September 11, 2026
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  • National, World
New Delhi Ready for 18th BRICS Summit as Modi Says India Set for Global Leaders’ Meet
  • Assam
PepsiCo Inaugurates ₹778 Crore Food Plant in Nalbari, Over 75% Workforce to Be Women
  • Assam
NFR Freight Loading Rises 4.5% in August, Cumulative Growth Reaches 6.5%
  • Assam, Education
Gauhati Commerce College Marks 65th Foundation Day as Ranoj Pegu Calls for Expansion of Commerce Education
  • Assam, Education
PIBM Inaugurates Guwahati Campus at Khanapara, First MBA Batch to Begin This Year

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  • National, World
New Delhi Ready for 18th BRICS Summit as Modi Says India Set for Global Leaders’ Meet
  • Assam
PepsiCo Inaugurates ₹778 Crore Food Plant in Nalbari, Over 75% Workforce to Be Women
  • Assam
NFR Freight Loading Rises 4.5% in August, Cumulative Growth Reaches 6.5%
  • Assam, Education
Gauhati Commerce College Marks 65th Foundation Day as Ranoj Pegu Calls for Expansion of Commerce Education

New Delhi: New Delhi is preparing to host one of the year’s major diplomatic gatherings as leaders of the BRICS countries arrive in the capital for the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled India’s readiness for the summit, posting on social media that the country is “all set for BRICS 2026”. In another message, Modi expressed confidence that the gathering would lead to meaningful discussions on issues of global importance and contribute towards wider international welfare.

India is chairing BRICS in 2026, with the summit bringing together the leaders of the expanded 11-member grouping. The current BRICS membership comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

The summit comes against the backdrop of major geopolitical and economic developments, with BRICS expected to provide a platform for discussions on international cooperation, global governance, economic issues, development and other matters of common interest. India’s 2026 chairship is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the summit. Prime Minister Modi had already met Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, where the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on India’s BRICS chairship. Modi said he looked forward to welcoming Putin to India for the 18th BRICS Summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to be among the prominent leaders attending the New Delhi meeting. The summit comes as India and China have gradually increased high-level engagement following a period of strained bilateral relations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is another key participant expected at the gathering. With Iran, Russia, China and other major emerging economies represented within the grouping, discussions at the summit are likely to draw attention to a range of regional and global developments alongside the economic agenda.

BRICS has evolved considerably since its formation, expanding beyond its original group of major emerging economies. The grouping now represents a substantial share of the world’s population and economy and has increasingly become a platform for countries of the Global South to coordinate positions on global governance and development. According to the latest government backgrounder, the 11 BRICS members collectively account for around 49.5 per cent of the world’s population, 40 per cent of global GDP and 26 per cent of global trade.

For India, the 2026 chairship has involved a broad programme of ministerial and official-level meetings covering areas such as trade, education, communications, environment and other sectors. These discussions are expected to feed into the agenda and outcomes of the leaders’ summit.

Security arrangements have also been strengthened in the national capital ahead of the arrival of foreign dignitaries. Bharat Mandapam and the routes used by visiting leaders are expected to remain under heightened security, while traffic arrangements are being coordinated to manage the movement of official convoys.

The two-day summit will provide India with an opportunity to showcase its priorities under the 2026 BRICS chairship while seeking greater cooperation among member countries. The government has described the grouping as an important platform for advancing practical cooperation and addressing shared challenges.

As New Delhi prepares to welcome the participating leaders, Prime Minister Modi’s message that India is ready for BRICS 2026 sets the tone for a summit expected to attract significant international attention.

Nalbari, Assam: Assam’s industrial landscape received a major boost with the inauguration of PepsiCo India’s new food manufacturing plant in Nalbari, a project Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma described as an important step in the state’s ongoing industrialisation drive.

The Chief Minister returned to Nalbari to formally inaugurate the facility, nearly three years after laying its foundation stone in 2023. The plant represents a major investment by PepsiCo and is expected to strengthen the state’s food-processing sector while creating new opportunities for local employment and agriculture.

According to Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the project has an investment value of around ₹778 crore, while PepsiCo separately described its investment in Nalbari as ₹750 crore in its official communication. The facility is expected to play a significant role in strengthening Assam’s potato value chain by creating an assured market for locally produced potatoes.

The Chief Minister said the plant is expected to support around 5,000 local farmers, providing them with a dependable market for their produce. The project is therefore positioned not only as an industrial investment but also as a link between Assam’s agricultural producers and the organised food-processing industry.

Employment generation is another major feature of the facility. Sarma said the plant has a workforce comprising more than 75 per cent women, highlighting the project’s potential to expand employment opportunities for women in the region. He also recalled that when the project was announced in 2023, expectations had been set for employment for more than 500 people and benefits for around 5,000 farmers.

The inauguration also underlines the growing importance of food processing in Assam’s industrial development. By connecting agricultural production with large-scale manufacturing, the project could provide farmers with greater market access while contributing to the development of supporting activities linked to logistics, transportation and supply chains.

PepsiCo India, in its official statement, described the inauguration as the beginning of a new chapter for the company in the region and acknowledged the participation of the Assam Chief Minister at the milestone event.

Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Nalbari facility was only the beginning of a larger pipeline of industrial projects planned for Assam. He indicated that several more projects are expected to come up in the state, signalling the government’s continued focus on attracting investment and expanding industrial activity.

