APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (05/06/2025)
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 (05-06-2025). These issues are key for both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, offering insights into the APSC CCE Syllabus.
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🌍 World Environment Day 2025: Assam’s Green Warriors and the Fight Against Plastic Pollution
📘 GS Paper 3: Environment | Conservation | Climate Change
📘 GS Paper 1: Geography | Society – Environmental Ethics
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Assam-Specific Environmental Challenges | Role of Civil Society
🔹 Introduction
World Environment Day (WED), celebrated on June 5, serves as a global platform to raise awareness and mobilize action on urgent environmental issues. The theme of WED 2025 is “Beat Plastic Pollution”, spotlighting the devastating effects of plastic on ecosystems, health, and economies. In Assam, the day was marked by tributes to several grassroots conservationists and campaigns fighting environmental degradation—from Deepor Beel protection to elephant corridors and climate activism.
🔑 Key Highlights from Assam Tribune Coverage
| Key Focus Area | Description |
| WED 2025 Global Theme | “Beat Plastic Pollution” – Focus on policy reforms and grassroots solutions |
| Estimated Plastic Waste | 11 million tonnes annually entering water bodies |
| Social Cost of Plastic Pollution | Estimated at $300 to $600 billion globally |
| Assam’s Conservation Leaders | Didom Daimari, Rajesh Dutta Baruah, Dimpi Bora (IFS), Rituraj Phukan, etc. |
| Notable Local Movements | Deepor Beel Protection, SMILY Academy, JFM Forest at Bhairabkunda |
⚙️ Key Contributions from Assam
🧑🌾 Didom Daimari (Udalguri)
Developed a 5-sq km man-made forest under Joint Forest Management (JFM)
Protects elephant corridors between Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Bhutan
🌱 Rajesh Dutta Baruah (Nalbari)
Runs ‘Ek Ped Hathi Ke Naam’ campaign to reduce human-elephant conflict
Popularized mobile dustbins to curb single-use plastics
🌿 Dimpi Bora, IFS
Assam’s first woman forest officer, currently Director of Assam Forest School
Led vulture conservation, reducing deaths from 104 (2021) to 7 (2024)
Executed reforestation and tribal engagement in Kamrup
🌏 Rituraj Phukan
Represented Assam at UN Climate Summits (COP26–COP29)
Founded Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Justice Forum, promoting local eco-enterprises
Participated in Arctic and Antarctic expeditions as a climate communicator
🧠 Prelims Pointers
World Environment Day established by UNEP in 1972, first celebrated in 1974
Deepor Beel: Assam’s only Ramsar Site; under pressure from encroachments & waste
Plastic Treaty: First draft negotiated in 2022; aims to create global legally binding instrument
Joint Forest Management (JFM): Participatory model for forest restoration and protection
Assam Forest School (Jalukbari): State institution for forest officer training
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Significance for Assam
Grassroots participation in conservation shows civil society strength
Climate and plastic challenges intersect with Assam’s wetlands, wildlife corridors, and agriculture
Presence of climate youth leaders gives Assam a voice in global platforms
Women-led conservation (e.g., IFS Dimpi Bora) adds gender equity to environment efforts
B. Environmental Challenges in Assam
| Challenge | Description |
| Plastic Pollution | Single-use plastics choking rivers like Bharalu and damaging Deepor Beel |
| Biodiversity Loss | Human-animal conflict in Udalguri, Baksa, and BTC region increasing |
| Wetland Degradation | Illegal dumping, encroachments, and railway projects threaten Ramsar sites |
| Urbanization Pressure | Cities like Guwahati rapidly expanding into ecologically sensitive zones |
| Climate Variability | Extreme weather – intense pre-monsoon floods and late monsoons |
C. Government Initiatives
Plastic Ban Notification (2022): Banned several single-use items under PWM Rules
State Wetland Authority – Assam: Governs Deepor Beel and other notified wetlands
Mission Amrit Sarovar: Restoring traditional water bodies
State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC): Focus on low-carbon and resilient development
Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) Notifications: To regulate activity near protected areas
D. Way Forward
📢 Strengthen eco-citizenship via school and college-level climate education
🏞️ Empower local forest and wetland committees with funds and legal authority
🔋 Encourage green startups that integrate traditional knowledge and tech (like SMILY Academy)
🚯 Ensure plastic waste segregation and recycling in urban and peri-urban areas
🌍 Foster Assam-specific biodiversity registers, including aquatic species and pollinators
📑 Relevant Frameworks & Reports
UNEP Global Plastic Treaty (In Progress)
India’s Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016, amended 2022)
National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP)
IPCC AR6 Regional Reports – Northeast as vulnerable to climate extremes
Assam’s SAPCC (Updated 2021) – includes green mobility, energy efficiency, conservation
🧩 Conclusion
Assam’s environmental future hinges on combining the wisdom of grassroots conservationists with institutional support. As plastic and climate crises deepen, stories from the field—of farmers, scientists, youth, and civil servants—offer a glimmer of hope. World Environment Day 2025 is a powerful reminder that the solutions to Assam’s ecological challenges are not just global, but homegrown.
