APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (18/06/2026)
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 18 June 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
Assam’s Liabilities Up by 341% in 10 Years: Findings of CAG State Finances Report 2024-25
- GS Paper II: Governance, Accountability & Constitutional Bodies
- GS Paper III: Indian Economy & Public Finance
- GS Paper V: Economy of Assam
🔴 Introduction
- The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Report on State Finances 2024-25 reveals a critical rise in Assam’s fiscal liabilities.
- Total liabilities surged by 341% between 2015-16 and 2024-25, ranking among the highest in India.
- Internal debt spiked by 415%, flagging severe concerns regarding fiscal sustainability and prudent public financial management.
🔴 Key Points
- Total Liabilities Increase: 341% (2015-16 to 2024-25).
- Internal Debt Increase: 415%.
- Central Loans & Advances Increase: 1,369%.
- State Ranking: Third highest rise in liabilities pan-India.
- Fiscal Deficit: Witnessed an increase in 2024-25.
- Revenue Account: Registered a revenue deficit.
- Reporting Authority: Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
🔴 About the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
- Constitutional Status: Established under Article 148; recognized as the Guardian of Public Purse.
- Appointment: By the President of India.
- Tenure: 6 years or up to 65 years of age (whichever is earlier).
- Functions:
- Audits accounts of the Union, States, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
- Ensures transparency and accountability in public expenditure.
- Submits audit reports to the President/Governors for legislative scrutiny.
🔴 Understanding State Liabilities
- Internal Debt: Market borrowings, State Development Loans (SDLs), and loans from financial institutions.
- Loans from Central Government.
- Public Account Liabilities: Provident funds, small savings, and deposits.
- Other Obligations: Guarantees and special purpose borrowings.
🔴 Prelims Pointers
- Constitutional Provisions:
- Article 148: CAG establishment.
- Article 149: Duties and powers of CAG.
- Article 150: Form of accounts.
- Article 151: Audit reports to President/Governor.
- Important Terms:
- Fiscal Deficit: Total expenditure minus total receipts (excluding borrowings).
- Revenue Deficit: Revenue expenditure exceeding revenue receipts.
- Public Debt: Total government borrowings.
- Internal Debt: Debt raised domestically.
- FRBM Act: Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003 (mandates fiscal discipline/debt sustainability).
- State Development Loans (SDLs): Bonds issued by States to generate resources.
🔴 Mains Pointers
A. Why is Fiscal Health Important?
- Economic Stability: Ensures sustainable growth and curbs borrowing dependency.
- Development Financing: Funds essential infrastructure, health, and education.
- Investor Confidence: Strong fiscal metrics attract capital.
- Intergenerational Equity: Prevents transferring debt burdens to future generations.
B. Reasons Behind Rising Liabilities
- Development Expenditure: High spending on infrastructure and social welfare.
- Revenue Constraints: Narrow tax base and sluggish growth in state’s own tax revenues.
- Borrowing Dependency: Relying on debt to bridge fiscal deficits.
- GST Issues: Loss of fiscal flexibility post-Goods and Services Tax (GST) transition.
- Disaster Spending: Recurring climate and flood-related expenditures in Assam.
C. Challenges Emerging from High Debt
- Rising Interest Burden: Siphons funds away from development.
- Fiscal Stress: Escalates reliance on continuous borrowing.
- Revenue Deficit: Forces government to borrow for day-to-day (current) expenditure.
- Reduced Fiscal Space: Constricts capacity for future investments.
- Debt Sustainability Risk: Threatens long-term macroeconomic stability.
D. Significance for Assam
- Infrastructure: Borrowings actively fund roads, bridges, irrigation, and urban projects.
- Welfare Expansion: Supports schemes like Orunodoi, healthcare, and education.
- Economic Transformation: Finances industrial investments and regional connectivity.
🔴 Government Initiatives for Fiscal Prudence
- National Level: FRBM Act (2003), GST reforms, and the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
- Assam-Specific: Implementation of digital treasury management, revenue augmentation measures, Ease of Doing Business reforms, and an infrastructure-led growth strategy.
🔴 Way Forward
- Strengthen Own Tax Revenue: Enhance tax administration efficiency and GST compliance.
- Rationalize Expenditure: Shift to outcome-based budgeting and slash non-productive spending.
