APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (20/08/2026)
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 20 August 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 Mains Course, 2026
ASOM MALA 4.0: Assam’s Next Phase of Road Connectivity & Infrastructure-Led Development
Syllabus Mapping
- Core GS Papers:
- GS Paper III: Infrastructure, Economic Development, and Inclusive Growth.
- GS Paper V (Assam Special): Economy of Assam, Infrastructure & Resources, and Major Development Projects.
- Why in News: The Assam Government has rolled out Asom Mala 4.0, a ₹10,000-crore project spanning 5 years to construct ~800 km of roads focusing primarily on rural and last-mile connectivity.
Introduction
Asom Mala 4.0 is Assam’s flagship road upgrade programme designed to transition from standalone road building to infrastructure-driven, integrated rural-regional economic transformation.
Prelims Perspective
- Scheme Identity & Outlay: State-sponsored flagship initiative; ₹10,000 crore estimated investment over a 5-year implementation horizon.
- Physical Target: Development of ~800 km of high-quality State Highways (SH) and Major District Roads (MDR), targeting rural and underserved areas.
- Legacy Phases: Builds on Asom Mala 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0, which collectively executed projects worth over ₹20,000 crore.
- Financing Matrix: Blended financing model comprising State budget allocations, Externally Aided Projects (EAPs), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF/NABARD), and New Infrastructure Development Assistance (NIDA).
- Associated Major Connectivity Projects:
- Guwahati Ring Road
- Greenfield Silchar High-Speed Corridor
- Kaziranga Elevated Corridor
- Gohpur–Numaligarh Under-River Brahmaputra Tunnel
- Strategic River Bridge Projects: Majuli–Jorhat Bridge, Palashbari–Sualkuchi Bridge, and Dhubri–Phulbari Bridge.
Mains Perspective
Importance / Significance
- Market Integration & Agrarian Value Chains: Bridges the farm-to-market divide, lowers freight/logistics costs, minimizes post-harvest losses, and connects rural production with urban consumption hubs.
- Inclusive Socio-Economic Growth: Facilitates rapid access to healthcare, education, and administrative services, while catalyzing rural, eco-, and cultural tourism.
- Strategic & Regional Balance: Corrects spatial growth disparities between urban centers and rural peripheries, enhancing disaster relief mobility and border logistics.
Challenges
- Geo-Climatic Vulnerability: High susceptibility to recurring floods, riverbank erosion, and fragile riverine terrain compromises structural longevity.
- Project Execution Bottlenecks: Delays in land acquisition, environmental and wildlife clearances, contractual capacities, and attendant cost escalations.
- Asset Maintenance Deficit: Skewed focus on asset creation over lifecycle-based maintenance frameworks, leading to early road degradation.
Government Initiatives / Policy Ecosystem
- State Interventions: Multi-phase rollout of the Asom Mala architecture and targeted capital outlays in the Assam Budget.
- Central Convergence: Synergy with Bharatmala Pariyojana (corridors), PMGSY (rural roads), and institutional credit backing through NABARD (RIDF/NIDA).
Way Forward
- Climate-Resilient Engineering: Integrate elevated alignments, flood-resistant materials, and specialized drainage designs suited for Brahmaputra floodplain hydrology.
- Multimodal Integration: Synchronize road arteries with Inland Waterways (NW-2 / NW-16), railways, and air cargo networks for comprehensive logistics efficiency.
- Outcome-Oriented Metrics: Pivot project evaluation from mere linear kilometres constructed to quantifiable impacts on travel-time reduction, logistics cost drops, and rural income generation.
Value Addition (Structural Transformation Model)
- Deficit Cycle: Infrastructure Deficit High Logistics Costs Limited Market Access Regional Disparity.
- Transformation Vector: Asom Mala 4.0 Last-Mile Integration Reduced Friction of Distance Capital Inflow & Rural Industrialization Spatially Balanced Growth.
Conclusion
Asom Mala 4.0 must transition from a pure civil-engineering exercise into a resilient, climate-adaptive economic spine that drives inclusive development and bridges Assam’s rural-urban divide.