📊 Caste Census 2027 Announced: Implications for Assam and India’s Affirmative Action Framework
📘 GS Paper 2: Indian Constitution | Governance | Social Justice
📘 GS Paper 1: Society | Demography | Caste & Reservation
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Assam – Identity Politics | Welfare Schemes | Backward Class Policy
🔹 Introduction
The Union Government has officially announced the launch of Caste Census 2027, marking the first nationwide caste-based enumeration after 1931 (excluding SC/ST data). The move is aimed at updating the socio-economic profile of backward classes, including Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and is expected to influence future reservation policies, welfare schemes, and political representation. For Assam, where identity politics is deeply interwoven with ethnicity and affirmative action, the census carries significant implications.
🔑 Key Highlights
| Element | Description |
| Census Year | 2027 (To be conducted alongside the 2027 Population Census) |
| Coverage | All castes, sub-castes, socio-economic data (education, occupation, income) |
| Last Caste Enumeration | 1931 (official); Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 was partial |
| Legal Provision | Under Census Act, 1948 – Government may notify additional data collection |
| Digital Enumeration Tools | Tablets and biometric-linked data to be used for better accuracy |
| Assam Context | Complex caste-tribe-ethnic overlap; OBC groups demand inclusion in reservation |
| Implementation Lead | Office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under MHA |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
SECC 2011: Collected caste data but was not officially published; used for targeted welfare delivery
Article 15(4) & 16(4): Enable state to make special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes
Mandal Commission (1980): Recommended 27% reservation for OBCs based on outdated caste data
Justice Rohini Commission: Tasked with sub-categorization of OBCs for equitable distribution of benefits
NPR: National Population Register – part of Census but does not include caste data
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Why the Caste Census Matters
Enables evidence-based policymaking for reservations, subsidies, and scholarships
Updates 90+ year-old caste data used in policy planning
Helps assess intra-group inequality (e.g., dominant vs marginalized OBCs)
Vital for schemes like PM Vishwakarma Yojana, EWS, and state-specific quotas
Allows fine-tuning of backward class commissions and creamy layer definitions
B. Assam-Specific Significance
| Concern Area | Explanation |
| OBC Policy Confusion | Many groups like Koch-Rajbongshi, Ahom, Moran demand ST status or quota expansion |
| Multi-Ethnic Demographics | Mix of Scheduled Tribes (Plains and Hills), Tea Tribes, and OBCs complicate classification |
| Welfare Scheme Targeting | Several state schemes lack caste-segmented impact data |
| Political Sensitivities | Past census-related data have triggered protests (e.g., NRC, SECC) |
| Role in ST Inclusion Debates | Data may inform inclusion/exclusion debates legally and politically |
C. Concerns and Challenges
Risk of social polarization or political mobilization along caste lines
Doubts over data quality and classification of evolving caste identities
Fear of reservation demand inflation beyond 50% cap set by Indra Sawhney case (1992)
Lack of clarity on enumeration of religions and mixed identities
Legal and procedural debate over whether state or centre should conduct such census
D. Way Forward
🧾 Frame a transparent methodology with anthropologists and backward class commissions
📊 Use caste data for developmental targeting, not political patronage
🧠 Establish an Independent Social Data Commission for data verification and analysis
🏛️ Ensure legal protection and privacy under the Census Act
🤝 Foster community dialogue to prevent identity-based conflict during and after enumeration
📑 Relevant Legal & Policy Frameworks
Census Act, 1948 – permits additional data collection by notification
Supreme Court Rulings: Indra Sawhney (1992), Puttaswamy (2017 Right to Privacy)
National Data Governance Framework (2023) – privacy-centric use of citizen data
Justice Rohini Commission Report (2024, submitted but pending publication)
Assam Backward Classes Commission Act – enables local identification of socially backward groups
🧩 Conclusion
