Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the energy sector would play a key role in driving the state’s next phase of economic growth, with new solar, pumped-storage and battery projects expected to attract more than Rs 80,000 crore in investment and create nearly 40,000 jobs.

In a post on X, CM Sarma said the planned expansion of the state’s clean energy ecosystem would open up new employment and economic opportunities, particularly for Assam’s youth.

“The energy sector will be a key driver of Assam’s next phase of growth,” the Chief Minister said, highlighting the potential of renewable energy and energy-storage projects to transform the state’s investment landscape.

According to CM Sarma, the proposed projects span solar power generation, pumped-storage systems and battery projects, indicating a broader push towards building infrastructure capable of supporting Assam’s future energy requirements.

The investment potential of over Rs 80,000 crore could give a significant boost to the state’s industrial and infrastructure development, while the projected creation of nearly 40,000 jobs is expected to provide fresh opportunities for the local workforce.

The Chief Minister’s announcement comes as Assam seeks to accelerate industrialisation and attract large-scale investments across emerging sectors. The state government has increasingly focused on renewable energy and infrastructure as part of its broader strategy to create jobs and strengthen the economy.

Solar projects could help expand Assam’s renewable power generation capacity, while pumped-storage facilities can provide large-scale energy storage and improve the flexibility of the power grid. Battery projects, meanwhile, could support the growing demand for energy-storage solutions as renewable power generation expands.

CM Sarma said emerging energy opportunities would be particularly important for the state’s young population, signalling the government’s focus on linking investment with employment generation.

The proposed projects are also expected to strengthen Assam’s position as an emerging destination for clean-energy investments in the Northeast.

With more than Rs 80,000 crore of investment potential and nearly 40,000 jobs in the pipeline, the energy sector is set to become an important pillar of Assam’s economic expansion, the Chief Minister indicated.

New Delhi, Sep 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifting President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural on Friday is another example of his efforts at putting forward India’s heritage and culture before the rest of the world.

“This is not the first time PM Modi has taken our culture global!” said ‘Modi Story’, an initiative to bring forward the Prime Minister’s work and thoughts through the eyes of those who have caught a glimpse into his life.

The social media post on Saturday was in reference to him presenting President Putin with a Russian translation of the composition which carries the eternal wisdom of the great Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders.

The Russian President is in India to participate in the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, now underway in New Delhi.

The composition is a timeless work on ethics, politics, and love, among those by the celebrated figure in Tamil literature and philosophy, who is also referred as Valluvar.

“Back at the 2019 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, PM Modi spearheaded an initiative to translate 10 modern Indian works into Russian, Chinese, and English so regional literature could reach global audiences,” it added, quoting a statement from K. Sreenivasan, former Secretary of Sahitya Academy.

The 19th SCO Summit was then held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, focusing on regional security, economic cooperation, and multilateral diplomacy.

“He (PM Modi) has created space for Indian culture, Indian literature, Indian languages, (where) though we’re creating excellent literary works, we’re not able to showcase it before the world,” Sreenivasan said in a video attached with the social media post.

“Then, in 2020, we contacted the External Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Culture and then made a list of 10 books to be translated in the three languages,” he added.

It was in 2020-2021 when the Summit was held under India’s chairmanship — it was the time of the pandemic and the meeting had to be held virtually — that the books were released, he also said.

Prime Minister Modi then announced that the country had achieved what he had set out to do.

“I want to say this to tell how he is concerned about Indian literature, Indian languages even in the international platform,” Sreenivasan stressed.

The social media post reminded that earlier, during President Putin’s India visit in December 2025, Prime Minister Modi had gifted him a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita.

“PM Modi’s cultural diplomacy is a masterclass in putting Indian heritage front and centre on the world stage!” it added.

Kolkata, Sep 12: A man in West Bengal South 24 Parganas district has been arrested for sexually assaulting his 13-year-old daughter, police said on Saturday.

According to the police, the elder daughter had filed a complaint against her father with the Baruipar police. She claimed that she left home due to sexual assault, which she was subjected to by her father, and alleged that he was doing the same to her younger sister. Based on that complaint, officers of Baruipur Women Police Station have arrested the accused.

According to the police, the arrested person is a hawker by profession.

Allegedly, in December last year, the accused’s elder daughter was subjected to physical abuse. She left home in anger and fear. The younger daughter alleged that her father’s misbehaviour was not resolved even after she informed her mother. The mother kept quiet even after knowing everything.

It is alleged that after the elder daughter left home, the father continued to sexually assault the younger daughter. The ‘victim’ claimed that this had been happening for the past few months. She said that there was no situation to tell anyone. She spoke to her sister on the phone. After that, both sisters informed their mother. Even after that, the mother remained silent and refused to accept their allegations.

Incidentally, the accused’s elder daughter called 100 and informed the police about the matter. Based on that, officers of Baruipur Women Police Station arrested the accused from the Kulpi Road area last night. A case has been registered against the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Police have applied for his custody to investigate the matter further.

“Based on the complaint by the daughter, the father has been arrested. We will seek his custody to interrogate him further. Investigation is on, and all the allegations are being looked into,” a senior officer of Baruipur Police District said.