LODESTAR: Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Guwahati
Syllabus Mapping
- Core GS Papers:
- GS Paper III: Technology | Environment | Disaster Management.
- GS Paper V (Assam Special): Geography | Environment | Disaster Management | Governance.
- Why in News: The Assam government and key stakeholders are operationalising LODESTAR, a low-cost, multi-hazard early warning system (MH-EWS) for Guwahati, initially targeting urban flooding with 1-to-6-hour forecast horizons.
Introduction
LODESTAR is a community-centred, technology-driven multi-hazard early warning framework designed to shift Guwahati’s disaster management from post-event reaction to anticipatory action.
Prelims Perspective
- LODESTAR Full Form: LOw-cost Disaster & Emergency Services for The At Risk.
- Nature & Objective: A low-cost Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MH-EWS) that integrates AI, sensors, and citizen science for hazards like floods and landslides.
- Funding & Duration: 2024–2027; jointly funded by India’s Department of Science & Technology (DST) and the Netherlands Research Council (NWO).
- Key Institutions: IIT Guwahati, IIT Tirupati, IISc Bengaluru (India); Wageningen University, Van Hall Larenstein, MetaMeta (Netherlands).
- Guwahati Dashboard Target: Real-time urban flood detection and 1-hour, 3-hour, and 6-hour short-term flood forecasting horizons, with future expansion to landslides.
- MHEWS vs MHEW-DSS Distinction: LODESTAR is a community-oriented urban project; MHEW-DSS is India’s national-scale digital forecasting system under IMD’s Mission Mausam.
- UNDRR’s 4 MHEWS Components: Disaster Risk Knowledge; Detection/Monitoring; Warning Dissemination; Preparedness & Response.
- Global Frameworks: Aligns with the Sendai Framework (2015–2030) and the UN’s Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative aiming for universal protection by 2027.
Mains Perspective
Importance / Significance
- Anticipatory Governance: Enables a paradigm shift from reactive response to proactive preparedness by providing actionable 1-, 3-, and 6-hour lead times for resource deployment.
- Multi-Hazard & Tech-Driven: Fuses AI, CCTV, hydrological modelling, and remote sensing to simultaneously address interconnected urban risks (e.g., rainfall triggering both floods and landslides).
- Citizen-Centric Design: Supplements formal institutional data with citizen-generated ground reports, ensuring better spatial coverage where sensor data is sparse.
Challenges
- Data Interoperability: Integrating fragmented datasets with varying formats and spatial scales across multiple agencies (ASDMA, GMDA, Water Resources) is technically complex.
- Model Uncertainty & Warning Fatigue: Hydrological predictions carry inherent uncertainty; frequent false alarms can severely reduce public trust and compliance.
- Last-Mile Communication: Ensuring that technically accurate warnings translate into accessible, actionable alerts for vulnerable groups, informal settlements, and digitally disconnected populations.
Government Initiatives / Policy Ecosystem
- State Level: Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), GMDA, and Water Resources Department networks.
- National Level: NDMA, NIDM, IMD’s Mission Mausam (MHEW-DSS), and the National Disaster Management Act (2005).
- Global Level: UNDRR guidelines, Sendai Framework, and the UN EW4All mandate.
Way Forward
- Impact-Based Forecasting: Transition from generic weather alerts to hyper-local, actionable advisories (e.g., targeted evacuation routes or specific waterlogging warnings).
- Inclusive Dissemination: Synergise the digital dashboard with ward-level committees, community volunteers, and non-digital channels (sirens, radio) to ensure last-mile reach.
- Continuous Auditing & Scaling: Routinely test system accuracy, response times, and false-alarm rates post-disaster, aiming to scale the validated model to other vulnerable riverine cities in Assam.
Value Additions
- The Anticipatory Chain: Risk Knowledge Real-time Monitoring 1-3-6 Hr Prediction Multi-channel Warning Anticipatory Action & Resilience.