- Promote Economic Growth: Stimulate industrial investments, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and agriculture.
- Improve Debt Management: Restrict borrowing to productive capital creation; strictly monitor the Debt-to-Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ratio.
- Enhance Fiscal Transparency: Ensure timely audits and robust legislative oversight.
- Climate-Resilient Investments: Proactively reduce recurring fiscal drains caused by disasters.
🔴 Reports & Committees to Remember
- CAG State Finances Report 2024-25
- Finance Commission Recommendations
- FRBM Review Committee (N.K. Singh Committee)
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Report on State Finances
- Economic Survey of India
🔴 Conclusion
Assam’s sharply rising liabilities underscore the delicate balance required between developmental expenditure and fiscal sustainability. While strategic borrowing can accelerate infrastructure and growth, long-term economic prosperity relies on prudent debt management, enhanced revenue generation, and highly efficient public expenditure. Assam must ensure current debts translate into productive assets and future growth, averting a cycle of perpetual fiscal stress.
Conservation of Vultures and Ecological Restoration of Vulture Habitats
- GS Paper III: Environment, Biodiversity & Conservation
- GS Paper V: Biodiversity and Environment of Assam
🔴 Introduction
- Vultures are vital ecological scavengers that rapidly dispose of animal carcasses, actively preventing disease spread.
- India has witnessed a >95% population decline in some species since the 1990s.
- Recently, the Assam Forest School, Jalukbari, conducted training on the ecological restoration of vulture habitats, stressing the need for local community participation.
🔴 Key Points from the News
- Organised By: Assam Forest School, Jalukbari.
- Partner Organisation: Wildlife Areas Development and Welfare Trust.
- Objective: Ecological restoration of degraded vulture habitats.
- Participants: Frontline forest staff from Kamrup divisions.
- Key Focus: Habitat restoration and community-based conservation.
- Important Institution Mentioned: Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC).
- Field Activity: Plantation of suitable native tree species.
- Key Message: Local communities are critical for long-term conservation success.
🔴 Why are Vultures Important?
- Natural Scavengers: Rapidly remove dead animal carcasses.
- Disease Control: Prevent outbreaks of Anthrax, Rabies, Brucellosis, and Botulism.
- Ecosystem Health: Maintain nutrient cycling and prevent the accumulation of decaying matter.
- Economic Benefits: Reduce carcass disposal costs and support livestock-dependent economies.
🔴 Vulture Species Found in India
- Critically Endangered: White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus), Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris).
- Endangered: Red-headed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture.
- Near Threatened: Himalayan Griffon, Cinereous Vulture.
🔴 Assam and Vulture Conservation
- Important Habitats Support: Assam is vital due to its Brahmaputra floodplains, grasslands, wetlands, forests, and traditional livestock-rearing practices.
- Key Regions: Kaziranga, Nameri, Manas, Kamrup district, and the Dibru-Saikhowa landscape.
🔴 Causes of Vulture Decline
- A. Diclofenac Poisoning (Most Important): An anti-inflammatory veterinary drug. Causes fatal kidney failure and visceral gout when vultures consume treated carcasses, driving a 97–99% population decline.
- B. Habitat Loss: Driven by deforestation, urbanization, and infrastructure expansion.
- C. Food Scarcity: Decreased availability of livestock carcasses and changing disposal practices.
- D. Poisoning: Intentional poisoning of carcasses and pesticide contamination.
- E. Electrocution & Collision: Risks from power transmission lines and wind turbines.
🔴 Ecological Restoration of Vulture Habitats
- Definition: Assisting the recovery of degraded ecosystems.
- Habitat Restoration: Protecting nesting trees, restoring grasslands, and improving wetland areas.
- Native Tree Plantation: Planting species like Banyan, Peepal, and Silk Cotton (Semul) to provide safe nesting and roosting sites.
- Safe Feeding Zones: Creating “Vulture Safe Zones” to guarantee access to safe, diclofenac-free carcasses.
🔴 Government Initiatives
- 1. Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2020–2025): Targets the prevention of toxic veterinary drugs, enhances breeding success, and establishes Vulture Safe Zones.
- 2. Ban on Veterinary Diclofenac: Government restricted its veterinary use. Promotes safer alternatives like Meloxicam and Tolfenamic Acid.
