APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (23/09/2026)
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 23 September 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
Project Rhino & Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros Conservation
Syllabus Mapping
- GS Paper: GS-III (Biodiversity & Environment) & GS-V (Assam’s Biodiversity & Wildlife Conservation).
- Core Subject: Wildlife Conservation, Environmental Protection & Ecosystem Management.
- Why in News: On World Rhino Day (22 September 2026), the Prime Minister launched the national Project Rhino, highlighting Assam’s critical role in hosting 3,260 rhinos (nearly 80% of the global population).
Introduction
The newly launched Project Rhino marks a paradigm shift in conserving the greater one-horned rhinoceros—a flagship species of the Brahmaputra floodplain—by transitioning from basic anti-poaching to comprehensive habitat, genetic, and population management.
Prelims Perspective
- Species Info: Greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis); largest stronghold is the Brahmaputra floodplain ecosystem.
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU) on IUCN Red List; Appendix I of CITES; Schedule I under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Global Distribution: 5 living species globally (Asia: Greater one-horned, Javan, Sumatran; Africa: Black, White).
- Indian Range States: Concentrated primarily in Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Assam Strongholds: Kaziranga (largest population), Pobitora (highest density), Orang, and Manas (successful reintroduction site).
- Project Rhino (2026) Pillars: Remember P-H-G-P (Protection, Habitat management, Genetic improvement, Population dynamics).
- Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV2020): An Assam-focused translocation initiative aimed at establishing a wild population of 3,000 rhinos across seven protected areas to reduce single-population vulnerability.
- Key Facts: Rhino horn is made of keratin (no proven medicinal value); World Rhino Day is observed on 22 September.
Mains Perspective
Importance
- Acts as an ecological umbrella; protecting the rhino directly preserves the Brahmaputra alluvial grasslands, wetlands, and riverine forests.
- Drives conservation-linked local economies and bolsters wildlife tourism, positioning Assam as a global conservation success story.
Challenges
- Population concentration in Kaziranga creates severe vulnerability to localized catastrophes (floods, disease outbreaks), exacerbating genetic isolation risks.
- Habitat fragmentation and degradation driven by invasive species, altered hydrological patterns, and increasing human-wildlife conflict in shared landscapes.
Government Initiatives
- Project Rhino (2026): Provides national financial and technical backing specifically targeting protection, habitat, genetics, and population dynamics.
- Indian Rhino Vision 2020: Pioneered spatial distribution through conservation translocation, successfully re-establishing a viable population in Manas National Park.
Way Forward
- Transition from species-centric to landscape-centric management by integrating natural, ecologically beneficial flood regimes and strengthening wildlife corridors.
- Establish multiple viable populations through scientific reintroduction and genetic monitoring to prevent inbreeding and ensure long-term resilience.
Value Additions
- SDG Linkage: Directly advances SDG 15 (Life on Land) by halting biodiversity loss and protecting vulnerable wetland/grassland ecosystems.
- Key Concepts: “Climate-resilient conservation”, “Conservation Translocation”, “Human-dominated landscapes”.
Conclusion
Securing the future of the greater one-horned rhinoceros requires evolving beyond isolated protected-area policing to building interconnected, climate-resilient, and genetically robust landscapes that integrate local communities.
Brahmaputra Underwater Tunnel: Infrastructure vs Aquatic Biodiversity
Syllabus Mapping
- GS Paper: GS-III (Infrastructure, Biodiversity, Environmental Impact Assessment) & GS-V (Assam’s Geography, Environment & Sustainable Development).
- Core Subject: Sustainable Infrastructure & Riverine Biodiversity Conservation.
- Why in News: NHIDCL is funding a WII study, “Beneath the Brahmaputra,” to assess the ecological impact of the proposed Gohpur–Numaligarh underwater tunnel on the Ganges river dolphin (estimated 635 in Assam).
