APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (20/08/2025)
For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, staying updated with current affairs is vital. This blog covers most important topics from the Assam Tribune today (20-08-2025). These issues are key for both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, offering insights into the APSC CCE Syllabus.
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🚄 Centre Approves High-Speed Rail Feasibility Study in Northeast
📘 GS Paper 3: Infrastructure | Transport | Economy
📘 GS Paper 2: Governance | Centre–State Relations
📘 GS Paper 5 (Assam & NE): Regional Connectivity | Development
🔹 Introduction
The Union Government has approved a feasibility study for high-speed rail in the Northeast, connecting Guwahati with Silchar and Shillong in the first phase. This move signals a new era of infrastructure-led growth in a region long considered difficult due to terrain and strategic sensitivities.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| Proposed Corridors | Guwahati–Shillong (capital connectivity), Guwahati–Silchar (Barak Valley link). |
| Implementing Agency | National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). |
| Strategic Rationale | Boost intra-regional travel, tourism, trade, and security mobility. |
| Funding Model | Centre–State partnership + possible JICA/ADB financing (like Mumbai–Ahmedabad HSR). |
| Expected Outcomes | Reduce travel time drastically, integrate Barak–Brahmaputra Valleys, and improve Act East corridors. |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
NHSRCL – Implementing Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – Financing partner for India’s HSR projects.
First HSR corridor in India – Mumbai–Ahmedabad (508 km, under construction).
North East Frontier Railway (NFR) – Zonal railway managing Assam and NE.
Act East Policy – Infrastructure push in NE to link with ASEAN.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance
Regional Integration – Connects Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, addressing historic economic isolation.
Economic Growth – Boosts trade, tourism, and agro-industries (tea, bamboo, horticulture).
Strategic Mobility – Enhances troop deployment capacity near China–Myanmar borders.
Environmental Impact – HSR is more energy-efficient and eco-friendly compared to road/air.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Difficult Terrain | Hills, floods, seismicity make construction complex. |
| High Cost | HSR projects demand massive capital investment. |
| Land Acquisition | Sensitive tribal and agricultural lands. |
| Operational Expertise | Need skilled manpower for HSR technology. |
C. Govt Initiatives
PM Gati Shakti – Integrated planning for multi-modal connectivity.
North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) – Funding support.
Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN) – Parallels in aviation for NE.
Railway Electrification – Ongoing 100% electrification target for NFR.
D. Way Forward
Pilot Corridor First – Test Guwahati–Shillong before scaling.
International Financing – Secure low-interest loans from Japan/ADB.
Local Participation – Employ local youth in construction, skill-building.
Sustainability Focus – Use tunnels, bridges, and green tech to minimise ecological damage.
🧩 Conclusion
The feasibility study for high-speed rail in Northeast India is more than an infrastructure project—it represents an attempt to integrate a historically peripheral region into India’s growth story. With careful execution balancing cost, environment, and local concerns, the project can transform Assam and the Northeast into a hub of connectivity under the Act East vision.
🌱 Assam Declares ‘Agro-Industrial Year 2025-26’ to Boost Rural Economy
📘 GS Paper 3: Agriculture | Economy | Rural Development
📘 GS Paper 2: Government Policies | Governance
📘 GS Paper 5 (Assam & NE): Agriculture | State Initiatives
🔹 Introduction
The Assam Government has declared 2025–26 as the ‘Agro-Industrial Year’, focusing on value addition, agri-processing, and rural entrepreneurship. This initiative is aimed at transforming Assam’s agriculture from subsistence-based farming to a commercial, export-oriented, and technology-driven sector, while also supporting farmers with market linkages.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| Declared By | Assam CM during State Assembly session, August 2025. |
| Focus Areas | Food processing, cold chain infra, agro-based MSMEs, farm-to-market supply chain. |
| Target Beneficiaries | Farmers, FPOs, rural youth, SHGs. |
| Supporting Schemes | Convergence with PMFME, PMKSY, APEDA export promotion. |
| Expected Outcomes | Rural job creation, boost in agri-export, reduction in post-harvest losses. |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
APEDA: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
PMFME Scheme: Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (credit-linked subsidy).