The Caste Census 2027 is not merely a data exercise—it is a structural policy reform tool that could reshape the architecture of social justice in India and Assam. However, its success depends on methodological rigor, political maturity, and post-census planning. For Assam, it presents a historic opportunity to rationalize welfare and reservation, if managed with inclusion, transparency, and sensitivity.
🐄 Assam’s Push for Dairy Self-Sufficiency through Cooperative Model
📘 GS Paper 3: Agriculture | Food Security | Cooperatives
📘 GS Paper 2: Government Policies | Welfare Schemes | Rural Economy
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Assam Economy | Rural Livelihood | Dairy Sector
🔹 Introduction
In an effort to reduce dependence on dairy imports from other states, the Assam Government is promoting a cooperative-based dairy model to achieve self-sufficiency in milk production. With Assam consuming nearly 50 lakh litres of milk per day, but producing only around 20 lakh litres, this initiative seeks to bridge the deficit through rural dairy clusters, infrastructure upgrades, and public-private partnerships.
🔑 Key Highlights
| Feature | Description |
| Assam’s Daily Milk Demand | ~50 lakh litres |
| Current Production | ~20–25 lakh litres |
| Major Import Sources | Bihar, West Bengal, Gujarat |
| Strategy Adopted | Promotion of dairy cooperatives, fodder cultivation, and milk route expansion |
| Institutional Support | Assam Livestock and Poultry Corporation, Dairy Development Department |
| Goal | Milk self-sufficiency by 2027 under Assam Dairy Vision |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
White Revolution: Initiated by Verghese Kurien, led to India becoming world’s largest milk producer
Operation Flood: Launched in 1970, created nationwide dairy grid
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB): Nodal body for cooperative dairy promotion
Kisan Credit Card (KCC): Now extended to animal husbandry and dairy farmers
Dairy Sahakar Yojana (2021): Ministry of Cooperation initiative to boost cooperative-based dairying
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Significance of the Dairy Sector in Assam
Provides supplementary income to farmers, especially in flood-prone areas
Reduces nutritional insecurity, especially for children and women
Helps build resilient rural economies amid monsoon-dependent agriculture
Supports women-led SHGs and micro-entrepreneurship in animal husbandry
Could integrate with cold chain and logistics for agri-export potential
B. Key Challenges
| Challenge | Description |
| Low Productivity | Indigenous breeds yield 2–3 litres/day, far less than crossbred cattle |
| Fodder Scarcity | Lack of green fodder cultivation affects cattle health and milk yield |
| Poor Cold Chain Infrastructure | Limited chilling plants, milk routes, and veterinary reach |
| High Input Costs | Cost of feed, medicine, and artificial insemination is not subsidized uniformly |
| Cooperative Capacity Deficit | Many village-level dairy societies are dormant or mismanaged |
C. Government Initiatives in Assam
Establishment of rural milk cooperatives in Barpeta, Lakhimpur, and Darrang
Launch of village-level chilling centres through central-state partnerships
Linking SHGs under Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) to dairy value chain
Mobile veterinary units to address cattle health in remote districts
Training through Assam Veterinary College and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
D. Way Forward
🐄 Promote high-yielding crossbred cattle through AI and breeding centres
🌾 Integrate farming and dairying via fodder incentives and land use convergence
🧊 Strengthen cold chain and milk marketing platforms through cooperative-FPO models
💸 Provide credit linkages via NABARD and expand Dairy Sahakar grants
👩🌾 Encourage women dairy collectives to boost participation and inclusiveness
📊 Establish a Milk Production Dashboard for district-wise real-time tracking
📑 Relevant Policies & Frameworks
Rashtriya Gokul Mission – Genetic improvement of cattle
PM-Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) – dairy units eligible
Assam Dairy Development Policy (draft 2023) – aims for milk surplus by 2027
National Livestock Mission (NLM) – includes dairy infrastructure and fodder support
Amul Model – Gujarat-based cooperative dairy model adopted by several NE states
🧩 Conclusion