- 3. Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme: Jointly implemented by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), State Forest Departments, and the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
- 4. National Action Plan for Conservation of Migratory Species: Protects migratory vultures crossing international borders.
🔴 International Initiatives
- Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Also known as the Bonn Convention (India is a party).
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Classifies most Indian vultures as Critically Endangered or Endangered.
🔴 Prelims Pointers
- Vulture Safe Zone: A designated area where toxic drugs are eliminated and nesting habitats are protected.
- Drugs: Meloxicam is safe; Diclofenac is highly toxic.
- BNHS: Key partner in India’s vulture recovery programme.
- VCBC Locations: Pinjore (Haryana), Rajabhatkhawa (West Bengal), Rani (Assam), and Bhopal.
- IUCN Status: White-rumped, Indian, and Slender-billed Vultures are Critically Endangered.
🔴 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of Vulture Conservation
- Ecological: Maintains food chains and stops disease outbreaks.
- Public Health: Controls zoonotic diseases and limits stray dog populations near carcasses.
- Biodiversity & Economy: Conserves threatened scavengers and saves on carcass disposal costs.
B. Challenges & Impacts
- Diclofenac use: Leads to mass mortality.
- Habitat degradation: Causes loss of crucial nesting sites.
- Electrocution: Increases direct mortality.
- Food shortage: Reduces overall breeding success.
- Weak monitoring: Allows illegal drug usage to persist.
- Climate change: Alters long-term habitat suitability.
C. Importance of Local Communities
- Highlighted heavily in the Assam training programme.
- Locals can uniquely: report nests, protect roosting trees, prevent poisoning, monitor populations, spread awareness, and actively support habitat restoration.
D. Way Forward
- Expand Vulture Safe Zones across Northeast India.
- Strengthen Drug Surveillance: Ensure total elimination of harmful veterinary Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
- Community-Based Conservation: Engage local villages and grazing communities directly.
- Habitat Restoration: Focus on native tree plantations, grassland recovery, and wetland conservation.
- Scientific Monitoring: Implement satellite tagging, population censuses, and nest monitoring.
- Promote One Health Approach: Seamlessly integrate wildlife health, livestock health, and human health.
🔴 Reports & Organisations to Remember
- Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2020–2025)
- IUCN Red List
- Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
- Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
- Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
- Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
🔴 Conclusion
Vultures are indispensable ecological custodians safeguarding both biodiversity and public health. The Assam initiative highlights a globally proven principle: successful species recovery requires both community participation and ecosystem restoration. Strengthening Vulture Safe Zones, eliminating toxic veterinary drugs, and empowering local communities are essential to ensure the long-term survival of these critically endangered scavengers in Assam and across India.
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) as a Driver of Socio-Economic Development
- GS Paper III: Infrastructure, Economic Development & Connectivity
- GS Paper V: Economy, Infrastructure and Development of Assam
🔴 Introduction
- Transport infrastructure is a critical driver of economic growth and regional integration.
- The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has emerged as a transformative force in the Northeast by expanding rail connectivity, improving logistics, promoting trade, and integrating remote regions with the national economy.
- Current Status: Over 95% of the network is electrified, >2,000 km of new tracks have been laid, and strategic regional/international projects are underway.
🔴 Key Highlights from the News
- Railway Zone: Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
- Headquarters: Maligaon, Guwahati.
- Network Electrification: Over 95% (>4,170 Route km).
- New Tracks Added: >2,000 km.
- Budget Allocation: Increased from ₹2,122 crore (2009-14 average) to ₹11,486 crore (2026-27).
- Major Projects: New rail lines, track doubling, and station redevelopment.
- International Connectivity: Rail links to Bhutan.
- Modern Trains: Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, Vande Bharat Sleeper.
🔴 About Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR)
- Establishment: Formed in 1958.
- Headquarters: Maligaon, Guwahati, Assam.
- Coverage: Serves Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, and parts of West Bengal and Bihar.
- Strategic Importance: India’s primary railway gateway to the Northeast.
🔴 Importance of Railway Connectivity in Northeast India
- National Integration: Connects remote border areas with mainland India, strengthening accessibility.
- Economic Development: Supports trade, tourism, agriculture, industry, and logistics.
- Employment Generation: Creates jobs via construction projects, station redevelopment, and freight operations.
- Strategic and Security Significance: Vital for troop mobility, border management, and disaster response along borders with China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
🔴 Major Achievements Mentioned in the Article
- A. Railway Electrification: Over 95% (>4,170 Route km) electrified.
