APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (24/09/2026)
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 24 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
Proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve
Syllabus Mapping:
- GS Paper III: Biodiversity, Environment, and Conservation
- GS Paper V: Assam’s Biodiversity, Environment, and Governance (APSC)
- Why in News: The Assam government has submitted a site-specific proposal (currently examined under PIL No. 56 of 2026 in the Gauhati High Court) suggesting a 1–3 km Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga, pending final MoEFCC notification.
Introduction
An Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) acts as a regulatory “shock absorber,” creating a transition zone between highly protected ecosystems and human-dominated landscapes without imposing blanket developmental bans.
Prelims Perspective:
- Legal Framework: ESZs are notified by the MoEFCC under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and its 1986 Rules.
- ESZ Boundaries: The Supreme Court’s 2023 T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad judgment clarified that the 10-km ESZ rule is not uniform; boundaries must be strictly site-specific.
- Mining Ban: The SC expressly prohibited mining within any National Park/Sanctuary and within a 1 km radius of its boundary.
- Activity Regulation (2011 Guidelines): Activities are categorized as Prohibited (commercial mining, polluting industries), Regulated (hydro projects, tourism), and Permitted (local agriculture/horticulture; ESZs do not automatically displace villagers).
- Kaziranga Geography: Spread across Golaghat, Nagaon, and Sonitpur districts, representing a major Brahmaputra floodplain grassland ecosystem.
- Park Status: It is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, and UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
- Wildlife Corridors: The Assam government has formally delineated 9 animal corridors connecting Kaziranga to the Karbi Anglong Hills.
- Traffic Management: Automatic sensor-based vehicle speed regulation is enforced at animal corridors along NH-37/NH-715.
- Notification Process: Expert Committee → Public Hearing → MoEFCC/WII Examination → Draft Notification → Scrutiny → Final Notification.
Mains Perspective:
- Importance:
- Ecological Security: Cushions core habitats from anthropogenic stress and preserves the vital Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong ecological connectivity.
- Conflict Mitigation: Regulates land use in border villages to systematically reduce human-wildlife conflicts during seasonal floods.
- Sustainable Governance: Replaces arbitrary bans with site-specific, scientific zonation that accommodates eco-tourism and local livelihoods.
- Challenges:
- Livelihood vs. Conservation: Restrictive zoning can impede legitimate local agriculture, settlements, and regional infrastructure development.
- Corridor Fragmentation: Surrounding highways, mining, and unplanned settlements threaten the integrity of landscape-level wildlife movement.
- Coordination & Litigation: Overlapping institutional jurisdictions and ongoing legal disputes (e.g., Godavarman case) create severe policy bottlenecks.
- Government Initiatives:
- Site-Specific Assessment: Assam is drafting localized ESZ limits based on ground realities to replace arbitrary uniform boundaries.
- Corridor Protection: Formal notification of 9 animal corridors and implementation of wildlife-friendly traffic management on adjacent highways.
- Statutory Scrutiny: Leveraging the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and EIA frameworks to mandate rigorous public consultation and expert review.
- Way Forward:
- Landscape-Level Integration: Shift from a park-centric boundary approach to an integrated management model covering KNPTR, Karbi Anglong, and riverine networks.
- Scientific Zonation: Utilize GIS and wildlife movement data to demarcate precise regulatory zones and integrate wildlife crossings into infrastructure planning.
- Community Partnership: Institutionalize stakeholder consultations to align conservation targets with socially sustainable livelihood programs.
Conclusion
A scientifically delineated, site-specific ESZ is imperative to transcend the rigid conservation-versus-development binary, ensuring long-term ecological connectivity while securing legitimate community livelihoods.
Assam’s Transition to Paperless Government Offices through e-Office
Syllabus Mapping:
- GS Paper II: Governance, e-Governance, Transparency, Accountability, and Public Service Delivery
- GS Paper III: Science & Technology, Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
- GS Paper V: Assam-specific Governance, Administration, Digitalisation, and Public Service Delivery
- Why in News: The Assam government has set 1 January 2027 as the strict deadline for all State government offices to transition into a paperless administrative system through the statewide expansion of e-Office.
