppa Kalakendra, a notable theatre institution in Rampur, Goalpara, is celebrating its ongoing legacy with a special one-day edition of the 'Under the Sal Tree' theatre festival on December 15, following its Silver Jubilee last year. Established over 25 years ago by the late Sukracharya Rabha, the institution is known for its innovative physical theatre style, which emphasizes minimal dialogue and expressive body language, earning both national and international recognition. The festival, now in its 16th edition, traditionally features performances conducted in a natural setting without artificial enhancements, attracting thousands of visitors. This year's event will be a single-day occasion…

11 Dec

Namdapha Intensifies Big Cat Monitoring Ahead of the 2025–26 National Census

Sonakshi SarkarIndia

Namdapha National Park & Tiger Reserve is currently conducting an intensive field operation as part of the sixth All India Tiger Estimation 2025-26, facing significant challenges that test the resilience of its frontline protection teams. This extensive survey is critical to India’s wildlife conservation strategy, particularly for safeguarding its tiger population. The park's challenging environment, which includes dense forests and rugged terrain, coupled with unpredictable weather and communication difficulties, demands exceptional efforts from its staff, led by Field Director A. Deka. Historically, Namdapha was home to various big cats, including Bengal tigers and leopards, which have suffered from severe poaching…

05 Dec

India’s Central Bank Surprises Market with Rate Cut, Raises FY26 GDP Forecast to 7.3%

Mohini BarmanIndia

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced a 25 basis point reduction in the key policy repo rate, bringing it down to 5.25 per cent. This move, aimed at supporting growth, was accompanied by the central bank raising its GDP growth forecast for the fiscal year 2025-26 to 7.3%, up from the earlier estimate of 6.8%. RBI Governor Sanjay Das cited benign inflation and easing food prices as factors enabling the accommodative monetary policy stance.