APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (01/07/2025)
For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, staying updated with current affairs is vital. This blog covers most important topics from the Assam Tribune today (01-07-2025). These issues are key for both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, offering insights into the APSC CCE Syllabus.
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🍃 Extreme Heat Events in Europe: A Wake-Up Call for Climate Action
📘 GS Paper 1: Geography – Climate Change
📘 GS Paper 3: Environment | Disaster Management | International Cooperation
🔹 Introduction
A historic heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with temperatures touching 46.6°C in Portugal and emergency red alerts issued in Italy, Turkiye, and other nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres aptly declared: “Extreme heat is the new normal.”
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Detail |
| 🔥 Heat Dome | Covers France, Portugal, Spain to Turkiye – pushing temps over 40°C |
| 🚨 Health Impacts | Emergency red alerts in 21 Italian cities due to heatstroke risks |
| 🌳 Forest Fires | In Turkiye’s Izmir, wildfires damage homes and force evacuations |
| 💧 Water Scarcity | German towns impose restrictions on use of rivers and lakes |
| 🧑🌾 Labour Disruption | Outdoor work restricted in Liguria and Sicily (Italy) |
| 🏞️ Climate Pattern | Aligned with ongoing El Niño and rising global mean temperatures |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Heat Dome: A high-pressure system trapping warm air, causing prolonged heatwaves.
COP Agreements: Heatwaves are direct indicators of exceeding 1.5°C warming thresholds.
UNFCCC and IPCC: UN agencies calling for climate-resilient infrastructure and early warning systems.
EU Green Deal: Aims for climate neutrality by 2050 — under pressure due to increasing extreme events.
Climate Hotspots in India: Northeast India is also warming faster than the national average.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of the Issue
Human Health: Surge in heatstroke cases, deaths among elderly and outdoor workers.
Environmental Impact: Wildfires, droughts, crop loss, desertification.
Climate Diplomacy: Raises pressure on developed nations for deeper emission cuts.
B. Challenges Highlighted
| Challenge | Description |
| ❗ Delayed Mitigation | EU still heavily reliant on gas and oil imports in many sectors. |
| 🚫 Lack of Heat-Resilient Infra | Poor insulation in homes, lack of air conditioning in many EU regions. |
| 🌐 Global Inaction | Climate summits lack binding punitive measures for defaulters. |
| 🔄 Feedback Loops | Arctic melting → ocean current disruptions → more erratic weather patterns. |
C. Government Initiatives & Global Responses
India: National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), State Action Plans
Europe: Adaptation strategies via EU Adaptation Strategy 2021
Global: UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative by 2027
Finance: Loss & Damage Fund operationalized at COP28
🧭 Way Forward
| Recommendation | Action Needed |
| 🌡️ Urban Heat Planning | Build cool-roofs, green spaces, heatwave shelters |
| 🧪 Research & Innovation | Invest in climate-smart agriculture and forecasting technologies |
| 🤝 International Solidarity | Equitable finance and tech transfer to Global South |
| 🛑 Individual Action | Reduce emissions, promote sustainable consumption |
🧩 Conclusion
The ongoing European heat crisis is not an isolated event—it’s a climate alarm bell. For India and the world, the lesson is clear: act urgently, act collectively, and act locally to avert an irreversible climate catastrophe.
🐟 Illegal Capture of Critically Endangered Fish in Orang National Park
📘 GS Paper 3: Environment | Biodiversity Conservation | Wildlife Protection Act
📘 APSC GS Paper 5: Assam – Environment & Ecology | Protected Areas
🔹 Introduction
The recent arrest of two individuals for illegally capturing the rare Channa barca fish from Orang National Park raises serious concerns about wildlife crime, biodiversity loss, and enforcement of protected area laws in Assam.
🔑 Key Points
| Element | Details |
| 🐠 Species | Channa barca (locally: Pipli Cheng / Cheng Garaka) – Critically endangered |
| 📍 Location | Chandrapur anti-poaching camp, Orang National Park, Assam |
| ⚖️ Legal Action | Arrested under wildlife protection laws; equipment seized |
| 💸 Black Market Trade | One fish reportedly sold for ₹17,000 due to ornamental value |
| 🚫 Conservation Status | Listed under Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Channa barca: Freshwater snakehead fish endemic to Brahmaputra floodplains; among the rarest snakeheads in the world.
Orang National Park: Known as “Mini Kaziranga”; habitat for rhinos, elephants, tigers, and aquatic biodiversity.
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I species receive the highest protection; hunting/trade is strictly banned.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): India is a party; Channa barca trade falls under its ambit.