Introduction
e-Office is a digital workplace and electronic file-management framework designed to transform traditional paper-based administration into transparent, process-based, and traceable digital workflows.
Prelims Perspective:
- Deadline: 1 January 2027 marks the statewide expansion, not the introduction, of the e-Office framework in Assam.
- Developer: The National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Background: It originated as a Mission Mode Project (MMP) under India’s National e-Governance Plan.
- Current Assam Status: All 58 Secretariat departments are actively using the NIC-developed e-Office platform.
- District Expansion Timeline: Assam set up a State-level steering mechanism in 2021, followed by the launch of e-Office District in 2026.
- Core Component: The File Management System (FMS) handles electronic diarisation, file creation, movement, tracking, indexing, and digital record management.
- Security & Logins: Assam IT introduced eAuth IDs specifically for authenticating users for secure e-Office logins.
- Key Distinctions to Remember:
- e-Office: Internal government workflow (file processing).
- DigiLocker: Digital issuance/storage of citizen documents.
- Sewa Setu: Assam’s integrated citizen service delivery platform.
- e-Prastuti: Standardisation of Assam government websites.
Mains Perspective:
- Importance:
- Administrative Efficiency: Bypasses geographical barriers and physical delays, ensuring faster electronic file movement across distributed State and district offices.
- Transparency & Accountability: Generates a real-time digital trail (who handled the file, when, and where it stalled), making it easier to pinpoint responsibility.
- Disaster Resilience: Ensures administrative continuity and prevents the loss of vital government records during physical disruptions like Assam’s seasonal floods.
- Challenges:
- Digital Divide & Infrastructure: District and remote offices struggle with inadequate broadband, power failures, and a lack of redundant server backups.
- Cybersecurity Risks: Digitising highly sensitive administrative and citizen data increases vulnerability to hacking, malware, ransomware, and data leaks.
- Organisational Change & Legacy Records: Institutional resistance to workflow changes and the immense logistical challenge/cost of digitising historical physical records.
- Government Initiatives:
- Secretariat Adoption: Successful deployment of the e-Office platform across all 58 State Secretariat departments.
- e-Office District (2026): Targeted expansion to modernize digital file management explicitly across district-level administrative machinery.
- eAuth Integration: Deployment of dedicated digital authentication IDs to ensure secure access to internal government workflows.
- Way Forward:
- Infrastructure First: Prioritise investments in secure data centres, local area networks (LAN), and robust disaster recovery mechanisms before mandating complete digitization.
- Cybersecurity by Design: Implement role-based access, multi-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, and conduct regular systemic security audits.
- Capacity Building & Interoperability: Train officials in digital workflows and phase in legacy records selectively, ensuring the system integrates fluidly with broader digital public infrastructure.
Conclusion
While achieving paperless administration by 2027 is a significant milestone, true e-governance demands that digitalization acts as an enabler for deeper administrative reform—paired with robust cybersecurity and capacity building—to deliver a genuinely responsive, resilient, and transparent government.
Riverbank Erosion and Loss of Agricultural Land in Assam
Syllabus Mapping:
- GS Paper I: Geography of Assam, rivers, landforms
- GS Paper III: Disaster management, agriculture, environment, technology
- GS Paper V: Assam-specific geography, economy, and developmental challenges
- Why in News: An Assam Tribune editorial (24 Sept 2026) cited a NESAC satellite study revealing that between 2016 and 2024, riverbank erosion in Assam destroyed 67,580.55 hectares of land, with nearly 45% being highly productive agricultural land.
Introduction
Riverbank erosion in Assam is a severe geomorphic hazard that permanently removes floodplain land, creating a compounding socio-economic disaster that threatens agricultural assets, rural livelihoods, and settlement security.
Prelims Perspective:
- Key Report Source: North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) satellite-based study.
