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ISL: Erwin nets late winner as Bagan remains on top
The Kolkata outfit has 12 points from five matches while Odisha remains on two from four
MBSG Beats Odisha FC 3-2 In ISL
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Odisha FC 3-2 in a high-scoring Indian Super League match in Kolkata on Thursday. Dejan Drazic scored twice and Lee Erwin netted the winner in the 88th minute, propelling MBSG to the top of the league table.
IFL 2026/27: Bengaluru United host Mohammedan SC in maiden home game
Digital Desk | Bengaluru/Shillong, Nov 5 (IANS) A double-header featuring a historic home debut in Karnataka for Bengaluru United followed by an all-Northeast showdown in Meghalaya between Shillong Lajong FC and Chanmari FC will start Match Week 2 of the Indian Football League (IFL) 2026-27 season on Friday. In the afternoon fixture at the Bangalore Football Stadium, IFL debutants FC Bengaluru United will play their first-ever home match in the competition against two-time I-League champions Mohammedan Sporting Club. Later in the evening, last season's runners-up Shillong Lajong FC will welcome Mizoram outfit Chanmari FC to the SSA Stadium in Shillong. The afternoon encounter sees two sides looking to get off the mark in the 2026-27 standings after suffering narrow 1-0 defeats via late goals on the opening weekend. Hosts FC Bengaluru United, who earned promotion to the IFL for the first time in club history as runners-up in the 2025-26 I-League 2 season, currently sit ninth in the table following a hard-fought 0-1 loss away to Dempo Sports Club in Fatorda. In their season opener in Goa, FC Bengaluru United fielded a disciplined defensive unit marshalled by Daniel, Abdul Hannan, and goalkeeper Manjunath Hirekurbar, with Ribhav Sardesai and Lalramdinsanga Ralte anchoring the midfield behind Russian forward Marat Tarek. Hirekurbar, Daniel, and Hannan stood out at the back to frustrate Dempo for 97 minutes, while Sardesai and Ralte worked tirelessly in the engine room and Tarek threatened with his runs in behind the opposition backline. Guided by head coach and former India international Nallappan Mohanraj, the Karnataka side will look to turn their resilient away display into points in front of their home supporters at the Bangalore Football Stadium. Definitely it was a disappointing end for us in Goa because a fair result would have been a point, especially after we dominated the game without the ball for 96 minutes before losing concentration on a set-piece, FC Bengaluru United head coach Nallappan Mohanraj said. That was a great learning experience for us, and now we have to pick ourselves up for our very first IFL home game, which this club has dreamt of for years. Mohammedan is a very good, historic club coming back from the ISL, and playing them at home is a great opportunity for us to bounce back. The boys are motivated and prepared to go out there and give more than 100 per cent for the three points, he added. FC Bengaluru United defender Abdul Hannan expressed his excitement ahead of stepping out in front of the home faithful in Bengaluru. It is everyone's dream to play in the IFL, and having been to the Bangalore Football Stadium so many times over the years, getting the chance to finally play here in front of our home fans is a special feeling, Abdul Hannan said. We worked very hard last year to qualify for this stage, and tomorrow is our chance to prove ourselves, give everything on the pitch, and win for our supporters. Visitors Mohammedan Sporting Club, returning to the IFL following their stint in the Indian Super League, currently occupy eighth place in the standings after going down 1-0 at home to Shillong Lajong FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday, October 31. Fielding an all-Indian squad, the Black and White Brigade defended doggedly throughout the afternoon before substitute Nelson Rymbai broke the deadlock in the 90th minute to hand the visitors victory. Skipper Mahitosh Roy, Tangva Ragui, and Thokchom Adison Singh operated in midfield, supporting an attacking trio of Lalremsanga Fanai, Israfil Dewan, and Mohammad Fardin Ali Molla. Goalkeeper Deka was the standout performer for the Kolkata side, pulling off a string of eight saves, including a crucial stop in the 69th minuteto keep his team in the contest until the closing stages. Led by head coach Saheed Ramon, Mohammedan SC will aim to build on their defensive grit while finding greater fluency in the final third, even as they manage the absence of Thokchom Adison Singh and Israfil Dewan for the trip to Bengaluru. Both teams lost their opening match, so this is a big challenge and an important game for both sides, but we have prepared well, and our boys are ready to fight, Mohammedan SC head coach Saheed Ramon said. In our first match, the boys were very compact and did well defensively, but we missed clear chances that we should have converted. We are working to improve in the final third and cut out the late mistakes that cost us last time. Even though we will be without Adison and Israfil for this match, I have complete trust in every player in our squad. Mohammedan SC senior defender Hira Mondal, who confirmed he has fully recovered from minor cramps suffered earlier in the week, highlighted how the extra training days have helped the squad settle. As a senior player, I stayed in touch with all the boys even before we assembled so that everyone maintained their fitness levels, Hira Mondal said. The first match was difficult because we had very little time together, but having these last three to four days of training has helped us adjust to the coach's plan, which we already know well from the Calcutta Football League. I am completely fit now, and we are confident of putting in a strong performance tomorrow. Friday's encounter marks the first-ever meeting between FC Bengaluru United and Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Indian Football League. The two sides previously met in the group stage of the 2021 Durand Cup in Kalyani on September 14, 2021, where FC Bengaluru United recorded a 2-0 victory over Mohammedan SC. Shillong welcome Chanmari in Northeast derby Under the floodlights at the SSA Stadium in Shillong, an exciting Northeast derby takes centre stage as Shillong Lajong FC play their first home match of the season against a Chanmari FC side kicking off their 2026-27 campaign after serving a Matchweek 1 bye. Hosts Shillong Lajong FC, who finished as runners-up in the 2025/26 IFL Championship Round with 28 points from 14 matches (just one point behind champions Diamond Harbour FC), sit fifth in the early standings after opening their campaign with a 1-0 away triumph over Mohammedan SC in Kolkata last Saturday. Dominating possession and chance creation for large spells, Lajong sealed all three points in the 90th minute when second-half substitute Nelson Rymbai struck the decisive winner. Substitute forward Nelson Rymbai made the decisive impact off the bench alongside Treimiki Lamurong and Abelson Jachi, while Jota and Damaitphang Lyngdoh orchestrated a relentless attacking display that kept the opposition pinned back. Returning to their fortress in Shillong, Thapa will look for his side to carry their away momentum into their home opener in front of their passionate supporters. It is very important that we carry the momentum from our away win in Kolkata into our first home match tomorrow, as winning at home will give the boys a great boost for the matches ahead, Shillong Lajong FC head coach Birendra Thapa said. Playing in front of our home crowd is a huge motivation because our fans act as the 12th man and give the players extra energy right until the final whistle. With the addition of quality foreign signings like Jota, Joedson, and Arthur this season, fans can expect the same exciting and entertaining brand of football. I have been following Chanmari closelythey did very well last year, recently won the MPL title, and have signed three foreigners, so we expect a very good contest, he added. For Shillong Lajong FC's Brazilian playmaker Joo Vitor De Paula Morais (Jota), Friday's clash carries added personal significance as he lines up against the club he represented last season. While I am playing against my former club, for me it is another professional game, and my full focus is on giving everything to help Shillong Lajong, Jota said. My target tomorrow is to contribute with goals and assists and help the team secure all three points at home. Visitors Chanmari FC enter the fray for their first match of the 2026-27 season after sitting out the opening weekend of the 11-team competition. In their debut IFL campaign in 2025-26, the Mizo club impressed by qualifying for the top-six Championship Round and finishing fifth overall on 15 points from 14 matches, before also capturing the 2025-26 Mizoram Premier League title. Ahead of the new season, Chanmari FC appointed former India international winger Steven Dias as Head Coach in September 2026. Captained by experienced goalkeeper Zothanmawia, the Aizawl outfit have bolstered their roster with foreign trio Denilson, Gabriel Paz, and Seila Toure to complement a dynamic domestic core. Statistically, Shillong Lajong FC produced the most dominant attacking metrics of Matchweek 1, recording 66 per cent ball possession, 32 total shots (nine on target), and 14 corner kicks in their 1-0 win over Mohammedan SC. Friday's encounter sets up an intriguing reunion on the flanks involving Brazilian attacker Jota (Joo Vitor De Paula Morais), who now lines up for Shillong Lajong after featuring for Chanmari FC last term. Shillong Lajong FC and Chanmari FC met twice during the 2025-26 Indian Football League season, with Shillong Lajong winning both encounters. In their Stage I meeting at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl on March 19, 2026, Shillong Lajong came from behind to defeat Chanmari FC 2-1 following a late injury-time winner. In the Championship Round return fixture at the SSA Stadium in Shillong on May 2, 2026, Shillong Lajong registered a comprehensive 4-0 victory, with Treimiki Lamurong opening the scoring in first-half stoppage time (45+1'). With FC Bengaluru United and Mohammedan SC both determined to secure their first points of the campaign, Shillong Lajong FC aiming to build on their opening-day win at home, and Chanmari FC eager to make a statement in their season curtain-raiser, Friday's double-header promises an absorbing day of action.