- Diplomacy & Climate Adaptation: LODESTAR exemplifies successful science diplomacy, blending Dutch delta-management expertise with Indian institutional capacity to build climate-resilient urban infrastructure.
Conclusion
By integrating advanced predictive modeling with community-driven data, LODESTAR holds the potential to transform Guwahati into a climate-resilient city capable of anticipating and mitigating urban hazards before they escalate into disasters.
Porous India–Myanmar Border: Security Challenges in Northeast India
Syllabus Mapping
- Core GS Papers:
- GS Paper II: India–Myanmar Relations, Act East Policy, and Border Management.
- GS Paper III: Internal Security, Insurgency, Organised Crime, and Narco-terrorism.
- GS Paper V (Assam Special): Security and Strategic Issues of Northeast India/Assam.
- Why in News: The Assam Tribune highlighted persisting security vulnerabilities along the 1,643-km India–Myanmar border, driven by cross-border insurgent camps, arms trafficking, the Golden Triangle narco-nexus, and the emerging threat of weaponised drones.
Introduction
The porous 1,643-km India–Myanmar border presents a complex security dilemma, where difficult terrain and deep trans-border ethnic linkages intersect with cross-border insurgency, narco-terrorism, and asymmetric warfare threats.
Prelims Perspective
- Total Border Length: Approximately 1,643 km across four Indian states (A–N–M–M):
- Arunachal Pradesh: ~520 km
- Mizoram: ~510 km
- Manipur: ~398 km
- Nagaland: ~215 km
- State Specific Trap: Assam does NOT share an international boundary with Myanmar, but functions as the strategic, economic, and logistical hub of the Northeast security grid.
- Border Guarding Force (Assam Rifles): The Assam Rifles was officially designated as the single border guarding force for the Indo-Myanmar border in 2002 under the “One Border, One Force” policy. However, historically, they have been operational and managing security/guarding frontiers in the Northeast region for over a century (dating back to their origin as the Cachar Levy in 1835).
- Free Movement Regime (FMR): Allowed border residents to travel up to 16 km across the frontier without a visa; the Centre announced its decision to scrap FMR in February 2024, moving toward strict biometric mapping and regulated entry.
- Golden Triangle: Illicit narcotics-production zone at the tri-junction of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, feeding synthetic drugs and heroin into Northeast transit hubs like Moreh.
- Active Cross-Border Insurgent Groups: NSCN-IM, NSCN-K, PLA, ULFA(I), UNLF, and KCP, operating out of ungoverned spaces in Myanmar (Chin, Sagaing, Kachin, Shan).
- Comprehensive Fencing Decision: The Union Government has approved complete physical fencing and a patrol track along the entire 1,643-km frontier.
Mains Perspective
Importance of Securing the Frontier
- Internal Stability & Counter-Insurgency: Dismantles safe havens, launchpads, and training bases used by Northeast insurgent groups inside Myanmar’s conflict zones.
- Economic Gateway & Act East Enabler: Stable, well-regulated borders are an indispensable prerequisite for unlocking regional connectivity, border trade, and India’s Act East Policy.
- Disrupting Narco-Terror Networks: Arrests the illicit flow of heroin/methamphetamine from the Golden Triangle that finances organized militancy and fuels regional youth addiction.
Major Challenges
- Topographical & Ecological Impediments: Dense subtropical forests, steep mountains, and riverine gaps make continuous physical fencing and round-the-clock patrolling technically difficult and capital-intensive.
- Trans-Border Socio-Ethnic Ties: Shared tribal lineages (Nagas, Mizos/Zos, Chins, Kukis) mean strict physical division risks local community friction and resistance.
- Emergence of Asymmetric Drone Warfare: Proliferation of commercial and weaponised drones provides non-state actors low-cost, high-precision aerial strike and surveillance capabilities across the boundary.
Government Measures & Policy Ecosystem
- Infrastructure & Physical Control: Ongoing fencing of the 1,643-km stretch, construction of dedicated border patrol tracks, and enhanced deployment of Assam Rifles.