Assam’s dairy self-sufficiency vision is not just about nutrition and milk supply, but about empowering rural communities, reducing import dependency, and building a climate-resilient agricultural economy. With sustained cooperative development, Assam could replicate the White Revolution success in its unique ecological and social landscape.
🛣️ Road Connectivity Push in Dima Hasao: Reconstruction Begins in Landslide-Prone District
📘 GS Paper 3: Infrastructure | Disaster Management | Mountain Ecosystems
📘 GS Paper 2: Governance | Regional Development | Tribal Administration
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Assam – Hill Areas | Connectivity & Inclusion | BTC & Autonomous Councils
🔹 Introduction
The Assam government has initiated major road reconstruction work in Dima Hasao district, one of the most landslide-prone and infrastructure-deficient regions of the state. The project involves restoring National Highway stretches, upgrading PMGSY roads, and building retaining structures to mitigate disaster risk. The effort is part of a larger attempt to integrate hilly tribal districts with mainstream economic corridors and improve access to services and trade.
🔑 Key Project Details
| Feature | Description |
| District | Dima Hasao – Autonomous Hill District under Sixth Schedule |
| Key Roads | Jatinga-Haflong-Maibang stretch, NH 54, PMGSY feeder routes |
| Challenge Addressed | Frequent landslides, road collapse, and flood-induced erosion |
| Agencies Involved | PWD (Roads), Disaster Management Dept, BRO, NHIDCL |
| Infrastructure Components | Retaining walls, culverts, slope stabilization, flexible pavements |
| Broader Vision | Part of Assam’s Inclusive Infrastructure for Hill Areas Plan 2025–2030 |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Dima Hasao: One of the two hill districts in Assam governed under Sixth Schedule
Sixth Schedule: Provides autonomy to tribal districts via Autonomous Councils (e.g., NCHAC)
PMGSY: Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana – rural road development program
NHIDCL: National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation – nodal for NE projects
Landslide Risk Zonation: Guwahati, Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong among Assam’s top-risk districts
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of Connectivity in Dima Hasao
Improves tribal access to healthcare, markets, and education
Boosts tourism potential in eco-sensitive areas like Jatinga, Umrangso
Facilitates movement of security forces and disaster response teams
Enhances integration of autonomous councils with mainstream development
Essential for economic inclusion of hill-based ethnic minorities
B. Key Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Topographical Fragility | Steep gradients and unstable soil increase road failure risk |
| Heavy Rainfall | Triggers flash floods and landslides, especially during monsoon |
| Institutional Overlap | Lack of coordination between NCHAC, PWD, and national agencies |
| Social Resistance | Road widening projects often face tribal land concerns |
| Maintenance Gap | Delayed repair and poor post-construction monitoring in remote areas |
C. Government Measures
Use of geo-synthetic material and soil bio-engineering for slope control
New mandates for disaster-resilient road design in hill districts
Dedicated Road Safety Audit Teams under Assam PWD
Collaboration with BRO and NHIDCL for high-altitude engineering
Skill development programs to train local youth in construction work
D. Way Forward
🏞️ Create hill-specific road design codes suited to Assam’s geology
📍 Implement real-time landslide early warning systems using AI & GIS
🧱 Promote use of retaining walls, rainwater drains, and flexible pavements
🛤️ Ensure integration with rail and ropeway connectivity for last-mile access
🏛️ Involve NCHAC and tribal elders in planning and grievance redressal
📑 Relevant Reports & Frameworks
National Landslide Risk Management Strategy (NDMA 2019)
North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS)
Sixth Schedule (Articles 244(2) and 275(1)) of Indian Constitution
Assam Infrastructure Vision 2030 – focus on flood-resilient and inclusive roads
UNDRR Guidelines on Mountain Infrastructure Development
🧩 Conclusion
Improving road infrastructure in Dima Hasao is not just a civil engineering challenge—it is a step toward bridging geographical and social divides. Ensuring resilient, inclusive, and sustainable connectivity in such fragile ecosystems will require technological innovation, administrative coordination, and community trust.
