APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (27/09/2025)
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 (27-09-2025). These issues are key for both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, offering insights into the APSC CCE Syllabus.
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⚡ India–Nepal Cross-border Power Trade Agreement (2025)
📘 GS Paper II – International Relations | India & Neighbourhood
📘 GS Paper III – Energy, Economy, Infrastructure
📘 GS Paper V – Assam & NE-specific connectivity
🔹 Introduction
In Sept 2025, the Union Cabinet approved a new power trade agreement between India and Nepal, enhancing cross-border electricity exchange. This comes amid growing regional focus on clean energy, grid integration, and neighbourhood-first diplomacy. For the Northeast, it holds importance in terms of hydropower trade, transmission corridors, and regional energy security.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| Agreement Type | Framework for long-term bilateral power trade (hydropower surplus in Nepal → demand in India). |
| Capacity | Several thousand MW; focus on hydropower imports from Nepal. |
| Transmission Corridors | Existing Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar line; proposed new corridors via Bihar and possibly Northeast–Nepal linkages. |
| Strategic Context | Counters China’s presence in Nepal’s hydropower sector; integrates BBIN energy cooperation. |
| Clean Energy Push | Supports India’s 500 GW renewable target by 2030. |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Power Trade Agreement (PTA) 2014: First major framework; enabled private sector participation in cross-border electricity trade.
India imports hydropower from Nepal via Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur transmission line (400 kV).
BBIN Initiative: Bangladesh–Bhutan–India–Nepal sub-regional grouping for connectivity & power trade.
Assam Context: High-voltage lines through Bihar/NE for regional grid integration.
SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy): Power trade contributes to UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of the Agreement
Energy Security: Nepal’s hydropower surplus complements India’s peak demand.
Climate Action: Clean hydropower reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
Regional Cooperation: Strengthens BBIN, SAARC regional grid vision.
Strategic Diplomacy: Reinforces India’s Neighbourhood First Policy against Chinese investments.
NE Benefit: Enhances possibility of Assam as an energy corridor linking Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
B. Challenges & Concerns
Geopolitical Tug-of-War: China actively funding Nepal’s hydro projects.
Transmission Bottlenecks: Inadequate high-voltage lines in NE for power evacuation.
Seismic & Ecological Risks: Himalayan dam safety concerns.
Tariff Disputes: Price negotiations between Nepal & Indian buyers.
Cross-Border Coordination: Different regulatory regimes.
C. Govt Initiatives & Legal Backing
CERC Guidelines (2021): Permit cross-border power trade with neighbouring countries.
One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG): India’s global vision for interconnected renewable grids.
Hydropower Projects: India assisting Nepal in projects like Arun III, Upper Karnali, West Seti.
NEP 2021 (National Electricity Policy): Promotes cross-border trade.
D. Way Forward
Strengthen Grid Links: New corridors through Bihar and possibly via Siliguri–Assam.
Triangular Trade: Extend cooperation to Bangladesh (India–Nepal–Bangladesh power trade).
Private Sector Participation: Facilitate Indian firms in Nepal hydro projects.
Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure: Earthquake-safe transmission and hydropower plants.
NE Integration: Position Guwahati as a regional energy hub.
🧩 Conclusion
The India–Nepal Cross-border Power Trade Agreement (2025) is more than an energy deal—it is a strategic, economic, and environmental milestone. For India, it enhances renewable energy goals and regional leadership; for Assam and the Northeast, it opens prospects of becoming a gateway for South Asian energy cooperation.
🎭 Mission Sanskriti – Assam’s Cultural Heritage Preservation Drive (2025)
📘 GS Paper I – Indian Culture & Heritage
📘 GS Paper II – Government Policies & Governance
📘 GS Paper V – Assam-specific History, Culture & Society
🔹 Introduction
In Sept 2025, the Assam government launched ‘Mission Sanskriti’, a flagship initiative for cultural heritage preservation and promotion. It aims to document, digitise, and rejuvenate Assam’s tangible and intangible heritage—from Satriya dance, Bihu, Sattras, Ahom monuments to folk crafts and oral traditions—while integrating youth participation and technology.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| Launched By | Assam Govt, Dept. of Cultural Affairs |
| Objectives | Preservation, digitisation, promotion of heritage; boost cultural tourism |
| Components | Digital archives, renovation of heritage sites, cultural festivals, scholarships for young artists |
| Target Areas | Satras & Namghars, Ahom-era monuments, tea garden folk culture, crafts (mask-making, bell-metal work) |
| Technology Use | Digital repositories, VR tours, AI-based heritage mapping |
| Tourism Integration | Links with Assam Tourism Mission for domestic & international outreach |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
Satriya Dance: Classical dance form of Assam, recognised by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000.
