APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (31/12/2025)
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 31 December 2025. 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
Census Operation in Assam: Freezing of Administrative Unit Boundaries & Digital Enumeration
📘 GS Paper II (Mains): Governance | Public Administration | Electoral & Census Reforms
📘 GS Paper I (Mains): Population Studies | Demography
📘 GS Paper V (Assam): Census | Administrative Reorganisation | Digital Governance
📘 GS Prelims: Census of India | Administrative Units | Digital Census
(Topic chosen strictly from the main newspaper headline:
“Admin unit boundaries to be frozen from Jan 1 – Census Operation in Assam”,
The Assam Tribune, 31 December 2025)
TG@Assam_Tribune (31-12-2025)
🔹 Introduction
The Government of Assam has announced that administrative unit boundaries will be frozen from January 1, 2026, in preparation for the upcoming Census operations. This step is crucial to ensure accuracy, uniformity, and administrative stability during India’s first fully digital census, scheduled to begin with house-listing operations in 2026. The decision assumes special significance for Assam, where frequent reorganisation of villages, towns, and municipal areas has occurred since the last Census.
🔑 Key Points from the Newspaper
| Aspect | Details |
| Decision | Freeze on administrative boundary changes |
| Effective From | January 1, 2026 |
| Purpose | Smooth conduct of Census operations |
| Census Method | Fully digital enumeration using mobile app |
| First Phase | House-listing followed by enumeration blocks |
| Enumerators | Primarily school teachers |
| Special Challenge | Remote & hilly areas with connectivity issues |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Census of India
Conducted under the Census Act, 1948
Boundary Freeze
Prevents changes in districts, villages, towns during census period
Enumeration Block
Around 800 households per block (fewer in hilly/remote areas)
Digital Census (First Time)
Data collected via mobile application
Assam Context
Upgradation of villages to towns and towns to municipal bodies since last census
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance / Significance
1. Data Accuracy & Consistency
Stable boundaries prevent duplication or omission of population data
2. Evidence-Based Governance
Census data underpins policy-making, budgeting, and welfare targeting
3. Electoral & Administrative Planning
Impacts delimitation, reservation, and local governance structures
4. Digital Governance Leap
Faster data processing and reduced human error
B. Key Challenges
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Frequent Reorganisation | Villages converting into towns complicate data mapping |
| Digital Divide | Poor internet connectivity in remote areas |
| Enumerator Capacity | Need for training in digital tools |
| Monsoon & Poll Schedule | Timing constraints unique to Assam |
C. Institutional & Legal Framework
Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India
Directorate of Census Operations, Assam
Census Act, 1948
State Administrative Departments
D. Way Forward
Capacity Building
Training enumerators in digital tools and data security
Infrastructure Support
Offline data capture with later syncing in low-connectivity areas
Public Awareness
Sensitising citizens on census participation
Inter-Departmental Coordination
Synchronisation between census authorities and state administration
Transparency & Data Protection
Safeguards against misuse of digital population data
🧭 Conclusion
Freezing administrative boundaries ahead of the Census is a foundational administrative reform that ensures credibility, comparability, and completeness of demographic data. For Assam, where geography, climate, and administrative dynamism pose unique challenges, a well-planned digital census can significantly enhance governance quality and policy effectiveness—provided last-mile connectivity and institutional preparedness are ensured.
Assam’s Power Demand Surge: Grid Stress, Energy Security & Transition Challenges
📘 GS Paper II (Mains): Governance | Centre–State Coordination | Public Utilities
📘 GS Paper III (Mains): Infrastructure | Energy Security | Sustainable Development
📘 GS Paper V (Assam): Economy | Power Sector | Developmental Issues
📘 GS Prelims: Power Sector | Peak Demand | Renewable Energy | Assam-specific Current Affairs
(Topic chosen strictly from the newspaper heading/lead reporting record power demand and grid stress in Assam at year-end, The Assam Tribune, 31 December 2025.)
🔹 Introduction
Assam has recorded a sharp rise in electricity demand, particularly during peak winter and year-end periods, placing stress on the State’s power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. As highlighted in The Assam Tribune, the surge reflects urbanisation, industrial activity, household electrification, and rising appliance usage, while also exposing structural constraints in Assam’s power sector.