- Total Land Eroded (2016–2024): 67,580.55 ha.
- Agricultural Land Eroded (2016–2024): 30,289.45 ha (approx. 45% of total land lost).
- Peak Damage Period (2018–2020): 26,627.89 ha total land lost; 10,431.53 ha of agricultural land lost.
- Agricultural Erosion Hotspots: Barpeta, Dhubri, Nalbari, Morigaon, Goalpara.
- High Overall Erosion Districts: Dhubri, Barpeta, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur.
- Key Eroding Tributaries: Subansiri, Beki, Manas, Dhansiri.
- Subansiri Impact (Lakhimpur): Permanently destroyed 8 revenue villages, compounded by dam water release from NHPC’s Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Plant (Gerukamukh).
- 2026 Flood Data: ASDMA reported 88,000+ ha of agricultural land affected by temporary floods (distinct from permanent geomorphic erosion).
- Important Agencies:
- FREMAA: Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam.
- ADB: Financing the CRBIFRERMP (Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project) with original $200M and a February 2026 additional financing of $182M.
- Engineering Interventions: RCC porcupines, dampeners, and geo-bags utilized for bank protection (e.g., in Rohmoria, Dibrugarh). Nature-based solutions currently being piloted by IIT Guwahati.
Mains Perspective:
- Importance / Impacts:
- Economic Ruin: Drives permanent loss of productive agricultural assets, leading to severe landholding fragmentation and cyclic rural impoverishment.
- Mass Displacement: Eliminates entire revenue villages and community infrastructure, escalating state burdens for relief and rehabilitation.
- Ecological Alteration: Permanently modifies riverine ecosystems, destroys riparian vegetation, and disrupts floodplain morphology.
- Challenges:
- Geomorphic Dynamics: The highly braided, sediment-heavy Brahmaputra system with intense monsoon discharge routinely overwhelms fixed infrastructure.
- Fragmented Interventions: Isolated, site-specific engineering can inadvertently transfer erosion downstream and alter natural sediment dynamics.
- Rehabilitation Deficit: Policy often stops at structural relief, failing to provide land-for-land resettlement or alternative livelihood diversification for displaced farmers.
- Government Initiatives:
- CRBIFRERMP Framework: ADB-supported deployment of integrated structural (geo-bags, revetments) and non-structural (flood forecasting, risk mapping) measures.
- Technological Integration: Utilization of GIS, remote sensing, and NESAC data by the Assam Water Resources Department to proactively map channel migration.
- Nature-Based Solutions: IIT Guwahati-led initiatives focusing on bio-engineering, riparian vegetation, and slope stabilization to complement hard engineering.
- Way Forward:
- Basin-Scale Management: Transition from fragmented, site-specific fixes to a holistic model encompassing the Brahmaputra, its tributaries, and floodplain sediment dynamics.
- Targeted Scientific Protection: Leverage satellite-based vulnerability mapping to prioritize high-risk agricultural hotspots and strategic settlements.
- Comprehensive Socio-Economic Rehabilitation: Embed crop-loss compensation, skill development, and robust resettlement policies directly into erosion management frameworks.
Conclusion
Tackling riverbank erosion demands a paradigm shift from reactive relief to integrated, basin-wide risk management powered by remote sensing, hybrid engineering, and community-centric rehabilitation to safeguard both land and livelihoods.
Changing Monsoon Pattern and Climate Extremes in Northeast India
Syllabus Mapping:
- GS Paper I: Indian and Assam Geography, Climatology, Monsoon
- GS Paper III: Climate Change, Disaster Management, Agriculture, Water Resources
- GS Paper V: Assam/Northeast-specific Environmental and Developmental Issues
- Why in News: A recent International Journal of Climatology study by IMD and NCMRWF (“Evolution of Climate Extremes Over the Indian Subcontinent”) highlights that Northeast India is increasingly experiencing intense, short-duration rainfall followed by prolonged dry spells.
Introduction
Northeast India is undergoing severe hydroclimatic variability, shifting from continuous monsoon rains to concentrated heavy downpours and extended dry spells, triggering a complex multi-hazard risk landscape.