- Regulatory Shift: Phasing out the unconditional FMR in favor of biometric verification, digitised checkpoints, and tightened border surveillance.
- Enforcement Convergence: Coordinated counter-narcotics and anti-terror actions involving the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), National Investigation Agency (NIA), State Police, and central intelligence wings.
Way Forward
- Smart Border Infrastructure (CIBMS): Supplement physical fencing with thermal imagers, infrared sensors, anti-drone systems, and radar surveillance for total domain awareness.
- Multi-Agency Financial Interdiction: Target the financial spine of insurgency by synchronizing intelligence on drug trafficking, money laundering, and cross-border weapons procurement.
- Security Through Development & Local Haats: Formalize local border trade via Border Haats while investing in border-area healthcare, education, and roads to build local trust and reduce reliance on informal economies.
- Proactive Bilateral Diplomacy: Maintain coordinated diplomatic and intelligence engagement with Myanmar authorities to target cross-border insurgent camps and transnational syndicates.
Value Additions
- The Narco-Terror Loop: Porous Border Illicit Drug Transit (Golden Triangle) Insurgent Taxation & Extortion Arms & Drone Procurement Regional Instability.
- Strategic Triad: Physical Security (Fencing/Smart Sensors) Institutional Development (Border Haats/Infrastructure) Diplomatic Engagement (Myanmar Bilateral Grid).
Conclusion
A sustainable security paradigm for the India–Myanmar frontier requires transcending purely physical barriers by blending smart technological surveillance, development of border communities, and proactive regional diplomacy.
NFR–Forest Department: Technology-Driven Protection of Elephants from Train Collisions
Syllabus Mapping
- Core GS Papers:
- GS Paper III: Biodiversity & Environment | Technology | Sustainable Infrastructure
- GS Paper V (Assam Special): Assam’s Biodiversity | Environment | Wildlife Conservation | Infrastructure & Development
- Why in News: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and Assam Forest Department successfully averted train-elephant collisions in Assam through real-time coordination and the deployment of an AI-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS).
Introduction
The integration of acoustic technology and inter-agency coordination by NFR and the Assam Forest Department represents a progressive shift towards making linear infrastructure compatible with wildlife conservation.
Prelims Perspective
- Vulnerable Assam Railway Sections: Recent successful interventions occurred in the Lumding–Habaipur, Lamsakhang–Patharkhola, and Habaipur–Lamsakhang sections.
- AI-based IDS (Intrusion Detection System): Uses Distributed Acoustic System (DAS) technology via optical fibre cables to detect elephant vibrations/movement and generate real-time alerts for loco-pilots; it is not radar-based.
- Project Scale: IDS is currently operational over 141 Route km (Rkm) in critical NFR locations, with 403.42 Rkm sanctioned for expansion.
- Plan Bee: A unique NFR deterrent mechanism that uses amplified honeybee sounds to safely keep elephants away from tracks.
- Species Status: The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is classified as Endangered (IUCN) and protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Key Assam Elephant Reserves: Sonitpur, Dihing–Patkai, Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong, Dhansiri–Lungding, and Chirang–Ripu.
- Important Assam Corridors: Ground-validated routes include the Deosur Corridor and Bogapani Corridor (Upper Dihing).
- Supreme Court Directive (August 2026): Mandated a fresh nationwide survey of elephant corridors, ruling that states cannot block traditional inter-state corridors citing crop or property damage.
Mains Perspective
Importance / Significance
- Ecological Connectivity: Safeguards critical movement routes for a keystone species, facilitating essential seasonal migration, breeding, and genetic exchange.
- Sustainable Infrastructure Integration: Demonstrates that modern infrastructure (railways) and biodiversity conservation can coexist through applied technology and institutional synergy.
Challenges
- Habitat Fragmentation: Linear infrastructure (railways, highways) structurally bisects continuous forests, forcing wildlife into high-risk crossings.
- Technological & Operational Limits: Detection systems require continuous calibration against false alarms, and high train speeds leave extremely narrow reaction times for loco-pilots.