🔑 Key Points from the Newspaper
| Aspect | Details |
| Trend | Record / near-peak power demand |
| Stress Area | Transmission and distribution network |
| Major Consumers | Urban households, commercial establishments |
| Seasonal Factor | Winter load, heating & lighting |
| Institutional Response | Load management, power purchase |
| Core Concern | Long-term energy security |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Peak Power Demand
Highest electricity demand recorded in a given period
DISCOMs
Responsible for power distribution and billing
AT&C Losses
Aggregate Technical & Commercial losses reflect efficiency
Energy Mix in Assam
Hydro, thermal, limited renewable (solar)
RDSS
Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme for DISCOM reforms
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance / Significance
1. Energy Security
Reliable power supply is critical for economic growth and public services
2. Urban & Industrial Growth
Demand surge reflects expanding urbanisation and commerce
3. Governance Indicator
Tests efficiency of power planning and grid management
4. Climate Commitment Context
Rising demand must align with low-carbon transition goals
B. Causes of Power Demand Surge
| Cause | Explanation |
| Urbanisation | Growth of cities and peri-urban areas |
| Lifestyle Changes | Higher appliance and heating usage |
| Industrial & Service Sector Growth | Commercial load increase |
| Weather Variability | Colder winters raise consumption |
| Electrification | Near-universal household access |
C. Key Challenges
Generation Constraints
Limited base-load and peaking capacity within the State
Transmission Bottlenecks
Ageing substations and lines
Distribution Losses
High AT&C losses strain finances
Dependence on Power Purchase
Exposure to price volatility
D. Government Measures & Initiatives
Short-term Power Procurement from national grid
Transmission Upgradation Projects
RDSS Implementation for loss reduction
Promotion of Renewable Energy (solar rooftops, small hydro)
Demand-Side Management advisories
E. Way Forward
Diversify Energy Mix
Accelerate solar, small hydro, and storage solutions
Strengthen Grid Infrastructure
Smart substations, modern transmission lines
Reduce AT&C Losses
Smart metering and billing reforms
Demand-Side Management
Energy-efficient appliances and peak-load pricing
Regional Power Cooperation
Better integration with NE and national grids
🧭 Conclusion
The rising power demand in Assam is a sign of economic progress, but it also underscores the urgency of power sector reforms, grid modernisation, and clean energy transition. Ensuring reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity will be central to Assam’s development trajectory and climate-resilient growth in the coming decade.
Assam’s Year-End Review of Law & Order: Crime Trends, Policing Capacity & Governance Challenges
📘 GS Paper II (Mains): Governance | Internal Security | Police Reforms
📘 GS Paper III (Mains): Internal Security | Organised Crime | Cyber & Social Security
📘 GS Paper V (Assam): Law & Order | Internal Security | Governance
📘 GS Prelims: Police Reforms | Crime Statistics | Assam-specific Current Affairs
(Topic chosen strictly from the newspaper heading/lead highlighting year-end law-and-order review and crime trends in Assam, The Assam Tribune, 31 December 2025.)
🔹 Introduction
As Assam concludes 2025, a year-end review of law and order highlights mixed outcomes—declines in certain conventional crimes alongside rising concerns over drug-related offences, cyber fraud, and organised criminal activity. The newspaper underscores the need to strengthen policing capacity, technology adoption, and justice delivery systems to address evolving security challenges.
🔑 Key Points from the Newspaper
| Aspect | Details |
| Review Period | Calendar year 2025 |
| Positive Trends | Reduction in some violent crimes |
| Emerging Threats | Narcotics, cybercrime, organised networks |
| Policing Focus | Intensified drives and surveillance |
| Governance Concern | Capacity and coordination gaps |
| Public Expectation | Faster response and conviction |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Police (State Subject)
Listed under State List (Seventh Schedule)
Crime & Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)
Nationwide crime data integration platform
Cybercrime
Rapidly growing non-traditional crime category
Narcotics Control
Linked to trans-border and organised crime
Assam Context
Border proximity and urbanisation shape crime patterns
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance / Significance
1. Public Safety
Law and order underpins citizen security and social trust
2. Investment & Development
Stable security environment attracts economic activity
3. Governance Indicator
Reflects efficiency of policing, prosecution, and courts
4. Changing Crime Landscape
Shift from traditional to technology-enabled crimes
B. Key Challenges Identified
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Capacity Constraints | Shortage of personnel and modern equipment |
| Skill Gaps | Limited cyber and forensic expertise |
| Organised Crime | Drug networks and financial crimes |
| Border Vulnerability | Smuggling and cross-border linkages |
| Judicial Delays | Low conviction rates reduce deterrence |
C. Existing Measures
Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) scheme
CCTNS & ICJS integration
Special Drives against narcotics and organised crime
Cyber Police Stations
Community Policing Initiatives
D. Way Forward
Police Reforms
Implement Supreme Court directives; autonomy and accountability
Technology & Forensics
Expand cyber labs, AI-based analytics
Capacity Building
Training in cybercrime, financial investigation
Border & Inter-Agency Coordination
Intelligence sharing with central agencies
Justice Delivery
Fast-track courts and victim-centric processes
🧭 Conclusion
Assam’s year-end law-and-order review reveals that crime control is increasingly complex and multi-dimensional. Addressing future challenges requires reformed policing, technological upgrading, inter-agency coordination, and swift justice delivery. Strengthening internal security is essential for sustaining public confidence, social stability, and inclusive development in the State.