- Benefits: Lower carbon emissions, reduced diesel dependence, faster operations, and lower operational costs.
- B. Expansion of Rail Network:>2,000 km of new tracks, alongside new line and doubling projects.
- Impact: Reduced congestion, increased freight capacity, and improved passenger services.
- C. Capital Connectivity: Expanded rail links to Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Mizoram, advancing the national objective of connecting all Northeastern state capitals.
- D. Station Redevelopment: Upgrades under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme feature modern infrastructure like escalators, lifts, digital ticketing, and improved passenger amenities.
🔴 International Connectivity
- Rail Links with Bhutan:
- Banarhat – Samtse Rail Link.
- Kokrajhar – Gelephu Rail Link.
- Potential Benefits: Expands India-Bhutan trade, grows tourism, strengthens the Act East and Neighbourhood First Policy, and develops cross-border economic corridors.
🔴 Important Infrastructure Projects
- New Saraighat Rail-cum-Road Bridge: Reduces Brahmaputra river crossing congestion and strengthens the strategic transport network.
- Prelims Fact: The existing Saraighat Bridge was India’s first rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra.
- Wagon Periodic Overhauling Workshop: Located in Basbari, Kokrajhar. It improves freight operations, creates local employment, and strengthens the railway maintenance ecosystem.
🔴 Environmental and Conservation Initiatives
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Elephant Intrusion Detection System: Utilizes AI to prevent elephant-train collisions and improve wildlife safety.
- Canopy Bridges for Hoolock Gibbons: Designed to prevent habitat fragmentation and allow arboreal movement.
- Species Fact: The Hoolock Gibbon is India’s only ape.
🔴 Prelims Pointers
- NFR Headquarters: Maligaon, Guwahati.
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Ministry of Railways (MoR) initiative for nationwide station modernization.
- Vande Bharat Express: Indigenous, semi-high-speed train.
- Hoolock Gibbon: India’s only ape; International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Status: Endangered.
- Saraighat Bridge: First rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra.
- Act East Policy: Fosters strategic and economic connectivity with Southeast Asia.
🔴 Mains Pointers
A. Significance of NFR for Northeast Development
- Economic Integration: Connects markets and drastically reduces logistics costs.
- Industrial Growth: Encourages investments and supports Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
- Tourism & Agriculture: Provides easier access to destinations and faster transport of perishable goods.
- National Security: Ensures robust strategic connectivity in border regions.
B. Challenges
- Difficult Terrain: Leads to high project costs.
- Landslides & Floods: Causes frequent infrastructure damage.
- Forest Clearance Issues: Results in project delays.
- Seismic Vulnerability: Presents immense engineering challenges.
- Maintenance Cost: Requires high operational expenditure.
C. Government Initiatives Supporting Rail Connectivity
- Prime Minister (PM) Gati Shakti National Master Plan: Integrates railways, roads, ports, and airports.
- National Rail Plan (2030): Aims to modernize infrastructure and increase the freight share.
- Act East Policy: Promotes regional trade and cross-border connectivity.
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Focuses on the redevelopment of railway stations nationwide.
🔴 Way Forward
- Complete 100% Electrification: Achieve fully green railway operations.
- Strengthen Border Connectivity: Expand international rail links with Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
- Multimodal Integration: Integrate rail transport with inland waterways (National Waterway-2 (NW-2)), roads, and airports.
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Design networks resistant to floods, landslides, and earthquakes.
- Promote Green Railways: Deploy solar-powered stations and energy-efficient operations.
- Enhance Freight Corridors: Build dedicated pathways to support industrial and agricultural exports.
🔴 Reports & Policies to Remember
- National Rail Plan 2030
- PM Gati Shakti Master Plan
- National Logistics Policy
- Act East Policy
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
- North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS)
🔴 Conclusion
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has evolved from a transport network into a critical catalyst for the Northeast’s economic growth, national security, and regional integration. Through rapid electrification, modern infrastructure, and strategic international links, NFR remains one of the most effective instruments for inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient development across Assam and the wider region.
Indigenous Interests vs Illegal Influx in Assam
- GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity & Social Justice
- GS Paper III: Internal Security & Border Management
- GS Paper V: Political, Administrative and Social Issues of Assam
🔴 Introduction
- Illegal migration has been a highly sensitive socio-political issue in Assam for over a century due to its long, porous international border with Bangladesh.