- Socio-Ecological Friction: Balancing rigid corridor protection with the economic realities of local communities facing severe crop depredation.
Government Initiatives / Policy Ecosystem
- Central Mandates: Project Elephant (1992) framework for habitat protection and the MoEFCC’s ongoing ground-validation of corridors.
- Tech & Structural Mitigations: Deployment of AI-enabled IDS (DAS), Plan Bee, targeted speed restrictions, caution signage, and the construction of dedicated wildlife underpasses.
Way Ahead
- Avoid-Minimise-Mitigate Protocol: Prioritize wildlife-sensitive railway alignments during the initial planning phase to completely avoid intersecting critical corridors where possible.
- Tech-Human Convergence: Expand the AI-based DAS network while ensuring it complements, rather than replaces, real-time intelligence sharing between forest trackers, local communities, and railway control rooms.
- Structural Safety Corridors: Invest in scientifically designed wildlife overpasses and underpasses tailored to the specific height and movement patterns of elephant herds.
Conclusion
Securing elephant corridors through technological innovation and proactive multi-agency cooperation is essential for ensuring both passenger safety and the long-term survival of Assam’s keystone wildlife.
APSC MCQs
Topic1: Multi-hazard Early Warning System – LODESTAR
1. With reference to the LODESTAR initiative recently associated with Assam, consider the following statements:
- It is a multi-hazard early warning system.
- It seeks to combine real-time sensing with AI and process-based modelling.
- It is being developed under an India–Netherlands initiative.
- Its application is restricted exclusively to earthquake prediction.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: LODESTAR is designed as a low-cost, multi-hazard early warning system, integrating real-time data, AI, modelling and community inputs. It is associated with the India–Netherlands initiative. It is not restricted to earthquakes.
2. Consider the following components in the context of a modern multi-hazard early warning system:
- Hazard monitoring
- Risk assessment and forecasting
- Communication of warnings
- Last-mile dissemination and community response
Which of the above are essential components of an effective early warning system?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Explanation: A genuine early warning system is not merely a forecasting mechanism. It requires the entire chain—from hazard detection and forecasting to communication and effective last-mile response. This is particularly important in disaster-prone regions such as Assam.
3. With reference to the LODESTAR initiative, consider the following statements:
- Artificial Intelligence can help identify patterns in large volumes of real-time environmental data.
- Computer vision can potentially support automated interpretation of visual observations relevant to hazards.
- Process-based modelling seeks to represent the physical processes underlying a hazard rather than merely relying on historical correlations.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation: All three correctly describe technologies relevant to modern early warning systems. Process-based models attempt to represent underlying physical processes, while AI and computer vision can enhance real-time detection and analysis. LODESTAR specifically brings together technical innovation, AI, process-based modelling, real-time sensing and citizen/community inputs.
4. Consider the following statements regarding multi-hazard early warning systems:
- They can reduce disaster losses even when the underlying hazard cannot be prevented.
- Their effectiveness depends partly on the accuracy and timeliness of forecasts.
- An early warning system is effective only if it predicts the exact location and intensity of a hazard with certainty.
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: Early warning systems aim to reduce exposure and vulnerability through timely action; they do not need perfect prediction to save lives. Statement 3 is incorrect because forecasting inherently involves uncertainty.
Topic2: Porous India–Myanmar Border
5. With reference to India’s international borders, consider the following statements:
- India shares a land boundary with Myanmar through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
- Assam shares an international boundary with Myanmar.
- The India–Myanmar land boundary is approximately 1,643 km long.
- The Golden Triangle is geographically associated with Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1, 3 and 4 only
C. 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: B
Explanation: India–Myanmar border extends about 1,643 km and touches Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Assam does not share an international boundary with Myanmar. The Golden Triangle refers broadly to the Myanmar–Thailand–Laos region. The newspaper also identifies the 1,643-km frontier and its four Indian States.
