APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (01/08/2025)
For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, staying updated with current affairs is vital. This blog covers most important topics from the Assam Tribune today (01-08-2025). These issues are key for both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, offering insights into the APSC CCE Syllabus.
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🏫 National Education Policy 2020: Five Years of Implementation
📘 GS Paper 2 (Mains): Education | Governance | Government Policies
📘 GS Paper 4 (Mains): Ethics in Governance | Value-based Education
📘 GS Paper 1 (Prelims): NEP 2020 | Education Initiatives
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Education in Assam | Role of Institutions | Centre-State Coordination
🔹 Introduction
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, introduced after 34 years, aimed to revamp India’s education system to make it flexible, multidisciplinary, and future-ready. On its 5th anniversary, the government reviewed progress, challenges, and regional implementations — especially in states like Assam which are crucial for inclusive and multilingual education.
🔑 Key Highlights
| Element | NEP 2020 Feature |
| Schooling Structure | 5+3+3+4 system replacing 10+2 |
| Language Policy | Emphasis on mother tongue/regional language till Class 5 |
| Higher Education | Multidisciplinary HEIs, credit banks, exit options |
| Teacher Training | Mandatory 4-year integrated B.Ed. courses |
| Regulatory Shift | Creation of single regulator (HECI) for higher education |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
NEP 2020: Replaces NEP 1986; focuses on universal foundational literacy by 2025
NIPUN Bharat: National mission for foundational learning (Classes 1–3)
Academic Bank of Credit (ABC): Digital record of credit-based learning
HECI: Higher Education Commission of India (to subsume UGC, AICTE)
National Curriculum Framework (NCF): Updated for holistic learning
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Significance of NEP for India and Assam
| Impact Area | Outcome |
| Equity & Inclusion | Focus on socio-economically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs) |
| Regional Integration | Promotes local language and cultural heritage |
| Skill-Oriented Education | Vocational training from Class 6 |
| Teacher Empowerment | Training reforms and technology integration |
| Digital India | Use of e-learning platforms like DIKSHA, SWAYAM |
B. Challenges in Implementation
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Federal Coordination | Education is a concurrent subject; state-level adoption varies |
| Teacher Vacancies | Lack of qualified staff for NEP-aligned pedagogy |
| Digital Divide | Rural-urban gaps in e-learning infrastructure |
| Funding Gaps | Target of 6% of GDP for education not yet met |
| Resistance to Language Policy | Concerns over imposing certain languages |
📊 Government Initiatives
PM SHRI Schools: NEP-aligned model schools
Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK): Real-time monitoring of school learning outcomes
National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR): For e-governance in education
Skill India + NEP: Vocational alignment with industry demand
Assam’s NEP Implementation Cell: Tracks phased adoption at district levels
🧭 Way Forward
| Strategy | Action |
| Localized Curricula | Involve local stakeholders for contextualized education |
| Public-Private Partnerships | For digital access and infrastructure |
| Teacher Recruitment Drive | Especially in tribal and remote regions |
| Monitoring Mechanism | Independent audits of NEP implementation |
| NEP + SDGs | Align NEP goals with SDG 4 (Quality Education) |
🧩 Conclusion
NEP 2020 marks a paradigm shift in India’s education governance, and its success depends on collaborative, inclusive, and phased execution. States like Assam can lead in integrating multilingualism, cultural knowledge, and digital innovation to realize the vision of a truly Atmanirbhar Bharat through education.
🌾 Procurement of Paddy by FCI & State Agencies in Assam
📘 GS Paper 3 (Mains): Agriculture | Food Security | MSP & Procurement
📘 GS Paper 2 (Mains): Welfare Schemes | Centre-State Relations
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Assam’s Agrarian Economy | Rural Development
📘 Prelims: FCI | Minimum Support Price (MSP) | Food Security Act
🔹 Introduction
The Food Corporation of India (FCI), along with the Assam government, has scaled up paddy procurement operations during the 2024–25 Kharif season. The initiative supports local farmers through MSP-linked direct purchases, aiming to reduce dependency on middlemen and ensure fair prices and food security.
