Blog

16 Jan

Mizoram Suffers ₹114.64 Crore Loss in 2025 Due to African Swine Fever Outbreak

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

Mizoram suffered a financial loss of ₹114.64 crore in 2025 due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), which led to the death of more than 9,700 pigs across the state, an official from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said. Deputy Director (Disease Investigation and Epidemiology) Esther Lalzoliani Ralte told PTI that 9,711 pigs died due to ASF, while another 3,620 pigs were culled as a preventive measure between March and December last year. The outbreak affected 3,867 families during this period. ASF was first detected in Mizoram on March 21, 2021, at Lungsen village in Lunglei district…

16 Jan

Arunachal Deputy CM unveils 60-bed hostel at Pali Vidyapith in Namsa

Banasree SarkarArunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein officially opened the newly built 60-bed dormitory building at Arunachal Pali Vidyapith Residential School in Chongkham, a major improvement to educational infrastructure amid growing demand for high-quality boarding facilities. Mein's initiative, which is accompanied by Namsai Deputy Commissioner C R Khampa and other dignitaries, demonstrates the government's dedication to empowering children while preserving the state's rich cultural legacy. In a time when there are few boarding options, the Deputy CM emphasized how the cutting-edge hostel will directly help the student body, especially as parents look for better educational prospects. "This facility arrives at…

16 Jan

DoNER Secretary Appreciates Mizoram’s New Ginger Processing Unit, Highlights Farmer Support

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

The Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lalduhoma, on Thursday held a meeting with Chanchal Kumar, Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, during the latter’s official visit to the state. The meeting took place at the Chief Minister’s office in Aizawl and focused on a range of development initiatives being implemented in Mizoram with support from the Ministry of DoNER. The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of ongoing projects and raised concerns over several proposals that are still awaiting approval. During the discussion, Lalduhoma requested early resolution of pending projects of the Mizoram…

16 Jan

India’s trade deficit slightly widens to $25.04 billion in December 2025

Purbalee DuttaBusiness

India’s trade deficit edged up slightly last month, even as exports to the US showed growth despite the imposition of steep tariffs. Merchandise exports increased to $38.51 billion in December from $38.13 billion in November, while imports rose to $63.55 billion from $62.66 billion. This resulted in a trade gap of $25.04 billion, compared with $24.53 billion in the previous month. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said US-bound exports have registered year-on-year growth during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. He added that India remains on course to achieve total exports exceeding $850 billion in the financial year…

16 Jan

Arunachal Deputy CM Stresses Need to Link Education with Cultural Preservation

Sonakshi SarkarArunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chown Mein emphasized the importance of education alongside cultural and linguistic preservation during the inauguration of a new hostel at Arunachal Pali Vidyapith Residential School. He committed to government support for teaching the Pali and Tai Khamti languages and highlighted the need for digitization and restoration of rare manuscripts. The 60-bed hostel will benefit students amidst limited boarding facilities. Mein also attended a meeting on boundary demarcation for Namsai Nagar Palika, stressing the need for improved civic services in the rapidly urbanizing town and urging collaboration among stakeholders for its development.

16 Jan

Mizoram Sets Ambitious Goal to Emerge as Key Rubber Producer

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

According to Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Mizoram is working hard to become one of the nation's leading producers of rubber.He stated that rubber is one of the most promising crops through which Mizoram can establish a strong identity. The state government launched the Chief Minister's Rubber Mission in 2024 with the goal of transforming Mizoram into a major rubber-producing region. He was speaking at a training program on scientific rubber cultivation, harvesting techniques, post-harvest handling, and pest management at Vanapa Hall, Aizawl.In order to ensure a well-thought-out and methodical approach, the mission was developed following extensive talks with the Rubber Board…

16 Jan

ICAR Supports Mithun Farmers in Arunachal with Fodder Initiative

Sonakshi SarkarArunachal Pradesh

In a significant step towards strengthening sustainable mithun rearing in Arunachal Pradesh, the ICAR–Arunachal Pradesh Centre at Leparada district has extended support to mithun farmers of Siang district by supplying Hybrid Napier root slips for the establishment of dedicated fodder plots. The support was extended through the Jomlo Mongku Mithun Farmer Federation (JMMFF) with the objective of creating reliable and quality green fodder resources for mithuns. The initiative also seeks to encourage farmers to gradually adopt semi-intensive mithun rearing practices in the state. Arunachal Pradesh has the highest mithun population in the country, making conservation and scientific management of the…

16 Jan

After Meeting Tripura CM, Himanta Confident NDA Will Return to Power in Assam

Sonakshi SarkarArunachal Pradesh

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha in Agartala to discuss issues of mutual interest, emphasizing cooperation between their states. Sarma expressed confidence in the BJP retaining power in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, stating that the election dates would be announced in February. He noted that while he believes the BJP is well-positioned, politics is unpredictable, and making early forecasts is challenging. Sarma highlighted development and identity as key election issues, claiming the BJP has fulfilled its manifesto promises. He criticized the West Bengal government for not taking adequate action against illegal Bangladeshi infiltration,…

15 Jan

CM Saha Highlights Tribal Development as Core Priority, Cites Major Budgetary Support and World Bank Aid

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on January 15 said that his government has placed tribal welfare and development at the very centre of its policies, with a large share of the state budget being spent on programmes meant for indigenous communities. Speaking at a programme organised by the Darlong community in Kumarghat, under Unakoti district, the Chief Minister said nearly 40 per cent of Tripura’s total budget is set aside exclusively for tribal welfare. He said this clearly shows the government’s strong commitment to inclusive growth and equal development for all sections of society. Saha shared details of the state’s…

15 Jan

IHG bets big on India!

Purbalee DuttaBusiness

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which currently runs 50 hotels in India, is planning a major expansion in the country. The global hospitality major has outlined a medium-term goal of having 400 hotels either operational or under development within the next five years, while its long-term vision is to scale up to 1,000 properties nationwide. Speaking to CNBC-TV18, IHG CEO Elie Maalouf emphasised the vast untapped potential of India’s hotel market, noting that the country currently has fewer internationally branded hotel rooms than Manhattan alone. He said that although IHG has been present in India for five decades, the last ten…