6. The term “Golden Triangle”, frequently encountered in discussions of India’s Northeast security, is primarily associated with:
A. A region of strategic mountain passes connecting India, Nepal and Bhutan
B. A region associated historically with production and trafficking of narcotic drugs in Southeast Asia
C. A trilateral economic corridor connecting India, Myanmar and Thailand
D. A maritime region connecting India, Myanmar and Indonesia
Answer: B
Explanation: The Golden Triangle broadly encompasses parts of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos and has historically been associated with illicit narcotics production and trafficking. Its proximity to India’s Northeast contributes to the region’s drug-trafficking and narco-terrorism concerns.
7. Consider the following statements regarding the India–Myanmar border:
- Difficult terrain contributes to the challenge of physically securing the entire border.
- Cross-border ethnic and familial linkages complicate a purely security-centric approach to border management.
- Drug trafficking from the Myanmar region can have implications for insurgency financing in Northeast India.
- Physical fencing alone can completely eliminate all forms of cross-border security threats.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: Statements 1–3 are correct. The fourth is too absolute. Fencing can reduce unauthorised movement but cannot by itself eliminate insurgency, narcotics trafficking, cyber-enabled threats, drones or underground networks. The newspaper highlights insurgent camps, weaponised drones and the narco-terrorism nexus along the frontier.
8. With reference to the India–Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), consider the following statements:
- It historically facilitated regulated movement of people living along the border who have traditional ethnic and social linkages.
- The earlier arrangement was associated with movement up to 16 km on either side of the border.
- India announced the decision to scrap the earlier FMR framework in 2024, citing security concerns.
- The FMR was established primarily to facilitate military movement between the Indian and Myanmar armies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: The FMR was intended to facilitate traditional cross-border movement of border communities, not military movement. The earlier arrangement was associated with movement within 16 km, and India announced its decision to scrap the earlier framework in 2024 amid security concerns.
Topic 3: NFR–Forest Department: Elephant Safety
9. With reference to the measures adopted by Indian Railways for preventing elephant–train collisions, consider the following statements:
- The Intrusion Detection System uses Distributed Acoustic System technology.
- The system can use optical fibre to detect signatures associated with elephant movement.
- Alerts can be communicated to loco pilots, station masters and railway control rooms.
- The system is based exclusively on satellite imagery.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: The AI-enabled IDS uses optical fibre and Distributed Acoustic System technology and is designed to generate real-time alerts for railway personnel. It is not based exclusively on satellite imagery. The Ministry of Railways has also confirmed that the system can alert loco pilots, station masters and control rooms.
10. The “Plan Bee” system, recently mentioned in the context of elephant conservation along railway tracks, is based on:
A. Deployment of trained honeybee colonies along railway tracks
B. Use of amplified honeybee sounds to deter elephants
C. Use of pheromone traps to redirect elephant herds
D. Release of artificial bee pheromones to attract elephants away from forests
Answer: B
Explanation: Plan Bee uses amplified honeybee sounds to deter elephants from vulnerable railway stretches. NFR has installed the system at identified locations.
11. Consider the following statements about elephant corridors:
- They facilitate movement between fragmented elephant habitats.
- Maintaining corridors can promote ecological connectivity.
- Blocking traditional corridors can potentially increase human–elephant conflict.
- Elephant corridors are legally identical to National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: Elephant corridors are movement pathways connecting habitats; they are not necessarily legally equivalent to protected-area categories such as National Parks or Wildlife Sanctuaries. Their conservation is crucial for maintaining ecological connectivity and reducing conflict.
12. Consider the following statements:
- Project Elephant was launched in 1992.
- Asian Elephant is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- The Asian Elephant is included in Schedule I of India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Project Elephant is administered by the Ministry of Railways because railway collisions are its principal conservation concern.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: Project Elephant was launched in 1992 and addresses elephant conservation, habitat protection and human–elephant conflict. The Asian Elephant is Endangered under the IUCN Red List and receives the highest level of protection under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act. Project Elephant falls under the MoEFCC, not the Ministry of Railways.
Topic 4: RBI MPC: Wait-and-Watch Stance amid Inflation Risks
13. With reference to the August 2026 Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the RBI, consider the following statements:
- The policy repo rate was retained at 5.25%.