- Significant migration flows have sparked concerns regarding demographic shifts, resource pressure, cultural identity, political representation, and national security.
- The core debate involves safeguarding the rights/identity of Assam’s indigenous people while curbing illegal influx via legal, administrative, and border-management systems.
🔴 Key Points from the Article
- Historical Background:
- The Foreigners Act, 1946 defines a foreigner as anyone who is not an Indian citizen.
- The Constitution outlines citizenship under Articles 5–11.
- Colonial-era migration spiked due to railway expansion, the tea plantation economy, administrative needs, and agricultural settlement policies.
- Demographic Concerns: Rapid 20th-century population growth altered border district demographics, sparking the Assam Agitation (1979–1985).
- Assam Accord (1985): Settled a cut-off date of 24 March 1971 for detecting and deporting illegal migrants to preserve Assam’s demographic and cultural identity.
- Recent Developments: Focuses on border fencing, tighter detection, demands for the Inner Line Permit (ILP), land rights protection, and constitutional safeguards for indigenous groups.
🔴 Constitutional & Legal Framework
- Citizenship Provisions:
- Articles 5–11: Cover citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution.
- Citizenship Act, 1955: Grants citizenship via birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, and incorporation of territory.
- Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA): Fast-tracks citizenship for persecuted minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Christians) from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Exempts areas under the Sixth Schedule and ILP regions.
- Foreigners Act, 1946: Empowers the government to detect, regulate entry/stay, and deport foreigners.
- Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964: Sets up Foreigners Tribunals, which are quasi-judicial bodies tasked with determining the citizenship status of suspected foreigners.
🔴 Assam Movement (1979–1985)
- Cause: Massive demand for the detection, deletion (from electoral rolls), and deportation of illegal migrants.
- Led By: All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP).
- Outcome: Concluded with the signing of the Assam Accord on 15 August 1985.
🔴 Assam Accord: Important Provisions
- Cut-off Date: 24 March 1971.
- Detection & Deportation: Mandatory identification and deportation of illegal migrants entering post-cut-off.
- Clause 6: Mandates constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards to protect the culture, language, and social identity of the Assamese people and indigenous communities.
🔴 Assam-Bangladesh Border
- India–Bangladesh Border: ~4,096 km.
- Assam–Bangladesh Border: ~263 km.
- Assam Border Districts: Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Karimganj, and Cachar.
🔴 Why Illegal Migration is a Concern?
- A. Demographic Changes: Distorts population composition and triggers social tensions.
- B. Pressure on Resources: Strains land, water, employment, and welfare services.
- C. Political Implications: Impacts electoral dynamics and indigenous representation.
- D. Cultural Identity: Threatens indigenous languages, traditional customs, and heritage.
- E. Security Concerns: Linked to cross-border crime, smuggling, document fraud, and human trafficking.
🔴 Indigenous Rights Perspective
- Key Demands:
- Land Rights Protection: Halting alienation and encroachment of tribal/indigenous lands.
- Cultural Preservation: Safeguarding the Assamese language and indigenous traditions.
- Political & Economic Safeguards: Assuring adequate governance representation and priority in jobs/development.
🔴 Prelims Pointers
- Assam Accord: Signed 15 August 1985; cut-off date is 24 March 1971.
- Foreigners Tribunal: Quasi-judicial body deciding citizenship status.
- CAA, 2019 Coverage: 3 nations (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan) and 6 non-Muslim communities.
- Citizenship Articles: Articles 5 to 11.
- NRC: National Register of Citizens (NRC); original registry compiled in 1951.
🔴 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of Addressing the Issue
- National Security: Fortifies border infrastructure and management.
- Social Stability: Minimizes friction and resource conflicts between communities.
- Identity Preservation: Insulates Assam’s unique cultural heritage.
- Constitutional Governance: Upholds the rule of law and citizenship integrity.
B. Challenges
- Porous Border: Difficult riverine terrain and geographic stretches.
- Documentation Issues: Missing legacy records disrupt verification.
- Humanitarian Concerns: Need to isolate illegal migrants without violating genuine residents’ rights.
- Political Polarisation & Legal Delays: High political sensitivity pairs with time-consuming tribunal cases.
