APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (09/02/2026)
For APSC CCE and other Assam competitive exam aspirants, staying consistently updated with reliable current affairs is essential for success. This blog provides a well-researched analysis of the most important topics from The Assam Tribune dated 09 February 2026. Each issue has been carefully selected and explained to support both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, ensuring alignment with the APSC CCE syllabus and the evolving trends of the examination.
✨ APSC CCE Prelims Crash Course, 2026
🪪 Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for Children under Aadhaar
Digital Governance, Inclusion & Service Delivery
📘 APSC GS Prelims: Polity | Governance | Digital Initiatives
📘 APSC GS Mains – II: Governance | e-Governance | Social Justice
📘 APSC GS Mains – III: Human Development | Technology in Service Delivery
📘 APSC GS Mains – V (Assam): Digital Public Infrastructure in Assam
🔹 Introduction
As reported in The Assam Tribune (09 February 2026), Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has completed Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for over one crore schoolchildren across 83,000 schools nationwide. The initiative addresses a critical lifecycle requirement of Aadhaar—updating fingerprints and iris data when children cross the ages of 5 and 15 years—to ensure reliable authentication and uninterrupted access to public services and examinations.
🔑 Key Points (From the Newspaper)
| Aspect | Details |
| Authority | UIDAI |
| Beneficiaries | Schoolchildren |
| Coverage | 1 crore children; 83,000 schools |
| What is MBU | Capture of fingerprints & iris at 5 and 15 years |
| Facilitation | School-based camps; Aadhaar Seva Kendras |
| Integration | UDISE+ visibility enabled targeted outreach |
| Incentive | MBU made free for ages 7–15 for one year |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Aadhaar enrolment below 5 years does not capture biometrics due to physiological immaturity.
Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) is required at 5 and 15 years.
Absence of MBU can hinder authentication for schemes and exam registrations (e.g., NEET, JEE, CUET).
UDISE+ integration helped identify due MBUs at school level.
UIDAI operates Aadhaar enrolment centres and Aadhaar Seva Kendras.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance / Significance
Inclusive Digital Governance
Ensures children’s seamless access to welfare schemes and public services.
Service Delivery & Examination Access
Prevents authentication failures during benefits transfer and competitive exam registrations.
Data Accuracy & System Integrity
Periodic updates improve the reliability of biometric authentication.
School-Centric Outreach
Camps at schools reduce exclusion, travel costs, and parental burden.
Assam Context
Helps bridge rural–urban gaps and supports students’ participation in national examinations.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Awareness Gaps | Parents unaware of MBU timelines |
| Access Constraints | Remote areas face logistical hurdles |
| Privacy Concerns | Need robust data protection & consent |
| Capacity & Staffing | Sustaining camps at scale |
| Digital Divide | Connectivity and device availability |
C. Policy & Institutional Framework
Aadhaar Act & UIDAI regulations
Digital India (DPI for service delivery)
School education systems (UDISE+) for last-mile targeting
Free MBU window to encourage compliance
D. Way Forward
Institutionalise School-Based MBUs
Annual calendars aligned with academic cycles.
Awareness & Consent Drives
Clear communication to parents on benefits and privacy safeguards.
Last-Mile Access in Assam
Mobile units in riverine, hill, and border areas.
Data Protection & Audit
Strong safeguards, audits, and grievance redressal.
Inter-Departmental Coordination
Education–Health–Social Welfare convergence.
🧩 Conclusion
Mandatory Biometric Updates are a quiet but crucial reform underpinning India’s digital public infrastructure. By embedding MBUs within schools and making them free for a defined age group, UIDAI has advanced inclusion, reliability, and ease of access. For Assam, sustained outreach and safeguards can ensure that no child is excluded from services or opportunities due to preventable authentication gaps.
