APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (23/07/2025)
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 (23-07-2025). These issues are key for both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, offering insights into the APSC CCE Syllabus.
✨ APSC CCE Online Coaching, 2026
⚖️ Centre Notifies Rules for Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in India
📘 GS Paper 2 (Mains): Governance | Judiciary Reforms | e-Governance
📘 GS Paper 3 (Mains): Digital Infrastructure | Inclusive Growth
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Legal Reforms | Citizen-Centric Services in NE
📘 Prelims: ODR | Tele-Law 2.0 | Digital India Act | Nyaaya Setu Platform
🔹 Introduction
In a move to digitally transform India’s justice delivery system, the Central Government has notified rules under the Information Technology Act to institutionalize Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). This aims to offer faster, accessible, and affordable resolution of disputes, especially for citizens in remote and under-served regions like the Northeast.
🔑 Key Features of the New ODR Rules
| Feature | Details |
| Objective | Create a legal framework for digital arbitration, mediation, and conciliation |
| Jurisdiction | Civil and commercial disputes, including small claims and consumer cases |
| Platform Accreditation | Only government-recognized platforms allowed for official use |
| Data Privacy | ODR platforms must comply with IT Rules 2021 and Data Protection norms |
| Integration | Linked with Digital India, e-Courts, and Nyaaya Setu programs |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Online Dispute Resolution (ODR): Use of technology platforms for resolving legal disputes without physical court appearance
Nyaaya Setu: MoJ initiative for legal literacy and assisted online filing
Tele-Law 2.0: Legal aid via video conferencing to rural and tribal populations
E-Courts Project: Digitization of courts under National Judicial Data Grid
IT Act, 2000: Parent Act under which ODR rules are framed
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of ODR in Indian Justice System
| Domain | Benefit |
| Access to Justice | Reduces delays, cost, and dependency on overburdened courts |
| Digital Inclusion | Brings legal access to rural, tribal, and NE border populations |
| Ease of Doing Business | Quicker resolution in commercial contracts and consumer disputes |
| Decongestion of Judiciary | Prevents unnecessary litigation escalation to higher courts |
| Disaster-Resilient | Courts can function during pandemics, disasters, and conflicts |
B. Challenges in Implementation
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Digital Divide | Limited internet and device access in many rural and NE districts |
| Legal Awareness | Low awareness about rights and online legal remedies |
| Lack of Digital Literacy | Particularly among elderly and economically weaker sections |
| Trust Deficit | Concerns over fairness, privacy, and neutrality of online platforms |
| Skilled Personnel | Shortage of trained mediators/arbitrators for online proceedings |
📊 Relevant Reports & Initiatives
Justice India Report (2022): Average case pendency over 3 years in district courts
E-Courts Phase III: Push for virtual courts, AI-based case management
NITI Aayog ODR Report (2020): Advocated ODR as mainstream system
UNCITRAL Model Law on E-Commerce: Basis for global ODR standards
India Stack Integration: Aadhar-based authentication and document sharing
🧭 Way Forward
| Strategy | Recommendation |
| Hybrid Justice Model | Combine physical and online mechanisms with local facilitators |
| ODR Literacy Drives | Conduct Gram Sabha-level awareness campaigns with legal aid NGOs |
| Multilingual Interfaces | Incorporate Assamese and tribal languages in ODR platforms |
| Local Mediator Training | Create grassroots paralegal corps in each district |
| Independent Oversight | Set up an ODR Regulatory Authority under NALSA or MoJ |
🧩 Conclusion
The formalization of ODR is a landmark step in democratizing India’s legal system, especially for vulnerable and remote communities. For states like Assam, where physical access to courts is difficult in riverine and hill regions, ODR offers a cost-effective, time-efficient, and scalable justice solution.
