National - The Purbottar

09 Aug

Government sets a price cap on four emergency use medications

Banasree SarkarNational

The Union government has set a price cap for 37 different prescription formulations, including antibiotics and painkillers, as well as four emergency-use medications. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) set the pricing, and the medications cover everything from diabetes and vitamin deficiencies to infections, heart conditions, and inflammation. The NPPA stated that manufacturers who offer branded, generic, or both types of medications at a price higher than the ceiling price (plus GST) must lower their pricing without going above the ceiling price. The NPPA further stated that manufacturers with an MRP below the ceiling price must keep their current MRP.…

23 Jul

Sikkim Athlete Bags Silver

Purbalee DuttaNational, News, Sikkim

Manoj Kami, a talented long-distance runner from Sikkim, secured a silver medal in the 1500-metre race at the Indian Open Athletics Meet 2025. The prestigious national athletics competition was hosted earlier this month in Patna by the Bihar State Sports Authority in collaboration with the Bihar Athletics Association. Manoj, 21, finished second in the 1500 m track event, earning the silver medal. He hails from Bongten, Dentam in West Sikkim and currently trains at the Bright Future Athletic Club located in Reshithang near Gangtok. The athletic club extended its heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Sikkim, the Sports Department, and…

08 Jul

Total deposits increase 14.6% to ₹5.13 lakh crore in June quarter

editorBusiness, National

Following a stable performance in the June quarter business update, which showed consistent pace in both lending and deposit growth even as gains in low-cost deposits moderated, Kotak Mahindra Bank's shares increased by as much as 4% to Rs 2,238 on July 8. As of June 30, 2025, the private lender's loan book had grown to Rs 4.45 lakh crore, a 14% increase from Rs 3.90 lakh crore the previous year. Advances increased 4.2% sequentially from Rs 4.27 lakh crore at the end of March. Additionally, deposits kept growing at a steady rate. End-of-period deposits increased by 2.8 percent above…

07 Jul

Acquisition to boost Capgemini’s U.S. market presence and AI consulting services

editorBusiness, National

The French IT services group Capgemini (CAPP.PA) announced on Monday that it has agreed to pay $3.3 billion in cash to acquire the technology outsourcing company WNS (WNS.N) in order to increase the variety of AI solutions it provides to businesses. Through the agreement, Capgemini will be able to develop a consulting business service that will assist businesses employ artificial intelligence—specifically, generative and agentic AI—to improve their operations and cost efficiency. The company anticipates that this service will draw large investments. According to Capgemini, the purchase price, which translates to $76.50 per WNS share, is 17% higher than their most…

23 May

The number of Asiatic lions in India has increased significantly to 891

Banasree SarkarNational

As a "landmark success" in wildlife conservation, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav praised the notable increase in India's lion population, which he stated has grown to 891 from 674 in 2020. Yadav attributed this accomplishment to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who served as both the Indian Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Gujarat, in a post on X. He also commended wildlife enthusiasts, environmentalists, and forest officials for their contributions to this achievement. The fact that there are now 891 lions in India, up from 674 in 2020, is incredibly encouraging. The remarkable conservation result may…

10 Feb

At least 300 km of vehicle lines at Mahakumbh Mela, suffocating conditions

Banasree SarkarNationalMahakumbh Mela

The Mahakumbh Mela is drowning in a sea of vehicles. The queue of vehicles has exceeded at least 300 kilometers. Tired of waiting for a long time in heavy traffic, pilgrims are parking their cars on the road and walking. Netizens have called this unprecedented traffic jam the "world's largest traffic jam". It is known that the road leading to the Mahakumbh Mela through Madhya Pradesh has a queue of vehicles of 200-300 kilometers. On Sunday, the police stopped traffic in various districts, due to which many people had to be stuck on the roads for several hours. The police…