Bengal govt marks 275 B.Ed colleges as ineligible after failing to meet required criteria
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) Coming as a setback to B.Ed colleges that have mushroomed in the state in the last few years, the West Bengal government has marked as many as 275 such colleges as 'ineligible'. As a result, these B.Ed colleges will not be able to renew their accreditation for the academic year 2026-27. State Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay stated that after the new government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari came to power, he stood at Bikash Bhaban and said that education will not be allowed to be commoditised in any way and the quality of education must be maintained. He added that the Higher Education and Technical Education Department jointly conducted a rigorous inspection drive in B.Ed, ITI, Polytechnic and Pharma colleges. He said that in the first phase, 156 B.Ed colleges were allowed to admit students, adding that about 415 B.Ed colleges that could not meet the criteria were sent 21-day show-cause notices for infrastructure development. Out of them, 9 colleges did not respond, he said. After the second round of inspection, permission has been given to admit students in 237 B.Ed colleges for the academic year 2026-27. The remaining 205 colleges could not meet the quality standards, and due to this, a decision has been taken to stop the admission of students there. The Minister also said that admissions have been suspended in 14 out of 265 ITIs, 38 out of 134 pharma colleges and 1 out of 74 polytechnics. As a result, the future of the students in those colleges is in darkness. Swapan Mandal, General Secretary of the Bengali Teachers and Education Workers Association, said that if 275 B.Ed colleges are closed at once in the state, it will be a disaster in the education sector. He added that the future of the employees and students associated with so many colleges will become uncertain. There will also be a shortage of qualified teacher candidates. The government should immediately intervene in this matter and solve this problem, he said.
In festive season, Kalimpongs marigold growers struggle to find their market
BNP blaming India for violence by workers of Bangladesh Garment Industry
New Delhi has to be vigilant till Hasinas proposed departure to Dhaka next month By Ashis Biswas KOLKATA: Especially among leaders of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), old habits die hard they must anyhow blame India for their own acute problems of governance at home! Take the recent violent agitation launched [] The post BNP blaming India for violence by workers of Bangladesh Garment Industry appeared first on Northlines .
Partnership to promote student and faculty exchanges, joint research, internships and industry-oriented learning Bilkul Online Ahmedabad | 05 Nov 2026 The post MICA Signs MoU with Kolkatas Bhawanipur Education Society College to Boost Academic Collaboration appeared first on Bilkul Online .
Multi-Crore Puja Pass Scam: Ex-Minister's Daughter Faces Police Grilling
Kolkata Police's Detective Department questioned Avery Sen, daughter of former minister Indranil Sen, regarding an alleged multi-crore scam involving Durga Puja pass distribution. An associate, Dhruvajyoti Basu, was arrested and remanded to police custody. Investigators are examining financial transactions between Sen's organisation, his daughter's company, and his wife's accounts.
Zomato Rolls Out Limitless Delivery in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, More Indian Cities
Zomato's new Limitless Delivery feature gives users access to restaurants located much farther from their delivery addresses, with orders possible from up to 40km away within the same city. The feature is available in Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune and Hyderabad. Users can browse eligible restaurants through a dedicated section on the app or search for them directly. Zomato has also rolled out Host Mode, which hides menu and cart prices while guests add items to a group order.
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday issued a strong note of caution against attempts at extortion or attempts to close industrial units through militant trade unionism and threatened instant arrests of the perpetrators in both such cases after the state government unveiled its new industrial policy. There is a dedicated helpline number for registering complaints on extortion. I am requesting the investors to register their complaints on that helpline number. I assure that action will be taken within 15 minutes from the time the complaint is registered and the perpetrators will be dealt with strictly as per legal provisions, said the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister also used a strong note of caution to stall operations in any industrial unit in the name of militant trade unionism. I will not allow any attempt at unnecessary cease-work at any industrial unit. Those who will try to do so will be put in jail. I will ensure that they will stay in jail for a long time. If there is any complaint against any management, there is a proper way to address that by approaching the labour commission, the Chief Minister said. He also launched a scathing attack against the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress over the annual Bengal Global Business Summit meant to be organised during the previous regime to attract investment in the state. Over Rs 650 crore was spent in organising eight such summits. The previous government claimed that memoranda of understanding worth Rs 16 lakh crore were signed in these eight summits. But ultimately nothing fructified. The previous government even showed infrastructure development projects as proposed investments, the Chief Minister said. He claimed that the previous regime neglected the generation of the states own tax revenue and claimed that the state exchequer suffered severe losses because of the patronage of corruption during the previous regime. However, things have started improving in the first six months of our new government. The state's revenue has increased according to the respective periods of the two financial years from April to September 2025 and from April to October 2026, he said. He added that although it is not possible to take any new initiative right now, the revenue collection has increased by Rs 4,000 crore compared to last year. Our goal is to increase the state's own tax revenue by stopping money laundering and extortion and create an environment for investment in industry, the Chief Minister added.
Lightning strikes on mangrove forests are helping create nursery habitats: WII
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) While lightning strikes can be deadly, they are crucial for maintaining large-scale demographic patterns in plant communities, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has ascertained through a study of the dense mangrove forests in the Andamans. Lightning strikes in mangrove forests often result in the formation of small- to medium-sized canopy gaps, characterised by the death of trees in a circular pattern. The study focused on understanding canopy gap attributes and vegetation compositional differences across the mangrove canopy gap succession in the Andaman Islands. The hypothesis was that canopy gaps within the monodominant mangrove forests facilitate a greater number of species to establish in the early gap recovery stage. The species richness declines over time as plants with special adaptations to thrive in the seaward mangrove zones outcompete others. The study revealed that disturbances play a crucial role in determining species richness and composition in many ecosystems. This small-scale disturbance is crucial for maintaining large-scale demographic patterns in the plant communities. We investigated canopy gap attributes and vegetation recruitment by assessing 20 canopy gaps in each of two age categories: New Canopy Gaps (16 years old) and Recovering Canopy Gaps (715 years old) across six sites in the Andaman Islands. Each canopy gap was paired with a control plot in the intact forest. Canopy gap area ranged between 270m and 2463m. Water temperature increased with canopy openness, whereas water pH and salinity were not significantly influenced by the canopy gaps, the institute has said. The study revealed that plant species richness was highest in newly formed canopy gaps and declined with an increase in gap age. Both seedling and sapling densities were two-fold higher in the new canopy gaps than in the intact forest. Rhizophora apiculata Blume, a tall stilt mangrove, was the dominant species in all sampling categories. The study provided baseline information on the vegetation structural changes and species diversity among the regenerating canopy gaps and intact forests. Further, long-term canopy gap monitoring at varying size classes and fixed year intervals would provide crucial insight into mangrove canopy gap succession that helps in understanding mangrove recovery, following a disturbance event, the WII has said. Previous studies have already revealed how the clustered death of trees in a contiguous closed-canopy forest creates an opening that exposes the forest floor to increased sunlight, altering local microclimatic conditions, such as light availability, temperature, soil moisture, and nutrient dynamics compared to the adjacent intact forests. Our study shows that the canopy gaps likely caused by lightning disturbance in mangrove forests are acting as a nursery habitat for plant regeneration and enhancing structural heterogeneity in the vegetation. It allows a greater number of plant species to establish in the early gap regeneration stage, but the species richness declines in the later gap successional stage, indicating competitive exclusion by dominant species, which are better suited to the specific microhabitats, the WII researchers have said. The establishment of a canopy by the growing vegetation is likely to limit the light availability and hinder seedling establishment. Such an understanding of vegetation recovery following disturbance is critical for ecological restoration planning in mangrove ecosystems, the study has said. Our results suggest that only a few species found in early successional stages persist into the mature stage. This highlights the need to select appropriate species for mangrove restoration that suit the specific microenvironment. Overall, canopy gaps within contiguous mangrove stands serve as a regeneration niche for vegetation and promote structural heterogeneity in the mangrove forest. Further, we suggest that the long-term monitoring of vegetation recovery in the canopy gaps would be required to understand the mangrove succession at a finer scale, the researchers said.