🌳 Assam’s Efforts to Conserve Amur Falcon Habitat in Dima Hasao
📘 GS Paper 3 (Mains): Environment | Biodiversity Conservation
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Ecology of NE India | Wildlife Conservation | Tribal Participation
📘 Prelims: Amur Falcon | Migratory Birds | IUCN Status | Flyways | Biodiversity Hotspots
🔹 Introduction
The Assam Forest Department, in collaboration with NGOs and local tribal councils, has launched a conservation initiative in Dima Hasao to protect the habitat of the Amur Falcon, one of the world’s longest-traveling migratory raptors. These efforts aim to transform hunting zones into community-led conservation areas, aligning with India’s commitments under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).
🔑 Key Highlights
| Parameter | Description |
| Species | Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern (IUCN) but protected under Schedule IV of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 |
| Migration Route | Breeds in East Asia (China, Mongolia), travels to Southern Africa via India and NE |
| Key Stopover Site | Dima Hasao, Assam — critical roosting ground during October–November |
| Conservation Approach | Community-led awareness drives, compensation for crop loss, eco-tourism training |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Amur Falcon: Known as the “longest-traveling raptor” — covers ~22,000 km round trip
India’s Flyways: Falls under the East Asian–Australasian Flyway
Naga Conservation Model: Pangti Village (Nagaland) became a success story in falcon conservation
Ramsar Sites in Assam: Include Deepor Beel, Pobitora, and others — important for migratory birds
Biodiversity Hotspot: Indo-Burma hotspot includes parts of Assam and Nagaland
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of Amur Falcon Conservation
| Area | Significance |
| Ecological | Controls insect populations (natural pest regulator) |
| Geopolitical | Migratory conservation is a transboundary commitment |
| Cultural | Falcons are part of oral folklore and tribal heritage |
| Tourism | Falcon festivals boost eco-tourism and local income |
| Scientific Research | Used for satellite tracking studies in climate and migration |
B. Challenges in Assam’s Conservation Landscape
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Poaching Tradition | Historical hunting by tribes due to lack of awareness or alternatives |
| Deforestation | Habitat degradation due to logging and jhum cultivation |
| Human-Wildlife Conflict | Crop loss due to falcon roosting or roost disturbances |
| Limited Funding | Most initiatives rely on donor/NGO partnerships |
| Lack of Data | Inadequate long-term monitoring of migration patterns |
📊 Related Policies & Conventions
Wildlife Protection Act (1972) – Amur Falcon protected under Schedule IV
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) – India is a signatory
National Action Plan for Migratory Birds – MoEFCC initiative
Assam State Biodiversity Board – Nodal agency for biodiversity preservation
Community Reserves – Legal recognition for community-led conservation under WPA (2002 amendment)
🧭 Way Forward
| Strategy | Action Steps |
| Education Drives | Use local schools and Anganwadis for falcon awareness |
| Community Eco-Guardians | Appoint and train locals as wardens with stipends |
| Citizen Science Tools | Involve locals in bird-counting, mapping via mobile apps |
| Habitat Restoration | Plant roost-friendly native trees in degraded sites |
| Ecotourism Models | Replicate Pangti (Nagaland) success with state-supported festivals |
🧩 Conclusion
Assam’s initiative in Dima Hasao to conserve the Amur Falcon reflects a shift toward participatory biodiversity governance. By involving tribal communities as stakeholders, it not only protects a globally significant species but also paves the way for ecological sustainability, rural employment, and cultural revival in the Northeast.
👩💼 Assam Govt. Approves ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Mitra Yojana’ to Boost Public Health Interface
📘 GS Paper 2 (Mains): Government Schemes | Health Infrastructure | Social Justice
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Welfare Policies in Assam | Health Sector Reforms
📘 Prelims: Swasthya Mitra Scheme | NHM | ASHA | Ayushman Bharat
🔹 Introduction
To improve grassroots healthcare accessibility, the Assam Cabinet has approved the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Mitra Yojana, a scheme designed to train and deploy health assistants at the village level. It is a step forward in bridging the gap between public health systems and rural citizens, inspired by models like ASHA and Ayushman Mitras.
