APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (02/09/2025)
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 (02-09-2025). These issues are key for both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, offering insights into the APSC CCE Syllabus.
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🌍 India–ASEAN Summit 2025: Strengthening Strategic Partnership
📘 GS Paper 2: International Relations | Regional Groupings | India’s Foreign Policy
📘 GS Paper 3: Economy | Trade | Security
📘 GS Paper 5 (Assam & NE): Act East Policy & Connectivity
🔹 Introduction
India participated in the 2025 India–ASEAN Summit, reaffirming its commitment to the Act East Policy and strategic engagement with Southeast Asia. The summit addressed economic cooperation, digital transformation, maritime security, and connectivity projects, with a special focus on Northeast India as India’s gateway to ASEAN.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| Event | India–ASEAN Summit 2025 |
| Focus Areas | Trade, digital economy, maritime security, connectivity, climate cooperation |
| Significance for NE India | Boost to border trade, infrastructure, and cultural exchanges |
| Outcome | Agreement to deepen India–ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, strengthen RCEP-linked supply chains, and expand people-to-people ties |
| Leaders’ Statement | Emphasis on freedom of navigation in Indo-Pacific, joint counter-terrorism measures, and inclusive growth |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
ASEAN: 10-member grouping (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam); HQ – Jakarta.
India–ASEAN FTA (2010): Focuses on trade in goods and services.
Act East Policy (2014): Successor to Look East Policy (1990s).
India–Myanmar Connectivity: Kaladan Multi-Modal Project, Trilateral Highway (India–Myanmar–Thailand).
ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP): Promotes inclusivity, free trade, and maritime cooperation.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of India–ASEAN Partnership
Economic Linkages: ASEAN is India’s 4th largest trading partner; bilateral trade ~$130 billion (2023–24).
Strategic Balance: Counterweight to China’s influence in Indo-Pacific.
Connectivity Hub: Northeast India benefits from road, rail, and waterway projects linking ASEAN.
Cultural Affinity: Shared Buddhist heritage, diaspora connections.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Trade Deficit | India’s imports > exports with ASEAN. |
| Border Instability | Myanmar’s internal conflict hampers connectivity. |
| China Factor | Competing interests in South China Sea and regional supply chains. |
| Infrastructure Gaps | Delay in Trilateral Highway & Kaladan project. |
| Non-Tariff Barriers | Standards and regulations restrict Indian exports. |
C. Govt Initiatives
Act East Policy – flagship engagement with ASEAN.
PM Gati Shakti & Bharatmala – boosting connectivity in NE.
Mission SAGAR & Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI): India’s maritime cooperation framework.
Digital India–ASEAN Initiatives: Cross-border fintech, AI cooperation.
D. Way Forward
Speed up NE connectivity projects to Myanmar and beyond.
Diversify exports – pharmaceuticals, IT, renewable energy.
Leverage BIMSTEC & Mekong-Ganga Cooperation for sub-regional cooperation.
Maritime collaboration – joint patrols, disaster management drills.
Cultural diplomacy – soft power via Buddhism, diaspora, and education exchanges.
🧩 Conclusion
The India–ASEAN Summit 2025 highlights the growing strategic convergence between the two partners in trade, connectivity, and security. For India, particularly the Northeast, ASEAN offers an economic lifeline and strategic anchor in the Indo-Pacific. Strengthening this partnership is critical to realising the Act East vision and balancing regional geopolitics.
💰 RBI Expands Digital Rupee Pilot: Boosting India’s CBDC Journey
📘 GS Paper 3: Economy | Monetary Policy | Digital Innovation
📘 GS Paper 2: Government Policies | E-Governance | Digital India
🔹 Introduction
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has expanded the pilot programme of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), or Digital Rupee, by onboarding more banks, merchants, and users. With this move, India aims to enhance financial inclusion, reduce transaction costs, and build a robust digital payments ecosystem alongside UPI.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| What is CBDC? | A legal tender issued in digital form by RBI, equivalent to cash. |
| Pilot Expansion | More banks and fintechs added; QR-based retail transactions being tested. |
| Use Cases | Retail payments, wholesale interbank settlements, cross-border remittances. |
| Benefits | Lower cash dependency, reduced printing costs, improved transparency, faster settlements. |
| RBI Approach | Step-by-step rollout: wholesale pilot (Nov 2022), retail pilot (Dec 2022), now wider expansion (2025). |
| Comparison | Digital Rupee coexists with UPI but operates as sovereign currency, not private money. |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
CBDC Types:
Retail (CBDC-R): For individuals, merchants.