ED raids 13 premises in Tripura, Bengal and Maharashtra over alleged fake govt tender racket
Digital Desk | New Delhi/Agartala, Nov 5 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search and seizure operations at 13 premises across Tripura, West Bengal and Maharashtra in connection with an alleged fake government tender racket operated through a fictitious entity named the 'Directorate of Higher Education'. The central probe agency said on Thursday that the searches were carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting individuals and entities allegedly linked to the racket. The searches were conducted by the ED's Agartala Sub-Zonal office on Wednesday, in connection with an ongoing money-laundering investigation arising from FIR registered at Capital Complex Police station in Agartala, the probe agency said in a statement. It said that the FIR was registered on the complaint of Nagpur based M/s S.K. Sales Corporation, against Abhishek Chandra, a Tripura cadre IAS officer, and co-conspirators, alleging that the firm was fraudulently induced to pay Earnest Money Deposits (EMDs) of around Rs 14.55 crore between September 2024 and February 2025 against purported tenders of the of Tripura government in the mid-day meal and power sectors, which were never floated. The offences registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, relating to criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, cheating by personation and forgery, are scheduled offences under the PMLA, 2002. Accordingly, the ED recorded an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) and initiated investigation under the PMLA, 2002. Investigation has revealed that Abhishek Chandra (presently under suspension) represented himself as the officer controlling tender processes in the Tripura government and introduced the complainant to one Utpal Kumar Chowdhury as the official responsible for processing payments. The EMDs were paid through demand drafts in favour of 'Directorate of Higher Education', which was, in fact, a proprietary concern of Utpal Kumar Chowdhury bearing a name deceptively similar to the genuine government department. Forged tender notices and work orders were allegedly used, and a joint venture with Krishna Chakraborty, represented by her husband Sudip Paul, was used to structure the collection of funds. Partial 'refunds' were made at critical junctures to sustain the confidence of the victim and induce further payments. The ED said that the funds credited into the fictitious entity's accounts were allegedly layered within days, and in some instances within 24 hours, through a network of shell entities, several of which are registered in the names of domestic staff and associates of Utpal Kumar Chowdhury. The proceeds of crime were allegedly utilised for acquisition of immovable properties, including flats in a housing project and a residential property in Mumbai's Shivaji Park in the names of family members of Abhishek Chandra, as well as for foreign travel and luxury goods. Funds were also allegedly routed through an alleged hawala conduit based in Kolkata. The ED is already investigating Utpal Kumar Chowdhury and others, arising out of five FIRs registered in West Bengal and Tripura, wherein the same fictitious entity and modus operandi were used to defraud multiple victims of an aggregate amount exceeding Rs 44 crore. In that case, provisional attachment orders on January 22, 2026 and July 31, 2026, have already been issued. The search proceedings were conducted in the residential premises of Abhishek Chandra and hawala operators and also in the office premises of several companies/entities connected to the money trail, the ED statement said. During the course of search proceedings, voluminous documentary evidences of hawala transactions, several high value property details and other evidences indicating suspicious control over corporate entities were found and seized. Digital devices and records belonging to various accused persons crucial to the current investigation were also seized. Further investigation is underway.
Security beefed up in Ayodhya amid last minute 'Deepotsav' preparations
Digital Desk | Ayodhya, Nov 5 (AINS) Ahead of the Diwali festival, security has been strengthened in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya as preparations are underway in full swing for the upcoming 'Deepotsav' celebrations in the sacred temple town. The 2026 edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya is set to offer a unique combination of tradition and modern technology, with a series of immersive presentations designed to attract the younger generation. In view of the celebrations, a key briefing was held by the district administration and police department at Ram Katha Park on Thursday, where Additional Director General (ADG) (Ayodhya Range) Praveen Kumar, Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Grover issued necessary instructions to officials to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the event. Speaking to reporters, ADG Praveen Kumar said: There are a series of events here during the Hindu month of Kartik. Everyone remains vigilant regarding security as a large number of devotees visit Ayodhya. The focus of today's briefing was to conduct the event through a proper coordination between locals, the administration and the police. We will use drones and other technologies for surveillance during the event, he added, assuring that the celebrations will be successfully conducted with the coordination of the Ayodhya residents. Apart from the presence of police personnel on the ground, security arrangements of the event are also being monitored from the control room, through CCTV cameras. NSG commandos and the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) will also maintain strict vigil throughout the celebrations, officials said. Meanwhile, preparations for the 'Deepotsav' are in their final stages, with artisans from Kolkata and Kanpur putting the finishing touches on the chariot of Lord Ram. One of the artisans, Sanjay Gupta, told IANS, The Ram Rath is being constructed, on which (artists dressed as ) Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Laxman, and Lord Hanuman will ride to the consecration site. It is 80 per cent per cent ready. The remaining 20 per cent will be completed today. Tableaux are being prepared at Ayodhya's KS Saket PG College ground ahead of the 'Deepotsav', showcasing scenes from the Ramayana, depicting the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047', the BrahMos missile and development across Uttar Pradesh. Speaking on the 'Deepotsav' celebrations, former Babri Masjid litigant Iqbal Ansari highlighted the significance of Diwali festival in the temple town. Diwali is a festival whose joy is celebrated across the country and the world. It is celebrated with even greater enthusiasm in Ayodhya because Lord Ram resides here. When Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya, the entire city was decorated. Even today, on Diwali, it feels as though Lord Ram himself is returning, and people will welcome him with lamps. This is the beauty of Ayodhya, he told IANS.
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, announced an alternative route for land procurement for new and proposed industrial units, balancing the interests of the investors, landowners and other stakeholders soon after unveiling the new industrial policy for the state The Chief Minister said that the new land procurement route to be adopted by the state government led by him will be totally different from what was pursued either by the Left Front government or by the Trinamool Congress government. According to him, the principal operative part of the land procurement policy of the state government led by him will be direct land purchase from the landowners first by the state government and thus create a land bank in the state. Subsequently, the required land from that land bank will be handed over for the new and proposed industrial project, claimed the Chief Minister. The Left Front government followed the policy of forceful land acquisition from landowners for industrial projects, which we are strongly against. The Trinamool Congress played no role in land procurement for new industries, which acted as a negative factor for attracting big-ticket investments. We will not adopt any of these two policies, and instead the state government will directly purchase land from the landowners, he further claimed. He also said that besides the proposed land bank to be created from the land directly purchased from the landowners, the state government will also provide land for new industrial projects from the land available at the existing industrial parks in the state and from the clusters of erstwhile encroached land recovered by the state government. He said that already in the first six months of the new state government led by him, land had already been handed over to 33 business groups. We are well settled to meet the land requirement for new industrial units, the Chief Minister said. Industry and economic observers too feel that the policy of the state government directly purchasing the land from the landowners and subsequently handing over that land for new industrial units was the need of the hour. In a state like West Bengal where the land-holding pattern is extremely fragmented, attracting big ticket investment will never be possible without the state government playing a role in land procurement, said city-based economist Probir Mukherjee. He added that forceful land acquisition can be counterproductive, as it happened in the cases of Singur and Nandigram during the Left Front regime. The new land policy adopted by the state government will be ideal as it maintains a balance between the interests of investors, land-owners and other stakeholders, said Mukherjee.
