APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (08/10/2025)

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 (08-10-2025). These issues are key for both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, offering insights into the APSC CCE Syllabus.

✨ APSC CCE Online Coaching, 2026

Topic 1 – Orunodoi 3.0: Assam’s Largest DBT-based Welfare Scheme

Introduction

The Assam government rolled out Orunodoi 3.0, marking a major expansion of its flagship Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) welfare initiative. It aims to provide monthly financial assistance of ₹1,250 to over 38 lakh beneficiaries, enhancing women’s economic empowerment and grassroots-level inclusion.

Key Points

• Launch date: 7 October 2025
• Beneficiaries: 38 lakh women from economically weaker households
• Assistance: ₹1,250 per month (increased from ₹1,000 in Orunodoi 2.0)
• Total Coverage: Largest post-Independence welfare scheme in Assam
• New Additions:
  • 6 lakh new beneficiaries from Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR)
  • Subsidized pulses, salt, and sugar for ration-card holders
  • Additional ₹250 support for LPG users
  • Orunodoi Assistants to help resolve beneficiary grievances at block level
  • Helpline for direct complaint redressal

Prelims Pointers

• Scheme type: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
• Nodal Department: Assam Finance Department
• Year of launch: 2020 (initially to mitigate COVID-19 economic distress)
• Beneficiary Group: Women heads of poor households
• Similar Central Scheme: PM Jan Dhan Yojana (financial inclusion)

Mains Pointers

Significance

• Strengthens financial inclusion and gender empowerment
• Reduces leakages through DBT mechanism
• Promotes household-level self-reliance

Challenges

• Risk of exclusion errors (eligible women left out)
• Delays in grievance redressal at local levels
• Financial sustainability amid rising fiscal demands

Government Initiatives

• Digitized monitoring via Asomi portal
• Linking with Aadhaar and Jan Dhan accounts for transparency

Way Ahead

• Enhance social audits and community participation
• Integrate Orunodoi with livelihood and skilling schemes
• Ensure periodic beneficiary verification

Conclusion

Orunodoi 3.0 symbolizes Assam’s inclusive welfare vision, blending financial empowerment with dignity and direct outreach, serving as a model for other states pursuing gender-focused welfare delivery.

Topic 2 : ₹707.97 Crore Flood Relief to Assam – Strengthening Disaster Response & Resilience

📘 GS Paper II – Governance | Disaster Management | Centre–State Relations
📘 GS Paper III – Disaster Preparedness | Climate Resilience
📘 GS Paper V – Assam-specific: Flood & Erosion Management

🔹 Introduction

In October 2025, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs approved a ₹707.97 crore financial package from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to Assam for severe flood damage during the 2025 monsoon season. The assistance aims to support rehabilitation, repair of public infrastructure, and compensation to affected families—underscoring the Centre’s commitment to address Assam’s recurring flood–erosion crisis.

🔑 Key Points

Aspect	Details
Announced by	Union Home Ministry after high-level committee approval
Amount Sanctioned	₹707.97 crore under NDRF
Purpose	Relief for infrastructure, agriculture, housing, and loss of life during 2025 floods
Affected Districts	Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Barpeta, Nalbari, Darrang, Morigaon, Majuli, Cachar
Damage Scale (2025)	~38 lakh people affected; over 200 deaths; ~60,000 ha of crop loss
Assessment Basis	Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visit and SDRF data verification
State Response	Additional ₹300 crore from SDRF for immediate restoration and embankment repair

🧠 Prelims Pointers

• NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund): Constituted under Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund): Primary state-level fund for disaster relief; shared 75:25 between Centre and state (90:10 for NE states).
• Managing Authority: Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management Division).
• IMCT: Team of officials from Central Ministries that assess the extent of damage for NDRF release.
• Types of Disasters Covered: Natural disasters like floods, landslides, cyclones, droughts, etc.

📝 Mains Pointers

A. Importance of NDRF Support for Assam

1. Fiscal Relief: Assam faces heavy economic losses annually—estimated at ₹3,000–4,000 crore due to floods and erosion.
2. Rehabilitation Funding: Enables rebuilding of embankments, roads, schools, and houses.
3. Centre–State Cooperation: Reflects federal coordination under Disaster Management framework.
4. Climate Adaptation: Strengthens resilience against increasing monsoon variability.