GI Products of Assam: Muga silk, Joha rice, Boka saul, Kaji Nemu.
MSMEs in Assam: Agro-processing forms ~40% of registered units.
Primary Crops of Assam: Rice, tea, mustard, pulses, jute.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance
Farmers’ Income – Encourages value-addition beyond raw produce.
Employment Generation – Agro-industries absorb rural youth, reduce migration.
Women Empowerment – SHGs in food processing and weaving integrated.
Export Promotion – GI crops like Joha rice, Assam lemon gain global market.
Balanced Growth – Brings Barak valley, hill districts into mainstream development.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Low Processing Capacity | Only ~6-7% of agri-produce processed in Assam. |
| Cold Chain Deficit | Lack of storage leads to 20–25% post-harvest loss. |
| Credit Access | Small farmers face hurdles in financing MSMEs. |
| Market Linkages | Weak supply chains and price volatility. |
| Skill Gaps | Lack of trained manpower in processing technology. |
C. Govt Initiatives
PM Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) – Integrated cold chain and mega food parks.
PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) – Credit & training.
Assam Agribusiness & Rural Transformation Project (APART) – World Bank-funded, focuses on agri-value chains.
One District One Product (ODOP) – For promoting niche agri-products.
D. Way Forward
Cluster-Based Agro Parks – Specialised hubs for rice, fruits, tea, and spices.
Technology Integration – Encourage startups in agri-tech, food processing.
Export Facilitation – Strengthen APEDA hubs at Guwahati & Silchar airports.
Public–Private Partnerships – Attract investment in processing and logistics.
Skill Development – Rural youth training in packaging, branding, quality certification.
🧩 Conclusion
Declaring 2025–26 as the Agro-Industrial Year is a timely step to transform Assam’s agrarian economy into a resilient, market-linked, and job-creating sector. If effectively implemented with strong farmer–industry linkages and infrastructure support, it can become a milestone in doubling farmers’ income and strengthening Assam’s place in the global agri-trade network.
🛡️ AFSPA Extended in Parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh
📘 GS Paper 3: Internal Security | Insurgency | Governance
📘 GS Paper 2: Centre–State Relations | Federalism
📘 GS Paper 5 (Assam & NE): Peace & Insurgency Issues
🔹 Introduction
The Union Government has once again extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 in select districts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh citing continuing insurgency threats. While AFSPA provides the armed forces with special powers to operate in “disturbed areas,” its extension remains controversial due to human rights concerns, federal tensions, and its impact on peace talks in the Northeast.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| AFSPA Origin | Enacted in 1958, initially for Naga Hills. |
| Key Provisions | Special powers to use force, arrest without warrant, search premises, declare curfew. |
| Disturbed Area Declaration | Made by Governor or Centre under Section 3. |
| Current Extension (Aug 2025) | Parts of Nagaland & Arunachal, while most areas in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya withdrawn earlier. |
| Justification | Continuing insurgency, extortion, cross-border sanctuaries in Myanmar. |
| Counterbalance | Govt says extension is selective & limited compared to blanket past enforcement. |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
AFSPA States (Current) – In force in parts of Nagaland, Manipur (except Imphal municipal areas), and Arunachal (Tirap, Changlang, Longding, areas near Myanmar).
Disturbed Areas Act – State Governor or Centre can notify.
Judicial Oversight – Supreme Court in Naga People’s Movement of Human Rights v. Union of India (1997) upheld constitutionality but called for safeguards.
Naga Peace Accord (2015) – Framework agreement with NSCN (IM) for lasting peace, but still unresolved.
Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005) – Recommended repeal of AFSPA, suggesting it be subsumed under UAPA.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of AFSPA
Operational Flexibility – Helps armed forces tackle insurgency in hostile terrain.