Bengal govt unveils new industrial policy; incentives for industrialists announced
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, on Thursday unveiled the states new industrial policy and announced a host of incentives for attracting new investments in various schemes ranging from power tariff to employers contribution in Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and from stamp duty exemption to state government assistance in human resource development (HRD). As per the new industrial policy, electricity tariff exemption will be provided for new investments in both the manufacturing and services sector for up to five years. The state government will also provide financial assistance for rent on leased premises for setting up new units. In the micro-small-medium enterprises (MSMEs) segment, the state government will provide loans at affordable interest rates and also help in the implementation of new technologies. The financial assistance will be more in the case of new investment proposals in the industrially backward sub-divisions in the state. In case of mega projects, where 50 jobs will be created per acre, the state government will provide assistance in the construction of roads and ensuring water and electricity connections at the earliest. The state government also proposed stamp-duty exemptions on land for industrial projects and assistance in human resource development. The new industrial policy also proposes 100 per cent duty-free for educational institutions or hospitals run from the corporate social responsibility (CSR) corpus, provided the industry house concerned invests at least Rs 100 crore behind that education and medical project. The most attractive of the different incentive proposals was as regards to the state government assistance in employers contribution in EPF, with a focus on generating employment for people from the transgender community. In the MSMEs segment, the state government will bear the entire employers contribution to EPF for women and transgender employees for up to 10 years. In case of male employees in the MSME segment, the state government will bear 50 per cent of the employers contribution for the same period. In cases of units with more than 200 employees, the state government will bear 75 per cent of the employer's contribution for female and transgender employees and 50 per cent for male employees. In large units and mega projects with at least 200 employees in priority areas and at least 400 employees elsewhere, 50 per cent of the employers contribution in EPF will be borne by the state for up to five years. Employment will have to be created in the case of expansion of old industrial units. In case of investment in plant and machinery, the total assistance limit for general units will be 100 per cent. In thrust sector units, it will be 110 per cent, and in priority sectors, it will be 120 per cent. However, assistance will be provided gradually after the beginning of production. The new industrial policy has also fixed the deadlines for clearances for new industrial units. According to it, all applications should be made through a single-window portal, where the certificate of intent will be granted within 30 days, and the certificate of eligibility will be granted within 45 days from the beginning of production.
Petrol and diesel prices varied across Indian cities on October 3, as global crude crossed $100 amid Middle East tensions, while state-run oil companies kept national average fuel rates largely stable.
Angad Bedi recalls Anushka Sharma sharing a hearty laugh with Virat Kohli in birthday post
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actor Angad Bedi penned a heartfelt note for cricketer Virat Kohli on his birthday. The Tiger Zinda Hai actor called him The King and praised his contribution to Indian cricket. Taking to social media, Instagram, Angad shared a heartfelt birthday message for Virat and wished him a blessed and peaceful year ahead. He also praised the cricketer for his passion and dedication towards the game, saying that his journey would continue to inspire future generations. In his birthday post, Angad wrote, Happy birthday to 'THE KING' @virat.kohli have a blessed and a peaceful year. May you continue to serve Indian cricket with as much passion and gutso so that the future generation learns and embodies your belief and hardwork. He further said that Virat's name would always feature among the legends of the game. Whenever there will be a mention of the legends of the game.. your name will be right up there!! he added. Angad Bedi also shared a carousel of pictures featuring himself and wife Neha Dhupia posing with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma. One of the photographs captured Anushka sharing a hearty laugh with Virat, offering a glimpse of their cheerful moment together. The couple twinned in blue as they posed alongside Angad and Neha. Actress Juhi Babbar also extended warm birthday wishes to cricketer Virat Kohli, praising his passion, discipline and determination to constantly raise the bar. She also added a playful note, jokingly asking Virat to play a little less when competing against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Happpyyy Birthdayyy @imVkohli So much passion, so much discipline, and that incredible hunger to keep raising the bar every single time. On the aside Virat, its ok to play a little less, when your playing against KKR ..!!! Wishing you lots of happiness, good health and many more unforgettable moments on and off the field!! Jay, Juhi, Jahnavi and Arjun, she wrote. Virat Kohli turned 38 on November 5 and received warm birthday wishes from several celebrities and well-known personalities on social media.
Emami Q2 results: Profit rises nearly 2% at 145 cr, revenue up 36%
The company had posted a PAT of 148.35 crore in the July-September period a year ago, according to a regulatory filing from Kolkata-headquartered Emami
Indias premium housing drives market recovery as sales rise 6 pc in Jan-Sep: Report
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 5 (IANS) Home sales across India's seven major residential markets rose 6 per cent year-on-year to 2,14,562 units during January-September 2026, reversing the 12 per cent decline recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, led by demand for premium housing, a report said on Thursday. The report from JLL said that recovery was led decisively by premium housing with apartments priced at Rs 1 crore and above posting 23 per cent Y-o-Y growth and capturing 72 per cent of total sales during the period, up from 62 per cent a year earlier. The recovery was driven by sustained urban migration, upgrades to infrastructure, and shifting lifestyle preferences among homebuyers, the report noted. Developers continued to align new supply with the prevailing premium-led demand pattern, with residential launches across the top seven cities rising 15 per cent YoY to 2,59,425 units during JanuarySeptember 2026. The sub-Rs 1 crore mass housing segment continued to lose ground, with sales falling 23 per cent YoY as affordability pressures and a continued shift in buyer preference toward larger, higher-specification homes reshaped the demand mix. Sales momentum has been led decisively by the Rs 1.5-3 crore segment, which grew 54 per cent year-on-year, while developers have matched this demand with a massive 70 per cent increase in launches, said Siva Krishnan, Senior Managing Director and Head of Residential Services, India, JLL. Sales in the third quarter rose 12 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 76,181 units, led by Hyderabad with 70 per cent growth, followed by Kolkata at 28 per cent and Bengaluru at 13 per cent. Sales declined marginally in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, by 5 per cent and 2 per cent respectively. Although market dynamics have shifted, with homebuyers placing greater emphasis on quality, location, and amenities, the core demand drivers remain unchanged. Buyers' growing preference for projects by established developers known for superior specifications, prime locations, and reliable delivery timelines points to a more mature home buying audience in India, the report noted.
SMPA Senior Deputy Manager Recruitment 2026
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPA) has released Notification No. P&IR/13/2/2026/4396 for the post of Senior Deputy Manager. Eligible candidates can apply online at onlinevacancy.shipmin.nic.in from 06 November 2026 to 05 December 2026.
Todays Gold Rate in India November 5: Gold prices up in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru
22, 24 carat Gold prices up across metro cities on November 5
Six years on, Bengal police arrest Abhishek Banerjee aide in 2020 Nadda convoy attack
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) The West Bengal Police arrested a youth Trinamool Congress leader in connection with the attack on the convoy of then Bharatiya Janata Party national president J.P. Nadda in South 24 Parganas district on December 10, 2020, the police said on Thursday. The arrested man, identified as Imran Hasan, was the Youth Trinamool Congress president of the Magrahat (Paschim) Assembly constituency. He is said to be a close aide of the Trinamool Congress (Mamata Banerjee faction) general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee. Hasan was arrested by personnel of Usti police station, under the Diamond Harbour Police District, from the Deula area on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, a district police official said. He will be produced before a district court later on Thursday. The prosecution is expected to seek his police custody for further interrogation. Apart from the attack on Naddas convoy, Hasan is facing allegations of threatening voters ahead of the 2021 and 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, torturing BJP leaders and workers in Magrahat (Paschim), and vandalising the houses of leaders and workers associated with the BJP, the official said. Hasan is the seventh person arrested in connection with the attack, which took place nearly six years ago. The police had earlier arrested six people: Tausif Ahmed Mollah alias Bachchu, Arif Hossain, Anisur Rahman, Sanjeev Mondal, Ripon Sheikh and Jahangir Khan. Investigators are examining whether more people were involved in the incident, the district police official said. Nadda, who was then the BJPs national president, had visited Diamond Harbour in December 2020 as part of the partys campaign ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections. The then West Bengal BJP president, Dilip Ghosh, was travelling in the same vehicle as Nadda. The convoy came under attack twice while proceeding towards Diamond Harbour, first near Sarisha and then at Falta. The BJP had alleged that Trinamool Congress activists were behind the attacks. BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, whose vehicle was part of the convoy, was injured in the incident. The attack had triggered a political confrontation between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress. The BJP had accused the state government of failing to ensure security for its leaders, while the Trinamool Congress had rejected the allegations.