- Cross-Border Networks: Organized smuggling and trafficking frustrate enforcement.
🔴 Government Initiatives
- Border Fencing: Raising physical barriers along vulnerable stretches.
- Smart Border Management: Using high-tech surveillance, drones, and sensors.
- NRC Update Exercise: A targeted legal process to isolate genuine citizens.
- Foreigners Tribunals & ICPs: Resolving citizenship disputes and strengthening legal trade via Integrated Check Posts (ICPs).
🔴 Way Forward
- Effective Border Management: Complete physical fencing and deploy technological surveillance.
- Implement Clause 6: Enact robust legal safeguards for indigenous groups.
- Protect Land Rights: Pass strict measures against land alienation.
- Speedy Adjudication: Boost the operational efficiency of Foreigners Tribunals.
- Regional Cooperation: Enhance bilateral India-Bangladesh migration management.
- Balanced Approach: Harmonize national security and indigenous protections with human rights and constitutional values.
🔴 Important Committees & Reports
- High-Level Committee on Clause 6 (2019): Chaired by Justice (Retd.) Biplab Kumar Sharma; recommended clear land, cultural, and linguistic protections for Assamese people.
- NRC (Updated): Published in 2019.
- Assam Accord: Serves as the foundational legal text for handling migration in the state.
🔴 Conclusion
The dual challenge of illegal influx and indigenous rights sits at the core of national security, federalism, and cultural survival. Resolving this requires airtight border management paired with proactive legal protections for Assam’s native populations. A law-based, balanced, and humane strategy is critical to delivering enduring peace, economic progress, and social stability to the region.knowledge-based development.
APSC Prelims MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, consider the following statements:
- The CAG is appointed by the President of India.
- The duties and powers of the CAG are prescribed under Article 149 of the Constitution.
- The CAG audits only the accounts of the Union Government.
Which of the statements given above is/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:
- Statement 1 is correct.
- Statement 2 is correct.
- Statement 3 is incorrect because CAG audits Union, State Governments and certain PSUs.
Q2. Consider the following:
- Revenue Deficit
- Fiscal Deficit
- Primary Deficit
Which of the above directly includes borrowings as a component?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
Explanation:
- Fiscal Deficit represents borrowing requirement.
- Primary Deficit = Fiscal Deficit – Interest Payments.
- Revenue Deficit does not directly include borrowings.
Q3. With reference to the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, consider the following statements:
- It aims to ensure fiscal discipline.
- It seeks reduction of fiscal deficit over time.
- It constitutionally prohibits governments from borrowing beyond prescribed limits.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
- FRBM promotes fiscal prudence.
- It is a statutory law, not a constitutional prohibition.
Q4. Consider the following pairs:
| Vulture Species | IUCN Status |
| 1. White-rumped Vulture | Critically Endangered |
| 2. Indian Vulture | Critically Endangered |
| 3. Slender-billed Vulture | Critically Endangered |
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Answer: C
Explanation:
All three species are Critically Endangered.
Q5. Diclofenac is frequently mentioned in the news because:
A. It is a pesticide affecting pollinators.
B. It is a veterinary drug responsible for vulture mortality.
C. It is a fertilizer contaminating groundwater.
D. It is a herbicide affecting grassland ecosystems.
Answer: B
Explanation:
Diclofenac causes kidney failure and visceral gout in vultures feeding on treated cattle carcasses.
Q6. Which one of the following drugs is considered a safe alternative to Diclofenac for livestock treatment?
A. DDT
B. Glyphosate
C. Meloxicam
D. Atrazine
Answer: C
Explanation:
Meloxicam is safe for vultures and recommended as a veterinary substitute.
Q7. With reference to “Vulture Safe Zones”, consider the following statements:
- They aim to eliminate toxic veterinary drugs from a designated area.
- They promote safe food availability for vultures.
- They are established exclusively within National Parks.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
They are not restricted to National Parks.
Q8. Consider the following statements regarding Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR):
- Its headquarters is located at Maligaon, Guwahati.
- It serves all Northeastern states.
- It acts as India’s major railway gateway to the Northeast.
Which of the statements given above 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:
All three statements are correct.
Q9. With reference to Hoolock Gibbon, consider the following statements:
- It is India’s only ape.
- It is an arboreal species.