🔑 Key Features of the Scheme
| Feature | Details |
| Objective | Serve as a liaison between citizens and government health services |
| Deployment | One Swasthya Mitra per 1000 population, covering all rural habitations |
| Training | 3-month certified health facilitation course + soft skills module |
| Role | Awareness generation, digital health records, health insurance guidance |
| Remuneration | Monthly honorarium + performance-linked incentives |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
ASHA Workers: Accredited Social Health Activists under NHM
Ayushman Bharat: PM-JAY + Health & Wellness Centres (HWC)
e-Sanjeevani: Govt. telemedicine platform integrated in Assam
NE States’ Health Indicators: Assam ranks low in IMR, MMR, institutional deliveries
NHM (Assam): Launched 2005, funds health infra and personnel
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of the Scheme for Assam
| Benefit | Explanation |
| Last-Mile Health Outreach | Mitigates doctor and ANM shortage in remote areas |
| Digital Health Mission Integration | Facilitates e-health cards and teleconsultation |
| Health Literacy | Promotes preventive care, especially among tribal and tea garden populations |
| Welfare Inclusion | Links citizens to Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, etc. |
| Gender Equity | Likely to employ women, boosting female employment and empowerment |
B. Challenges Ahead
| Challenge | Description |
| Training & Monitoring | Ensuring uniform quality of service and accountability |
| Overlap of Roles | Avoiding functional duplication with ASHA or MPW |
| Sustainability | Long-term financial commitment from state budget |
| Tech Adoption | Difficulty in digital record keeping in tribal/digital-dark zones |
| Community Trust | Acceptance may vary based on local dynamics and literacy |
📊 Related Schemes & Reports
NHM Annual Report (2023): Highlights rural health gaps in Assam
Health Index by NITI Aayog: Assam among bottom five in outcomes
Digital Health Mission: Aims to digitize health records for every Indian
Community Health Officer (CHO) Model: Used in HWCs for primary care
Tea Garden Health Clinics: Assam-specific intervention for underserved workers
🧭 Way Forward
| Focus Area | Recommendation |
| Skill Enhancement | Partner with health universities for structured curriculum |
| Clear Role Demarcation | Distinct roles from ASHA to reduce overlaps |
| Data-Driven Monitoring | Use mobile dashboards and GPS tagging of visits |
| Public Awareness | Promote scheme via panchayats, schools, and media |
| Feedback Loops | Enable citizen grievance and suggestion systems |
🧩 Conclusion
The Mukhyamantri Swasthya Mitra Yojana has the potential to become a transformative public health interface in Assam’s rural healthcare landscape. With adequate training, supervision, and community involvement, it can bridge critical service gaps and bring equitable healthcare to the doorstep of every citizen.
🔬 North East to Get India’s First Tribal Genetic Resource Centre
📘 GS Paper 2 (Mains): Welfare of Scheduled Tribes | Developmental Initiatives
📘 GS Paper 3 (Mains): Biotechnology | Science & Technology | Tribal Health
📘 GS Paper 5 (APSC): Tribal Development in NE | Scientific Interventions in Governance
📘 Prelims: Tribal Genetic Centre | ICMR | Tribal Sub Plan | PVTGs
🔹 Introduction
The Government of India, in collaboration with ICMR and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has approved India’s first-ever Tribal Genetic Resource Centre (TGRC) in the Northeast. The centre aims to build a genetic database of tribal communities, focusing on disease mapping, precision medicine, and nutrition profiling, while preserving genomic diversity and privacy.