Bengal BJP plans to retain over 50 pc of old faces in Kolkata, Howrah civic polls
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) The West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party is planning to retain more than 50 per cent of its existing candidates for the upcoming Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporation elections, a senior party leader said on Thursday. Leaders and workers who joined the BJP before and after the 2021 Assembly elections and have established popularity in their respective areas will also be considered for candidature in the remaining seats, he said. However, the state leadership will have to obtain clearance from the party's central leadership before finalising the list of candidates. There is speculation that the civic elections in Kolkata and Howrah may be held in the third week of December. The election notification is expected after Kali Puja on November 8, prompting the BJP to complete its candidate selection process by November 15. The party has already received applications from aspiring candidates. State leaders are now visiting different mandals to seek feedback from grassroots workers on the prospective candidates. This exercise is expected to be completed by November 11. The feedback will subsequently be placed before the state committee. The party's core committee, along with the election committees for the Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations, will then finalise the names. BJP central observer Sunil Bansal will also attend the meeting, the senior leader said. The BJP is exercising caution in candidate selection this time to avoid discontent within its organisational ranks. State president Samik Bhattacharya had earlier said that preference would be given to workers who had maintained a long association with the party and contributed to its organisational activities. He had made it clear that merely joining the BJP shortly before the elections would not guarantee a councillor's ticket. However, organisational seniority will not be the sole criterion. The party will also consider a candidate's acceptance among local residents, personal image, public outreach and prospects in the constituency, the leader said. The BJP is attaching considerable importance to the Kolkata and Howrah civic elections. Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar has been entrusted with overseeing the Kolkata polls, with Raju Banerjee as co-in-charge. State Commerce and Industries Minister Tapas Roy is the convener, while MLA Ritesh Tiwari is the co-convener. The state leadership is working on the final selection process before forwarding its recommendations to Bansal, who is overseeing the municipal corporation elections. Rajya Sabha MP Rahul Sinha, who is in charge of the Howrah civic polls, will also submit his proposed list of candidates to the party's central leadership for consideration.
Zoho launches restaurant POS platform in India, offers free plan for small businesses
Zoho has launched its restaurant POS platform in India, offering free access to outlets with annual billing of up to Rs 12 lakh, with Kolkata-based Asha Sweets becoming its first customer.
MassArt secretary arrested in Durga Puja ticket scam case in Kolkata
A week back former Trinamool era minister Indranil Sen was arrested byKolkata Police in the same case
Bengals new industrial policy to be announced today, focus on ease of doing business
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will announce the state government's new industrial policy on Thursday, with a focus on 'ease of doing business' by removing unnecessary government regulations for investment proposals and ensuring quick approvals. At the same time, state secretariat insiders aware of the contents of the new industrial policy said there will be proposals to resurrect the states incentive policy for investors, which was done away with during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress regime, in a more structured and comprehensive manner. The draft industrial policy had been designed as per the policies adopted by industrially developed states, a state secretariat insider said. The state cabinet cleared the draft industrial policy on October 28. Now the final industrial policy will be announced on Thursday afternoon after an administrative review meeting at the state Secretariat 'Nabanna'. The new industrial policy has been drafted by a group of ministers, and industrialists, industry associations, and economic experts were also consulted. Since the state government wanted the new industrial policy to be more structured and comprehensive, making a balance between various factors like investors interest, employment generation possibilities and the interest of the other stakeholders like landowners whose land will be acquired for industrial projects, the deadline for announcing the same was postponed again and again, said sources in the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC). Initially, it was announced that the new industrial policy would be announced on August 15 on the occasion of Independence Day. However, that did not happen, and the deadline was postponed repeatedly. Finally, on October 28, the draft industrial policy received the state cabinet nod, and it was announced that the policy would be formally announced on Thursday. As regards the proposed incentives to be announced for investors in the new industrial policy, state secretariat insiders said the focus would be on attracting investment to backward areas so that industrial projects developed there can be linked to socio-economic development in the area. The incentives can be in the form of waiver of electricity tariff for the initial years of project implementation and operations, state government bearing a certain percentage of interest on loans taken by the entrepreneur concerned, and reimbursement of the companys contribution in employees' provident fund, among others, a state government official said. After taking charge as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal in May this year, Suvendu Adhikari announced that a comprehensive new industrial policy will be formulated and announced within the current year to facilitate big-ticket investment in the state. Accordingly, a group of ministers was entrusted with the task of drawing up the new policy in June, Before the announcement of the new industrial policy, the Chief Minister had claimed that the policy had been prepared with a focus on creating an ideal investment ambience in the state, removing red-tapism in approvals, and ensuring massive employment generation.
Gold and silver prices today, 5 November: Check the latest 24K, 22K gold and 999 silver retail rates across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major Indian cities, along with MCX market updates.
Gold prices continued to rise in early trade on November 5 as the US dollar weakened to a more than one-month low.
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) The cash worth Rs 1,02,79,000, which was recovered by the police from a party office of the Trinamool Congress at Sarisha under Diamond Harbour Police district in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, was actually planted by the police administration, alleged the party's general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee. The Diamond Harbour Police had claimed that they got information about the huge cash at the Sarisha party office during the interrogation of Abhishek Banerjees aide, Sumit Roy, who is currently in police custody in relation to a multi-crore soil-theft case registered at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station under the jurisdiction of the same police district. However, rubbishing the police's claims, Banerjee issued a social media post late Wednesday night claiming that the cash was planted deliberately at the said party office, which was allegedly vandalised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed goons six months back. The deliberate planting of fake and fabricated evidence at a property vandalised six months ago by BJP goons, which subsequently became a scene of crime under police investigation, is a brazen attempt to subvert justice, manipulate the investigation and misuse the machinery of law, claimed the Diamond Harbour MP in his social media post. In his social media post, Abhishek Banerjee cautioned that those responsible for this alleged conspiracy of planting the cash at the property will ultimately be held accountable. Let this be an unequivocal warning to those orchestrating this sinister conspiracy and those acting at their behest: You will be held personally accountable for every act of fabrication, manipulation and abuse of authority, said Banerjee. He also warned the police administration not to mistake political patronage, official position or the misuse of police powers for immunity from prosecution. The law will catch up with every individual involved, regardless of rank, position or political affiliation. Prepare yourselves to face the full force of the law. There will be no compromise, no retreat and no escape from legal accountability, Banerjee added. On Monday, although the Diamond Harbour Police District confirmed that the party office -- where the cash was recovered -- belonged to the Trinamool Congress, it did not clarify who was actually responsible for running the office. It is still unclear why this huge amount of cash was kept in the Trinamool Congress party office and where it came from. The police are trying to gather more information about the source of this money. However, the police's initial probe has found that it is related to the case of soil theft registered at Kalitala-Ashuti police station.
Party writes to electoral authorities and KMC Commissioner, alleging that changes to maps and booth details deprived it of an opportunity to file objections and appeals
East Bengal went down 1-4 to Hwacheon KSPO of South Korea in their second AFC Women's Champions League 2026-27 group match at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata
Snatchers attack morning walkers, help burgles home
Kolkata woman loses 1.2 crore to cyber fraud
Doctor halts op for lunch, 50-yr-old dies at Howrah hosp
Bengal: INS Netaji Subhas completes Yoga course for Agniveers
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 4 (IANS) The first batch of Agniveers who were not retained after four years in service completed an 8-week certified Yoga Course conducted in accordance with the programme at INS Netaji Subhas, the Indian Navy's base in Kolkata, on Wednesday. The programme focused on promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, discipline and resilience. Certificates were awarded to the participants upon successful completion, the Navy said. This happened barely a few hours before the Union Cabinet approved the extension of Agniveers by two years. While the decision to continue in service will rest entirely with the individual, officials believe that a large number of them will do so. Taking a significant decision today, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Shri Narendra Modi has approved a two-year Second Tour of Duty for Agniveers under Agnipath. I sincerely thank PM Modi for taking the decision of an additional 2-year Second Tour of Duty for Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme. This would also provide enrollment of all willing Agniveers as regular soldiers after the tenure of 4/6 years, who meet the selection criteria, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted on X. This decision is a continuation of long-term structural reforms of our defence forces, aimed at creating a younger, fitter, technologically equipped and future-ready military. It is not merely a recruitment policy; it is a way forward to prepare India's military for the changing character of warfare, he added. Over 18,300 Agniveers were to exit the armed forces over the next three months after completing their four-year term. Under the Agnipath scheme, soldiers are recruited for a four-year term, with a provision to retain only 25% of them in regular service for another 15 years. Before they are released, the soldiers, sailors and air warriors have been undergoing the yoga course and medical evaluations. The 18,300 personnel, who were to be released this year, account for three-fourths of the 24,400 recruits inducted into the Army, Air Force and Navy in the first round of recruitment. The first batch comprised around 19,000 Agniveers in the Army, 2,850 in the IAF and 2,550 in the Navy, according to official data. However, all three services have expressed satisfaction with the performance of Agniveers across roles and agreed to their retention. Officials had earlier said the scheme could be tweaked in the future to retain more Agniveers with specialised skills. The Army currently has around 270,000 Agniveers, the IAF around 27,000 and the Navy roughly 21,000, the officials said. The government had introduced the Agnipath model in 2022 in a marked departure from the military's decades-old recruitment system. The idea was to maintain a younger and fitter fighting force.