- The MPC retained a neutral policy stance.
- The decision to maintain the repo rate was unanimous.
- The RBI indicated that persistent food and fuel price pressures could create broader inflationary risks.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1, 3 and 4 only
C. 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Explanation: The August 2026 MPC unanimously kept the repo rate at 5.25% and retained the neutral stance. The subsequent minutes highlighted risks from food, fuel and other input prices and the possibility of broader inflationary pressures.
14. Consider the following statements regarding inflation targeting in India:
- The RBI’s flexible inflation-targeting framework uses CPI inflation as the nominal anchor.
- The inflation target is 4%, with a tolerance band of ±2 percentage points.
- Food and fuel prices are completely excluded from CPI inflation.
- Persistent supply-side inflation can create second-round effects on broader inflation.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: India uses CPI inflation as the nominal anchor under flexible inflation targeting, with a target of 4% ±2 percentage points. Food and fuel are included in headline CPI. Persistent increases in these prices can influence inflation expectations, wages and input costs, producing second-round effects.
15. If the RBI raises the policy repo rate, which of the following are the most likely immediate effects?
- Increase in the cost of borrowing for banks.
- Tighter monetary conditions.
- Downward pressure on aggregate demand, other things remaining equal.
- Automatic increase in government capital expenditure.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: A repo-rate increase generally tightens monetary conditions, raises the cost of short-term funds and can reduce credit demand and aggregate demand. It does not automatically increase government capital expenditure.
16. Consider the following statements regarding the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of India:
- The MPC has six members.
- Three members are from the RBI and three are external members appointed by the Central Government.
- The RBI Governor has a casting vote in case of a tie.
- The MPC determines the minimum support price for agricultural commodities.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: AExplanation: The MPC has six members—three from the RBI and three external members appointed by the Central Government. Each member has one vote, and the RBI Governor has a casting vote in case of a tie. MSP determination is a separate government policy process and is not an MPC
Daily APSC Mains Answer Writing
Q. “LODESTAR represents a shift from reactive disaster management to technology-enabled anticipatory action. Discuss its significance and the challenges in developing a multi-hazard early warning system for Guwahati.”
Guwahati faces recurrent urban flooding and other climate-related hazards. The proposed LODESTAR multi-hazard early warning system, based on real-time sensing, modelling, AI and community inputs, seeks to strengthen the city’s transition from reactive response to anticipatory disaster management.
Significance
1. Early detection and forecasting
- The system seeks to identify flooding in real time and anticipate its progression over 1-, 3- and 6-hour horizons, providing valuable lead time for authorities.
2. Technology-enabled governance
- Integration of AI, sensors, CCTV, rainfall data, hydrological and hydraulic modelling can improve hazard assessment and decision-making.
3. Multi-hazard resilience
- Beyond floods, the platform is envisaged to address hazards such as landslides, recognising the interconnected nature of urban risks.
4. Participatory disaster management
- Incorporation of citizen-generated information can strengthen ground-level situational awareness and last-mile response.
Challenges
- Data gaps: Inadequate spatial coverage and interoperability.
- Forecast uncertainty: False alarms may produce warning fatigue.
- Institutional coordination: Multiple agencies need seamless information sharing.
- Last-mile connectivity: Warnings must reach vulnerable populations, including those with limited digital access.
- Cybersecurity: Greater dependence on digital infrastructure creates new vulnerabilities.
Way Forward
LODESTAR should be integrated with ASDMA’s disaster-response architecture, strengthen impact-based forecasting, expand community-based warning mechanisms and establish clear protocols for warning → evacuation → resource mobilisation → response. The system should also be periodically tested for accuracy and effectiveness.
LODESTAR can make Guwahati more resilient, predictive and people-centred in managing disasters. Its success, however, will depend not merely on technological sophistication but on converting accurate information into timely and inclusive action. Thus, technology should serve as an enabler of—not a substitute for—strong institutions, resilient infrastructure and community preparedness.
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