Prelims Perspective:
- Study Title: Evolution of Climate Extremes Over the Indian Subcontinent Using a Revised CEI (Analysis period: 1971–2022).
- Key Institutions: India Meteorological Department (IMD) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
- Revised Index: The India Climate Extremes Index (IndCEI) integrates 7 indicators: Maximum Temperature, Minimum Temperature, Consecutive Dry Days (CDD), Heavy Precipitation, Standardised Precipitation–Evaporation Index (SPEI), Heat Index, and Excess Heat Factor.
- Core NE Finding: Northeast India shows heightened short-duration heavy rainfall combined with increasing drought episodes, differing from the heat-dominated pattern in other parts of India.
- Geographical Coverage: Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
- Specific Micro-trend: Historically wettest places like Sohra (Cherrapunji) and Mawsmai are currently experiencing a severe monsoon rainfall deficit.
- Related Hazards: Rapid flash floods, landslides, and GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods) due to proximity to the Eastern Himalayas.
- Assam’s Policy Framework: SAPCC 2.0 (2021–2030) (State Action Plan on Climate Change), coordinated by the Assam Climate Change Management Society.
- Early Warning Systems: FLEWS (Flood Early Warning System) deployed by ASDMA in collaboration with NESAC (North Eastern Space Applications Centre).
Mains Perspective:
- Importance / Impacts:
- Agricultural Stress: Concentrated rainfall causes crop lodging and soil erosion, while subsequent dry spells deplete soil moisture, making total annual rainfall a misleading indicator for crop success.
- Water Management Paradox: Governance must rapidly pivot from managing excess floodwaters during intense downpours to mitigating severe water scarcity during prolonged dry spells.
- Cascading Geo-Hazards: Complex topography amplifies surface runoff into flash floods, slope instability (landslides), and transboundary GLOF risks threatening downstream Brahmaputra and Barak valleys.
- Challenges:
- Fragmented Governance: Traditional disaster systems are overwhelmingly flood-centric and struggle to manage concurrent, contrasting hazards like drought and landslides.
- Forecasting Limitations: Predicting hyper-local rainfall variability in complex mountainous terrain remains uncertain, severely hampering granular district-level planning.
- Infrastructure Vulnerability: Simultaneous exposure to extreme flooding and landslides repeatedly damages critical transport and communication networks across the region.
- Government Initiatives:
- Policy Alignment: Assam’s SAPCC 2.0 translates national climate goals (NAPCC/NDCs) into localized adaptation strategies.
- Technological Integration: ASDMA leverages FLEWS, Flood Hazard Atlases, and NESAC’s hydro-meteorological data for early warning and spatial risk mapping.
- Scientific Baseline Tracking: Collaborative long-term tracking (1971–2022) by IMD and NCMRWF using the revised IndCEI drives evidence-based adaptation metrics.
- Way Forward:
- Multi-Hazard Risk Planning: Transition to integrated basin-scale frameworks that collectively address floods, droughts, GLOFs, and erosion rather than isolating specific hazards.
- Climate-Resilient Agriculture & Storage: Promote adjusted sowing calendars, drought-resistant crops, micro-irrigation, and decentralized rainwater harvesting to buffer dry spells.
- Hyperlocal Forecasting: Upgrade FLEWS by integrating IMD radar, satellite data, and hydrological models to deliver highly granular, action-oriented district-level early warnings.
Conclusion
Addressing Northeast India’s hydroclimatic variability requires transitioning from reactive flood management to a climate-informed, multi-hazard paradigm anchored in resilient infrastructure, ecosystem conservation, and hyperlocal forecasting.
APSC MCQs
Topic 1: Proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve
Q1. With reference to Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) in India, consider the following statements:
- ESZs are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- The primary purpose of an ESZ is to create an absolute prohibition on all human activities around protected areas.
- The extent of an ESZ can vary according to site-specific ecological considerations.