The PepsiCo plant is consequently being seen as an important development for Nalbari and Assam, particularly for its potential to combine industrial investment, women’s employment and agricultural market opportunities. Its operation is expected to strengthen the state’s potato-based value chain while contributing to Assam’s broader industrialisation efforts.

Guwahati: Freight movement across the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) network continued its upward trend in August, with the railway zone handling 0.957 million tonnes (MT) of freight during the month. The figure represents a 4.5 per cent increase compared with the 0.916 MT recorded in August last year.

The growth was more pronounced when freight performance was considered for the first five months of the current financial year. Between April and August 2026, NFR loaded 5.09 MT of freight, marking a 6.5 per cent rise over the 4.78 MT recorded during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

Several commodity segments contributed to the improved performance. Cement emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories in August, with loading reaching 0.13 MT, more than double the volume recorded during the same month a year earlier. This represented a growth of 106.6 per cent.

NFR also registered substantial increases in the movement of miscellaneous commodities, which include products such as fruits, vegetables and timber. Loading in this category rose by 92.3 per cent during August. Coal loading increased by 54.5 per cent, while dolomite recorded a 46.4 per cent rise.

Other important freight categories also posted positive growth during the month. Foodgrain loading increased by 39.6 per cent, followed by container traffic at 6.3 per cent and fertiliser loading at 3.7 per cent.

The cumulative April-August figures showed particularly strong growth in cement movement, which climbed by 161.9 per cent compared with the corresponding period of the previous financial year. Miscellaneous commodities registered a 44.6 per cent increase, while dolomite loading rose by 34.2 per cent.

During the same five-month period, NFR recorded a 7.5 per cent increase in coal loading and a 7.1 per cent rise in container traffic, further contributing to the overall improvement in freight performance.

According to NFR, the growth reflects efforts to improve operational efficiency and maintain closer coordination with freight customers. The railway zone also highlighted its focus on ensuring the timely movement of essential commodities across its network.

The latest figures indicate continued strengthening of freight activity under NFR, with growth recorded across several key commodity segments during both August and the April-August period.

Guwahati: Gauhati Commerce College (GCC) marked its 65th Foundation Day with Assam Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu attending the celebration and highlighting the need to strengthen commerce education across the state.

Established in 1962, Gauhati Commerce College has played an important role in the development of commerce education in Assam. The institution, located on R.G. Baruah Road in Chandmari, Guwahati, has emerged as one of the prominent centres for commerce education in the state.

Addressing the foundation day gathering, Dr. Ranoj Pegu said commerce remains closely connected with the functioning of a country’s economy, linking areas such as enterprise, trade, finance and employment. He extended his greetings to the college fraternity on the occasion and acknowledged the institution’s contribution to commerce education over the decades.

The Education Minister also spoke about the changing nature of the economic and employment landscape and urged students to prepare themselves for emerging opportunities and challenges. With the college having received autonomous status, he encouraged students to develop a future-ready approach to education and make effective use of emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to improve their knowledge, skills and employability.

Pegu stressed that technological developments are rapidly changing the requirements of the workplace and that students need to continuously upgrade their capabilities to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive environment.

During his address, the minister also highlighted the limited availability of commerce education across Assam. According to him, only 55 colleges in the state currently offer commerce education. He said the Assam government would soon take steps to expand commerce education to more institutions, with the objective of creating greater educational opportunities for young people.

The proposed expansion is expected to help more students pursue commerce-related studies while also contributing to the development of a stronger pool of skilled professionals for Assam’s evolving economic landscape.

The 65th Foundation Day celebration therefore combined a reflection on Gauhati Commerce College’s longstanding contribution to education with a focus on preparing students for the future. With greater emphasis on technology, skills and employability, the institution is expected to continue playing a role in shaping the next generation of commerce professionals in Assam.

Guwahati, Assam: A new opportunity in management education has emerged in Assam with the inauguration of the Guwahati campus of the Pune Institute of Business Management (PIBM) at Khanapara. Assam Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu inaugurated the new campus, marking PIBM’s entry into the Northeast with a dedicated centre for management education.

Sharing the development, Dr. Ranoj Pegu said PIBM is a NAAC ‘A’ accredited institution approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and has established itself in the field of management education through its focus on industry-oriented learning.

The first batch of the MBA programme at the Guwahati campus is scheduled to begin this year, with nearly 75 students enrolled in the first year, according to the minister. The launch is expected to provide students in Assam and other northeastern states with greater access to professional management education and industry-focused academic programmes.

The establishment of the new campus is also expected to strengthen the higher education ecosystem in the region by creating additional opportunities for students aspiring to pursue careers in business management and related fields. With its emphasis on practical and industry-oriented learning, PIBM aims to connect academic education with the requirements of the professional and corporate sectors.

The Guwahati campus, located in the Khanapara area of the city, is expected to serve not only students from Assam but also learners from other parts of the Northeast. Its arrival could provide students with an additional option for pursuing management education closer to home while gaining exposure to contemporary business and industry practices.

Dr. Ranoj Pegu extended his best wishes to PIBM, its faculty members and students as the institution begins its academic journey in Assam. He expressed hope that the new campus would contribute to strengthening the quality of management education in Assam and across the Northeast while promoting learning, innovation and excellence.

The inauguration of the PIBM Guwahati campus marks a significant addition to the region’s management education landscape, with the first MBA cohort set to commence its academic journey this year.