Introduction
The proposed Brahmaputra underwater tunnel represents a critical intersection of strategic regional connectivity and the urgent need to protect highly sensitive riverine ecosystems and acoustically dependent aquatic species.
Prelims Perspective
- Project Route: Connects Gohpur (NH-15/NH-52) to Numaligarh (NH-715) in Assam.
- Specifications: 33.7 km total length; features a 15.79 km twin-tube underwater tunnel integrating road and railway in one tube.
- Technology & Cost: Utilizes TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine); total capital cost is ₹18,662.02 crore (Civil: ₹11,982.36 crore); approved in Feb 2026.
- Implementing Agency: NHIDCL (National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.); classified as a Category A project under Schedule 7(f).
- Target Species: Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica); India’s National Aquatic Animal.
- Conservation Status: Endangered (IUCN); Appendix I (CITES); Schedule I (Wildlife Protection Act, 1972).
- The WII Study: Titled “Beneath the Brahmaputra”; spans three phases (Pre-construction, Construction, Post-construction).
- Methodology: Uses acoustic monitoring (hydrophones), habitat assessment, and dolphin tagging (India’s first Assam tagging occurred in Dec 2024 via WII/CAMPA funding).
Mains Perspective
Importance
- Establishes vital strategic and economic integration between northern and southern Assam, dramatically reducing logistical bottlenecks toward Arunachal Pradesh.
- Using underwater TBM technology minimizes the visual and physical obstruction of surface river flows compared to constructing massive surface bridges over the dynamic Brahmaputra.
Challenges
- Acoustic Disturbance: TBM noise and ground-borne vibrations risk severely disrupting the echolocation/biosonar critical for dolphin navigation and prey detection.
- Habitat Alteration: Approach roads, tunnel portals, and construction waste threaten the alluvial ecosystem with heavy sedimentation, turbidity, and chemical pollution.
- Cumulative Impacts: The tunnel adds compounded ecological stress to a river basin already threatened by fishing nets, water abstraction, and habitat fragmentation.
Government & Institutional Initiatives
- Adaptive Assessment: The “Beneath the Brahmaputra” study mandates real-time acoustic monitoring and dolphin tagging across all project phases.
- Institutional Convergence: Collaborative oversight by NHIDCL, WII, MoEFCC, and the Assam Forest Department, supported by National CAMPA funds and Project Dolphin.
Way Forward
- Transition from isolated, project-level EIAs to comprehensive river-basin-level cumulative impact assessments.
- Enforce a “Build, Monitor, Mitigate, Adapt” framework by adopting low-noise technologies, biodiversity-sensitive construction calendars, and real-time contingency protocols for sediment control.
Value Additions
- Key Concepts: “Adaptive Management”, “Cumulative Impact Assessment”, “Acoustic Echolocation Vulnerability”.
Conclusion
Delivering sustainable infrastructure in Assam requires balancing engineering efficiency with stringent ecological safeguards, ensuring that regional economic integration does not compromise the Brahmaputra’s biodiversity.
Extreme El Niño 2026–27: Climate & Economic Impacts
Syllabus Mapping
- GS Paper: GS-I (Climatology), GS-III (Environment, Agriculture, Economy, Disaster Management), & GS-V (Assam Environment & Agriculture).
- Core Subject: Climatology, Climate Change Impacts & Disaster Management.
- Why in News: ECLAC reports that a high-intensity El Niño in 2026–27 (projected by NOAA) could cause GDP-equivalent losses of ≥2% in Latin America and the Caribbean, pushing 4.8 million additional people into poverty.
Introduction
The impending 2026–27 extreme El Niño threatens global climate stability, risking compounding socio-economic disruptions across agriculture, energy, and infrastructure worldwide.
Prelims Perspective
- Core Concept: El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), involving abnormal warming of sea-surface temperatures (SST) in the central/eastern tropical Pacific, which alters the Walker circulation.
- NOAA 2026 Projections: >90% chance of a “very strong” event in Fall/Winter 2026–27; SST anomalies exceeding +3°C; 75% probability of reaching historic strength based on the RONI (Relative Oceanic Niño Index).