🚁 Militant Use of Drones in the North-East
Internal Security, Technology Threats & Counter-Measures
📘 APSC GS Prelims: Internal Security | Emerging Technologies | Drones
📘 APSC GS Mains – III: Internal Security | Border Management | Technology
📘 APSC GS Mains – II: Governance | Federal Coordination
📘 APSC GS Mains – V (Assam): Internal Security Challenges of Assam & NE
🔹 Introduction
As reported in The Assam Tribune (09 February 2026), security agencies have flagged increasing use of drones by militant groups in the North-East for surveillance, logistics, and potential delivery of arms and explosives. This marks a qualitative shift in insurgent tactics, leveraging low-cost commercial technology to bypass traditional security measures, posing fresh challenges to internal security, border management, and public safety in Assam and the wider region.
🔑 Key Points (From the Newspaper)
| Aspect | Details |
| Threat Identified | Militant use of drones |
| Functions | Surveillance, reconnaissance, logistics |
| Nature of Drones | Commercial off-the-shelf UAVs |
| Vulnerable Areas | Border regions, forested terrain |
| Security Concern | Detection and attribution difficulties |
| Institutional Response | Heightened vigilance, counter-drone planning |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Drones/UAVs can be civilian, commercial, or military.
Dual-use technology: legitimate civilian use with potential security misuse.
Drones complicate border surveillance in riverine and forested terrain.
Counter-drone measures include RF jammers, radar, electro-optical sensors.
Internal security is a State subject, with Union support for border security.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance / Significance
Shift in Insurgency Tactics
Reduces dependence on physical movement and human couriers.
Enhances militants’ situational awareness at low cost.
Border Management Challenge
Drones can exploit porous borders and difficult terrain.
Increases risk of cross-border arms and contraband drops.
Civilian Safety Risks
Potential use for IED delivery threatens public spaces and infrastructure.
Technology–Security Interface
Highlights gap between rapid tech diffusion and regulatory capacity.
Assam & NE Context
Dense forests, riverine borders, and dispersed settlements heighten vulnerability.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Detection Difficulty | Small size, low altitude, night operations |
| Attribution | Hard to trace operators across borders |
| Regulatory Gaps | Easy availability of commercial drones |
| Capacity Constraints | Limited counter-drone infrastructure |
| Inter-Agency Coordination | Need seamless State–Central synergy |
C. Existing / Emerging Responses
Drone rules & registration (civil aviation framework)
Counter-drone technologies (jamming, sensors)
Intelligence-led policing and surveillance
Border force coordination and joint operations
Capacity building for State police forces
D. Way Forward
Integrated Counter-Drone Architecture
Deploy layered detection (radar + EO/IR + RF) in vulnerable zones.
Tighten Regulation & Traceability
Enforce registration, geofencing, and remote ID for drones.
Capacity Building in Assam
Specialised training and equipment for State police.
Intelligence & Federal Coordination
Real-time sharing among State agencies, central forces, and intelligence units.
Community Awareness
Reporting mechanisms for suspicious drone activity in border areas.
🧩 Conclusion
The militant use of drones represents a new frontier in internal security threats in the North-East. Addressing it requires a technology-forward, intelligence-driven, and cooperative federal approach, balancing innovation with regulation. For Assam, investing in counter-drone capacity and coordination is essential to stay ahead of evolving insurgent tactics and safeguard civilian life and critical infrastructure.
📊 India–US Trade Tariffs & Competitiveness
Market Access, Supply Chains & Implications for Assam
📘 APSC GS Prelims: International Trade | Tariffs | WTO Basics
📘 APSC GS Mains – II: Foreign Policy | Economic Diplomacy
📘 APSC GS Mains – III: Economy | External Sector | Manufacturing
📘 APSC GS Mains – V (Assam): State Economy | Exports (Tea, MSMEs)
🔹 Introduction
As reported in The Assam Tribune (09 February 2026), discussions around tariff levels and market access between India and United States have resurfaced amid efforts to recalibrate trade ties. The debate centres on competitiveness of Indian exports, protection of sensitive sectors, and alignment with evolving global supply chains, with direct bearings on export-oriented States like Assam.