- The National Board for Wildlife is the authority that finally notifies every ESZ.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: A
Explanation: ESZs are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and are intended to regulate activities around protected areas, not prohibit all human activity. Their extent can be site-specific. Final notification is by the Central Government/MoEFCC, not the National Board for Wildlife. The Kaziranga proposal involves site-specific assessment.
Q2. Consider the following pairs:
| Protected Area-related concept | Description |
| 1. Eco-Sensitive Zone | Regulated transition area around protected areas |
| 2. Wildlife Corridor | Landscape facilitating movement of wildlife between habitats |
| 3. Core/critical tiger habitat | Area within a tiger reserve receiving the highest level of ecological protection |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
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 concepts are distinct but complementary conservation instruments. In the Kaziranga context, ESZ delineation, animal corridors and regulation of activities are closely connected conservation concerns. The newspaper also refers to ongoing legal proceedings concerning Kaziranga and animal corridors.
Q3. With reference to the proposed ESZ around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, consider the following statements:
- Assam undertook a site-specific assessment before preparing its draft proposal.
- The proposal was sent to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- Public objections and suggestions form part of the ESZ notification process.
- Once a State government submits a proposal, the ESZ automatically comes into force without further Central-level scrutiny.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: B
Explanation: The newspaper reports that Assam undertook a site-specific assessment and submitted the draft proposal to MoEFCC. The process includes expert examination, stakeholder consultation/public hearing, public objections and suggestions, and Central-level scrutiny before final notification.
Q4. The Supreme Court’s directions concerning protection around protected areas are relevant to the proposed Kaziranga ESZ primarily because:
A. every protected area must permanently have an identical 10-km ESZ
B. the State government can independently abolish the existing protective regime
C. the final site-specific ESZ notification is irrelevant to judicial directions
D. existing judicial directions continue to have significance until the final ESZ delineation/notification
Answer: D
Explanation: The newspaper reports that, pending final notification and delineation, the State remains bound by the applicable Supreme Court directions. This makes the distinction between a proposed ESZ and a finally notified ESZ important for Prelims.
Topic 2: Assam’s Transition to Paperless Government through e-Office
Q5. With reference to e-Office, consider the following statements:
- e-Office was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
- It was initiated as a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan.
- File Management System (FMS) is an integral component of e-Office.
- e-Office is primarily a digital document-storage system and does not provide file-tracking functionality.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: B
Explanation: e-Office was developed by NIC and originated as a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan. FMS is an integral component, and electronic file movement/tracking is a core feature.
Q6. Consider the following activities:
- Electronic diarisation of inward documents
- Creation and movement of files digitally
- Digital preparation of notes and drafts
- Digital signing and archival
- Tracking movement/status of files
How many of the above are functions associated with an e-Office workflow?
A. Only two
B. Only three
C. Only four
D. All five
Answer: D
Explanation: e-Office replaces the conventional physical-file workflow with electronic diarisation, file creation, movement, noting/drafting, digital signatures, archival and tracking.
Q7. With reference to Assam’s e-Office implementation, consider the following statements:
- All 58 departments in the Assam Secretariat were reported to be using e-Office.
- Assam had already introduced e-Office before the January 1, 2027 statewide deadline.
- January 1, 2027 represents the initial introduction of e-Office in Assam.
- District-level implementation had already been initiated before the 2027 deadline.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 4 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: B
Explanation: The newspaper specifically states that all 58 Secretariat departments were already using the NIC-developed platform and that district-level implementation had begun. Therefore, January 1, 2027 is the deadline for statewide expansion, not the introduction of e-Office in Assam.
Q8. Which one of the following best distinguishes e-Office from DigiLocker?
A. e-Office primarily digitises government office workflows, whereas DigiLocker focuses on digital issuance, storage and verification of documents
B. e-Office is exclusively a citizen-facing document wallet, whereas DigiLocker is an internal government workflow system
C. Both are identical platforms developed for electronic file movement within government offices
D. Both primarily perform electronic voting and electoral-roll management
Answer: A
Explanation: e-Office is designed around government workflow and electronic file management, whereas DigiLocker provides a secure digital platform for storing, issuing and verifying documents/certificates.