🏥 Assam’s Public Health Push: Governor Flags the Need for AIIMS-like Medical Institutions in Northeast
📘 GS Paper 2: Governance | Health Infrastructure | Centre-State Relations
📘 GS Paper 3: Social Sector | Public Health | Inclusive Development
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Assam – Health Services | NE Development | Medical Education
🔹 Introduction
On World Environment Day 2025, Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria emphasized the importance of strengthening public health infrastructure in the Northeast, urging the Central Government to establish AIIMS-like medical institutions in underserved states. While Assam has AIIMS Guwahati operational since 2023, other NE states lack tertiary-care facilities, forcing thousands to travel for critical care.
🔑 Key Points
| Element | Description |
| Key Statement | Need for AIIMS-like hospitals in all NE states |
| Existing AIIMS in NE | AIIMS Guwahati (operational); NEIGRIHMS (Shillong) functions similarly |
| Healthcare Gap | Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal, Nagaland, Sikkim lack AIIMS-level hospitals |
| Common Referral Locations | Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, CMC Vellore for cancer, heart, neuro cases |
| Related Issue Highlighted | Link between pollution and rising lifestyle diseases in Assam and NE |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences): Apex autonomous institute under MoHFW
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY): Scheme to establish AIIMS-like institutions
NEIGRIHMS: North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences, Shillong
Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF): Public-private cancer care initiative
National Medical Commission (NMC): Regulates medical education & standards in India
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Why AIIMS-like Institutions Are Crucial for NE
NE states have low doctor-to-patient ratios and limited super-specialty care
High out-of-pocket expenses due to referral to metro hospitals
Boosts local medical education and research ecosystem
Improves access for tribal and remote-area populations
Acts as hub for telemedicine, diagnostics, training of paramedical staff
B. Challenges in Health Infrastructure in NE
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Geographic Isolation | Difficult terrain and poor connectivity delay access to emergency services |
| Brain Drain | Medical graduates from NE often migrate for better opportunities |
| Understaffed Facilities | PHCs and district hospitals lack specialists, equipment, and medicines |
| Tribal Health Gaps | Higher IMR, MMR, and lifestyle diseases in tribal belts |
| Coordination Deficit | Health services underfunded in autonomous council regions |
C. Government Responses & Ongoing Projects
AIIMS Guwahati fully functional with teaching and super-specialty wings
PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) investment in Assam
NEC (North Eastern Council) funding regional diagnostic labs
Mobile Medical Units and e-Sanjeevani teleconsultation rolled out in remote zones
Upcoming medical colleges in Dhubri, Diphu, Nagaon, Kokrajhar, and Lakhimpur
D. Way Forward
🏥 Establish one AIIMS-like tertiary centre per NE state, possibly through PPPs
👩⚕️ Incentivize local recruitment and specialist retention with hardship allowance
🚁 Explore air ambulance or drone delivery for hilly inaccessible areas
🧾 Develop State Health Index Dashboards for real-time infrastructure mapping
🧑🏫 Strengthen regional medical training institutes in partnership with AIIMS Guwahati
📑 Relevant Schemes & Frameworks
PMSSY – Under which 22 new AIIMS have been sanctioned nationwide
National Health Policy 2017 – Targets equitable healthcare across regions
15th Finance Commission Report – Grants for NE health infrastructure
NITI Aayog’s Health Index – NE states like Arunachal, Nagaland rank low
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) – Digital records and e-health services
🧩 Conclusion
Healthcare equity is a constitutional and moral imperative. As Assam leads the NE with an AIIMS, replicating this model across other hill states is essential for regional balance, disaster resilience, and universal health access. A robust network of AIIMS-like institutions can transform the NE health landscape and empower its people to lead healthier lives without crossing state borders.