Wholesale (CBDC-W): For interbank transactions.
Legal Basis: Section 22 of RBI Act, 1934 → RBI sole issuer of legal tender.
Global Context:
China: e-CNY pilot.
Bahamas: First CBDC → Sand Dollar.
Nigeria: e-Naira.
UPI vs CBDC: UPI = payment platform; CBDC = digital money itself.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of Digital Rupee
Financial Inclusion: Extends digital currency to remote areas.
Efficiency: Real-time, low-cost settlements.
Transparency: Reduces black money and counterfeit risks.
Global Edge: Strengthens India’s position in digital finance innovation.
Cross-Border Trade: Potential to reduce forex transaction costs.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Digital Divide | Limited smartphone/internet penetration in rural areas. |
| Cybersecurity Risks | Threat of hacking and fraud. |
| Interoperability | Need to coexist with UPI, wallets, and cards smoothly. |
| Privacy Concerns | Potential state surveillance of transactions. |
| Adoption Resistance | Cash still preferred in many segments. |
C. Govt Initiatives
RBI Digital Rupee Pilots – ongoing since 2022.
Digital India Programme – promoting fintech adoption.
Financial Literacy Campaigns – awareness for small traders.
Collaboration with NPCI & Banks – ensuring seamless QR integration.
D. Way Forward
Strengthen cyber resilience – advanced encryption and monitoring.
Promote financial literacy for rural adoption.
Cross-border pilots with ASEAN and BRICS partners.
Regulatory clarity on data privacy, transaction monitoring.
Balanced coexistence with UPI – leverage both for efficiency.
🧩 Conclusion
The expansion of the Digital Rupee pilot reflects RBI’s cautious yet forward-looking approach to CBDC adoption. While challenges of cybersecurity and inclusivity remain, a successful rollout can transform India’s monetary system, aligning with the Digital India vision and positioning India as a global leader in sovereign digital currencies.
🌾 India’s Record Foodgrain Production Forecast 2024–25
📘 GS Paper 3: Agriculture | Food Security | Economy
📘 GS Paper 2: Government Policies | Rural Development
🔹 Introduction
The Ministry of Agriculture’s First Advance Estimates (FAE) for 2024–25 projects India’s foodgrain output to reach an all-time high, driven by improved monsoon distribution, better irrigation coverage, and adoption of high-yielding crop varieties. This comes despite climate-related challenges, positioning India as a global leader in foodgrain production.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| Foodgrain Output (2024–25) | Estimated at over 330 million tonnes, surpassing last year’s record. |
| Breakdown | Rice, wheat, pulses, and coarse cereals all show growth. |
| Drivers | Normal monsoon, MSP support, digital agri-services, expansion of irrigation. |
| Regional Gains | Eastern India (rice), Punjab–Haryana (wheat), Maharashtra–MP (pulses), NE India (oilseeds). |
| Govt Schemes Linked | PM-KISAN, PMFBY, Soil Health Card, PMKSY (irrigation). |
| Global Context | India remains world’s 2nd largest producer of rice and wheat, largest producer of pulses. |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Foodgrain Categories: Rice, wheat, coarse cereals, pulses.
Major Schemes:
PM-KISAN: Direct income support to farmers.
PMFBY: Crop insurance.
PMKSY: Irrigation efficiency.
Buffer Stock Norms: Managed by FCI; ensures National Food Security Act (NFSA) implementation.
Economic Survey 2024: Agriculture contributes ~18% of GDP, employs ~42% workforce.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Significance of Record Production
Food Security: Strengthens NFSA coverage for 80 crore beneficiaries.
Export Potential: Boosts rice and wheat exports to Africa, Middle East.
Rural Incomes: Improves farmer earnings via MSP procurement.