🔑 Key Points (From the Newspaper)
| Aspect | Details |
| Issue | Tariff levels & market access |
| Objective | Improve competitiveness; balance sensitivities |
| Concerns | MSMEs’ adjustment costs; standards compliance |
| Opportunity | Supply-chain diversification |
| Assam Angle | Tea, agro-processing, handlooms, MSMEs |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Tariffs are taxes on imports affecting prices and competitiveness.
Non-tariff measures (standards, SPS/TBT) increasingly shape market access.
MFN principle allows exceptions via FTAs or sectoral arrangements.
Rules of origin determine eligibility for tariff preferences.
Export competitiveness depends on quality, logistics, and compliance, not tariffs alone.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance / Significance
Economic Diplomacy
Trade negotiations complement strategic ties and investor confidence.
Export Competitiveness
Rational tariffs and standards alignment can boost Indian exports.
Supply-Chain Reconfiguration
Opportunity to integrate into resilient, diversified supply chains.
Consumer & Producer Balance
Lower input costs for industry while protecting vulnerable sectors.
Assam’s Prospects
Scope for value-added tea, agro-products, handicrafts, and services.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Standards & Compliance | SPS/TBT norms raise costs for MSMEs |
| Adjustment Costs | Sudden exposure to competition |
| Logistics Bottlenecks | Inland connectivity and port access |
| Policy Predictability | Businesses need stable trade rules |
| Uneven Gains | Benefits may cluster by sector/region |
C. Policy Instruments & Framework
Calibrated tariff rationalisation
Export promotion schemes and trade facilitation
Quality infrastructure (testing, certification)
Logistics upgrades (ports, multimodal corridors)
MSME support for technology and compliance
D. Way Forward
Sector-Specific Negotiation
Protect agriculture; open where India is competitive.
Standards Readiness
Expand labs, certification, and compliance assistance.
Value Addition
Branding, GI leverage, and processing—especially for Assam tea.
Logistics & Connectivity
Faster corridors to ports; trade facilitation at borders.
MSME Handholding
Credit, skilling, and market intelligence for exporters.
🧩 Conclusion
Debates on India–US tariffs underline the need for balanced liberalisation—opening markets while safeguarding livelihoods and building competitiveness. For Assam, success hinges on value addition, standards compliance, and logistics, enabling local enterprises to convert global market access into sustainable growth.
🌿 Wetland Restoration: Khamrenga Beel
Biodiversity Conservation, Flood Resilience & Community Livelihoods
📘 APSC GS Prelims: Environment | Wetlands | Ramsar & NPCA
📘 APSC GS Mains – III: Environment | Climate Change | Disaster Management
📘 APSC GS Mains – II: Governance | Local Institutions
📘 APSC GS Mains – V (Assam): Ecology of Assam | Floods & Livelihoods
🔹 Introduction
As reported in The Assam Tribune (09 February 2026), renewed efforts are underway to restore Khamrenga Beel, a degraded wetland in Assam, recognising its role in flood moderation, biodiversity support, and livelihood security. The initiative reflects a broader shift towards nature-based solutions for climate adaptation in flood-prone regions of the Brahmaputra valley.
🔑 Key Points (From the Newspaper)
| Aspect | Details |
| Site | Khamrenga Beel (Assam) |
| Problem | Encroachment, siltation, pollution |
| Objective | Ecological restoration & flood buffering |
| Stakeholders | State agencies, local bodies, communities |
| Approach | Desiltation, hydrological connectivity, protection |
| Co-benefits | Fisheries revival, livelihoods, resilience |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Beels are freshwater wetlands characteristic of Assam.
Wetlands act as natural sponges, reducing flood peaks.
Restoration includes desiltation, re-connecting feeder channels, and protection from encroachment.