🔑 Key Points
| Parameter | Details |
| Agency | FCI & Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board |
| Procurement Season | Kharif 2024–25 |
| Procurement Price | ₹2,183/quintal (MSP for Grade A paddy) |
| Districts Covered | Nagaon, Morigaon, Barpeta, Darrang, etc. |
| Total Procurement Target | Over 1.2 lakh metric tonnes |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Minimum Support Price (MSP): Announced by CACP and approved by Cabinet
FCI: Nodal agency for procurement and buffer stock maintenance
Decentralized Procurement Scheme (DCP): States can procure on behalf of GoI
e-NAM: Digital platform linking APMCs for price discovery
PM-AASHA: Umbrella scheme including Price Deficiency Payment Scheme
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance for Assam’s Farmers
| Dimension | Benefit |
| Price Security | Ensures farmers are not exploited by traders |
| Rural Economy | Infuses cash during harvest season |
| Food Security | Strengthens PDS and buffer stock |
| Women SHGs | Encouraged to assist in procurement logistics |
| Boosts Acreage | Incentivizes more farmers to sow paddy |
B. Challenges in Procurement
| Challenge | Impact |
| Low Awareness | Farmers unaware of MSP or registration process |
| Procurement Centres | Limited in remote rural areas |
| Storage Capacity | FCI godowns often lack modern storage in Assam |
| Payment Delays | Transactional bottlenecks due to offline systems |
| Middlemen Influence | Still dominant in local mandis |
📊 Govt Initiatives
MSP Revision: Announced annually before sowing seasons
Online Farmer Registration: Assam Agri Dept portal
e-Procurement Monitoring: Use of mobile apps for transparency
Grain Storage Modernization: Collaboration with NABARD & private sector
PM Kisan: Direct income support complements MSP benefits
🧭 Way Forward
| Suggestion | Action Needed |
| Awareness Drives | Gram Sabhas and Kisan Melas in regional languages |
| Logistics Upgrades | Decentralized godowns and mobile procurement vans |
| End-to-End Digitization | From registration to payment |
| Farmer Cooperatives | Aggregation of smallholder produce |
| Price Intelligence | Disseminate real-time mandi prices via SMS/IVRS |
🧩 Conclusion
Effective paddy procurement in Assam is not just an economic intervention but a tool of agrarian justice. With improved reach, digital transparency, and infrastructure, MSP-led procurement can uplift farmers and secure Assam’s food future.
🌊 Flood & Erosion Control in Majuli: Phase-V Project Approved
📘 GS Paper 1 (Mains): Geography – Riverine Islands | Disaster Management
📘 GS Paper 3 (Mains): Infrastructure | Environment | Government Interventions
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Assam-specific Development | Erosion Management | Brahmaputra Basin
📘 Prelims: Majuli | Brahmaputra Board | Riverbank Protection
🔹 Introduction
Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island, continues to face existential threats from riverbank erosion. The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has sanctioned Phase-V of the flood and erosion control project to safeguard critical zones using innovative techniques like porcupines and embankment fortifications.
🔑 Key Features
| Component | Description |
| Project Name | Protection of Majuli Island from Flood and Erosion (Phase-V) |
| Sanctioning Body | Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India |
| Implementing Agency | Brahmaputra Board in coordination with INTACH |
| Estimated Cost | ₹56.34 crore |
| Technique Used | Bank protection using porcupines (permeable structures) |
| Coverage Area | Vulnerable stretches along Brahmaputra in Majuli |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Porcupine Structures: Triangular wooden or RCC frameworks used to reduce flow velocity and sediment erosion.
Majuli: Notified as a district in 2016; heavily impacted by Brahmaputra’s shifting course.
Brahmaputra Board: A statutory body under MoJS; responsible for flood & erosion management.
INTACH: Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage – involved in cultural & eco-restoration.
Majuli Satras: Monasteries with rich Vaishnavite heritage, threatened by floods.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of the Project
| Aspect | Significance |
| Cultural | Protects Satras and indigenous heritage |
| Ecological | Preserves unique island biodiversity |
| Economic | Safeguards farmland and livelihoods of 1.5 lakh+ residents |
| Strategic | Reduces flood vulnerability in the Brahmaputra basin |
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Description |
| Siltation & River Dynamics | Brahmaputra’s high sediment load alters course frequently |
| Delay in Execution | Funding and monsoon-related delays slow progress |
| Community Displacement | Need for fair rehabilitation of erosion-hit families |
| Coordination | Between multiple agencies (Brahmaputra Board, State Govt., INTACH) |
📊 Government & NGO Initiatives
National Erosion Mitigation Policy (draft stage)
Integrated Flood Management Plan for Brahmaputra valley
Assam Water Resource Department: State-level execution
Community Participation: In embankment monitoring and reporting
🧭 Way Forward
| Strategy | Recommendation |
| Geo-Engineering Innovations | Use bioengineering and geotextiles along with porcupines |
| Holistic Island Policy | Frame special protection laws for Majuli and other river islands |
| Disaster Resilience Funding | Tap into Climate Resilience funds and World Bank financing |
| Continuous Monitoring | Use satellite imagery and AI for erosion mapping |
🧩 Conclusion
The Phase-V erosion control plan for Majuli is a critical intervention at the intersection of culture, climate resilience, and infrastructure. If successfully implemented, it can become a model for sustainable riverine island protection not just in Assam, but across South Asia.