- WMO Assessment: Near-100% likelihood of persistence through February 2027.
- ECLAC Assessment: Forecasts ≥2% GDP loss and +4.8 million pushed into poverty in Latin America & the Caribbean.
- India/Monsoon Linkage: El Niño increases the probability of a weaker monsoon but doesn’t guarantee drought (only 7 of 16 El Niño years since 1950 had below-normal monsoons).
- Offsetting Factor: A Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) can partly offset El Niño’s negative impact on the Indian monsoon.
- Assam Context: By early August 2026, Assam & Meghalaya already recorded a 35% rainfall deficit.
- Clarification: El Niño is not caused by climate change, though global warming amplifies its extreme impacts (heatwaves/droughts).
Mains Perspective
Importance / Implications
- Triggers geographically differentiated climate extremes, causing severe droughts in Asia/Australia and heavy floods in parts of the Americas and East Africa.
- Creates a severe energy double pressure by simultaneously spiking cooling demand during extreme heat and constraining hydropower supply due to water scarcity.
Challenges
- Spikes supply-side food inflation by devastating moisture-sensitive Kharif crops (rice, maize) and disrupting marine fisheries due to altered ocean upwelling.
- Deepens pre-existing socio-economic inequalities, disproportionately threatening small farmers, informal workers, and climate-sensitive sectors like Assam’s tea industry.
- Triggers a flood-drought paradox in regions like Assam, where overall rainfall deficits coexist with localized, highly destructive flash floods.
Government / Policy Response
- Deployment of Anticipatory Climate Risk Management, leveraging early-warning systems (IMD, NOAA) for timely heatwave, flood, and drought alerts.
- Promotion of climate-resilient agriculture through drought-resistant crop varieties, micro-irrigation, and contingency crop planning.
- Strengthening of social protection nets via targeted crop insurance, public distribution mechanisms, and resilient infrastructure design.
Way Forward
- Institutionalize a “Forecast → Prepare → Protect → Recover” framework to transition from reactive disaster relief to proactive climate risk mitigation.
- Enhance localized predictive modeling that integrates ENSO + IOD interactions to formulate hyper-local agricultural and water management strategies.
Value Additions
- SDG Linkage: Directly impacts SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
- Key Concepts: “Supply-side inflation”, “Anticipatory Climate Risk Management”, “Climate-shock compounding”.
Conclusion
Integrating proactive climate risk management into national economic planning is imperative to buffer vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure against the cascading shocks of an extreme El Niño.
India’s Diplomatic Engagements on the Margins of UNGA
Syllabus Mapping
- GS Paper: GS-II (International Relations).
- Core Subject: Bilateral & Multilateral Groupings, Global Governance & Foreign Policy.
- Why in News: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held high-level bilateral and plurilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 81st UNGA session in New York, engaging key partners across Europe, Latin America, and the Global South while co-chairing the inaugural P4M Summit.
Introduction
India’s diplomatic engagements on the margins of the 81st UNGA exemplify a pragmatic multi-alignment strategy that integrates strategic autonomy, economic diplomacy, and leadership of the Global South within multilateral forums.
Prelims Perspective
- United Nations General Assembly (UNGA): Principal deliberative, policymaking organ of the UN comprising all 193 member states with equal voting rights (“one country, one vote”); resolutions are generally non-binding recommendations.
- P4M Summit: Co-chaired by India and the European Council; officially named Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace & Prosperity, co-sponsored by Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, and Kenya.
- European Free Trade Association (EFTA): 4-member intergovernmental trade bloc comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland (linked to India via the TEPA trade pact).
- G4 Grouping: Coalition of India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan mutually advocating for permanent seats on the UN Security Council (UNSC).
- Bilateral Engagements:
- France: Strategic Partnership (since 1998) covering Indo-Pacific security, civil nuclear cooperation, and UNSC reform.