B. Key Challenges

• Recurrent Floods: Caused by Brahmaputra’s unstable channel, heavy siltation, and deforestation in catchments.
• Short-Term Relief Bias: Focus on compensation rather than long-term mitigation.
• Erosion Loss: Land erosion not fully compensated under existing NDRF norms.
• Administrative Delays: Damage assessment and fund disbursal often take months.
• Infrastructure Fragility: Poorly designed embankments collapse repeatedly.

C. Government Initiatives & Institutional Mechanisms

• Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA): Coordinates response and early warning systems.
• Flood Hazard Atlas (2023): Mapping of high-risk zones using satellite data.
• World Bank–Funded Projects: Assam Integrated River Basin Management Programme (AIRBMP) to modernize flood control.
• Digital Flood Monitoring: IoT-based gauge sensors installed across Brahmaputra and Barak basins.
• National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): Supports Assam’s climate resilience projects.

D. Way Forward

1. Integrated Basin Approach: Manage Brahmaputra and its tributaries through a single ecological framework.
2. Permanent Erosion Policy: Include erosion losses under NDRF/SDRF compensation norms.
3. Riverine Zoning: Restrict construction in high-risk floodplains.
4. Sustainable Infrastructure: Climate-resilient embankments and raised roads.
5. Community Empowerment: Strengthen local disaster response units and volunteers.
6. Insurance Mechanisms: Promote flood insurance for farmers and small traders.

🧩 Conclusion

The ₹707.97 crore NDRF package for Assam is vital for immediate relief, but enduring solutions demand a shift from reactive response to proactive resilience. A science-based, community-centric flood management strategy — combining engineering, ecology, and governance — is key to securing Assam’s riverine future.

Topic 3 : 🇮🇳🤝🇯🇵 India–Japan Joint Venture on Connectivity & Renewable Energy in Northeast India

📘 GS Paper II – International Relations | India’s Foreign Policy | Act East Policy
📘 GS Paper III – Infrastructure, Energy & Sustainable Development
📘 GS Paper V – Assam & NE Development

🔹 Introduction

In October 2025, India and Japan announced a joint infrastructure and renewable energy initiative to strengthen connectivity in the Northeast region, focusing on Assam, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh. The collaboration builds on the India–Japan Act East Forum (AEF) framework, reflecting Tokyo’s growing strategic and developmental partnership with India’s Northeast — a region central to India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision.

🔑 Key Points

Aspect	Details
Announced By	India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) & Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Investment Plan (Phase-I)	₹4,200 crore for road, bridge, and renewable projects across NE states
Core Sectors	(a) Connectivity – highways, border roads, bridges; (b) Energy – solar & hydropower micro-grids; (c) Capacity Building – skill & technology transfer
Key Projects in Assam	– Four-lane Tinsukia–Nampong Highway (linking to Arunachal border) – Brahmaputra Bridge near Dibrugarh – Pilot Solar Microgrid Project in Majuli
Institutional Framework	Under the India–Japan Act East Forum (est. 2017) for infrastructure cooperation
Japanese Agency Involved	Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
Strategic Significance	Strengthens India’s Northeast as gateway to ASEAN under the Act East Policy and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy.

🧠 Prelims Pointers

• India–Japan Act East Forum (AEF):
  • Established in 2017 to coordinate Japan’s development cooperation in India’s NE.
  • Co-chaired by India’s MEA and Japan’s MoFA.
• Major JICA Projects in NE:
  • Guwahati Water Supply & Sewerage Project
  • North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Assam, Mizoram)
  • Sikkim Hydropower & Forest Management Program
• FOIP Strategy: Japan’s initiative to ensure a free, open, rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
• India’s Act East Policy (2014): Successor to Look East Policy; focuses on trade, connectivity, and cultural ties with ASEAN & Japan.

📝 Mains Pointers

A. Significance of the India–Japan Collaboration in the NE

1. Strategic Balancing: Counters China’s influence in border infrastructure and regional diplomacy.
2. Economic Boost: Upgrades transport & energy networks for faster industrialization.
3. Sustainable Energy: Promotes solar & small hydro projects reducing fossil dependence.
4. Human Capital Development: Japanese training modules to upskill NE engineers and planners.
5. ASEAN Integration: Enhances connectivity to Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Thailand.