Topic 3: Riverbank Erosion and Loss of Agricultural Land in Assam
Q9. With reference to the recent NESAC assessment of riverbank erosion in Assam, consider the following statements:
- The assessment covered the period 2016–2024.
- More than 67,000 hectares of land were affected by erosion.
- Agricultural land constituted nearly 45% of the affected area.
- The highest erosion during the study period occurred between 2022 and 2024.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: B
Explanation: The study covered 2016–2024 and reported 67,580.55 ha affected, including 30,289.45 ha of agricultural land, nearly 45%. The most damaging period was 2018–2020, not 2022–24.
Q10. Consider the following rivers/tributaries:
- Subansiri
- Beki
- Manas
- Dhansiri
How many of the above were specifically identified in the recent Assam Tribune discussion as contributing to localised land loss?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. Only three
D. All four
Answer: D
Explanation: The newspaper specifically identifies the Subansiri, Beki, Manas and Dhansiri among tributaries contributing to localised land loss in Assam.
Q11. With reference to riverbank erosion in Assam, consider the following statements:
- Riverbank erosion and flooding are identical geomorphological processes.
- Erosion can result in permanent loss of productive agricultural land.
- Channel migration is an important feature of highly dynamic alluvial river systems.
- Remote sensing can be used to monitor changes in riverbank position over time.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 3 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: C
Explanation: Flooding involves inundation, whereas erosion involves physical removal of bank material and land. In Assam’s dynamic river systems, channel migration and remote-sensing-based monitoring are important components of erosion assessment.
Q12. The recent NESAC study on Assam’s riverbank erosion used which of the following approaches most directly relevant to spatial assessment?
A. Groundwater isotope analysis alone
B. Household income surveys alone
C. Manual cadastral surveys without satellite data
D. Multi-temporal satellite-based analysis of riverbank migration
Answer: D
Explanation: NESAC’s assessment uses multi-temporal satellite data to study bankline migration and quantify erosion and agricultural land loss. Remote sensing allows changes in river extent and bank position to be examined across different periods.
Topic 4: Changing Monsoon Pattern and Climate Extremes in Northeast India
Q13. With reference to the revised India Climate Extremes Index (IndCEI), consider the following statements:
- The study used observed gridded daily rainfall and temperature data.
- The study period was 1971–2022.
- Consecutive Dry Days (CDD) is one of the indicators used in the revised index.
- The index is based exclusively on temperature extremes.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: B
Explanation: The revised IndCEI uses daily rainfall and temperature data from 1971–2022 and incorporates seven indicators, including CDD, heavy precipitation, SPEI, heat index and excess heat factor, along with maximum and minimum temperature. Therefore, it is not exclusively temperature-based.
Q14. According to the recent study on climate extremes, Northeast India is particularly characterised by which of the following combinations?
A. Declining heavy rainfall and declining drought episodes
B. Increasing heat extremes with no significant rainfall-related changes
C. Increasing short-duration heavy rainfall events along with increasing drought episodes
D. Increasing annual rainfall with complete elimination of dry spells
Answer: C
Explanation: The study identifies Northeast India as a region experiencing heightened short-duration heavy rainfall events alongside increasing drought episodes, indicating greater hydroclimatic variability.
Q15. Consider the following statements regarding the implications of changing monsoon characteristics in Northeast India:
- A high annual rainfall total necessarily implies low flood risk.
- Concentrated rainfall over a short duration can increase flood and landslide risk.
- A subsequent prolonged dry spell can create soil-moisture and agricultural stress.
- Climate-risk assessment should consider rainfall intensity and temporal distribution in addition to seasonal totals.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 3 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: C
Explanation: The key issue highlighted by the newspaper is rainfall variability. A high annual total does not necessarily prevent drought or flood risk; the timing, intensity and distribution of rainfall are critical. Heavy single-day rainfall can trigger floods and landslides, while subsequent dry spells can affect soil moisture and agriculture.