Border Security – Indo–Myanmar border remains a hotspot of arms trafficking & insurgent hideouts.
Peace Talks Support – Provides stability for negotiations with insurgent groups.
Civil Order – Assists local police in regions with weak law enforcement.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Human Rights Concerns | Allegations of fake encounters, arbitrary arrests. |
| Alienation of Locals | Perception of militarisation erodes trust. |
| Federal Strain | States sometimes oppose Centre’s notification. |
| Insurgency Dynamics | Groups use AFSPA as propaganda against the state. |
C. Govt Initiatives
Gradual Withdrawal – AFSPA revoked in Meghalaya (2018), Tripura (2015), most parts of Assam & Manipur.
Peace Accords – Bodo (2020), Karbi Anglong (2021), Bru–Reang (2020).
Ceasefire Agreements – With Naga and other insurgent outfits.
Development Push – NE Vision Document 2047, Act East Policy, infrastructure projects to address root causes.
D. Way Forward
Phased Withdrawal – Extend only in insurgency-prone pockets, not as blanket law.
Stronger Policing – Build capacity of local police forces for internal security.
Accountability Mechanisms – Independent human rights oversight, quick grievance redressal.
Political Dialogue – Accelerate Naga peace process, engage civil society.
Socio-Economic Development – Tackle unemployment, underdevelopment fueling insurgency.
🧩 Conclusion
The selective extension of AFSPA in Nagaland and Arunachal reflects the delicate balance between security and rights in the Northeast. While its phased withdrawal shows progress in peace-building, sustainable security lies in political dialogue, trust-building, and development-led governance, not indefinite military laws.
🎓 NEP 2020 Implementation in Assam: New Milestones Achieved
📘 GS Paper 2: Education | Governance | Policy Implementation
📘 GS Paper 5 (Assam & NE): State Policies | Social Development
🔹 Introduction
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, hailed as a landmark reform in India’s education system, is being steadily rolled out in Assam. The state government recently announced major milestones: new multidisciplinary universities, skill-integration at school level, and regional language promotion. This makes Assam one of the front-runner states in NEP implementation in the Northeast.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| School Level | Shift to 5+3+3+4 structure; vocational subjects introduced at secondary level. |
| Higher Education | Upgradation of select colleges into autonomous multidisciplinary universities. |
| Language Policy | Assamese, Bodo, and other local languages strengthened at primary level. |
| Teacher Training | State Teacher Training Institutes aligned with National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST). |
| Digital Learning | Expansion of SWAYAM, DIKSHA platforms, smart classrooms in rural Assam. |
| Skill Development | Convergence with Skill India Mission; agriculture, weaving, and IT added to curriculum. |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
NEP 2020 Key Highlights:
5+3+3+4 curricular structure (instead of 10+2).
6% of GDP target for education spending.
Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) proposed.
Aim to increase GER in higher education to 50% by 2035.
NPST (2022) – National Professional Standards for Teachers.
NIPUN Bharat – National Mission for Foundational Literacy & Numeracy.
Assam GI-linked education – weaving, tea culture, bamboo crafts integrated into skilling.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of NEP in Assam
Equity in Education – Inclusion of tribal and local languages improves accessibility.
Skill-Oriented Learning – Prepares rural youth for agro-industries, weaving, handicrafts.
Higher Education Reform – Local colleges gain autonomy and international tie-ups.
Digital Bridge – E-learning reduces rural–urban divide.
Cultural Preservation – Local languages and indigenous knowledge embedded.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Infrastructure Deficit | Rural schools lack digital and lab facilities. |
| Teacher Training Gaps | Need for massive re-skilling of educators. |
| Dropout Rates | Particularly high among tea tribes and rural girls. |
| Funding Issues | 6% of GDP target still unmet nationally. |
| Balancing Language Policy | Harmonising local languages with English/global competitiveness. |
C. Govt Initiatives
Gunotsav (Assam) – State-wide evaluation for school quality.