B. Challenges & Constraints

• Topographical Barriers: Mountainous terrain, seismic vulnerability, and monsoon disruptions.
• Security Concerns: Proximity to sensitive borders (China, Myanmar).
• Implementation Delays: Land acquisition, environmental clearances, and coordination across multiple states.
• Local Inclusion: Need to ensure local employment and avoid cultural alienation.

C. Institutional & Government Initiatives

• India–Japan Clean Energy Partnership (CEP, 2022): Joint work on hydrogen, solar, and bioenergy.
• North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS): Funding roads, bridges, and power links.
• PM Gati Shakti Mission: Integrates logistics and digital infrastructure mapping.
• India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMT): Japan’s indirect involvement through ADB assistance.
• Act East Forum 2024 Review: Emphasized “quality infrastructure” and climate resilience in NE.

D. Way Forward

1. Institutional Strengthening: Create Indo–Japan NE Infrastructure Cell for project tracking.
2. Local Partnerships: Engage NE universities and start-ups in renewable projects.
3. Green Corridor Development: Combine transport and solar grids to reduce carbon footprint.
4. Cross-Border Trade Facilitation: Synchronize with BBIN (Bangladesh–Bhutan–India–Nepal) framework.
5. Community Engagement: Incorporate traditional ecological knowledge for sustainable design.

🧩 Conclusion

The India–Japan joint venture in Northeast connectivity and renewable energy reflects the fusion of geopolitics and sustainable development. For Assam and its neighboring states, it signifies a transition from geographic isolation to strategic centrality. If implemented with inclusivity and ecological foresight, this partnership could make the Northeast a model of international cooperation-driven regional development within India’s Act East vision.

---

Topic 4 : 🦏🌳 Kaziranga Biodiversity Corridor Project – Restoring Wildlife Connectivity in Assam

📘 GS Paper III – Environment | Biodiversity Conservation | Ecological Restoration
📘 GS Paper V – Assam-specific: Ecology, Wildlife, and Sustainable Development

🔹 Introduction

In October 2025, the Assam government launched the Kaziranga Biodiversity Corridor Project, a landmark initiative aimed at restoring natural migration routes for rhinos, elephants, and tigers across fragmented forest landscapes. The project integrates Kaziranga National Park (KNPTR) with nearby protected areas such as Karbi Anglong, Nameri, and Orang, forming a continuous wildlife movement network critical for Assam’s ecological resilience.

This initiative marks a major step toward landscape-level conservation, balancing human development with habitat connectivity — a core goal of India’s National Biodiversity Strategy.

🔑 Key Points

Aspect	Details
Announced By	Assam Forest & Environment Department, in collaboration with MoEFCC & World Bank
Project Name	Kaziranga Biodiversity Corridor and Landscape Restoration Project (KBCLRP)
Objective	Reconnect fragmented habitats and restore migratory corridors for elephants, rhinos, and other species
Area Coverage	~1,000 sq km buffer linking Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong–Orang–Nameri landscape
Funding Pattern	₹800 crore (World Bank assistance + state funding)
Duration	2025–2035 (10-year ecological restoration cycle)
Implementation Agencies	Assam State Biodiversity Board (ASBB), Kaziranga Tiger Reserve Authority, and local forest divisions
Technology Used	LiDAR mapping, satellite tracking, and GIS-based habitat connectivity models
Community Component	Eco-village model to promote conservation-linked livelihoods (e.g., bamboo crafts, eco-tourism, honey production)

🧠 Prelims Pointers

• Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong Landscape: Recognized as one of India’s 34 critical elephant and tiger corridors (Project Elephant, NTCA).
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kaziranga since 1985.
• Project Elephant (1992): Launched for elephant habitat protection and human–elephant conflict mitigation.
• Project Rhino (Assam): State-level anti-poaching and conservation drive.
• Wildlife Corridors: Natural linear habitats that connect isolated populations, enabling gene flow and migration.
• Important Corridors in Assam:
  • Panbari–Bagori
  • Hoollongapar–Gibbon Sanctuary–Dibru Saikhowa
  • Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong–Nameri–Orang complex

📝 Mains Pointers

A. Significance of the Biodiversity Corridor Project

1. Ecological Connectivity: Prevents genetic isolation among wildlife populations.
2. Disaster Resilience: Provides safe passages for animals during Brahmaputra floods.
3. Conflict Reduction: Diverts animal movement away from human settlements.
4. Climate Adaptation: Restores degraded forests, improving carbon sequestration.
5. Community Development: Integrates eco-tourism and livelihood alternatives for fringe villages.