- Ukraine: Dialogues on sovereignty, peaceful dispute resolution, and humanitarian corridors.
- Moldova: Eastern European landlocked nation located between Romania and Ukraine; focus on trade and education.
- Ecuador: Andean nation in South America; focus on energy, pharmaceuticals, and South-South development cooperation.
- Slovakia & Hungary: Deepening economic and technology supply-chain outreach into Central and Eastern Europe.
Mains Perspective
Importance
- Strategic Autonomy & Multi-alignment: Balances concurrent relationships across competing poles (US, EU, Russia, and Ukraine) without bloc alignment.
- Geoeconomic Convergence: Leverages diplomatic forums to advance critical trade, energy security, and supply-chain diversification (e.g., India-EFTA TEPA).
- Voice of the Global South: Champions developing nations’ priorities regarding food security, climate finance, technology access, and debt vulnerabilities.
Challenges
- Great-Power Polarization: Rising systemic friction between the US, China, and Russia severely restricts space for neutral mediation and non-aligned consensus.
- Multilateral Paralysis & Reform Inertia: Deep structural resistance from current P5 members blocks expansion and institutional democratization of the UNSC.
- Geopolitical Spillover Risks: Protracted conflicts in Eastern Europe and West Asia threaten national energy security, trade logistics, and diaspora safety.
Government Initiatives & Diplomatic Engagements
- Reformed Multilateralism: Consistent diplomatic push through the G4 and L.69 groupings to restructure post-1945 institutions to reflect contemporary demographic and economic realities.
- Plurilateral Coalition Building: Actively co-steering targeted issue-based mechanisms like the P4M Summit to uphold international law and supply-chain resilience.
- Strategic Bilateralism: Synchronizing high-level security dialogues with targeted economic outreach across non-traditional partners in Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Way Forward
- Advance the S-A-M-A-R framework (Strategic autonomy, Act East/Indo-Pacific, Multilateralism, Africa & Global South outreach, Reformed global governance).
- Institutionalize supply-chain de-risking by securing long-term bilateral partnerships in critical minerals, technology, pharmaceuticals, and clean energy.
Value Additions
- SDG Linkage: Advances SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
- Key Concepts: “Reformed Multilateralism”, “Multi-alignment vs Non-alignment”, “Supply-Chain De-risking”.
Conclusion
India’s dynamic diplomacy on the UNGA margins reinforces its evolution from a balancing power to a leading power, effectively bridging Global South aspirations with global governance reform.
APSC MCQs
Topic 1: Project Rhino & Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros Conservation
Q1. With reference to Project Rhino, recently announced in India, consider the following statements:
- It aims to provide financial and technical support to rhino range states.
- Genetic improvement and understanding population dynamics are among its stated objectives.
- It is exclusively focused on the conservation of the greater one-horned rhinoceros in Assam.
- Habitat management forms part of its conservation approach.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: Project Rhino aims to support rhino range states through protection, habitat management, genetic improvement and understanding population trends and dynamics. It is not confined exclusively to Assam.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros:
- It is naturally distributed in parts of the Indian subcontinent.
- It is characterized by a single horn.
- Kaziranga National Park is an important stronghold of the species.
- It is the only rhinoceros species found in Asia.
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: A
Explanation: The greater one-horned rhinoceros occurs in the Indian subcontinent and has a single horn. Kaziranga is a major stronghold. Asia also has the Javan and Sumatran rhinoceroses; therefore, Statement 4 is incorrect.
Q3. The conservation significance of Assam’s rhino population is particularly high because:
- Assam contains nearly 80% of the world’s greater one-horned rhino population.
- Kaziranga is a major stronghold of the species.
- Rhino conservation in Assam involves anti-poaching as well as habitat management.
- Greater one-horned rhinos are classified as extinct in the wild in India.
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: A
Explanation: Assam is a globally significant stronghold of the greater one-horned rhinoceros, with Kaziranga being particularly important. Conservation involves both anti-poaching and habitat management. The species is not extinct in the wild in India.