Digital Assam Mission – Smart classrooms, DIKSHA content.
NEP State Task Force – Monitoring phased implementation.
Skill Hub Initiative – Integration with ITIs and vocational training centres.
D. Way Forward
Teacher-Centric Reforms – Regular training, incentives, and digital pedagogy skills.
Focus on Rural Areas – Ensure equal infrastructure across valleys and hill districts.
Public–Private Partnerships – CSR in digital learning and skilling.
Monitoring & Evaluation – Real-time dashboards for NEP progress.
Global Linkages – Promote Assam’s universities as hubs for Southeast Asian collaboration under Act East Policy.
🧩 Conclusion
NEP 2020 implementation in Assam represents a paradigm shift from rote-learning to holistic, skill-based education. While challenges of infrastructure and training persist, sustained political will, community participation, and convergence with Assam’s socio-cultural strengths can turn the state into a model for inclusive and future-ready education in the Northeast.
APSC Prelims Practice Questions
Topic 1: High-Speed Rail Feasibility Study in Northeast
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding High-Speed Rail (HSR) in India:
- The first HSR corridor in India is between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
- The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is the nodal agency for implementing HSR projects.
- The Guwahati–Shillong–Silchar corridor is the first HSR proposal for the Northeast.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Mumbai–Ahmedabad is India’s first HSR project. NHSRCL is the implementing agency. In Aug 2025, Guwahati–Shillong–Silchar was approved for feasibility in NE.
Q2. With reference to the Act East Policy, which of the following infrastructure projects is most directly linked to Northeast India’s connectivity with ASEAN?
- (a) Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train
- (b) India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway
- (c) Delhi–Meerut RRTS Corridor
- (d) Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The IMT Trilateral Highway directly connects Northeast India with Southeast Asia under Act East.
Topic 2: Assam Declares ‘Agro-Industrial Year 2025-26’
Q3. Which of the following GI-tagged agricultural products belong to Assam?
- Joha rice
- Kaji Nemu (Assam Lemon)
- Black Rice (Chakhao)
- Boka Saul
Select the correct answer using the code below:
- (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
- (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
- (c) 2, 3 and 4 only
- (d) 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Joha rice, Kaji Nemu, and Boka Saul are from Assam. Chakhao (black rice) is from Manipur.
Q4. Which of the following schemes is/are directly aimed at promoting agro-industrial growth and food processing in India?
- PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME)
- PM Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
- APEDA export promotion schemes
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation: All three schemes support food processing, value addition, and export of agri-products.
Topic 3: AFSPA Extended in Parts of Nagaland & Arunachal
Q5. Consider the following statements about AFSPA, 1958:
- AFSPA can be applied only by the President of India, not by a State Governor.
- The Act gives armed forces the power to search, arrest, and use force in disturbed areas.
- The Supreme Court has upheld AFSPA’s constitutionality but suggested safeguards.
Which of the above is/are correct?
- (a) 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 2 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Both Centre and Governor can declare disturbed areas. Powers include use of force, arrest, and search. SC upheld it in Naga People’s Movement (1997) but with safeguards.
Q6. Match the following committees with their recommendations on AFSPA:
| Committee/Commission | Recommendation |
| A. Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee | 1. Recommended repeal/subsumption of AFSPA under UAPA |
| B. Second ARC (2008) | 2. Called for human rights safeguards while retaining AFSPA |
| C. Hegde Commission (2013) | 3. Reported fake encounter cases in Manipur |
Select the correct match:
- (a) A-1, B-2, C-3
- (b) A-2, B-1, C-3
- (c) A-3, B-1, C-2
- (d) A-1, B-3, C-2
Answer: (a)
Topic 4: NEP 2020 Implementation in Assam
Q7. Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which of the following is correct about the new school education structure?