Ahom Monuments: Talatal Ghar, Rang Ghar, Sivasagar tanks – under ASI protection.
UNESCO Listings: Majuli Satras on tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage.
GI Tags in Assam: Muga silk, Tezpur litchi, Boka Chaul, Chokuwa rice, etc.
Digital India & Culture: National Mission on Cultural Mapping, initiated by Ministry of Culture.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of Mission Sanskriti
Identity & Integration: Preserves Assamese identity in globalised era.
Tourism Boost: Heritage tourism (Kaziranga–Majuli–Sivasagar circuit).
Youth Engagement: Encourages creative economy, reduces brain drain.
Documentation: Protects oral traditions, folk music, endangered languages (Bodo, Mising, Karbi).
Economic Benefits: Handloom, crafts, and festivals promote rural livelihoods.
B. Challenges in Assam’s Cultural Preservation
Flood & Erosion Threats: Majuli Satras constantly eroded by Brahmaputra.
Urbanisation Pressure: Encroachment on heritage sites.
Funding Gaps: Limited funds for smaller cultural institutions.
Cultural Homogenisation: Risk of folk traditions being overshadowed by popular culture.
Skill Erosion: Younger generation losing touch with traditional crafts.
C. Government & Legal Framework
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
State Cultural Policy (Draft Assam).
Schemes: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (cultural exchange), HRIDAY (heritage city development), PRASAD (pilgrimage rejuvenation).
Institutional Support: Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, Assam State Museum, Xattriya Kendra (Guwahati).
D. Way Forward
Community-led Preservation: Involve Satras, Namghars, artisans.
Flood-Resilient Measures: Protect Majuli with embankments, relocation of endangered artefacts.
Digital Expansion: AR/VR heritage experiences for youth.
Skill Transmission: Apprenticeship schemes for crafts, folk arts.
Global Outreach: Branding Assam’s cultural heritage internationally.
Integration with NE Culture: Position Assam as cultural hub of the Northeast.
🧩 Conclusion
Mission Sanskriti represents a timely step to safeguard Assam’s unique cultural ethos amidst climate threats and globalisation. By blending community participation, technology, and state support, the mission can ensure that Assam’s heritage not only survives but thrives as a driver of identity, tourism, and sustainable livelihoods.
🌊 Flood-Induced Crop Loss in Barpeta & Nalbari (2025)
📘 GS Paper II – Governance & Disaster Management
📘 GS Paper III – Agriculture, Environment, Economy
📘 GS Paper V – Assam-specific: Flood & Erosion issues
🔹 Introduction
In Sept 2025, the Assam Agriculture Department initiated field assessments of crop loss due to fresh floods in Barpeta and Nalbari districts. Floods, a perennial disaster in Assam, destroy paddy fields, vegetables, and cash crops, worsening the agrarian distress. With Assam facing annual crop damage worth ₹2000–3000 crore, such assessments are critical for relief disbursal, crop insurance claims, and long-term planning.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| Districts Affected | Barpeta & Nalbari (western Assam, Brahmaputra floodplain) |
| Crops Damaged | Sali paddy, jute, vegetables, mustard seedlings |
| Assessment Method | Joint field teams of Agriculture Dept. & local administration; GPS-based crop loss mapping |
| Relief Linkage | Basis for SDRF/NDRF compensation and PM Fasal Bima Yojana claims |
| Recurrent Problem | Floods hit during peak paddy growing season (July–Sept), leading to food insecurity |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY, 2016): Crop insurance scheme, premium-sharing between farmers, state, Centre.
Assam State Disaster Response Force (SDRF): Primary agency for flood relief at district level.