Assam’s Drug Menace: Rising Narcotics Abuse, Public Health Impact & Internal Security Concerns
📘 GS Paper II (Mains): Governance | Social Justice | Internal Security
📘 GS Paper III (Mains): Internal Security | Organised Crime | Public Health
📘 GS Paper V (Assam): Social Problems | Law & Order | Youth Issues
📘 GS Prelims: Narcotic Drugs | NDPS Act | Golden Triangle | Assam-specific Current Affairs
(Topic chosen strictly from the newspaper heading/lead highlighting rising drug abuse and narcotics seizures in Assam during 2025, The Assam Tribune, 31 December 2025.)
🔹 Introduction
Assam has witnessed a significant rise in drug abuse and narcotics-related crimes, emerging as one of the most serious social and internal security challenges in the State. As reported in The Assam Tribune, increased seizures of heroin, synthetic drugs, and psychotropic substances point to Assam’s growing role as both a transit corridor and consumption zone, driven by its proximity to the Golden Triangle.
🔑 Key Points from the Newspaper
| Aspect | Details |
| Trend | Increase in drug seizures and addiction cases |
| Substances | Heroin, synthetic drugs, psychotropic substances |
| Affected Groups | Youth and urban poor |
| Supply Routes | Myanmar–NE–mainland India |
| Institutional Response | Police drives, awareness campaigns |
| Core Concern | Social breakdown and security risks |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
NDPS Act, 1985
Regulates narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
Golden Triangle
Drug-producing region of Myanmar–Laos–Thailand
Heroin (Brown Sugar)
Highly addictive opioid trafficked into NE India
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
Central agency for drug law enforcement
De-addiction
Integral to demand-reduction strategy
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance / Significance
1. Public Health Crisis
Rising addiction leads to mental health issues, HIV/AIDS, and mortality
2. Youth & Human Capital
Drug abuse erodes productivity and demographic dividend
3. Internal Security
Drug money fuels organised crime and insurgent networks
4. Social Stability
Crime, family breakdown, and homelessness
B. Causes of Rising Drug Menace
| Cause | Explanation |
| Geographical Proximity | Nearness to Golden Triangle |
| Porous Borders | Difficult terrain and riverine routes |
| Unemployment & Stress | Youth vulnerability |
| Organised Crime Networks | Cross-border trafficking |
| Weak Rehabilitation | Limited de-addiction infrastructure |
C. Existing Measures
NDPS Act enforcement & special drives
Inter-agency coordination (State police, NCB, BSF)
Awareness campaigns in schools & colleges
De-addiction centres (limited capacity)
Border surveillance initiatives
D. Way Forward
Integrated Drug Control Policy
Combine supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction
Strengthen Border Management
Drones, intelligence-led operations
Expand De-addiction & Mental Health Services
District-level centres, community outreach
Youth Engagement
Sports, skill development, counselling
Financial Investigation
Target drug proceeds and money laundering
🧭 Conclusion
The drug menace in Assam is not merely a law-and-order issue but a multidimensional socio-economic and security challenge. A sustainable response requires strong enforcement, regional cooperation, public health interventions, and community participation. Protecting Assam’s youth from narcotics is essential for ensuring social stability, internal security, and long-term development.