B. Challenges in Implementation

• Encroachment: Illegal settlements and agriculture within corridor zones.
• Infrastructure Barriers: Highways, railways, and tea estates fragment habitat.
• Human–Wildlife Conflict: Crop depredation and property loss around fringe villages.
• Funding & Monitoring Gaps: Long-term financial sustainability and local enforcement issues.
• Inter-departmental Coordination: Multiple agencies managing overlapping landscapes.

C. Government & Institutional Support

• Project Tiger & Elephant Integration: Ensures coordination between NTCA and Project Elephant.
• World Bank & Global Environment Facility (GEF): Provide technical and financial support.
• Eco-sensitive Zone (ESZ) Notifications: Control developmental activities around protected areas.
• Digital Tracking: Use of satellite collars for rhinos and elephants for migration mapping.
• Community-based Forest Management (CBFM): Involving Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs).

D. Way Forward

1. Corridor Legalization: Notifying wildlife corridors under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Amendment 2022).
2. Green Infrastructure: Building animal underpasses and overpasses across NH-37 and railway lines.
3. Participatory Conservation: Incentivizing local guardianship and community conservation models.
4. Data-driven Policy: Establishing a corridor monitoring cell under ASBB.
5. Integrated Landscape Planning: Aligning the project with the Assam Climate Action Plan and State Biodiversity Strategy (2023–2030).

🧩 Conclusion

The Kaziranga Biodiversity Corridor Project marks a transformative shift in Assam’s conservation strategy — from isolated park protection to landscape-level ecological restoration. By harmonizing wildlife mobility, human livelihoods, and infrastructure planning, Assam can secure its biodiversity heritage while setting a national model for sustainable coexistence between people and nature.

APSC Prelims Practice Questions

Topic 1 – Orunodoi 3.0: Assam’s Flagship DBT Welfare Scheme

Q1. With reference to the Orunodoi Scheme of the Assam government, consider the following statements:

1. It is a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme aimed primarily at women heads of poor households.
2. The monthly assistance provided under Orunodoi 3.0 is ₹1,500.
3. The scheme is implemented by the Assam Finance Department.

Which of the above statements are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: C
🔎 Explanation: The monthly transfer is ₹1,250 (not ₹1,500). It targets women heads and is overseen by the Finance Department.

Q2. Which of the following features are associated with the Orunodoi 3.0 initiative (2025)?

1. Inclusion of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) beneficiaries
2. Integration of LPG subsidy and nutritional support
3. Appointment of Orunodoi Assistants for local grievance redressal

A. 1 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. 2 and 3 only

✅ Answer: C
🔎 Explanation: Orunodoi 3.0 expanded coverage to BTR, included LPG-linked benefits, and introduced block-level assistants.

Topic 2 – ₹707.97 crore Flood Aid to Assam under NDRF

Q3. The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) in India is constituted under which of the following Acts?

A. Disaster Management Act, 2005
B. Finance Act, 2007
C. Environment Protection Act, 1986
D. Indian Penal Code, 1860

✅ Answer: A
🔎 Explanation: NDRF and SDRF are established under Sections 46 and 48 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Q4. Consider the following about the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF):

1. It is the primary fund available to State Governments for meeting disaster response expenditure.
2. The funding ratio for SDRF between Centre and State is 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states.
3. SDRF can be used only for declared national disasters.

Which of the above statements are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: A
🔎 Explanation: SDRF is used for both state and national disasters; statement 3 is incorrect.

Topic 3 – India–Japan Joint Venture on NE Connectivity & Energy

Q5. The India–Japan Act East Forum (AEF), seen in the news, primarily aims to:

A. Promote academic exchange between Northeast India and Japan.
B. Coordinate infrastructure and development cooperation in Northeast India.
C. Regulate trade in the Indo-Pacific region.
D. Enhance military collaboration between India and Japan.

✅ Answer: B
🔎 Explanation: The AEF was created in 2017 to coordinate Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) in NE India.

Q6. Consider the following Japan-supported projects in Northeast India:

1. Guwahati Water Supply and Sewerage Project
2. North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project
3. Majuli Solar Microgrid Pilot Project

Which of the above are correctly associated with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)?

A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: D
🔎 Explanation: All three projects have Japanese support under the AEF–JICA partnership to improve connectivity and green energy.