- It is classified as Endangered by the IUCN.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
All statements are correct.
Q10. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme aims primarily at:
A. Electrification of railway lines.
B. Redevelopment of railway stations.
C. Development of dedicated freight corridors.
D. Construction of bullet train infrastructure.
Answer: B
Explanation:
The scheme focuses on modernization and redevelopment of railway stations.
Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the Assam Accord:
- It was signed in 1985.
- It accepted 24 March 1971 as the cut-off date for detection of illegal migrants.
- Clause 6 relates to safeguards for Assamese people.
Which of the statements given above 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:
All are key provisions of the Assam Accord.
Q12. The Foreigners Tribunals in India are:
A. Constitutional bodies.
B. Judicial bodies established under Article 32.
C. Quasi-judicial bodies for determining citizenship status.
D. Parliamentary committees.
Answer: C
Explanation:
Foreigners Tribunals determine whether a person is a foreigner under the law.
Q13. With reference to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, consider the following statements:
- It applies to migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
- Areas under the Sixth Schedule enjoy exemptions from its operation.
- Areas covered under the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system are exempted.
Which of the statements given above 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:
All three provisions are correct.
Q14. Which of the following best explains the term “Internal Debt” of a State Government?
A. Loans taken only from foreign institutions.
B. Borrowings raised within the country.
C. Grants received from the Union Government.
D. Tax revenue collected by the State.
Answer: B
Explanation:
Internal debt includes market loans, State Development Loans and domestic borrowings.
Q15. Consider the following pairs:
| Institution/Initiative | Associated Sector |
| 1. BNHS | Biodiversity Conservation |
| 2. PM Gati Shakti | Multimodal Infrastructure |
| 3. Foreigners Tribunal | Citizenship Determination |
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Answer: C
Explanation:
Foreigners Tribunals determine citizenship/foreigner status.regional integration strategy.
BNHS plays a major role in wildlife conservation.
PM Gati Shakti integrates infrastructure planning.
APSC Mains Practice Question
📘 GS Mains Model Question (APSC CCE)
📝 Question
Q. Vulture conservation is not merely a wildlife issue but a public health and ecosystem management imperative. Discuss the causes behind the decline of vulture populations in India and evaluate the measures required for their long-term conservation. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
Model Answer
Introduction
India witnessed one of the world’s fastest declines in vulture populations, with species such as the White-rumped, Indian and Slender-billed Vultures declining by over 95% since the 1990s. As apex scavengers, vultures play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem balance and preventing disease transmission.
Body
1. Importance of Vultures
Ecological Role
- Efficient scavengers that rapidly dispose of animal carcasses.
- Maintain nutrient cycling within ecosystems.
- Prevent accumulation of decaying organic matter.
Public Health Significance
- Reduce the spread of diseases such as anthrax, rabies and brucellosis.
- Limit the growth of stray dog populations around carcasses.
- Support the “One Health” approach linking human, animal and environmental health.
Biodiversity Conservation
- Indicator species reflecting ecosystem health.
- Essential component of food chains.
2. Causes of Vulture Decline
Veterinary Drug Toxicity
- Diclofenac poisoning remains the primary cause.
- Causes kidney failure and visceral gout in vultures.
Habitat Degradation
- Deforestation and infrastructure expansion reduce nesting sites.
Food Scarcity
- Changes in livestock disposal practices reduce food availability.
Poisoning and Pollution
- Consumption of contaminated carcasses.
- Exposure to pesticides and toxic chemicals.
Electrocution and Collision
- Power lines and other infrastructure increase mortality.
3. Measures Required
Strengthen Vulture Safe Zones
- Ensure complete elimination of harmful veterinary NSAIDs.
Habitat Restoration
- Protect nesting trees and restore grasslands.
- Promote plantation of native species.
Community-Based Conservation
- Involve local communities in nest monitoring and habitat protection.
Scientific Interventions
- Satellite tracking and population monitoring.
- Expansion of captive breeding programmes.
Policy Measures
- Effective implementation of the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation.
- Strict regulation of veterinary drugs.
Conclusion
Vulture conservation is crucial not only for biodiversity protection but also for public health security and ecological resilience. A combination of scientific management, habitat restoration, community participation and strict regulatory enforcement is essential to ensure the recovery of India’s critically endangered vulture populations.
✨ 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