NPCA supports conservation of lakes and wetlands.
Community co-management improves sustainability of wetland outcomes.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance / Significance
Flood Resilience & Climate Adaptation
Wetlands store excess monsoon runoff and release it gradually, lowering flood intensity.
Biodiversity Conservation
Habitat for fish, birds, and aquatic flora; supports ecological balance.
Livelihood Security
Fisheries, reeds, and allied activities sustain local communities.
Water Quality & Groundwater Recharge
Natural filtration improves water quality and replenishes aquifers.
Cost-Effective Infrastructure
Nature-based solutions complement engineered flood control.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Encroachment | Shrinking wetland area |
| Siltation | Reduced holding capacity |
| Pollution | Sewage, solid waste inflow |
| Governance Gaps | Fragmented responsibilities |
| Community Exclusion | Limited local participation |
C. Policy & Institutional Framework
Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017
National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)
State Wetland Authority
Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Action Plans
D. Way Forward
Legal Protection & Demarcation
Clear boundaries; zero-encroachment enforcement.
Hydrological Restoration
Re-open feeder channels; scientific desiltation.
Community Co-Management
Fisher cooperatives and local bodies as custodians.
Pollution Control
Sewage interception; solid waste management.
Monitoring & Financing
GIS-based tracking; convergence of NPCA and climate funds.
🧩 Conclusion
Restoring Khamrenga Beel underscores the value of wetlands as frontline climate defences in Assam. A community-centric, basin-level approach, backed by strong governance and sustained financing, can revive ecological functions while securing livelihoods—making wetland restoration a cornerstone of Assam’s climate-resilient development pathway.
APSC Prelims MCQs
Q1. Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) under Aadhaar is required for children at which of the following ages?
A. At birth and at 10 years
B. At birth and at 18 years
C. At 5 years and at 15 years
D. At 10 years and at 18 years
✅ Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Biometric data (fingerprints and iris) is mandatorily updated at 5 and 15 years because children’s biometrics change with age.
Q2. Aadhaar enrolment for children below five years of age does not include biometric data primarily because:
A. Biometrics are legally prohibited
B. Iris scanners are unavailable
C. Physical features are not stable
D. UIDAI lacks capacity
✅ Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Children’s fingerprints and iris patterns are not physiologically stable below five years, making biometric capture unreliable.
Q3. The increasing use of drones by militant groups in the North-East poses a challenge mainly because drones:
A. Are expensive and difficult to procure
B. Can bypass traditional surveillance systems
C. Operate only during daytime
D. Require military-grade training
✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Low-cost commercial drones can evade conventional surveillance, making detection and attribution difficult.
Q4. The use of commercially available drones by militants is an example of:
A. Dedicated military technology
B. Dual-use technology
C. Strategic arms limitation
D. Technology embargo
✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Drones are dual-use technologies, having legitimate civilian applications but also potential for misuse.
Q5. In the context of internal security, counter-drone measures may include:
A. Electro-optical sensors and RF jammers
B. Inland waterways monitoring
C. Satellite-based navigation systems only
D. Underwater acoustic sensors
✅ Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
Counter-drone systems rely on radar, electro-optical sensors, and radio-frequency jammers.
Q6. Which of the following best explains the role of tariffs in international trade?
A. They eliminate imports completely
B. They influence prices and competitiveness of goods
C. They apply only to exports
D. They replace non-tariff barriers
✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Tariffs are taxes on imports that affect prices, domestic competitiveness, and market access.
Q7. For export-oriented States like Assam, improvement in competitiveness depends most directly on:
A. Complete removal of all tariffs
B. Branding, value addition, and standards compliance
C. Currency appreciation
D. Reduction in domestic consumption
✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Assam’s exports (tea, agro-products) benefit more from value addition, quality standards, and branding than tariff cuts alone.