APSC Prelims MCQs
Topic 1: Census Operation in Assam & Freezing of Administrative Boundaries
Q1. The freezing of administrative unit boundaries prior to Census operations is mainly intended to ensure:
A. Faster delimitation of constituencies
B. Uniformity and accuracy in population enumeration
C. Expansion of municipal areas
D. Creation of new districts
Correct Answer: B
Q2. The Census of India is conducted under the provisions of which Act?
A. Representation of People Act, 1951
B. Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969
C. Census Act, 1948
D. Statistics Act, 2008
Correct Answer: C
Q3. India’s upcoming Census is significant because it will be:
A. The first caste-less census
B. The first paper-only census
C. The first fully digital census
D. Conducted only in urban areas
Correct Answer: C
Topic 2: Rising Power Demand in Assam
Q4. Peak power demand refers to:
A. Average daily electricity consumption
B. Lowest demand during off-peak hours
C. Highest electricity demand recorded in a given period
D. Installed generation capacity
Correct Answer: C
Q5. High AT&C losses in a power distribution system indicate:
A. Excess renewable energy generation
B. Efficient billing and collection
C. Technical losses, theft, and poor revenue recovery
D. Low electricity consumption
Correct Answer: C
Q6. Which Central scheme focuses on financial and operational reforms of DISCOMs?
A. UDAY
B. Saubhagya
C. Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS)
D. DDUGJY
Correct Answer: C
Topic 3: Year-End Law & Order Review in Assam
Q7. Policing is a subject listed under which part of the Indian Constitution?
A. Union List
B. Concurrent List
C. State List
D. Residuary Powers
Correct Answer: C
Q8. The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) primarily aims to:
A. Train police personnel
B. Integrate crime and criminal data across India
C. Monitor prison reforms
D. Conduct intelligence operations
Correct Answer: B
Q9. Which emerging crime trend has been highlighted as a growing concern in Assam?
A. Agrarian distress
B. Cybercrime and narcotics offences
C. Piracy
D. Wildlife tourism violations
Correct Answer: B
Topic 4: Drug Menace in Assam
Q10. Assam’s drug problem is closely linked to its proximity to which drug-producing region?
A. Golden Crescent
B. Balkan Route
C. Golden Triangle
D. Andean Region
Correct Answer: C
Q11. The primary law governing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India is the:
A. Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
B. NDPS Act, 1985
C. IPC
D. Prevention of Organised Crime Act
Correct Answer: B
Q12. Drug trafficking poses an internal security threat mainly because it:
A. Reduces agricultural productivity
B. Increases tourism
C. Finances organised crime and insurgent networks
D. Improves cross-border trade
Correct Answer: C
APSC Mains Practice Question
GS Mains Question
“The growing drug menace in Assam poses a serious threat to public health and internal security.”
Analyse the causes and suggest a comprehensive strategy to address the problem.
Model Answer
Introduction
Assam has witnessed a worrying rise in drug abuse and narcotics trafficking, marked by increased seizures of heroin and synthetic drugs. Owing to its strategic location in the Northeast, the problem has evolved from a law-and-order issue into a public health, youth, and internal security challenge.
Causes of the Drug Menace
1. Geographical Vulnerability
- Proximity to the Golden Triangle facilitates cross-border trafficking
- Porous borders and difficult terrain aid illegal movement
2. Organised Crime Networks
- Well-financed trafficking syndicates and money laundering
- Nexus with other criminal activities
3. Socio-Economic Factors
- Youth unemployment and social stress
- Urbanisation and breakdown of community support systems
4. Weak Demand-Side Response
- Inadequate de-addiction and mental health facilities
- Stigma limiting treatment-seeking behaviour
Impacts
- Public Health Crisis
- Addiction, HIV/AIDS, mental health disorders
- Youth & Human Capital Loss
- Erosion of productivity and demographic dividend
- Internal Security Threat
- Drug money financing organised crime and instability
Way Forward
- Integrated Drug Control Strategy
- Balance supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction
- Strengthen Border & Intelligence Operations
- Technology-enabled surveillance; inter-agency coordination
- Expand De-addiction & Rehabilitation
- District-level centres; community-based treatment
- Youth-Centric Interventions
- Sports, skilling, counselling, and employment pathways
- Financial & Legal Action
- Target proceeds of crime under NDPS and anti-money laundering laws
Conclusion
The drug menace in Assam requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. Combining strong enforcement with public health interventions, youth engagement, and regional cooperation is essential to protect Assam’s social fabric, internal security, and long-term development.ble urban growth, and Assam’s long-term development trajectory.
✨ 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