🔑 Key Features of the TGRC
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Likely to be set up in one of the NE tribal-dominant states (exact site TBD) |
| Objective | Genetic profiling for tribal health, research, and policy integration |
| Institutions Involved | ICMR, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, NE state health departments |
| Data Privacy | Strict consent-based biobanking and anonymized research |
| Focus Areas | Sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, nutrition disorders, drug efficacy |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research): Apex medical research body
PVTGs (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups): Highest tribal vulnerability classification
Sickle Cell Mission: Launched in 2023 to eliminate the disease by 2047
DNA Profiling Bill (Withdrawn 2019): Raised concerns on privacy and misuse
Tribal Sub Plan (TSP): Special budget allocation for tribal development
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Significance of the Tribal Genetic Centre
| Benefit Area | Explanation |
| Healthcare Targeting | Enables precision medicine for endemic diseases |
| Policy Planning | Informs tailored welfare schemes for tribal groups |
| Nutritional Mapping | Aids in combating stunting, anemia, and malnutrition |
| Disease Prevention | Early detection of genetic disorders like thalassemia |
| Research Ecosystem | Enhances NE’s scientific capacity and data-driven governance |
B. Ethical and Operational Challenges
| Challenge | Description |
| Consent & Awareness | Low digital/medical literacy in tribal areas |
| Data Misuse | Risks of discrimination or profiling based on genetic info |
| Infrastructure Gaps | Lack of genome labs, biobanks in remote NE locations |
| Linguistic & Cultural Barriers | Need for culturally sensitive engagement |
| Interagency Coordination | Synchronizing state, tribal, and central institutions |
📊 Related Reports & Policies
UNDRIP (UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples) – Right to genetic sovereignty
Sickle Cell Elimination Roadmap (India) – NE included in screening targets
Human DNA Profiling Draft Bill – Highlighted ethical concerns
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY ST Package – Special tribal health coverage
ICMR-NIN Tribal Nutrition Surveys – Flagged major anemia and undernutrition rates in NE
🧭 Way Forward
| Recommendation | Details |
| Tribal Consent Councils | Form village-level consent bodies with tribal elders |
| Mobile Genomic Labs | Portable infrastructure for remote sampling |
| Cultural Mediation Teams | Anthropologists + local translators in data collection |
| Public Communication Strategy | Avoid misinformation and build community trust |
| Benefit-Sharing Protocol | Ensure communities benefit from genetic data outcomes |
🧩 Conclusion
The establishment of the Tribal Genetic Resource Centre in the NE is a scientific leap towards equitable healthcare and tribal empowerment. If implemented with ethics, sensitivity, and transparency, it can bridge the health divide and position the Northeast as a bio-diversity and bio-data powerhouse.
APSC Prelims Practice Questions
🧭 Topic 1: Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Rules Notified
Q1. With reference to Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in India, consider the following statements:
- ODR is applicable only to criminal cases in India.
- It aims to resolve disputes without physical appearance through technology.
- ODR is governed under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- Criminal cases are not covered under ODR (❌).
- ODR uses digital platforms for civil/commercial disputes (✅).
- Recent ODR rules are notified under the IT Act, 2000 (✅).
Q2. The initiative “Nyaaya Setu”, recently in the news, primarily deals with:
(a) Strengthening judicial infrastructure in North East India
(b) Providing online legal aid and dispute resolution access
(c) Digitizing land records and court case tracking
(d) Promoting legal literacy among law students
✅ Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Nyaaya Setu is an initiative under the Ministry of Justice that provides online legal awareness, dispute resolution, and access to tele-law services.
🕊️ Topic 2: Amur Falcon Conservation in Dima Hasao
Q3. Which of the following statements about the Amur Falcon is/are correct?
- It is classified as an endangered species under IUCN Red List.
- Its migratory path includes a stopover in Northeast India.
- It is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Select the correct answer:
(a) 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- Amur Falcon is classified as Least Concern (❌) under IUCN.
- It migrates through NE India (✅) and is protected under Schedule IV (✅) of WPA, 1972.
Q4. The East Asian–Australasian Flyway, often mentioned in context of bird migration, includes which of the following countries?
- Mongolia
- India
- Australia
- Indonesia
Select the correct answer using the code:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
✅ Answer: (d)
Explanation:
All listed countries fall under this major bird migration flyway that extends from Arctic Russia and Alaska to Australia and New Zealand, passing through NE India.