Buffer Stocks: Ensures price stability, reduces inflationary risks.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Climate Variability | Erratic rainfall, floods, heatwaves impact output sustainability. |
| Post-Harvest Losses | Inadequate storage and cold chains. |
| Soil Degradation | Overuse of fertilisers, groundwater depletion. |
| MSP Dependence | Skewed towards rice–wheat, neglects pulses & oilseeds. |
| Export Restrictions | Ad-hoc bans to curb inflation affect farmer profits. |
C. Govt Initiatives
National Food Security Mission (NFSM) – productivity enhancement.
Digital Agriculture Mission – AI, drones for precision farming.
e-NAM Platform – transparent mandi trading.
Agri-Infra Fund – post-harvest management facilities.
D. Way Forward
Diversify crops – incentivise pulses, oilseeds, millets.
Climate-resilient agriculture – drought-tolerant seeds, smart irrigation.
Post-harvest reforms – expand warehousing and cold storage.
Export policy stability – predictable framework for global markets.
Sustainable practices – promote organic farming, natural farming.
🧩 Conclusion
India’s record foodgrain output in 2024–25 is a landmark achievement, strengthening food security and farm incomes. However, to ensure long-term sustainability, the focus must shift from quantity to quality, balancing productivity with climate resilience, diversification, and market reforms.
🛰️ Chandrayaan-4 Mission: India’s Leap in Lunar Exploration
📘 GS Paper 3: Science & Technology | Space | Achievements of Indians in S&T
📘 GS Paper 1: Geography of Moon & Space Research in India
🔹 Introduction
ISRO has announced its upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission, designed as India’s most ambitious lunar exploration project. After the success of Chandrayaan-3 in 2023, which achieved a historic landing near the Moon’s south pole, Chandrayaan-4 aims to return lunar samples to Earth—a first for India and a major leap in deep space capability.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| Mission Type | Lunar sample-return mission |
| Objective | Collect soil & rock samples from Moon’s surface, bring them back to Earth |
| Modules | Orbiter, Lander, Ascent Module, Re-entry Capsule |
| Global Context | US (Apollo missions), USSR (Luna), China (Chang’e-5) have achieved sample-return |
| Launch Timeline | Target: 2026–27 (planning phase announced 2025) |
| Significance | Boosts India’s planetary science, enhances ISRO’s role in global space race |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Chandrayaan-1 (2008): Discovered water molecules on Moon.
Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Orbiter successful; lander crash-landed.
Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Soft landing near south pole.
South Pole Significance: Permanently shadowed craters → potential water ice.
Sample Return Missions:
USSR’s Luna-16 (1970).
China’s Chang’e-5 (2020).
Gaganyaan Mission (India): India’s first human spaceflight, expected 2025–26.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of Chandrayaan-4
Scientific Gains: Analysis of Moon’s geology, water ice, and origin of solar system.
Technological Leap: Mastery of re-entry capsule, docking, ascent from lunar surface.
Strategic Edge: Strengthens India’s position in global space economy.
Inspiration & Innovation: Boosts STEM research, private space startups.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Re-entry Technology | Safe return of lunar samples to Earth atmosphere. |
| Precision Landing | Difficult in rugged terrain near lunar poles. |
| High Costs | Funding and resource allocation challenges. |
| Global Competition | US, China, Russia already advancing next-gen lunar missions. |
| International Coordination | Need to align with Artemis Accords and space governance rules. |
C. Govt & ISRO Initiatives
ISRO–JAXA LUPEX Mission – joint lunar rover with Japan (2026).
Private Sector Role: IN-SPACe, NSIL fostering space startups.
Draft Indian Space Policy 2023 – encourages private innovation.
International Partnerships: NASA-ISRO NISAR mission, Artemis Accords discussions.
D. Way Forward
Collaborative research with global space agencies for cost sharing.
Boost R&D funding in cryogenics, materials, robotics.
Strengthen private participation for propulsion, robotics, sensors.
Promote space diplomacy through UN-COPUOS, Artemis framework.
🧩 Conclusion
Chandrayaan-4 marks India’s transition from exploration to retrieval in space science. Success will place India in the elite group of lunar sample-return nations, expanding scientific knowledge and reinforcing its status as a rising global space power.shaping a stable and multipolar regional order.