APSC Prelims Practice Questions
✅ Topic 1: World Environment Day 2025 – Assam’s Conservation Efforts
1. Consider the following statements about World Environment Day (WED):
- It is observed annually on June 5 and was established by UNEP.
- The 2025 theme is “Beat Plastic Pollution.”
- The first WED was held in 1982.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only ✅
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. 2 and 3 only
🧠 Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: WED is celebrated on June 5 and was initiated by UNEP in 1972.
- Statement 2 is correct: The 2025 theme is “Beat Plastic Pollution.”
- Statement 3 is incorrect: The first WED was celebrated in 1974, not 1982.
2. Deepor Beel, often in the news, is:
A. A biosphere reserve in Upper Assam
B. A Ramsar wetland in Guwahati ✅
C. A glacial lake in Arunachal Pradesh
D. A tributary of the Brahmaputra
🧠 Explanation:
Deepor Beel is the only Ramsar site in Assam and lies southwest of Guwahati. It’s under threat from urban pollution and encroachments.
✅ Topic 2: Caste Census 2027 Announcement
3. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Caste Census in India?
- The last official caste enumeration (excluding SC/ST) was done in 1931.
- SECC 2011 data on caste has been publicly released and used for OBC reservation.
- Article 340 of the Constitution relates to the identification of backward classes.
Choose the correct code:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only ✅
C. 2 and 3 only
D. All of the above
🧠 Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct – 1931 was the last full caste enumeration.
- Statement 2: Incorrect – SECC 2011 caste data was not released officially.
- Statement 3: Correct – Article 340 provides for the appointment of a commission to investigate backward classes.
4. The Justice Rohini Commission was established for:
A. Reviewing EWS reservations
B. Studying creamy layer in SCs
C. Sub-categorization within OBCs ✅
D. Monitoring caste census implementation
🧠 Explanation:
The Justice Rohini Commission (2017) was created to examine sub-categorization of OBCs for more equitable distribution of the 27% reservation.
✅ Topic 3: Assam’s Dairy Sector & Cooperative Model
5. Consider the following about Operation Flood:
- It was launched by Verghese Kurien.
- It aimed to make India self-sufficient in milk production.
- It was implemented by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
Which of the above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 2 and 3 ✅
D. 1 only
🧠 Explanation:
All statements are correct. Operation Flood revolutionized Indian dairying and was led by Verghese Kurien and the NDDB.
6. Which of the following schemes is related to dairy cooperatives?
A. Dairy Sahakar Yojana ✅
B. PM-FME Yojana
C. PMGSY
D. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
🧠 Explanation:
The Dairy Sahakar Yojana (2021) was launched by the Ministry of Cooperation to support dairy cooperatives.
✅ Topic 4: Road Reconstruction in Dima Hasao
7. Dima Hasao is governed under which constitutional provision?
A. Article 370
B. Article 275
C. Article 244(2) and Sixth Schedule ✅
D. Article 371A
🧠 Explanation:
Dima Hasao is a Sixth Schedule district with autonomy through the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC). Article 244(2) applies to Sixth Schedule areas.