Poaching Trends in Assam: Traditionally focused on rhinos, now expanding to lesser-known aquatic species.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Significance of Issue
Ecological Role: Snakehead fishes regulate food webs in floodplain ecosystems.
Biodiversity Hotspot: Assam’s wetlands are home to several endemic aquatic species under threat.
Illegal Trade Nexus: Increasing demand for ornamental fish is creating underground poaching networks.
B. Challenges
| Challenge | Description |
| 🛑 Poor Monitoring | Lack of surveillance at lesser-known entry points of national parks |
| 📉 Weak Awareness | Local communities unaware of conservation value of species |
| 🧪 Lack of Research | Inadequate data on breeding habits and population trends |
| 🧭 Enforcement Gaps | Manpower shortage in Assam Forest Department |
C. Government Initiatives & Legal Measures
Assam State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SBSAP)
Wetland Conservation Rules 2017
National Mission for Clean Ganga & Wetlands (also relevant in Brahmaputra tributaries)
Bio-Diversity Management Committees (BMCs) under Biodiversity Act 2002
🧭 Way Forward
| Measure | Action Plan |
| 📹 Tech-Enabled Monitoring | Use of drones and AI cameras in fringe wetland zones |
| 🌿 Community Stewardship | Engage locals in reporting & conserving fish stocks |
| 📚 School Curriculum | Include local endangered species awareness in school syllabi |
| 🧾 Licensing Ornamental Trade | Create legal, sustainable captive breeding channels for ornamentals |
🧩 Conclusion
The Orang Park incident reminds us that biodiversity conservation extends beyond megafauna. Unless India prioritizes wetland protection and fish conservation, ecological collapse in floodplains may become inevitable.
🏭 India’s Record GST Collection: Significance & Future Scope
📘 GS Paper 3: Indian Economy – Resource Mobilization | Taxation Reform
📘 APSC GS Paper 5: Economy of Assam and India | GST Implementation
🔹 Introduction
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime marked a significant milestone by collecting ₹22.08 lakh crore in 2024–25—the highest ever since its inception in 2017. This trend signals strong economic activity and improved tax compliance.
🔑 Key Points
| Indicator | Details |
| 💰 FY 2024–25 Collection | ₹22.08 lakh crore (9.4% YoY increase) |
| 📈 Record High | ₹2.37 lakh crore in April 2025 – highest monthly record |
| 🛢️ Exclusion | Petroleum products (petrol, diesel, ATF, natural gas) still outside GST ambit |
| 🧮 Structure | Five-tier GST system: 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28% |
| 📊 Pre-GST System | Subsumed 17 local taxes & 13 cesses |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
GST Council: Constitutional body under Article 279A chaired by Union Finance Minister.
GST Compensation Cess: Ended in 2022; was introduced to compensate states for revenue loss.
Input Tax Credit (ITC): Mechanism to avoid cascading taxes.
One Nation One Tax: Key motto of GST implementation.
GSTN: Goods and Services Tax Network – manages IT backbone of the tax regime.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Significance of Rising GST Revenue
Fiscal Stability: Higher indirect tax collections reduce dependency on borrowings.
Compliance Boost: Widespread adoption of e-invoicing and improved analytics help track tax evasion.
Ease of Doing Business: Reduced multiplicity of taxes, unified filing mechanism.
State Revenues: Helps states plan social and infrastructure spending better.
B. Challenges in GST Regime
| Challenge | Description |
| ⛽ Petroleum Exclusion | ATF, petrol, diesel excluded – disrupts seamless credit chain |
| 🏞️ State Autonomy Issue | States lose discretion in setting indirect taxes |
| 📋 Complex Returns | Many small traders struggle with frequent compliance burdens |
| 🔎 Revenue Imbalance | Manufacturing-heavy states earn less under destination-based model |
C. Recent Reforms & Recommendations
GST Appellate Tribunals: Set up to resolve tax disputes faster
Faceless Audit and Scrutiny: To reduce harassment and corruption
Rationalization of Slabs: Debate ongoing to merge 12% and 18% slabs
Bringing Petroleum under GST: Awaiting consensus in GST Council
🧭 Way Forward
| Measure | Action |
| 🛢️ Uniform Inclusion | Gradually bring petroleum & real estate into GST fold |
| 🌐 IT Infrastructure | Expand GSTN capabilities, integrate with AI tools |
| 🧾 Simplify Returns | Quarterly filings for small traders with turnover < ₹5 crore |
| 🔄 Dynamic Rate Setting | Based on inflation, consumption trends, and industry needs |
🧩 Conclusion
India’s record GST collection is a testament to economic resilience and maturing tax reforms. To unlock its full potential, the GST system must become more inclusive, tech-driven, and federal-friendly.