Q16. With reference to the India Climate Extremes Index study, consider the following pairs:
| Indicator | Broad climate dimension |
| 1. CDD | Dry-spell characteristics |
| 2. Heavy precipitation events | Extreme rainfall |
| 3. SPEI | Drought/wetness conditions considering precipitation and evaporative demand |
| 4. EHF | Heat-related stress |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
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: All four are among the seven indicators incorporated into the revised IndCEI. CDD captures consecutive dry days; heavy precipitation captures rainfall extremes; SPEI reflects moisture/drought conditions; and EHF is a heat-stress indicator.
Daily APSC Mains Answer Writing
Q. “Riverbank erosion in Assam is not merely a geomorphic hazard but a compounding socio-economic disaster.” Analyze this statement in light of recent satellite data. Discuss the institutional measures taken and suggest a multi-hazard, basin-level framework to address this challenge. (250 words, 15 Marks)
Introduction
According to a recent NESAC satellite study (2016–2024), riverbank erosion in Assam permanently wiped out 67,580 hectares of land—nearly 45% of which was highly productive agricultural land—directly threatening SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
Body
1. Riverbank Erosion: A Compounding Socio-Economic Disaster
While floods temporarily inundate, erosion permanently removes the physical and economic base of rural communities.
- Geomorphic & Ecological: The highly braided, sediment-heavy Brahmaputra, coupled with intense monsoon discharge and tributary inflows, causes rapid and irreversible channel migration.
- Economic Ruin (Agriculture): Permanent loss of cultivable land drastically reduces agricultural output, forcing asset depletion and fragmentation of remaining landholdings.
- Mass Displacement & Social Crisis: It creates internal “climate refugees,” leading to landlessness, loss of community assets, and severe stress on state rehabilitation resources.
- Infrastructure Collapse: Critical rural infrastructure—embankments, schools, and PMGSY roads—are routinely washed away.
- Assam Example: In 2026, severe erosion by the Subansiri river permanently destroyed eight revenue villages in Lakhimpur, displacing thousands.
Flow of Impact:
[Geomorphic Hazard] ➔ [Loss of Farmland] ➔ [Asset Depletion] ➔ [Mass Displacement] ➔ [Socio-Economic Disaster]
2. Institutional Measures Taken by the Government
- CRBIFRERMP Framework: Backed by ADB (with an additional $182M financing in Feb 2026), this project integrates structural and non-structural flood and erosion risk management.
- Dedicated Agencies: FREMAA (Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam) acts as the nodal agency for holistic river management.
- Technological Integration: The Assam Water Resources Department actively uses NESAC satellite imagery and GIS for real-time bank-line mapping and hotspot identification.
- Structural Interventions: Extensive deployment of RCC porcupines, boulder revetments, and sand-filled geo-bags.
- Assam Example: Successful use of dampeners and geo-bags in Rohmoria (Dibrugarh) for critical bank protection.
3. Suggested Multi-Hazard, Basin-Level Framework (Way Forward)
To move beyond fragmented, site-specific engineering, a basin-wide approach is crucial:
| Component | Strategic Intervention |
| Integrated Planning | Shift from isolated engineering to a basin-scale model managing the Brahmaputra, tributaries (Manas, Beki), and floodplains together. |
| Nature-Based Solutions | Implement bio-engineering and riparian vegetation restoration alongside hard engineering (e.g., current IIT Guwahati pilot projects). |
| Scientific Zonation | Utilize GIS-based vulnerability mapping to prioritize high-risk agricultural zones and strategic settlements for preemptive protection. |
| Livelihood Rehabilitation | Institutionalize land-for-land policies, crop-loss compensation, and skill development for displaced populations. |
Conclusion
Transitioning from reactive flood-relief to proactive basin-scale risk management—anchored in satellite-based remote sensing and community-centric rehabilitation—is imperative to secure Assam’s ecological stability and rural economy.
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