8. Which of the following agencies is primarily responsible for national highway construction in the Northeast?
A. NHAI
B. NHIDCL ✅
C. BRO
D. CPWD
🧠 Explanation:
The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) specifically handles NH and strategic roads in Northeast India.
✅ Topic 5: AIIMS-like Institutions in NE
9. Under which scheme has the Government of India sanctioned AIIMS-like institutions in various states?
A. PM-JAY
B. PMSSY ✅
C. National Health Mission
D. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
🧠 Explanation:
The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims to correct regional health imbalances by setting up AIIMS-like institutions.
10. Which of the following is true about NEIGRIHMS?
A. It is an IIT specializing in remote sensing
B. It is an ICMR lab in Dibrugarh
C. It is a central medical institute in Shillong, Meghalaya ✅
D. It is a private health centre in Nagaland
🧠 Explanation:
The North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) is a tertiary-care institute in Shillong, serving the NE region.
APSC Mains Practice Question
📝 Mains Question (GS Paper 2 – Governance | Social Justice | Policy Reform):
Q. Critically examine the relevance of the Caste Census in contemporary India. How can a caste-based enumeration aid in reforming affirmative action while managing the risks of social fragmentation?
📘 Model Answer
Introduction
India’s social justice policies—particularly reservation and targeted welfare schemes—rest on the assumption of caste-based disadvantage. However, the absence of reliable caste data (except for SC/ST) since 1931 has hampered evidence-based policymaking. The Caste Census 2027, recently announced by the Government, seeks to fill this void by gathering comprehensive socio-economic and caste-wise data.
Why the Caste Census Is Relevant Today
1. Data-Driven Affirmative Action
- Current quotas (especially for OBCs) are based on outdated estimates, primarily from the Mandal Commission (1980) using 1931 data.
- A modern census enables calibration of reservation based on actual need.
2. Identification of Intra-Group Disparities
- Within OBCs, dominant sub-castes often corner benefits.
- A caste census can enable sub-categorization, as recommended by the Justice Rohini Commission.
3. Rationalization of Welfare Schemes
- Enables targeted delivery under PM Vishwakarma Yojana, EWS benefits, etc.
- Allows mapping of educational, health, income gaps among different caste groups.
4. Empowering Marginalized Communities
- Many communities seek inclusion in SC/ST/OBC lists. Reliable data can depoliticize inclusion and ensure legal soundness.
Risks and Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Social Polarization | Political mobilization around caste identities may intensify post-census. |
| Privacy and Consent | Citizens may fear misuse of identity data in absence of data protection law. |
| Quality and Integrity | Risk of over-reporting or fake caste claims without standardized classification. |
| Legal Complexity | May lead to demands for increased reservation, hitting the 50% cap set in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992). |
Relevance for Assam and Northeast India
- Multi-ethnic composition (Tea Tribes, Ahoms, Morans, ST Hills/Plains) complicates reservation politics.
- Past issues with SECC 2011 and NRC-related tensions show data sensitivity.
- Caste Census data may support or settle inclusion debates over ST status for several communities.
- Must align with existing Sixth Schedule governance and Autonomous Council laws.
Way Forward
✅ Institutional Mechanisms
- Establish an Independent Social Data Commission for classification and oversight.
- Build consensus via Backward Classes Commissions at the state level.
✅ Methodological Rigor
- Standardize caste categories using ethnographic verification and self-declaration.
- Train enumerators and use digital verification to avoid duplication.
✅ Public Trust & Safeguards
- Ensure confidentiality under Census Act, 1948.
- Mandate use of caste data solely for policy planning, not for electoral profiling.
✅ Integrate with Welfare Delivery
- Link with Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to track and monitor benefit reach.
- Use caste census findings to upgrade poverty and social exclusion indices.
Conclusion
The Caste Census 2027 is a crucial opportunity to realign India’s affirmative action architecture with present realities. If conducted with integrity, transparency, and institutional safeguards, it can bridge the gap between policy intent and social outcomes. However, the government must ensure that data collection does not deepen social fault lines, but strengthens social cohesion and justice.
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