Q4. With reference to rhinoceros conservation, which one of the following best explains the importance of maintaining multiple geographically separated populations?
A. It eliminates the need for habitat protection in protected areas.
B. It reduces the risk associated with excessive concentration of a species in a single landscape and can improve long-term population resilience.
C. It ensures that all rhinos develop identical genetic characteristics.
D. It makes anti-poaching measures unnecessary.
Answer: B
Explanation: Maintaining viable populations across different suitable habitats reduces the vulnerability arising from localized disease outbreaks, disasters, habitat changes and other landscape-specific threats. It can also contribute to long-term genetic and demographic resilience.
Topic 2: Brahmaputra Underwater Tunnel & Aquatic Biodiversity
Q5. With reference to the proposed Gohpur–Numaligarh Brahmaputra underwater tunnel, consider the following statements:
- It involves a road-cum-rail underwater tunnel.
- Railway infrastructure is proposed in one of the tunnel tubes.
- It involves a greenfield connectivity alignment.
- Being underground, the project completely eliminates the need for environmental assessment.
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: A
Explanation: The project involves a twin-tube road-cum-rail underwater tunnel and greenfield connectivity. Underground construction does not eliminate ecological impacts or the need for appropriate environmental assessment and mitigation.
Q6. Consider the following pairs:
| Species/Term | Associated feature |
| 1. Ganges River Dolphin | National Aquatic Animal of India |
| 2. Ganges River Dolphin | Echolocation |
| 3. Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros | Aquatic mammal |
| 4. Brahmaputra River System | Habitat of Ganges River Dolphin |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: The Ganges river dolphin is India’s National Aquatic Animal and uses echolocation. It occurs in the Brahmaputra river system. The greater one-horned rhinoceros is a terrestrial mammal.
Q7. The Wildlife Institute of India study associated with the Brahmaputra underwater tunnel is significant primarily because it seeks to:
A. Determine the commercial viability of inland waterways in Assam.
B. Assess potential impacts of tunnel construction on river dolphins and aquatic biodiversity.
C. Identify new oil and natural gas reserves beneath the Brahmaputra.
D. Replace the Environmental Impact Assessment process with acoustic monitoring.
Answer: B
Explanation: The study, titled “Beneath the Brahmaputra,” focuses on assessing the potential effects of the tunnel project on Ganges river dolphins and aquatic biodiversity through approaches including acoustic monitoring, habitat assessment and tagging.
Q8. Consider the following potential impacts of large-scale underwater construction in a river ecosystem:
- Underwater noise and vibration
- Increased sedimentation and turbidity
- Disturbance of aquatic habitats
- Changes in animal movement and behaviour
Which of the above can be relevant ecological concerns?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1, 2 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Explanation: Underwater construction can generate noise and vibration, alter sediment dynamics, increase turbidity and disturb aquatic habitats. Such changes can affect the movement, communication, feeding and behaviour of aquatic species, including river dolphins.
Topic 3: Extreme El Niño 2026–27
Q9. With reference to El Niño, consider the following statements:
- It involves abnormal warming of the central and/or eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
- It is associated with changes in the Walker circulation.
- Every El Niño event necessarily causes drought across the whole of India.
- It can influence global rainfall and temperature patterns.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: El Niño involves abnormal warming of the tropical Pacific and associated atmospheric circulation changes. It can influence weather patterns globally. However, its effect on India is not deterministic and does not necessarily produce drought across the entire country. NOAA’s current assessment indicates a very strong 2026–27 event is highly probable.
Q10. Consider the following statements regarding El Niño and the Indian monsoon:
- El Niño generally tends to weaken the Indian summer monsoon.
- Its impact on the Indian monsoon can be modified by other climate phenomena.
- A positive Indian Ocean Dipole can sometimes reduce the adverse influence of El Niño on the Indian monsoon.