🛰️ ISRO’s Satellite Data for Crop Estimation in Assam
📘 GS Paper 3 (Mains): Agriculture | Technology in Farming | Space Applications
📘 GS Paper 2 (Mains): Governance | e-Governance in Agriculture
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Assam-Specific Agriculture | Tech-Driven Reforms
📘 Prelims: ISRO | Space Applications Centre (SAC) | Crop Estimation
🔹 Introduction
In a move to modernize agricultural planning, Assam has collaborated with ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC) to utilize satellite data for real-time crop estimation. This initiative will aid in accurate forecasting, procurement planning, and better implementation of welfare schemes like MSP and PM-Fasal Bima Yojana.
🔑 Key Features
| Component | Description |
| Agency Involved | ISRO – SAC (Ahmedabad), Assam Agriculture Department |
| Purpose | Remote sensing for kharif paddy acreage and yield estimation |
| Technology Used | LISS-IV, Resourcesat-2, AI/ML algorithms |
| Beneficiary Schemes | MSP Procurement, Crop Insurance (PMFBY), Input Subsidies |
| Coverage Area | Nagaon, Morigaon, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Darrang |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
ISRO – SAC: Develops applications using IRS (Indian Remote Sensing) satellites
LISS-IV: Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor used for agricultural monitoring
CHAMAN Project: Coordinated Horticulture Assessment using Management using geo-informatics
PMFBY: Insurance scheme for crops; uses remote-sensed yield estimates for compensation
Geo-tagging: Used to validate field-level interventions like seed distribution
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Significance of the Initiative
| Area | Benefit |
| Data Accuracy | Replaces manual surveys prone to delays and errors |
| Policy Targeting | Helps in real-time subsidy release and disaster compensation |
| Climate Resilience | Monitors drought/flood-impacted areas for early action |
| Revenue Forecasting | Enables better procurement and buffer stock management |
| Transparency | Reduces manipulation in crop declarations by vested interests |
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Ground Truth Validation | Need for regular field visits to validate satellite data |
| Digital Divide | Limited tech awareness among farmers |
| Integration Lag | With state-level agricultural dashboards |
| Cloud Cover & Resolution | Affects optical imaging in monsoon season |
| Cost Factor | High cost of real-time data processing and licensing |
📊 Govt & Tech-Driven Steps
Fasal Bima Yojana Portal Integration with satellite databases
National Crop Cutting Experiment Portal (CCE App)
eNAM-Agristack Linkage to digitize farmers’ land and yield data
Drone Deployment in Agriculture: MoUs signed with Assam tech institutes
🧭 Way Forward
| Strategy | Recommendation |
| Capacity Building | Train Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and local officers in geo-spatial tools |
| Public-Private Partnerships | Collaborate with agri-tech firms for scaling solutions |
| Mobile Alerts | Disseminate satellite-based forecasts directly to farmers |
| Assam Agri-Data Policy | Create an open-access platform for satellite-based agri-data |
| Integration with Weather Services | For crop advisories and risk reduction |
🧩 Conclusion
ISRO’s collaboration with Assam for satellite-based crop estimation marks a digital leap in agricultural governance. With timely interventions and ecosystem integration, it can enhance farmer income, mitigate climate risks, and improve data-driven decision-making in the state.
APSC Prelims Practice Questions
🧾 Topic 1: National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 – 5 Years of Implementation
Q1. With reference to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, consider the following statements:
- It proposes a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure to replace the traditional 10+2 system.
- It mandates instruction in the mother tongue or regional language up to Class 8.
- It establishes a single regulatory body for higher education excluding medical and legal studies.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: A
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: NEP proposes the 5+3+3+4 model (Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, Secondary).
- Statement 2 is incorrect: NEP recommends mother tongue/regional language up to Class 5, not Class 8.
- Statement 3 is correct: The Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) will be set up as a single regulator for higher education, excluding legal and medical education.
🧾 Topic 2: Paddy Procurement in Assam
Q2. Consider the following with respect to Minimum Support Price (MSP):
- MSP is announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- It is legally enforceable under the Essential Commodities Act.
- Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends MSP.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1 and 3 only
✅ Answer: D
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Though CACP recommends MSP, it is officially announced by the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: MSP is not legally enforceable; it is an administrative mechanism.