APSC Prelims Practice Questions
Topic 1: India–ASEAN Summit 2025
Q1. Consider the following statements about ASEAN (UPSC 2021 pattern):
- ASEAN was established by the Bangkok Declaration in 1967.
- India became a full dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992.
- ASEAN headquarters is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: ASEAN was founded in 1967 through the Bangkok Declaration → correct. India became a full dialogue partner in 1992 → correct. HQ is in Jakarta, Indonesia, not Kuala Lumpur → statement 3 wrong.
Topic 2: RBI Expands Digital Rupee Pilot
Q2. Assertion–Reason (UPSC 2019 style):
Assertion (A): The Digital Rupee is considered legal tender in India.
Reason (R): It is issued by commercial banks under RBI’s regulation.
Choose the correct option:
- (a) A is true, R is true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- (b) A is true, R is true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- (c) A is true, R is false.
- (d) A is false, R is true.
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Digital Rupee = legal tender, but it is issued directly by RBI, not by commercial banks. Hence R is false.
Topic 3: India’s Record Foodgrain Production 2024–25
Q3. Which of the following crops are included under India’s “foodgrain” production estimates? (UPSC 2020 pattern)
- Rice
- Wheat
- Pulses
- Oilseeds
Options:
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
- (c) 2, 3 and 4 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation: Foodgrains include cereals (rice, wheat, coarse grains) and pulses. Oilseeds are not part of foodgrains but estimated separately.
Topic 4: India–Bangladesh Border Infrastructure
Q4. Match the following Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) with their locations (UPSC 2020 style):
| ICP | State |
| 1. Petrapole | A. Tripura |
| 2. Agartala | B. Meghalaya |
| 3. Dawki | C. West Bengal |
| 4. Sutarkandi | D. Assam |
Options:
- (a) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D
- (b) 1-B, 2-C, 3-D, 4-A
- (c) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D
- (d) 1-D, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Sutarkandi ICP → Assam.
Petrapole ICP → West Bengal.
Agartala ICP → Tripura.
Dawki ICP → Meghalaya.
APSC Mains Practice Question
Q. Critically examine the role of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in transforming India’s monetary and financial ecosystem. What challenges does its implementation face?
Introduction
India’s financial landscape is witnessing a digital revolution with the expansion of the Reserve Bank of India’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot, also known as the Digital Rupee. As a sovereign digital currency, CBDC is expected to complement UPI and digital wallets by offering a safe, legal-tender alternative to cash while modernising monetary operations.
Body
1. Role of CBDC in India’s Financial Ecosystem
- Enhancing Financial Inclusion: Enables access to secure digital currency for unbanked and underbanked populations.
- Efficiency in Payments: Reduces settlement time and transaction costs in retail and wholesale trade.
- Transparency & Security: Minimises risks of counterfeiting, black money, and shadow economy.
- Boost to Digital India Vision: Integrates with fintech innovations and strengthens India’s digital public infrastructure.
- Global Trade Competitiveness: Potential to support cross-border trade settlement in local currencies, reducing dollar dependence.
2. Challenges of Implementation
- Digital Divide: Rural areas still struggle with smartphone and internet penetration.
- Cybersecurity Risks: Vulnerability to hacking and fraud undermines public trust.
- Interoperability Issues: Need for smooth coexistence with UPI and digital wallets.
- Privacy Concerns: Fear of transaction surveillance by the state.
- Adoption Resistance: Cash preference continues in many sections of society.
3. Way Forward
- Strengthen cybersecurity architecture and regulatory safeguards.
- Promote financial literacy campaigns to ensure public trust.
- Initiate cross-border pilots with ASEAN, BRICS, and G20 partners.
- Ensure privacy-preserving frameworks to balance efficiency with rights.
Conclusion
CBDC has the potential to redefine India’s monetary system by merging the benefits of digital innovation with sovereign credibility. However, its success will depend on addressing technological, social, and regulatory challenges in a phased, inclusive, and secure manner. A carefully managed rollout can make India a global leader in digital currency adoption, complementing its fintech success story. requires synergy between government policy, academia, and community efforts. Revitalisation of tribal languages will ensure that India’s pluralistic ethos and intangible cultural heritage remain vibrant for future generations.rage digital learning to build an equitable, skilled, and future-ready workforce.ng in India’s northeast. resource management.
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