Q8. Wetlands such as beels are important in flood-prone regions mainly because they:
A. Accelerate surface runoff
B. Act as natural water storage systems
C. Eliminate the need for embankments
D. Increase river flow velocity
✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Wetlands act as natural sponges, storing excess water and reducing flood peaks.
Q9. Restoration of wetlands like Khamrenga Beel contributes to climate adaptation primarily by:
A. Increasing industrial land availability
B. Improving flood resilience and biodiversity
C. Replacing irrigation projects
D. Supporting urban expansion
✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Wetland restoration enhances flood moderation, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience.
Q10. The National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) focuses on:
A. Coastal regulation
B. Forest conservation
C. Lakes and wetlands conservation
D. River interlinking
✅ Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
NPCA is a centrally sponsored scheme for conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands.
Q11. Community participation in wetland management is important mainly because it:
A. Eliminates government oversight
B. Ensures long-term sustainability and compliance
C. Converts wetlands into private property
D. Reduces biodiversity
✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Local communities ensure sustainable use, protection, and monitoring of wetlands.
Q12. Which constitutional principle is indirectly strengthened by ensuring accurate Aadhaar authentication for children?
A. Cooperative federalism
B. Equality of access to public services
C. Judicial independence
D. Separation of powers
✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Accurate Aadhaar authentication ensures equal and uninterrupted access to welfare schemes and services.cess to opportunities.
APSC Mains Practice Question
GS Mains Model Question
Paper: General Studies – III (Internal Security | Technology)
Q. The increasing use of drones by militant groups marks a qualitative shift in internal security threats in India.
In the context of the North-East, examine the challenges posed by militant use of drones and discuss the measures required to effectively counter this emerging threat.
(15 marks)
Model Answer
Introduction
As highlighted in The Assam Tribune (09 February 2026), security agencies have raised alarms over the use of drones by militant groups in the North-East for surveillance, logistics, and potential delivery of arms or explosives. This development represents a significant evolution in insurgent tactics, leveraging commercially available technology to bypass conventional security mechanisms, thereby posing new challenges to internal security and border management, particularly in States like Assam.
Body
A. Nature of the Emerging Threat
- Technological Shift in Insurgency
- Low-cost commercial drones enable surveillance and reconnaissance without physical movement.
- Reduces risk to militants while increasing operational reach.
- Border and Terrain Vulnerabilities
- Dense forests, riverine borders, and difficult terrain of the North-East aid drone misuse.
- Drones can facilitate cross-border arms drops and coordination.
- Threat to Civilian Safety
- Potential use for delivering IEDs poses risks to public spaces and critical infrastructure.
- Detection and Attribution Challenges
- Small size, low-altitude flights, and night operations make drones hard to detect.
- Attribution across borders complicates enforcement.
B. Challenges in Countering Drone-Based Threats
- Regulatory Gaps in monitoring sale and ownership of commercial drones.
- Limited Counter-Drone Infrastructure with State police forces.
- Capacity Constraints in training and technological expertise.
- Coordination Deficits between State agencies and central security forces.
C. Measures Required
- Integrated Counter-Drone Architecture
- Deployment of radar, electro-optical sensors, and RF jammers in vulnerable areas.
- Stronger Regulatory Framework
- Enforce drone registration, geofencing, and remote identification.
- Capacity Building in Assam
- Specialised training and equipment for State police and intelligence units.
- Intelligence-Led Policing
- Real-time information sharing between State agencies, central forces, and border guards.
- Community Engagement
- Awareness mechanisms for reporting suspicious drone activity in border and rural areas.
Conclusion
The militant use of drones signifies a technology-driven transformation of internal security threats in the North-East. Addressing this challenge requires a forward-looking, technology-enabled, and cooperative federal approach, balancing regulation with innovation. For Assam, strengthening counter-drone capabilities and institutional coordination is essential to safeguard civilian life, maintain public order, and stay ahead of evolving insurgent strategies.
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