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16 Dec

Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang assures full support for high-level committee to secure ST status

Priyanka BhowmickNews, Political, Sikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has reiterated his government's commitment to securing Scheduled Tribe (ST) recognition for 12 left-out Sikkimese communities, emphasizing its importance for equity and inclusivity. Addressing the inaugural meeting of the Sikkim State High-Level Committee, CM Tamang stressed the urgency of resolving this long-standing issue as the state prepares to celebrate its 50th year of statehood in 2025. Expressing gratitude to the committee led by Chairman B.V. Sharma and Vice Chairman Mahendra P. Lama, Tamang acknowledged the excluded communities' contributions to Sikkim's cultural and social heritage. “These communities have been integral to our society, yet they…

16 Dec

UPI transactions jump to Rs 223 lakh crore in Jan-Nov

Business CorrespondentBusiness, News

UPI achieved 15,547 crore transactions worth Rs 223 lakh crore this year, transforming India's financial landscape. It is now being accepted in seven countries, furthering financial inclusion and access to digital payments. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has achieved 15,547 crore transactions worth Rs 223 lakh crore from January to November this year, 'reflecting its transformational impact on financial transactions' in India, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday. The Finance Ministry also said that UPI is now accepted in seven countries, including France, UAE, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bhutan and Nepal. The UPI system provides a cheaper and faster alternative…

14 Dec

Gold, silver prices plunge as jewellers sell off

Business CorrespondentBusiness, News

New Delhi: Gold and silver prices fell in the national capital on Friday, with the precious metal sliding below the Rs 80,000 mark amid heavy selling by jewellers and stockists, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Besides, traders said a weak trend in international markets also put heavy pressure on bullion prices. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity fell by Rs 1,400 to Rs 79,500 per 10 gram. It had closed at Rs 80,900 per 10 gram in the previous session. Silver fell by Rs 4,200 to Rs 92,800 per kg, its biggest fall in the month…

14 Dec

Police seize ₹1.5 lakh worth of brown sugar in Agartala, six arrested

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

In a major operation against drug trafficking, Tripura Police apprehended six individuals, including two women, and seized brown sugar valued at ₹1.5 lakh during a raid in Agartala city on December 13. Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Debaprasad Roy stated, “We are conducting regular raids to curb drug trafficking and arrest offenders. Acting on specific intelligence, we raided a location where four individuals were assembling to distribute drugs. Subsequent interrogation led to the arrest of two more women, bringing the total to six.” The arrested individuals have been identified as: Ramu DasAbinash DebnathAnimesh GoshSanju DebbarmaPinky DasPuja GoswamiTwo pouches of brown…

14 Dec

Mizoram Governor honours 35 Assam Rifles personnel

Banasree SarkarMizoram

Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati of Mizoram felicitated 35 members of the Assam Rifles for their service in the line of duty. At the esteemed Investiture Ceremony, the Governor's Gold and Silver Medals were given to the recipients. Under the direction of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), the Assam Rifles held the investiture ceremony on December 13 at Raj Bhavan's Circular Lawn. 35 Assam Rifles troops received Governor's Gold and Silver medals from the governor, including 15 Gold and 20 Silver awards for 2024. Speaking to the crowd, Governor Kambhampati expressed gratitude for the way the event was run and pointed…

14 Dec

Mizoram Police seize heroin and meth in major d*rug bust, two arrested

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

The Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department seized a large quantity of heroin and methamphetamine in Aizawl’s Khatla locality on the night of December 12. Two individuals were apprehended in connection with the case. The seizure included: 787 grams of heroin3.93 kilograms of methamphetamineThe arrested individuals were identified as: Lalhlunrenga (41): Resident of New Champhai, currently residing in Zorinpui, Lawngtlai DistrictLalthangzuala (39): Resident of Champhai VengsangAuthorities also confiscated a Mahindra Bolero pick-up vehicle (registration number MZ01 X-9894) used for transporting the drugs. The accused have been booked under the NDPS Act, 1985. In a separate operation, the Assam Rifles and Land…

14 Dec

Tripura launches initiatives to enhance tea industry

Banasree SarkarTripura

Santana Chakma, the minister of commerce and industries for Tripura, said that the BJP-led government has taken action to support the tea sector in the northeastern state. Speaking at the state's first-ever stakeholder consultation for the establishment of a tea e-auction center, the minister said that the previous Left Front government had mostly disregarded tea, one of the oldest organized industries. Chakma stated that the recommendations made by the experts during the meeting will be implemented at the proper levels and asked for support from stakeholders Tea Board India (TBI), Tea Research Institute (TRI), Association of Tea Auctioneers, and Tea…

13 Dec

Vodafone Idea share price gain 5% from intraday low; can it rise further?

Business CorrespondentBusiness, News

Vodafone Idea share price witnessed a sharp surge during intraday trading on Friday, December 13, rising as much as 5 per cent from an intraday low of ₹7.68 despite a volatile market environment. Vodafone Idea share price opened at ₹7.83 against its previous close of ₹7.87 and fell over 2 per cent to hit ₹7.68 levels. However, the telecom stock recovered sharply and touched ₹8.07 levels. Around 1 pm, the stock was trading 2.4 per cent higher at ₹8.06. Vodafone Idea NewsVodafone Idea shares surged after the company revealed details of an investor presentation that highlighted four key strategies for…

13 Dec

SWITCH Mobility launches new electric buses, expands global footprint in sustainable urban transport

Business BureauBusiness

SWITCH Mobility Ltd, subsidiary of Ashok Leyland and part of the Hinduja Group, and a leading manufacturer of electric buses and light commercial vehicles, has unveiled its contemporary electric bus platform SWITCH EiV12—the low-floor electric city bus for the Indian market. It is India’s first low-floor city bus with chassis-mounted batteries, featuring a scalable battery capacity of over 400+ kWh. The vehicle was launched by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister for Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, in the presence of Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group Companies (India), other dignitaries, and industry leaders. Mr. Ashok P.…

13 Dec

Governor of Mizoram assures action on Oil Palm payment issues

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

Leaders of oil palm growers from Mizoram's Mamit and Kolasib districts met Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati at Raj Bhavan to discuss challenges faced in cultivation and payment issues under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). During the meeting, the growers highlighted the delay in receiving viability gap payments for the years 2022-2024. This issue has adversely impacted oil palm sellers and hindered the growth of the sector in the state. Governor Kambhampati emphasized the importance of achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production, stating that India currently imports the majority of its edible oil requirements. He noted Mizoram’s…