Brahmaputra Floods: Caused by high rainfall, siltation, embankment breaches, deforestation.
Crops in Barpeta–Nalbari: Sali paddy is dominant kharif crop; also jute, mustard, vegetables.
ICAR–CRRI Studies: Suggest climate-resilient paddy like ‘Swarna Sub1’ for flood-prone regions.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of Crop Loss Assessment
Compensation & Relief: Ensures affected farmers receive timely aid.
Insurance Claims: PMFBY requires on-ground assessment for payout.
Food Security: Provides data on rice deficit for PDS planning.
Policy Design: Inputs for Assam’s Agriculture Resilience Strategy.
Climate Adaptation: Helps track flood trends for climate-smart cropping.
B. Challenges in Assam’s Flood-Agriculture Nexus
Embankment Failures: Frequent breaches in Nalbari, Barpeta.
Data Gaps: Manual assessment often delayed, inaccurate.
Small Farmers: Many are sharecroppers, excluded from insurance.
Repeated Losses: Farmers trapped in debt cycle.
Soil Degradation: Silt deposits alter fertility; sand-casting ruins fields.
C. Govt Initiatives
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) & SDRF: Compensation mechanism.
PMFBY: Covers notified crops against flood damage.
Resilient Varieties: Swarna Sub1 (submergence-tolerant paddy), Ranjit Sub1 promoted.
Assam Agristack (Digital): Under pilot, for real-time crop data.
World Bank Assam Agribusiness & Rural Transformation Project (APART): Supports resilience.
D. Way Forward
Technology Use: Drones, satellite imagery for faster crop loss mapping.
Flood-resilient Crops: Wider adoption of Sub1, early-maturing varieties.
Insurance Inclusion: Cover sharecroppers and tenant farmers.
Agro-diversification: Encourage pulses, horticulture in elevated zones.
Water-Resilient Infrastructure: Raised seed banks, community grain storage.
Climate Finance: Tap Green Climate Fund for flood-adaptation agriculture.
🧩 Conclusion
The Barpeta–Nalbari crop loss assessment reflects the annual agrarian crisis caused by floods in Assam. Beyond immediate relief, Assam must adopt a climate-smart agricultural framework, combining resilient seeds, technology-driven assessment, and institutional insurance coverage. Only then can floods be transformed from a cycle of destruction into an opportunity for adaptation and resilience.
🏥 AIIMS Guwahati – First Pediatric Liver Transplant in Northeast
📘 GS Paper II – Health, Govt Policies & Social Sector
📘 GS Paper III – Science & Technology (Medical Advances)
📘 GS Paper V – Assam-specific Health Infrastructure
🔹 Introduction
In Sept 2025, AIIMS Guwahati successfully performed the first pediatric liver transplant in the Northeast, marking a medical milestone. The achievement reflects Assam’s rising health infrastructure capacity under Ayushman Bharat – PMSSY and reduces dependence on metros like Delhi and Chennai for critical transplants.
🔑 Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
| Institution | AIIMS Guwahati (est. 2022 under PMSSY Phase VII) |
| Procedure | Pediatric liver transplant on a child with end-stage liver disease |
| Significance | First such advanced transplant in Northeast India |
| Medical Team | Multidisciplinary surgeons, anesthetists, pediatric specialists |
| Beneficiaries | Patients in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal, Nagaland avoid long travel |
| Policy Link | Expansion of advanced healthcare in NE under Act East & PMSSY |
🧠 Prelims Pointers
AIIMS Guwahati: One of 22 AIIMS established; caters to 8 NE states.
Liver Transplant in India: First successful one in 1998 (Apollo, Delhi).
National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP): Promotes deceased & living donor transplants.
NORT (National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation): Apex body for organ allocation.
Diseases leading to liver failure in children: Biliary atresia, metabolic liver diseases, viral hepatitis.
📝 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of AIIMS Guwahati’s Milestone
Access to Tertiary Care: Brings advanced facilities closer to NE population.
Cost Reduction: Saves lakhs in travel, lodging, and private hospital costs.
Equity in Healthcare: Bridges regional disparity in transplant availability.
Capacity Building: Trains doctors, nurses, technicians in high-end procedures.