- El Niño is itself a permanent change in Earth’s climate system caused solely by anthropogenic global warming.
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: A
Explanation: El Niño is a recurring climate variability phenomenon. Its influence on the Indian monsoon can be modified by other ocean-atmosphere phenomena, including the Indian Ocean Dipole. It is not itself a permanent anthropogenic climate change phenomenon.
Q11. Which one of the following correctly describes the Walker circulation under normal conditions in the tropical Pacific?
A. A purely polar atmospheric circulation driven by Arctic sea-ice variability.
B. An east-west tropical atmospheric circulation involving rising air over the warmer western Pacific and sinking air over the eastern Pacific.
C. A monsoon circulation restricted entirely to the Indian Ocean.
D. A deep-ocean current flowing from the Pacific towards the Atlantic.
Answer: B
Explanation: Under normal conditions, warmer waters in the western tropical Pacific support strong convection and rising air, while comparatively cooler eastern Pacific waters are associated with subsidence. El Niño alters this ocean-atmosphere circulation.
Q12. A very strong El Niño event may simultaneously create drought risk in some regions and flood risk in others primarily because:
A. El Niño causes uniform rainfall decline across the world.
B. Changes in tropical Pacific ocean-atmosphere conditions alter atmospheric circulation and shift rainfall patterns differently across regions.
C. El Niño directly melts all major glaciers.
D. El Niño affects only ocean temperatures and has no atmospheric consequences.
Answer: B
Explanation: El Niño produces teleconnections—changes in atmospheric circulation that influence rainfall and temperature far beyond the tropical Pacific. Consequently, different regions can experience contrasting impacts, including drought, heavy rainfall and extreme heat.
Topic 4: India’s Diplomatic Engagements on the Margins of UNGA
Q13. With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
- All UN Member States are represented in the General Assembly.
- Each Member State has one vote in the General Assembly.
- The UNGA is the principal organ responsible for enforcing decisions of the International Court of Justice.
- The General Assembly is an important forum for deliberation on international issues.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: The UNGA is the UN’s principal deliberative and representative organ, where Member States participate on the basis of one country, one vote. It is not the principal enforcement organ for ICJ judgments.
Q14. Recent diplomatic engagements of India’s External Affairs Minister on the margins of the UNGA included discussions concerning:
- Ukraine
- Gulf crisis
- Economic and bilateral cooperation
- Reform of the UN Security Council
Which of the above were among the issues discussed?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1, 2 and 4 only
C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
D. 2 and 4 only
Answer: C
Explanation: The recent diplomatic engagements covered regional and global developments including Ukraine and the Gulf situation, bilateral/economic cooperation and multilateral issues such as UN Security Council reform.
Q15. Consider the following countries:
- France
- Ecuador
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Switzerland
Which of the above countries were among those whose foreign ministers or counterparts were engaged by India’s External Affairs Minister during the recent UNGA-related diplomatic outreach?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: D
Explanation: Recent UNGA-related diplomatic outreach included engagements with counterparts from France, Ecuador, Slovakia, Hungary and Switzerland, among other countries. The discussions covered bilateral relations and wider regional and multilateral issues.
Q16. With reference to India’s contemporary multilateral diplomacy, consider the following statements:
- India has advocated reform of the UN Security Council.
- India’s diplomatic engagements combine bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral platforms.
- Participation in multilateral institutions necessarily requires India to abandon its bilateral strategic partnerships.
- Issues such as economic security, conflicts, supply chains and global governance can form part of India’s diplomatic agenda.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: India participates simultaneously in bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral forums and has consistently advocated reform of the UN Security Council. Contemporary diplomacy also encompasses conflicts, economic security, supply chains and global governance. Statement 3 is incorrect because multilateral engagement does not require abandoning bilateral partnerships.