240 deaths till Sept due to extreme weather events in Bengal, finds study
Animal-familiarisation campaign reaches schools
Patients forced out in New Town nursing homes landlord-tenant dispute
Cops dig up decomposed body of newborn
Police quiz MLA Kunal Ghosh for 90 minutes in Chorbagan row
IIT Kharagpur launches helpline to tackle cyberbullying
Cloud cover pushes max temp to 28.6C
AFC Women's CL: East Bengal Take a Beating But Stay in Knockout Race
East Bengal suffered a 1-4 defeat against South Korea's Hwacheon KSPO in their second AFC Women's Champions League group match in Kolkata. Despite an early lead through Fazila Ikwaput, Hwacheon dominated the second half, scoring three goals to secure the win. This loss puts East Bengal in a precarious position ahead of their final group match against DPR Korea's 4.25 SC.
Physicist Ashoke Sen delivers 1st lecture in hometown after Oskar Klein Medal
Will politics trump last few years green gains: New worry on Kol plate in season of festivities
Bengal: SIT arrests second accused in UNESCO-tagged fake Durga Puja pass scam
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 4 (IANS) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kolkata Police on Wednesday night arrested a senior corporate official in connection with the multi-crore fake Durga Puja pass scam involving UNESCO-tagged festival tours. The arrested individual, identified as Dhrubojyoti Basu, is a top executive of Mass Art, the corporate entity through which the fraudulent passes were allegedly marketed and sold. Basu was named in the initial First Information Report (FIR) and had been absconding since last week following the arrest of former West Bengal Tourism Minister Indranil Sen. Basus arrest marks the second major action by law enforcement in the ongoing probe, following the detention of Sen, a singer-turned-politician. According to police sources, while Mass Art was officially headed by Sens wife, Madhuchhanda Sen, the entity operated as the brainchild of the former minister and Basu. Investigators allege that the duo established a complex corruption network through the organisation to monetise unauthorised passes under the guise of UNESCO festival access. Madhuchhanda Sen has also been named in the FIR. However, she secured anticipatory bail from the Calcutta High Court and remains out of custody despite undergoing two rounds of interrogation. Authorities confirmed that the couple's daughter, Averi Sen, along with corporate entities linked to her, remain under active financial and administrative scrutiny. Indranil Sen, currently in police custody, is undergoing daily marathon interrogations by the SIT. Investigators have questioned nine other individuals in connection with the case, including Madhuchhanda Sen. Sen is scheduled to be produced before a lower court in Kolkata on November 10. Police officials stated that the SIT is actively gathering forensic and document-based evidence to counter potential bail applications during the upcoming court hearing. The case is being investigated through parallel probes by the Kolkata Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). City police sleuths originally took Sen into custody outside the EDs Salt Lake office in the northern outskirts of Kolkata last week.
KMC set to rope in pvt agencies to digitise birth certificates
Season of fear, uncertainty returns for Rabindra Sarobar birds
Blue cheer: Democratic sweep crucial for H-1B workers, green card aspirants
Class 58 students to learn coding, robotics in state-run schools
Education minister confirms delayed 2027 Madhyamik, HS exams
Use of technology for greater road safety discussed at IIT Madras
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 4 (IANS) The use of Geospatial data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable advanced road safety interventions came up for discussion during a fireside chat with Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, former judge, Supreme Court of India, and chairman, Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS), and Sanjay Bandopadhyay, member, SCCoRS at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras on Wednesday. The event brought together students, practitioners and innovators, who explored India's road safety challenges and the role of technology in addressing them. The key causes of road crashes, including overspeeding, drunk driving, wrong-side driving, jumping red lights, mobile phone use while driving, unsafe overtaking and driver fatigue and stress, were highlighted by Justice Sapre. He also spoke on the importance of applying first-principles thinking to develop effective solutions. The Road Safety Innovation Hub, developed by the Government of Tamil Nadu with RBG Labs, was also introduced during the session as a platform for students, researchers and entrepreneurs to share, test and advance their ideas. The Road Safety Innovation Hub often works alongside academic partners like the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety at IIT Madras to design, test, and deploy new technologies and data-driven solutions for safer roads. Its core focus area is creating data-backed safety interventions, smart mobility tools, low-cost engineering fixes, and emerging safety technologies to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities. It aligns with similar state and national deep-tech frameworks in India such as Odisha's design-thinking capacity programs and IIT Delhi's Bharat Safety initiative to scale tech-driven road safety. According to data shared in Parliament by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), 1,77,177 people were killed in road accidents in India in 2024. This was a 2.3% increase from the previous year. This effectively means that nearly 485 people die due to road accidents in India every day, and the toll is about 20 per hour. Data reveals that the number of deaths has gone up over the years. While 1,68,491 people were killed in 2022, the toll was 1,72,890 in 2023. About 46.2% of those killed are two-wheeler riders, while 20.6% are pedestrians. About 66.1% of those killed are in the productive age group of 18 to 45 years, while those aged between 18 and 60 make up 83.3%.
Discover Yourself Workshop in Kolkata: Participants Share Their Experiences of Inner Transformation
The three-day Discover Yourself (DYS) Workshop facilitated by Sadathullah Khan, was held at the Aliah University Auditorium, Park Circus Campus, Kolkata, from October 17 to 19, 2026. The workshop was organised by The Sirri Saqti Foundation (TSSF). The workshop brought together the participants to explore self-awareness, the distinction between mind and heart, the influence of [] The post Discover Yourself Workshop in Kolkata: Participants Share Their Experiences of Inner Transformation first appeared on .
First batch of 46th Indian expedition to Antarctica embarks for Maitri
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 4 (IANS) The first batch of 16 members of the 46th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (46-ISEA) has embarked on its journey, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), a laboratory under the Ministry of Earth Sciences said on Wednesday, officials said. The team will be carrying forward India's commitment to advancing polar science, exploring the icy frontiers and strengthening our understanding of Antarctica, it added. The team comprises scientists and researchers from across the country. Among them is Athira A.S., a research scholar at the ICARCentral Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT) in Kochi. She will be stationed at the Maitri Research Station in Antarctica to undertake research on microbial diversity in the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystem. Her research forms part of the project titled Contaminant Load Evaluation in Antarctic Natural Systems (CLEAN-ANT) (ISEA-63), coordinated by NCPOR. The collaborative research initiative between NCPOR and ICAR-CIFT brings together expertise in polar research, aquatic microbiology and environmental microbiology. Athira's research will focus on Actinomycete Diversity in Antarctic Soil, with the objective of isolating and characterising actinomycetes from Antarctic soil samples to assess their diversity and distribution under the extreme environmental conditions of the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystem, a statement from ICAR-CIFT said. Actinomycetes are a group of prokaryotic organisms classified as bacteria, characterised by their filamentous structures and ability to decompose complex organic materials, particularly in soil and marine environments. They are significant components of the microbial community, especially under conditions of high pH, temperature, or water stress. A key component of the study is to explore the potential of these microorganisms to produce bioactive compounds, particularly antimicrobial substances, including antibiotics, the institute said. Actinomycetes are an important group of microorganisms known for their ability to produce biologically active natural compounds. Investigating their diversity in the relatively unexplored Antarctic environment could provide valuable insights into microbial adaptation and help identify microorganisms with potential novel bioactive properties. The findings are expected to enhance understanding of microbial diversity in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems and contribute to research on extreme-environment microorganisms as potential sources of novel bioactive compounds. Athira's participation in this prestigious national scientific expedition marks an important milestone for ICAR-CIFT in expanding its research activities into polar microbial biodiversity and bioprospecting, ICAR-CIFT has said. Two meteorologists from Shillong in Meghalaya will also be part of the expedition. Partik Kumar and Dheeraj Chaudhary, from the IMD's Meteorological Centre in Shillong, will represent the department in the polar mission. Data collected from that region will help track climate variability and weather patterns across the world. The focus of 46-ISEA is Climate Change and its signatures in Antarctica. While NCPOR operates two year-round stations, Maitri and Bharati, in Antarctica for scientists to carry out research activities, reaching them is restricted between November and March (in the next calendar year), due to its peculiar geographic position.
Sunday PropTech acquires 89-room hotel in Kolkata, marks entry into city
Sunday PropTech Ltd marks a significant milestone with its inaugural acquisition of an 89-room hotel in Rajarhat. This venue will be included in its emerging mid-premium Clubhouse brand, bolstering its footprint in eastern India. Given its advantageous proximity to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, it appeals to business travelers. The company plans to revamp and reposition the hotel, while also identifying additional investment prospects in West Bengal.