Medical Hub Vision: Positions Guwahati as a referral centre for NE.
B. Challenges in Organ Transplants in NE
Donor Shortage: Low awareness and cultural hesitancy in organ donation.
Infrastructure Deficit: Limited ICU and retrieval facilities in state hospitals.
Financial Burden: High cost (~₹20–25 lakh) limits access for poor patients.
Skilled Manpower: Scarcity of trained transplant surgeons in NE.
Coordination Gaps: Weak link between NOTTO and state-level organ banks.
C. Govt Measures & Policies
Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY: Covers certain transplant procedures for BPL families.
National Organ Transplant Programme (2019): Funds SOTTO (State Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation).
NE-specific: Assam govt proposed Regional Organ Bank at Guwahati Medical College.
Health Infra Expansion: AIIMS Guwahati, new medical colleges at Nalbari, Kokrajhar, Nagaon.
D. Way Forward
Organ Donation Awareness: Mass campaigns, inclusion in driving licenses (opt-in system).
Regional Organ Bank: Functional organ registry for NE at AIIMS Guwahati.
Affordability: Expand Ayushman Bharat coverage for transplants.
Training & Exchange: Collaborations with Chennai/Delhi centres for skill building.
Telemedicine & Referral Network: NE states linked digitally to AIIMS Guwahati for pre/post-operative care.
CSR & PPP Models: Support funding of poor patients.
🧩 Conclusion
The first pediatric liver transplant at AIIMS Guwahati is a watershed in Assam’s healthcare journey. It signifies a shift towards regional self-reliance in critical care, reducing medical migration and instilling confidence in public healthcare. With sustained policy support, organ donation culture, and medical training, Assam can transform into a healthcare hub for the Northeast.
APSC Prelims Practice Questions
Topic 1 – India–Nepal Cross-border Power Trade Agreement
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding India–Nepal power cooperation:
- The Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar 400 kV line is a key transmission corridor linking India and Nepal.
- Nepal exports mainly solar power to India under the 2014 Power Trade Agreement.
- India is helping Nepal in hydropower projects like Arun III and West Seti.
Which of the above statements are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: B
🔎 Explanation: Nepal exports hydropower, not solar. Statement 2 incorrect. Statements 1 and 3 correct.
Q2. The BBIN initiative, often linked with regional power trade, stands for:
A. Bangladesh–Bhutan–India–Nepal
B. Bhutan–Bangladesh–India–Myanmar
C. Bangladesh–Burma–India–Nepal
D. Bhutan–Bihar–India–Nepal
✅ Answer: A
🔎 Explanation: BBIN = Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal sub-regional grouping, key for energy and transport connectivity.
Topic 2 – Assam Govt’s ‘Mission Sanskriti’
Q3. Which of the following are included in the objectives of Assam’s Mission Sanskriti (2025)?
- Digitisation of heritage archives
- Renovation of Satras and Namghars
- Promotion of Assam’s crafts like bell-metal and mask-making
- Integration of AI-based heritage mapping
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
D. 1 and 3 only
✅ Answer: C
🔎 Explanation: All listed components are part of the mission.
Q4. Match the following GI-tagged products of Assam with their category:
| Product | Category |
| a) Muga Silk | 1. Rice |
| b) Tezpur Litchi | 2. Fruit |
| c) Boka Chaul | 3. Textile |
Options:
- A. a-1, b-2, c-3
- B. a-3, b-2, c-1
- C. a-2, b-3, c-1
- D. a-3, b-1, c-2
✅ Answer: B
🔎 Explanation: Muga silk → textile, Tezpur litchi → fruit, Boka chaul → rice.
Topic 3 – Flood-induced Crop Loss (Barpeta & Nalbari)
Q5. With reference to PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), consider the following:
- Premium is shared by farmers, state government, and central government.
- It covers losses due to floods and inundation.
- Tenant farmers and sharecroppers are automatically included in the scheme.
Which of the statements are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: A
🔎 Explanation: Sharecroppers/tenant farmers are eligible only if notified by states—implementation patchy.
Q6. Which of the following climate-resilient rice varieties has been promoted in Assam for flood-prone regions?
