India - The Purbottar

05 Jul

Carrying the Tricolour Across the Channel: Ankita Konwar Makes Assam Proud

Preeti SinghAssam, India, International, Sports

Assam's endurance athlete Ankita Konwar has scripted history by becoming the first Assamese woman and the first woman from Northeast India to successfully complete an English Channel relay swim. Konwar was part of an international relay team that crossed the English Channel from Dover to Calais in 13 hours and 5 minutes. The relay began at 1:30 a.m. and concluded at 2:35 p.m. (London time), with all team members receiving medals in recognition of their achievement. The English Channel is widely regarded as one of the world's most demanding open-water swimming routes due to its icy waters, strong currents, unpredictable…

02 Jul

India’s Defence Industry Poised for Long-Term Growth, Driven by Deep-Tech Innovation and Export Opportunities

anuprova EditorIndia

India’s defence sector is entering a new phase of structural growth, supported by increasing investments in advanced technologies, rising defence exports, and sustained policy support aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing. Market analysts and brokerage firms believe the industry is well-positioned for long-term expansion as the government continues to promote self-reliance under its indigenous defence production initiatives. The growing adoption of deep technologies, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced electronics, cybersecurity, and next-generation defence platforms, is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Indian defence companies in both domestic and international markets. Analysts also point to a robust order pipeline, higher capital…

01 Jul

Spear Corps Hosts I-Day Security Conference in Laipuli; Intelligence Sharing, Synergy Stressed

Preeti SinghAssam, India

As part of the ongoing Military- Civil Fusion initiative, the Red Shield Division under the aegis of Spear Corps organised a Security Conference at Laipuli on 01 July 2026 in preparation for the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations. The conference was aimed at strengthening inter-agency coordination and reviewing the overall security framework to ensure the peaceful and secure conduct of Independence Day. The conference was attended by Army officials and representatives of the Assam Police, including the SSP, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh.Deliberations focused on intelligence sharing, coordinated preventive measures, proactive security planning and enhanced inter-agency synergy to effectively address emerging security challenges.…

09 Jun

Massive Casualties Reported in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir After Security Forces Open Fire on Protesters

anuprova EditorIndia

Violent clashes broke out in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after security forces opened fire on demonstrators, leaving over 30 people dead and around 200 others injured. The unrest intensified in Rawalakot following a heavy government crackdown on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a prominent civil society alliance that authorities recently banned under anti-terrorism laws. Tensions escalated drastically when a massive crowd gathered outside a hospital mortuary to protest the earlier shooting of a local trader, leading to a direct and bloody confrontation between demonstrators and law enforcement personnel. The region has been plagued by deep-seated resentment and volatile protests over…

09 Jun

Indian Army’s Major Abhilasha Barak Wins UN Military Gender Advocate Award for Work in Lebanon

Preeti SinghIndia

Indian Army officer Major Abhilasha Barak has been honored with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2025. Major Abhilasha Barak is the first Indian woman peacekeeper leader to receive this award. Major Barak is currently deployed as a commander in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).Major Barak, who joined the peacekeeping force in June 2025, has been deeply engaged in working with women and vulnerable populations in southern Lebanon. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have congratulated the female army officer on her rare achievement.

04 May

Supreme Court Refuses Interim Stay on Transgender Persons Amendment Act, 2026

anuprova EditorIndia

The Supreme Court of India today declined to grant an interim stay on the recently enacted Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, dealing a procedural setback to petitioners challenging its constitutional validity. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued formal notices to the Union government and various states and Union Territories, directing them to file their responses within six weeks. The court has decided to refer the batch of petitions, which argue that the new law dismantles the fundamental right to self-identification of gender established in the landmark 2014 NALSA…

02 May

India changes the way it responds to disasters with a high-tech “cell broadcast” alert system

anuprova EditorIndia

The Government of India has officially launched its state-of-the-art Cell Broadcast Alert System. This is a big step forward in the country's ability to handle disasters. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) worked together to make this system, which sends "Extremely Severe Alert" notifications directly to mobile phones right away. Cell broadcasting is different from regular SMS-based warnings because it uses a dedicated channel that doesn't get crowded on the network. This makes sure that life-saving information gets to every phone in a certain area, even if the phone is in silent mode or…

07 Apr

‘We Will Enter His House and Kill’: Abhishek Banerjee Issues Fierce Retort to Pakistani Minister’s Kolkata Threat

anuprova EditorIndia, West Bengal

Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has sparked a massive political and diplomatic stir with a fiery response to provocative remarks made by a Pakistani federal minister regarding the city of Kolkata. During a high-octane public rally, Banerjee took a defiant stand against the neighbor nation's rhetoric, declaring that if any external force dares to threaten the sovereignty of India or the peace of West Bengal, they will face a devastating consequence. Using aggressive and uncompromising language, the Diamond Harbour MP stated that India is no longer a nation that sits idle under threat, asserting that "we will enter…

21 Mar

India Rejects Claims of Allowing US Strikes on Iran from Western Territories

anuprova EditorIndia, International

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a stern "Fake News Alert" to debunk viral social media claims suggesting that the United States had sought or received permission to launch military strikes against Iran from western India. The rumors, which gained traction on platforms like X and WhatsApp, alleged that Washington was invoking the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) to use Indian soil or naval bases for offensive bombing raids. However, the MEA’s official fact-check handle categorically dismissed these assertions as "baseless and fabricated," clarifying that the 2016 logistics pact is strictly limited to refueling, repairs, and mutual…

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…