Calcutta HC bars Bengal SEC from announcing KMC poll schedule till ward delimitation case verdict
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 4 (IANS) A division bench of the Calcutta High Court said on Wednesday barred the West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) for announcing the schedule for the forthcoming polls for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) till the time the court pronounces the judgment in the case, challenging the delimitation of wards in Kolkata civic body is announced. The polling for seven urban civic bodies in West Bengal, including KMC and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC), is likely to take place in the last week of December, and the results are expected to be announced in the first week of January next year. Before that the delimitation of the wards in KMC had been announced, increasing the number of wards to 209 from the previous figure of 144. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the delimitation process. In the petition filed by CPI-M leader and former party Councillor Dipu Das, she claimed that despite some serious objections to the new ward delimitation being raised and a proposal was mooted for a 'spot visit' and a public hearing in the area to get the opinions of the citizens, no importance was given to those objections and proposals. The petitioner also claimed that several aspects, including the population and geographical location of the wards, were not properly considered in the delimitation exercise. She even claimed that this move was made to give benefits to a specific party. Initially, the matter was heard at the Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya. However, instead of passing any specific order in the matter, Justice Bhattacharya directed all parties concerned to file affidavits in the matter. Thereafter, the petitioner approached the division bench of Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharya and Justice Arjun Roy challenging the order of the single-judge bench. The petitioner contended that if the WBSEC would announce the schedule of the KMC before a clear judgment in the matter, her petition would not have any relevance. The matter came up for hearing at the division bench on Wednesday. At the end of the hearing, that division bench said that the WBSEC should not announce the schedule of the KMC polls till the court pronounced its verdict in the matter.
Bengal: Rs 1.40 crore recovered from Kharagpur station; one arrested
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 4 (IANS) Rs 1.40 crore was recovered from Kharagpur station in West Midnapore district on Wednesday, an official said. The money was being brought from Tatanagar in Jharkhand to Howrah in West Bengal. Before it reached its destination, it was caught by the Government Railway Police (GRP). A passenger has also been arrested in connection with the incident. According to a Kharagpur GRP official, the incident took place in the morning. Rahul Soni was travelling from Tatanagar to Howrah by taking the Jan Shatabdi Express. When the train stopped at Kharagpur station, the GRP personnel on duty became suspicious after seeing his movements. He was standing on platform number seven in Kharagpur with one bag on his back and two bags in his hand. According to the official, Rahul tried to escape as the GRP personnel advanced towards him. However, he was finally caught. As the GRP personnel started questioning him, Rahul started giving incoherent answers. This further increased their suspicions. Finally, as soon as they started searching his bag, the GRP personnel on duty found bundles of Rs 500 notes in the bag. A total of 280 bundles of notes were recovered from him. Rahul could not give a satisfactory answer about where this huge amount of cash came from. Therefore, the Kharagpur GRP detained him and informed the Income Tax Department. Later, he was also formally arrested. Superintendent of Railway Police (Kharagpur) Jayanta Mukherjee said that the passenger is being interrogated to find out the source of this huge amount of money. According to the GRP official, the arrested person's house is in Howrah. During interrogation, he admitted that he was bringing the money from Tatanagar to Howrah. However, it is still not clear from whom in Tatanagar he was bringing the money and for what purpose. There are reports of such cash being recovered from the Howrah station premises from time to time. Many people are also caught for not being able to show the source of the cash. This time, more than one crore rupees in cash was recovered from Kharagpur station. Incidentally, shortly before this news came to light, Diamond Harbour Police had also recovered more than one crore rupees from a Trinamool Congress party office in Sarisha of South 24 Parganas district.
ISL 2026/27: Mohun Bagan look to guard home turf as Odisha eye breakthrough
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 4 (IANS) With nine points from four matches, former winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant will look to consolidate their position on top of the standings in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026/27 when they host Odisha FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Thursday. While the Mariners have made a strong start, Odisha have managed two points from their opening three outings and are hoping to gain their first full points. Thus, both teams have a lot to play for in the early season clash. The Mariners have shown ruthless efficiency in recent weeks, recovering from an early setback to string together three consecutive victories. Their latest 2-1 win over Punjab FC highlighted the quality of their attacking options, with Lee Erwin and Dejan Drai both finding the back of the net. Adding to Odisha FC's defensive concerns is the return of Australian striker Jamie Maclaren, who is back in the squad after recovering from injury. Maclaren famously dismantled the Juggernauts with a four-goal masterclass the last time these two sides met at the Salt Lake Stadium, in a 5-1 host victory. Head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis wants his side to show intent from the opening whistle. The team should start from the first second with more concentration and more aggressiveness, he said. Dilmperis also acknowledged the responsibility that comes with being at the top of the table, adding, I don't know if this is a fact that is going to give us confidence, but for sure it will make us more responsible. Bagan will be without Sahal Abdul Samad, who suffered a knee injury against Punjab FC, and Miguel Figueira, who scored the winner against Sporting Club Delhi in the Mariners' first victory of the season. Odisha FC, meanwhile, will look to build on consecutive draws against Inter Kashi and NorthEast United FC. Head coach TG Purushothaman has acknowledged the need for more creativity in midfield and a sharper attacking approach, but believes his side can take confidence from its defensive improvement. After keeping a first clean sheet against NorthEast, Odisha will need to maintain that discipline against the league leaders. Purushothaman underlined the importance of the fixture, saying, It is a survival match. We have to play like that to handle this match. He also pointed to the experience of facing NorthEast United as preparation for the challenge ahead: So, we know how to deal with all the situations right now, and we are confident about this. With Mohun Bagan seeking a fourth consecutive win and Odisha desperate to get their campaign moving, both sides have plenty at stake in Kolkata.
Delhi AQI In 'Severe' Category; Mumbai, Kolkata Hover In 'Unhealthy' Zone
Check the air quality levels across six Indian cities, with New Delhi recording the highest AQI and Hyderabad reporting the lowest.