Daily APSC Mains Answer Writing
Q. “The transition from Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV2020) to the newly initiated Project Rhino marks an evolutionary shift from localized species protection to landscape-level genetic and ecological management. In this context, evaluate the systemic vulnerabilities confronting Assam’s rhino habitats and examine how Project Rhino’s four pillars address them.”
Assam shelters nearly 80% of the global greater one-horned rhino population (3,260 individuals), making the launch of the national Project Rhino a vital shift under Article 48A from defensive anti-poaching toward holistic ecological and genetic resilience (PIB / Assam Forest Dept).
Systemic Vulnerabilities Confronting Assam’s Rhino Habitats
1. Demographic & Spatial Over-Concentration
- Hyper-Concentration Risk: Over 75% of Assam’s rhinos remain clustered within Kaziranga National Park, leaving the species acutely exposed to single-event catastrophes like catastrophic Brahmaputra floods or virulent epizootic outbreaks (WWF-India Report).
- Hyper-Density in Pobitora: With the world’s highest rhino density, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary faces acute spatial saturation, pushing rhinos into human-dominated peripheries and triggering intense crop-raiding and retaliatory conflict (WII Pobitora Study).
2. Habitat Degradation & Hydrological Shifts
- Grassland Succession: Siltation imbalances, uncontrolled expansion of woody perennials, and alien invasive weeds (Mimosa diplotricha, Chromolaena odorata) are displacing essential alluvial grasslands.
- The Flood Paradox: While annual Brahmaputra inundation is biologically essential for nutrient replenishment and wetland rejuvenation, excessive, erratic flooding driven by climate change causes massive calf mortality and disrupts traditional highland escape corridors.
3. Genetic Bottlenecks & Inbreeding Depression
- Severed Corridors: Linear infrastructure (e.g., expansion of NH-715 along Kaziranga’s southern rim) fragments migration corridors toward the Karbi Anglong hills, restricting gene flow between isolated sub-populations.
Project Rhino: Comparative Analysis of the Four Pillars
| Pillar | Strategic Thrust & Mechanism | Target Vulnerability Addressed | Field-Level Exemplar (Assam) |
| P – Protection | Zero-tolerance anti-poaching, AI-assisted electronic surveillance, forensic crime investigations. | Persistent transnational poaching cartels driven by illegal keratin trade. | Dedicated Special Rhino Protection Force (SRPF) & public destruction of 2,479 seized horns. |
| H – Habitat Management | Grassland restoration, invasive species eradication, desilting of silted beels (wetlands). | Grazing ground depletion, woody succession, and forage scarcity. | Eco-hydrological restoration of Brahmaputra floodplains in Kaziranga & Orang. |
| G – Genetic Improvement | Genome mapping, scientific gene banking, and planned cross-landscape breeding. | Inbreeding depression and low adaptive fitness of genetically isolated sub-populations. | Metapopulation gene infusion using source stock from Pobitora/Kaziranga. |
| P – Population Dynamics | High-precision demographic tracking, sex-ratio optimization, disease surveillance. | Unmonitored calf mortality, senescent population imbalances, stochastic risks. | Long-term radio telemetry and disease screening protocols (WII Framework). |
Strategic Roadmap for Long-Term Habitat Security
- Integrated Landscape Corridors: Notify and legally secure eco-sensitive zones connecting Kaziranga with the Karbi Anglong plateau via elevated wildlife corridors and eco-bridges (as mandated in T.N. Godavarman cases).
- Scientific Translocation 2.0: Replicate the successful reintroduction model of Manas National Park to seed viable breeding nuclei in secondary and tertiary historic habitats (e.g., Laokhowa-Burachapori complex).
- Community-Centric Buffer Economies: Transform fringe communities from competitors to active custodians through eco-tourism revenue-sharing and rapid crop-compensation portals under the “Wildlife + People” paradigm.
Project Rhino transcends defensive conservation by institutionalizing scientific landscape ecology, guaranteeing that Assam’s flagship herbivore remains an enduring symbol of ecological equilibrium and evolutionary resilience (SDG 15: Life on Land).
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