- Statement 3 is correct: CACP recommends MSP based on cost of production and other factors.
Q3. Which of the following schemes aims to provide price deficiency payment to farmers?
A. PM-KISAN
B. PM-Fasal Bima Yojana
C. PM-AASHA
D. e-NAM
✅ Answer: C
Explanation:
PM-AASHA is an umbrella scheme that includes Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) to compensate farmers when market prices fall below MSP.
🧾 Topic 3: Majuli Erosion Control Project (Phase V)
Q4. Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the Brahmaputra Board?
- It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- It implements flood management projects in the northeastern region.
- It is responsible for the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: A
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is true: Brahmaputra Board is under MoJS.
- Statement 2 is true: It focuses on flood/erosion control in the Northeast.
- Statement 3 is false: Sardar Sarovar is implemented by Narmada Control Authority.
Q5. What are “porcupine structures” used in river management?
A. Floating pumps for water irrigation
B. Underwater turbines for tidal energy
C. Triangular structures to dissipate river energy
D. Permeable walls for groundwater recharge
✅ Answer: C
Explanation:
Porcupines are permeable triangular structures (often made of wood/RCC) placed in rivers to reduce water velocity and sediment scouring near banks.
🧾 Topic 4: ISRO’s Satellite Data for Crop Estimation in Assam
Q6. Which of the following satellites/sensors are correctly matched with their purpose?
| Satellite/Sensor | Purpose |
| 1. LISS-IV | High-resolution agricultural monitoring |
| 2. RISAT-1 | Optical imaging of coastal areas |
| 3. Resourcesat-2 | Natural resource monitoring |
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. All of the above
✅ Answer: B
Explanation:
- LISS-IV is used for crop and land use mapping.
- RISAT-1 uses radar imaging (not optical) — especially useful during cloudy weather.
- Resourcesat-2 supports resource planning and crop monitoring.
Q7. The ‘CHAMAN’ project, recently seen in news, is associated with:
A. Horticultural crop monitoring using geospatial technologies
B. Heritage management using 3D GIS
C. Remote sensing for disaster risk forecasting
D. Satellite monitoring of mining activity
✅ Answer: A
Explanation:
CHAMAN (Coordinated Horticulture Assessment using Management using geo-informatics) aims to use satellite imagery and GIS for horticulture crop assessment.
APSC Mains Practice Question
🧾 Question:
“Flood and erosion in Majuli is not only an environmental concern but also a cultural and livelihood crisis.” Discuss the measures taken and suggest a comprehensive strategy for sustainable riverine island management.
(Word Limit: 250)
✅ Model Answer:
🔹 Introduction:
Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited riverine island, situated on the Brahmaputra River in Assam, faces severe flood and erosion threats, leading to significant land loss, displacement, and cultural heritage damage. With recurring floods and changing river morphology, it epitomizes the vulnerabilities of riverine ecosystems.
🔹 Significance of Majuli
- Cultural: Home to 22 satras (Vaishnavite monasteries), representing Assam’s spiritual and artistic identity.
- Ecological: A biodiversity hotspot with unique wetlands and migratory bird populations.
- Economic: Agriculture and fishing are the mainstay of over 1.5 lakh residents.
🔹 Measures Taken
- Brahmaputra Board Projects: Implementation of Phase I–V flood/erosion control projects.
- Porcupine Structures: Used to reduce flow velocity and trap sediments.
- Assam State Action Plan on Climate Change: Includes flood-resilient infrastructure.
- INTACH involvement: For cultural conservation and eco-restoration.
- Early Warning Systems: Community-based flood preparedness.
🔹 Challenges
- Frequent river course shifts and siltation.
- Delayed execution of infrastructure projects.
- Insufficient coordination among central, state, and local agencies.
- Displacement without adequate resettlement or livelihood planning.
🔹 Way Forward
| Strategy | Action |
| Geo-engineering Solutions | Integration of porcupines with geotextile and vegetative stabilization |
| River Island Policy | National framework to prioritize vulnerable islands like Majuli |
| Cultural Safeguards | Relocation and documentation of endangered satras |
| Livelihood Diversification | Eco-tourism, handicrafts, and skill development |
| Community-Led Monitoring | Training locals in erosion mapping via drones & mobile apps |
🔹 Conclusion
Saving Majuli is not only about land conservation, but about protecting heritage, sustaining livelihoods, and enhancing climate resilience. A well-funded, multi-agency, and community-inclusive strategy is vital to transform Majuli from a crisis zone into a model of sustainable riverine island governance.
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