IFL 2026/27: Samaleswari SC set for historic home debut against Dempo SC
Digital Desk | Rourkela, Nov 4 (IANS) Samaleswari SC will make their home debut as they face Goan heavyweights Dempo SC in the Indian Football League (IFL) 2026/27 season at the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium in Rourkela on Thursday. Playing their debut campaign, Samaleswari SC showed a good account of themselves in their first-ever match, going down 2-3 narrowly to former I-League champions Gokulam Kerala FC in Kozhikode after conceding in the seventh minute of injury time. Argentine forward Pereyra Diaz emerged as the standout performer against Gokulam Kerala, constantly testing the opposing goalkeeper with sharp efforts before converting his late penalty, while winger Sahil Harijan provided a persistent spark with his driving runs and chance creation down the left flank. Head coach Abdul Azim Siddique, with a squad featuring 14 players with Indian national team experience across levels alongside a strong local contingent, highlighted how hosting IFL matches in Rourkela will provide a vital platform for organic talent in the state. I am very happy that the IFL is here in Rourkela because the organic talent developed in Odisha previously did not have a platform and had to go to Kolkata or other states to play, Samaleswari SC head coach Abdul Azim Siddique said. Under the vision of our chairperson Jayanarayan Mishra to develop Odisha football, we have 10 players from Odisha in our squad, including five graduates from the Maa Samaleswari Sports Academy in Sambalpur, alongside local talents like Vicky Oram, Roshan Panna, Samir Murmu, and Sahil Harijan, he said. Speaking on the balance of his roster and the significance of playing 10 home matches in the state, Siddique added, Because the competition at the national level is very high, we have also brought in five foreign players; two of whom have represented their countries and 14 players who have represented India at the national level. Playing home-and-away matches across the country is the best way to develop football. There is a big difference between watching on television and watching in the stadium, and this platform will inspire the next generation of local players to reach the Indian national team, he added. Samaleswari SC midfielder and former India U-17 FIFA World Cup captain Kiyam Amarjit Singh echoed his coach's call for the local fans to back the team on their home bow. Having the IFL take place for the first time in Rourkela and Sambalpur is a great platform for football in the region, Kiyam Amarjit Singh said. When fans come to the stadium to support us and see local Odia players competing alongside foreign signings from countries like Argentina and Ghana, it builds a strong sporting culture. We are grateful for the support on our opening home matchday and hope the fans turn out in numbers to back the team. Dempo SC travelled to Odisha with a dramatic victory in their first match of the season. The Golden Eagles secured a 1-0 win over debutants FC Bengaluru United in Fatorda, courtesy of an eighth-minute stoppage-time header from Ghanaian defender Uzziel Yaw Asomaning Budu. Despite dominating possession for large spells, Dempo had to wait until the final moments to break down a resolute Bengaluru defence, a testament to their persistence. Budu proved to be the decisive figure, not only anchoring the defence but rising highest to head home the stoppage-time winner, while Bagkar provided a constant creative spark with his probing runs down the left flank and goalkeeper Bhattacharjee made a crucial second-half intervention to secure the clean sheet. Guided by head coach Samir Naik, the Goan outfit is looking to become more clinical in front of goal while showing full respect to a resilient Samaleswari side. Overall, the entire team played well in our opening game; we had good ball possession, created several chances, and stayed organised defensively to get the three points, Dempo SC head coach Samir Naik said. We know we can do better in converting our opportunities. Some of the new players take a little time to adjust, but I strongly believe we have players who can change the game on their own, and I have full trust that we will improve with every match. Assessing the challenge posed by Samaleswari SC and the travel to Rourkela, Naik added, All teams in this league are equal, and there are no favourites. Samaleswari were 2-0 down in their first match, fought back to 2-2, and only lost in injury time, and they have good players who have proven themselves at the ISL level. It was a long journey for us to get here, though the playing conditions are quite similar to Goa, and as professionals we are ready. Aside from Amay Morajkar, who trained individually today and will be assessed tomorrow, the squad is fit, he added. Dempo SC defender Pruthvesh Pednekar reiterated the positive mood in the dressing room ahead of their first away test. Everyone is working hard in training, and the mood in the camp is very positive after getting the three points in our first game, Pruthvesh Pednekar said. In the opener, we controlled possession well and kept pushing until the final minute to get our reward. We are fully focused on executing the coach's plan tomorrow and fighting to bring home all three points. Statistically, the match brings together two sides that were involved in stoppage-time drama on the opening weekendSamaleswari conceding a 90+7th-minute winner after scoring twice in the final 15 minutes (75' and 90'), and Dempo netting the latest goal of Matchday 1 in the 98th minute (90+8'). Dempo also demonstrated strong control on the ball in their opener, commanding 70 per cent possession and stringing together nearly 250 passes in the first half alone, whereas Samaleswari proved dangerous in the second half after the hour mark, generating a flurry of shots on target to erase a two-goal deficit. With Samaleswari SC eager to mark their historic Odisha home bow with their first points of the campaign, and Dempo SC looking to build on their dramatic opening-day victory, Thursday's clash in Rourkela promises a compelling contest.
This Gurgaon couple bought a car for family road trips with their parrot
Asanka and Monisha, who relocated to Gurugram from Kolkata, purchased a pre-owned Toyota Urban Cruiser. They sought a car that could accommodate long road trips and their pet parrot, Jelly. Prior to buying, Asanka ensured the vehicle was inspected and serviced at a Toyota service center. By choosing a pre-owned model, they saved 7-8 lakh compared to purchasing a new one.
Sugar prices jump Rs 4/kg in a month, rise Rs 12-13 over year despite supply steps
Sugar prices in India have risen significantly over the past month in both retail and wholesale markets. Retail prices have now reached Rs 59.50 per kg while wholesale prices stand at Rs 55.40 per kg. Kolkata has the highest retail price at Rs 65 per kg followed closely by Delhi at Rs 64. The government is implementing measures to manage supply, including stock limits and imports. India produced 8.
Todays Gold Rate in India November 4: Gold prices up in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru
22, 24 carat Gold prices up across metro cities on November 4
Sugar Prices Rise Over Rs 4 per Kg in a Month
Retail and wholesale rates climb amid tight supplies and festive demand, with Kolkata recording the highest price among major metros.
West Bengal Forms SIT to Investigate Controversial Encounter in Samserganj
A five-member SIT has been established in Kolkata to investigate the police encounter of murder suspect Samiul Sheikh in Samserganj. West Bengal Forms SIT to Investigate Controversial Encounter in Samserganj
ED raids Kolkata businessman's residence, office in hawala-linked money laundering probe
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 4 (IANS) Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Wednesday conducted search operations at the residence and office of businessman Shyamal Byapari in Kolkata's suburban Kamalgazi area as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to an alleged hawala network and cyber fraud proceeds. According to the ED, the search operation began at around 7 a.m. based on a case registered in Guwahati. The agency carried out simultaneous raids at the businessmans residence under the Narendrapur police station limits and his office premises. Investigators suspect that illicit funds generated through cyber fraud were routed through a business network operating under the guise of legitimate rice trade activities. Officials alleged that substantial sums were laundered through hawala channels and that the accused was involved in financial irregularities amounting to several crores of rupees. The searches are aimed at gathering digital evidence, financial records and other crucial documents that could help trace the flow of funds and identify other individuals linked to the network. The agency is also examining several bank accounts suspected to be connected to the transactions. According to sources, these accounts could be frozen if evidence of illegal activities emerges during the investigation. ED officials are probing whether cyber fraud proceeds originating in Guwahati were funnelled through the Bengal-based business entity and subsequently circulated through hawala channels. The latest action comes weeks after the ED conducted searches at multiple locations in Kolkata in connection with an alleged investment fraud case. The agency has intensified its scrutiny of financial crimes and money laundering networks operating in the state. The ED's investigation is to find out how the cyber fraud money from Guwahati was circulated through a Bengal-based business entity through hawala and who else is involved in the ring.
Gold rate today Coimbatore Nov 4 Wednesday: Up or down? Latest price for investors ahead of Dhanteras, Diwali 2026. We also bring retail prices of 18K, 22K and 24K gold and 999 Fine silver across cities Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
IIHM Scot Malt Tour 2026: Taking Hospitality Education Beyond Borders
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 4: Hospitality education in India is evolving beyond conventional classroom learning, and the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), Asia's largest chain of hotel schools, is taking this transformation across international borders. Through experiential learning in hospitality and strong industry partnerships, IIHM continues to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application. Reflecting its philosophy of High Tech, Higher Touch, the institution is redefining hospitality education by creating opportunities for students to learn directly from global industries and explore career possibilities beyond traditional hotel operations.
Blue Heaven Brings Festive Beauty Experiences to Kolkata
India : Blue Heaven, one of Indias leading homegrown beauty brands from the house of Esme Consumer, celebrated the spirit of Durga Puja in Kolkata with immersive on-ground beauty experiences inspired by the citys festive tradition of Durga Puja ki SajDhaj. Marking the brands third Makeup Party edition and its continued collaboration with quick-commerce platform []
5-member SIT formed to probe October 27 encounter killing in Bengals Samserganj
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 4 (IANS) West Bengal Police have formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the encounter killing of Samiul Sheikh, a murder accused, at Samserganj in Murshidabad on the afternoon of October 27. As per the police version, Sheikh, one of the three accused in the murder of a local BJP leader, Sujit Mondal, was taken to the scene of the crime for recreation of the crime scene, when he tried to escape after snatching the firearm of an escorting police officer. The police claimed that as he fired a few rounds of bullets towards the escorting cops, an inspector present at the spot resorted to counter-firing, in which Sheikh was killed. Now, a five-member SIT has been constituted to probe the encounter matter on the state government's direction, as confirmed by the Deputy Inspector General (Murshidabad Range), Ajeet Singh Yadav, to the media persons. First, an official notification on the formation of the SIT was announced, and subsequently, the five-member SIT was constituted. The SIT will be headed by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Deibyendu Tamang. The other four members of the SIT are Swarup Biswas, Abhijit Sarkar, Nilesh Chandra Sarkar and Mithun Halder. While Biswas is an inspector-rank officer, the other three are in the ranks of sub-inspectors. To recall, Sujit Mondal, a local BJP leader and a resident of the Old Dakbanglo area of Samserganj, mysteriously disappeared on August 28. His dismembered body was later recovered. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had then said that Mondal was killed with a meat-cutting knife. The police later arrested the three accused, namely Samiul Sheikh, Tajkira Bibi and Johnny Sheikh. Of the three, Sheikh was killed in the police encounter on October 27. The murder case also sparked allegations of police negligence. Mondal's wife, Sumana Mondal, alleged that despite repeatedly approaching the local police station after her husband's disappearance, she received no assistance. The incident led to disciplinary action against several police officials, including suspensions, transfers and departmental inquiries. The Chief Minister then termed it a 'major blunder'.