🚜 Assam Eviction Drive on Village Grazing Reserves (VGR): Legal and Ethical Dimensions
📘 GS Paper 2: Governance | Land Reforms | Judiciary
📘 GS Paper 4: Ethics in Governance | Public Administration
📘 APSC GS Paper 5: Assam – Governance, Legal Rights, Land Use Conflicts
🔹 Introduction
The eviction of 300 families from village grazing reserve (VGR) land in Bakrikuchi, Nalbari, underscores growing conflicts between land-use regulations, judicial orders, and human rehabilitation rights.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| 📍 Location | Bakrikuchi Village, Nalbari, Assam |
| 🐄 Land Type | Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) – meant exclusively for cattle grazing |
| 🚜 Action Taken | Eviction of settlements on 82 bighas (out of 452 encroached) |
| ⚖️ Legal Mandate | As per Gauhati High Court order: All VGR lands in Assam must be cleared |
| 🏠 Rehabilitation Status | Evictees demanding resettlement; some camped by roadside post-eviction |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Village Grazing Reserve (VGR): Notified land designated under Assam Land Revenue Regulations for communal cattle grazing.
Gauhati High Court Orders: Multiple rulings uphold the need to preserve VGRs from encroachment.
Right to Residence: Article 21 (Right to Life) has been judicially interpreted to include housing dignity.
Ethical Governance: Evictions must balance legality with humanitarian considerations (as per Supreme Court guidelines).
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Significance of the Issue
Legal Enforcement: Sets a precedent for enforcing land-use zoning.
Livelihood Protection: Encroachments reduce grazing lands vital to rural pastoral economies.
Judicial Oversight: Reaffirms court’s role in upholding environmental and land laws.
Public Trust: Transparent eviction and rehab processes build faith in administration.
B. Challenges Involved
| Challenge | Description |
| 🏚️ Humanitarian Fallout | Sudden evictions without rehab can violate human dignity |
| ⚖️ Legal vs. Ethical Dilemma | Legal evictions clash with moral responsibility toward settlers |
| 📉 Administrative Delay | Long delay before eviction may legitimize illegal occupancy socially |
| 🚫 Policy Gaps | No comprehensive VGR land use and eviction rehab policy in Assam |
C. Government Initiatives
Land Records Digitization under Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)
Guwahati Land Management Portal (Assam)
NRC-linked Land Rights Clarifications in Assam context
Disaster Resettlement Schemes can serve as blueprints for eviction resettlement too
🧭 Way Forward
| Recommendation | Action Plan |
| 🧭 Comprehensive Policy | Prepare Assam-specific Eviction-Rehabilitation Framework |
| 🤝 Community Dialogue | Involve local leaders, panchayats before sensitive land actions |
| 🛖 Temporary Shelter Plans | Ensure interim shelters, food, and schooling for evicted populations |
| 🌱 Mixed Land Use Reform | Consider sustainable co-use of VGR where possible, like agro-pastoralism |
🧩 Conclusion
While enforcing VGR boundaries is legally valid, governance must be empathetic. Sustainable land reform must reconcile rule of law with rule of justice—ensuring environmental conservation doesn’t come at the cost of human suffering.agile ecological gamble. A data-driven, environment-sensitive approach is essential before engineering the rivers of the Northeast.
APSC Prelims Practice Questions
✅ Topic 1: Extreme Heat Events in Europe
1. What is a “heat dome” in the context of climate events?
A. A greenhouse gas-induced ozone hole
B. A persistent high-pressure area that traps warm air near the surface ✅
C. A volcanic ash layer that blocks solar radiation
D. A type of cloud formation during El Niño
🧠 Explanation:
A heat dome occurs when a high-pressure system traps hot air over a region, preventing heat from escaping and leading to prolonged heatwaves.
2. Which of the following international climate instruments is legally binding?
A. Paris Agreement
B. UNFCCC
C. Kyoto Protocol ✅
D. COP28 Declaration
🧠 Explanation:
The Kyoto Protocol was a legally binding treaty under UNFCCC. The Paris Agreement sets voluntary, nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
✅ Topic 2: Illegal Fishing in Orang National Park
3. Channa barca, recently in news, is:
A. A traditional rice variety in Assam
B. A species of critically endangered turtle
C. A rare freshwater fish endemic to Northeast India ✅
D. A Brahmaputra dolphin subspecies
🧠 Explanation:
Channa barca is one of the rarest snakehead fish species, endemic to floodplains of Assam and listed as Critically Endangered.
4. Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, a Schedule I species:
A. May be hunted with state permission
B. Can be traded internationally
C. Receives the highest level of protection ✅
D. Is not protected in aquatic ecosystems
🧠 Explanation:
Schedule I species of the Wildlife (Protection) Act receive the strictest protection, and offences involving them attract the highest penalties.
✅ Topic 3: Record GST Collection
5. Which of the following taxes was NOT subsumed under the GST regime?
A. VAT
B. Service Tax
C. Excise Duty on Petroleum ✅
D. Central Sales Tax
🧠 Explanation:
Petroleum products like petrol, diesel, natural gas are still outside GST, and are taxed separately through excise duty and VAT.
6. Which constitutional body is responsible for GST policy decisions?
A. NITI Aayog
B. GST Network
C. Finance Commission
D. GST Council ✅
🧠 Explanation:
The GST Council, under Article 279A, is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and includes state finance ministers.
✅ Topic 4: Assam Eviction Drive on VGR Land
7. What is a Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) in Assam?
A. Reserved land for wildlife corridors
B. Land allocated for tribal agriculture
C. Government-notified land for communal cattle grazing ✅
D. Revenue forest land for dairy farming
🧠 Explanation:
VGRs are public lands specifically reserved for grazing by village cattle herds, governed under Assam’s land revenue rules.
8. In the context of evictions, which Supreme Court case mandated that rehabilitation is part of the Right to Life?
A. Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation ✅
B. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
C. Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan
D. Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
🧠 Explanation:
In Olga Tellis (1985), the SC held that eviction without proper rehabilitation violates Article 21 – Right to Life and Livelihood.
APSC Mains Practice Question
📝 Question:
“Evictions from notified lands like Village Grazing Reserves (VGRs) are legally justified, but they often raise ethical and humanitarian concerns. Critically examine the legal, social, and administrative dimensions of such eviction drives, with reference to recent developments in Assam.”
📘 Model Answer
Introduction
The recent eviction of over 300 families from VGR land in Bakrikuchi, Nalbari, based on Gauhati High Court orders, brings into focus the legal legitimacy vs humanitarian responsibility dilemma in land governance. While land reserved for communal purposes must be protected, such actions must be tempered with constitutional morality and ethical governance.
Legal Dimensions
| Legal Aspect | Explanation |
| 🧾 VGR Notification | Governed by Assam Land Revenue Regulations; not for private settlement |
| ⚖️ HC Order | Gauhati High Court directed the state to clear all encroachments on VGR land |
| 🏛️ Rule of Law | Ensures that public resources are preserved for designated uses |
| 👨👩👧👦 Right to Livelihood | Supreme Court (Olga Tellis case) interprets Article 21 to include right to shelter |
Social & Humanitarian Concerns
| Concern | Impact |
| 🏚️ Displacement Trauma | Families rendered homeless, including children and elderly |
| 📉 No Prior Rehabilitation | Absence of clear R&R (Resettlement & Rehabilitation) policy worsens distress |
| 🔁 Cyclical Encroachment | Delayed enforcement leads to de facto recognition over time |
| 🔇 Lack of Consultation | Evictions often proceed without stakeholder dialogue |
Administrative Challenges
| Issue | Description |
| 🗂️ Poor Land Record Clarity | In many cases, evictees possess partial or informal documents |
| 🧾 Political Compromise | Past governments sometimes regularized illegal settlements for vote banks |
| 🚧 Implementation Gap | Delayed action causes conflict when eviction finally takes place |
| 🛑 Lack of Pre-Eviction Notice | Violates procedural fairness and natural justice |
Ethical Dimensions (GS Paper 4 Linkage)
- Justice vs Legality: Evictions may be legal but may lack distributive justice
- Empathy in Governance: Ethical administrators must balance the needs of law and people
- Accountability: Government owes responsibility to both the land and the people occupying it
Way Forward
| Reform Area | Suggestion |
| 🛖 Resettlement First | Adopt “rehabilitate before eviction” as standard policy |
| 📋 Transparent Eviction SOP | Include public hearings, compensation, legal aid |
| 🧭 Land Use Rationalization | Consider mixed-use VGR in non-viable grazing zones |
| 🧑🤝🧑 Community Mediation Panels | Involve civil society to resolve land disputes peacefully |
Conclusion
Eviction drives must not be reduced to headline-making administrative acts. They must be grounded in constitutional compassion and ethical governance. Assam’s land governance needs an overhaul that upholds both rule of law and human dignity.
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