Topic 4 – Kaziranga Biodiversity Corridor Project

Q7. Which of the following statements about the Kaziranga Biodiversity Corridor Project (2025) are correct?

1. It aims to reconnect fragmented habitats between Kaziranga, Karbi Anglong, Nameri, and Orang.
2. It is co-funded by the World Bank and the Assam government.
3. It excludes human settlements from its operational area.

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: A
🔎 Explanation: The project integrates human–wildlife coexistence through eco-village models; statement 3 is incorrect.

Q8. The term “Wildlife Corridor” refers to which of the following?

1. A continuous habitat that allows the movement of species between fragmented ecosystems.
2. A designated area under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
3. A concept emphasized in Project Elephant and Project Tiger for landscape-level conservation.

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: B
🔎 Explanation: Wildlife corridors are part of habitat conservation under Projects Tiger and Elephant; not specifically defined under the Forest Act.

APSC Mains Practice Question

Q. “The Kaziranga Biodiversity Corridor Project represents a shift from isolated species protection to landscape-level conservation.” Discuss its significance, challenges, and measures needed for long-term ecological balance in Assam.

Introduction

The Kaziranga Biodiversity Corridor Project (2025) aims to restore fragmented wildlife habitats and re-establish natural migration routes between Kaziranga National Park, Karbi Anglong, Orang, and Nameri. It symbolizes Assam’s move from protected area-centric conservation to landscape-level ecosystem management, essential in a climate-vulnerable and flood-prone region.

Body

1. Significance of the Project

Dimension	Explanation
Ecological Connectivity	Enables genetic flow among isolated wildlife populations, especially rhinos, elephants, and tigers.
Flood Resilience	Provides natural escape routes during annual Brahmaputra floods.
Conflict Mitigation	Reduces human–wildlife conflict by creating defined movement corridors.
Climate Adaptation	Restores degraded forests and enhances carbon sequestration.
Community Livelihoods	Introduces eco-village models, eco-tourism, and sustainable bamboo, honey, and handicraft ventures.

2. Challenges

1. Encroachment & Land Use Pressure – Unregulated agriculture, settlements, and tea gardens fragment corridor zones.
2. Infrastructure Barriers – NH-37 and railway lines obstruct animal movement; roadkills rise annually.
3. Institutional Overlap – Multiple agencies (ASBB, NTCA, Forest Dept.) with weak coordination.
4. Funding Sustainability – Long-term financial commitment beyond donor cycles (World Bank, GEF).
5. Community Sensitization – Local participation remains uneven; alternative livelihoods not yet fully viable.

3. Government & Policy Frameworks Supporting the Initiative

• Project Elephant (1992) – Corridor protection and conflict mitigation.
• Project Tiger (NTCA) – Recognizes landscape-based conservation in Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong complex.
• Assam State Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (2023–2030) – Prioritizes ecological connectivity.
• Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) Notifications – Restrict destructive activities around protected areas.
• India’s National Biodiversity Strategy (2022 Update) – Focus on ecosystem restoration and community stewardship.

4. Measures and Way Forward

Strategy	Suggested Actions
Legal Protection	Notify identified corridors under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Amended 2022).
Green Infrastructure	Build animal underpasses, overpasses, and speed-calming zones along highways.
Geo-Spatial Monitoring	Use LiDAR, drone, and satellite mapping for habitat integrity tracking.
Participatory Governance	Strengthen Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and community guardianship.
Integrated Development	Align with PM Gati Shakti and Assam Climate Action Plan to prevent conflict between infrastructure and ecology.

Conclusion

The Kaziranga Biodiversity Corridor Project is not just an ecological intervention but a vision for coexistence between development and biodiversity. By ensuring scientific planning, community ownership, and ecological sensitivity, Assam can turn Kaziranga into a global model of landscape-level conservation and sustainable regional development.

✨ APSC CCE Courses, 2025-26 offered by SuchitraACS

🔔 Join Our WhatsApp Study Group!

For exclusive access to premium quality content, including study materials, current affairs, MCQs, and model answers for APSC CCE and other Assam competitive exams.

Click here to join: SuchitraACS Study WhatsApp Group

📚 Want to know more about SuchitraACS’s most affordable courses?

Click here to know more: SuchitraACS Courses for APSC CCE and Assam Competitive Examinations