- (a) 6+4+2+2 pattern replacing 10+2 system
- (b) 5+3+3+4 pattern replacing 10+2 system
- (c) 4+4+4 pattern replacing 10+2 system
- (d) No structural change, only curricular flexibility
Answer: (b)
Explanation: NEP 2020 introduces 5+3+3+4 (foundational, preparatory, middle, secondary).
Q8. Which of the following initiatives are linked with NEP 2020 reforms?
- NIPUN Bharat Mission
- Higher Education Commission of India (HECI)
- National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST)
- One Nation One Digital Platform (DIKSHA)
- (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
- (b) 2 and 4 only
- (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
- (d) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (c)
Explanation: All listed initiatives are linked with NEP reforms in school and higher education.
APSC Mains Practice Question
Q. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 continues to evoke debate in Northeast India. Critically examine its role in balancing national security and democratic rights, with special reference to recent extensions in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
(GS Paper 3: Internal Security | GS Paper 2: Governance | GS Paper 5: Northeast Issues)
🔹 Introduction
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, originally enacted for the Naga Hills, empowers armed forces to maintain order in “disturbed areas.” While it has been instrumental in counter-insurgency operations, its prolonged use in the Northeast has sparked concerns over human rights violations, federalism, and alienation of local communities. The recent extension in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh (Aug 2025) has reignited debates on the necessity and limits of such extraordinary legislation.
🔹 Body
1. Significance of AFSPA in Northeast
- Counter-insurgency tool: Enables armed forces to operate in remote, hostile terrains where state police capacity is weak.
- Border security: Crucial along Indo–Myanmar border, where insurgents maintain sanctuaries.
- Stability for peace talks: Helps contain violence while negotiations with groups like NSCN (IM) continue.
- Rapid deployment: Provides flexibility for armed forces to act without bureaucratic delays.
2. Concerns & Criticism
- Human Rights Violations: Allegations of fake encounters, arbitrary detentions (e.g., Manipur’s extrajudicial killings case).
- Alienation of Locals: Seen as a symbol of militarisation, breeding mistrust towards the state.
- Legal Safeguards Erosion: Armed forces enjoy virtual immunity under Section 6 of AFSPA.
- Federal Tensions: Centre often imposes AFSPA despite opposition from state governments.
- Peace Process Impact: Militants exploit AFSPA as propaganda to sustain recruitment.
3. Judicial & Expert Views
- Supreme Court (NPMHR vs Union of India, 1997): Upheld constitutionality but demanded “restraint and accountability.”
- Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005): Recommended repeal, merging powers under UAPA.
- Second ARC (2008): Suggested retaining with safeguards for human rights.
4. Recent Developments
- Phased withdrawal: AFSPA removed from Tripura (2015), Meghalaya (2018), and most parts of Assam and Manipur.
- Selective extension: Aug 2025 extension limited to insurgency-hit areas of Nagaland & Arunachal, unlike blanket imposition earlier.
- Parallel peace accords: Karbi (2021), Bodo (2020), and ongoing Naga negotiations signal a peace-oriented shift.
5. Way Forward
- Phased & Area-Specific Withdrawal: Limit AFSPA to active insurgency hotspots, not entire states.
- Strengthening Local Policing: Invest in training, modernisation, and community policing.
- Accountability Mechanisms: Independent human rights commissions to investigate complaints.
- Political Dialogue: Speed up settlement of Naga Accord; involve civil society.
- Development as Security: Focus on jobs, connectivity, and governance to address root causes of insurgency.
🔹 Conclusion
AFSPA reflects the tension between security imperatives and democratic liberties. While its role in maintaining order cannot be denied, its indefinite use undermines trust and legitimacy of the state. The selective extension in 2025 shows progress towards normalcy, but lasting peace in the Northeast will come only through political dialogue, institutional accountability, and socio-economic development, not through prolonged emergency laws.elopment paradigm, recognising that even a river-rich state must prepare for climate-induced water stress. Its success will depend on community participation, scientific planning, and synergy with national water policies, making Assam resilient against the twin challenges of floods and droughts.urity.
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