🩺 Topic 3: Mukhyamantri Swasthya Mitra Yojana
Q5. The Mukhyamantri Swasthya Mitra Yojana recently launched in Assam aims to:
(a) Provide medical insurance to all BPL families
(b) Appoint trained community health facilitators at village level
(c) Supply free essential medicines through PHCs
(d) Digitize patient records across government hospitals
✅ Answer: (b)
Explanation:
The scheme is designed to train and deploy health assistants (“Swasthya Mitras”) in rural areas to facilitate access to public health schemes and awareness.
Q6. Consider the following features:
- Creation of Health and Wellness Centres
- Coverage of secondary and tertiary healthcare for poor
- Providing telemedicine services in rural areas
Which of the above are components of Ayushman Bharat?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Ayushman Bharat consists of two components:
- PM-JAY for hospital insurance (✅),
- HWCs for primary care (✅),
plus integration of telemedicine (✅) like e-Sanjeevani.
🧬 Topic 4: Tribal Genetic Resource Centre in NE
Q7. With reference to the Tribal Genetic Resource Centre (TGRC), consider the following statements:
- It aims to map tribal genomes for health and nutrition planning.
- It will be managed by ICMR in collaboration with Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- It will store genetic data without the consent of participants.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- TGRC aims for genetic mapping (✅).
- ICMR + Tribal Ministry are key implementing agencies (✅).
- It follows strict consent-based protocols (❌).
Q8. “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)” are characterized by:
- Pre-agricultural level of technology
- Zero population growth
- Low literacy
- Constant migration
Select the correct answer using the code:
(a) 1, 3 and 4 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
✅ Answer: (b)
Explanation:
PVTGs are characterized by primitive economy, low literacy, and isolated habitation. Population trends and migration vary by group, so 2 and 4 are not defining features.
APSC Mains Practice Question
❓ Question:
Rural health delivery in India faces challenges of accessibility, awareness, and manpower. In this context, discuss the significance of Assam’s Mukhyamantri Swasthya Mitra Yojana as a model for decentralized, people-centric health facilitation. Highlight potential challenges and suggest a robust way forward.
(Word Limit: 250)
✅ Model Answer:
🔸 Introduction
India’s rural healthcare faces persistent gaps in outreach, especially in states like Assam where terrain, literacy, and poverty act as barriers. The Mukhyamantri Swasthya Mitra Yojana, recently launched by the Assam government, aims to bridge these gaps by deploying trained community health facilitators at the village level, serving as a crucial interface between citizens and public health services.
🔹 Significance of the Scheme
| Area | Contribution |
| Last-Mile Health Access | Reaches remote, tribal, and riverine areas where ASHA/ANM coverage is inadequate |
| Digital Health Mission | Facilitates enrolment, teleconsultation, and digital health record maintenance |
| Insurance Inclusion | Assists citizens in accessing Ayushman Bharat and other welfare schemes |
| Health Literacy | Empowers communities with information on hygiene, vaccination, maternal care |
| Women Empowerment | Offers employment opportunities to rural women, fostering grassroots leadership |
🔹 Key Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Training & Quality Control | Ensuring standardized, accredited training across districts |
| Overlap with ASHA Roles | Potential confusion and redundancy in service delivery |
| Tech Adoption Barriers | Digital illiteracy among both workers and beneficiaries |
| Sustainability | Honorarium and performance incentives require consistent budgetary support |
| Trust Building | Community skepticism about new roles may delay acceptance |
🔹 Way Forward
- Structured Training Curriculum in partnership with health universities/IGNOU
- Role Demarcation vis-à-vis ASHA, ANM, and CHOs for clarity and cooperation
- Monitoring Dashboards using GPS-based reporting and citizen feedback apps
- Public Campaigns through panchayats and SHGs to build awareness
- Gender-Sensitive Deployment ensuring cultural acceptability and safety
🔸 Conclusion
The Swasthya Mitra Yojana exemplifies an innovative shift toward community-owned health facilitation, especially in states like Assam with complex health geographies. If implemented with robust training, coordination, and accountability, it can emerge as a replicable model for inclusive healthcare governance across India.
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