- Swarna Sub1
- Ranjit Sub1
- IR-8
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: B
🔎 Explanation: Swarna Sub1 & Ranjit Sub1 are submergence-tolerant; IR-8 is “miracle rice” but not flood-tolerant.
Topic 4 – AIIMS Guwahati Pediatric Liver Transplant
Q7. With reference to organ transplantation in India, consider the following:
- The first successful liver transplant in India was conducted in 1998 in Delhi.
- The National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is the apex body for organ allocation.
- Organ donation in India is governed under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.
Which of the above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: D
🔎 Explanation: All three statements are correct.
Q8. Which of the following AIIMS has been established to cater specifically to the Northeast region?
- AIIMS Guwahati
- AIIMS Rishikesh
- AIIMS Bhubaneswar
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: A
🔎 Explanation: AIIMS Guwahati serves NE India; Rishikesh (Uttarakhand), Bhubaneswar (Odisha).
APSC Mains Practice Question
📝 Model Answer
Q. “Recurring floods in Assam continue to devastate agriculture, as seen in Barpeta and Nalbari in 2025. Discuss the causes, impacts, and measures required to build a climate-resilient farming system in the state.”
(GS Paper III – Agriculture & Disaster Management | GS Paper V – Assam-specific)
🔹 Introduction
Floods are a perennial hazard in Assam, affecting nearly 40% of its land area annually. In 2025, Barpeta and Nalbari districts witnessed massive crop losses, particularly in paddy and jute fields. The repeated cycles of inundation highlight the fragility of Assam’s agrarian economy and the urgent need for climate-resilient agricultural systems.
🔹 Body
1️⃣ Causes of Flood-induced Agricultural Loss in Assam
- Natural Factors: Intense monsoon rains, Brahmaputra’s silt-laden flow, flash floods from Himalayan catchments.
- Embankment Breaches: Poorly maintained structures worsen local flooding.
- Deforestation & Land-use Change: Soil erosion in Arunachal hills increases sediment load.
- Climate Change: Erratic rainfall, glacial melt events, rising frequency of extreme weather.
- Cropping Pattern: Dominance of flood-sensitive Sali paddy during peak monsoon.
2️⃣ Impacts on Agriculture & Society
- Crop Destruction: Loss of paddy seedlings, vegetables, cash crops → food insecurity.
- Soil Degradation: Sand-casting and siltation reduce fertility.
- Debt Cycle: Small & marginal farmers fall into poverty traps due to repeated losses.
- Livelihood Diversion: Migration from agriculture to informal urban jobs.
- Market Instability: Fluctuations in rice availability push up prices.
3️⃣ Govt Efforts & Current Gaps
- PM Fasal Bima Yojana: Crop insurance, though tenant farmers often excluded.
- SDRF/NDRF: Relief compensation but delayed and inadequate.
- Resilient Seed Varieties: ICAR-developed Sub1 rice distributed, but adoption uneven.
- APART (Assam Agribusiness & Rural Transformation Project): Promotes diversification and climate-smart farming.
- Gaps: Weak data systems, poor extension, lack of storage/processing facilities.
4️⃣ Way Forward – Building Climate-Resilient Farming
- Agro-Technological Measures:
- Wider adoption of flood-tolerant rice (Swarna Sub1, Ranjit Sub1).
- Short-duration pulses & oilseeds after flood recession.
- Raised seed banks & floating gardens (Bangladesh model).
- Institutional & Policy Reforms:
- Universal insurance coverage incl. tenant farmers.
- Real-time crop loss assessment using drones & satellites.
- Decentralised grain storage & procurement.
- Structural Measures:
- Flood zoning, embankment strengthening, and river dredging.
- Community-managed flood shelters for crops & livestock.
- Livelihood Diversification:
- Promote horticulture, fisheries, and dairy in elevated areas.
- Skill development for off-farm employment.
🔹 Conclusion
The Barpeta–Nalbari floods of 2025 are not an isolated disaster but part of a recurrent agrarian crisis in Assam. Unless farming systems are reoriented towards resilience, diversification, and climate adaptation, floods will continue to erode both crops and rural livelihoods. A farmer-centric, technology-enabled, and policy-supported framework is essential to make Assam’s agriculture future-ready.
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