Assam’s official State symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of Assam.
The following are the accredited State symbols of Assam:
Category
English Term
Assamese Term
State Song
O my dearest country
O Mur Apunar Dekh
State Motto
Hail mother Assam
Joi Aai Axom
State Language
Assamese
Axomiya
State Literary Society
Assam Literary Society
Axom Xahityo Xobha
State Festival
Bihu
Bihu
State Dance
Bihu Dance
Bihu nas
State Flower
Foxtail Orchids
Kopou phul
State Tree
Scientific Name: Dipterocarpus
macrocarpus
Hollong
State Animal
One-horned rhinoceros
Gor
State Bird
White-winged wood duck
Deo haah
City animal of Guwahati - Gangetic river dolphin.
Guwahati became the first city in India to have its own city animal with the district administration declaring the Gangetic river dolphin as the mascot.
1. Increasing stake of Assam Government in Numaligarh Refinery Ltd
Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) is one of the most important Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) in the country today. Currently, Assam Government holds 12.35% shares.
Government of Assam to acquire an additional shareholding in NRL to take its total stake to 26%.
NRL Plan to expand to 9 Million Metric Tonne Per Annum (MMTPA) from the present 3 MMTPA capacity. Rs 1,500 crore has been earmarked for the same.
2. Anna Yojana
Free rice for 57 lakh beneficiaries under National Food Security Act which will cost the state Rs 472 crore.
3. Jyotisman Asom
Free electricity to all households whose monthly electricity consumption is up to 30 units.
Currently, 14 Lakh families consume electricity up to 30 units monthly and this initiative will immediately benefit families belonging to the bottom of the pyramid including tea garden workers, families living below poverty line and our SC-ST population.
Government will provide Rs. 300 Crore to APDCL for providing tariff relief to the general public. Besides, the State Government is also continuing the existing subsidy to around 38 Lakh Domestic-A consumers at prevailing rate of Rs. 1.01 per unit for 120 units per month.
Creation of entrepreneurial support groups of youth on the lines of NRLM SHGs.
The scheme will cover 2,00,000 youth of the state and provide them with seed capital at the rate of 50,000 per member for initiating entrepreneurial activities.
5. Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar Mela
7,21,485 Tea Garden workers from 752 gardens received a benefit of Rs. 5000 each during Financial Year 2018-19. To receive another Rs. 3000 each in FY 20-21.
This will drive financial inclusion of Tea Garden workers and inculcate banking habits.
6. Welfare Schemes for the Tea Tribes and Adivasi
Wage compensation for pregnant women
Wage compensation expanded from existing 6 months to 9 months.
Compensation increased to Rs. 18,000 to be paid in 6 installments.
These scheme will support pre-natal and post-natal health checkups and provide nutritional security.
Educational Benefits
10,000 as a onetime support to the Tea Tribes and Adivasi students who pass HSLC and HSC exams in 2020-21.
Students will continue to receive same benefit if they are still pursuing their academic course.
102 new high schools to ensure continuous education to children in tea gardens.
Other Schemes
34,000 youths to get Rs. 25,000 each for starting entrepreneurial activities.
Smartphones for approx. 4000 Tea Garden Sardars.
Government to facilitate gratuity payment of approx. Rs. 50,000 to Tea Workers.
300 km of roads in 300 tea garden divisions to be constructed.
Renovation of 100 football grounds in tea garden areas.
Establishment of District & Block Programme Management Units for effective implementation of schemes.
Assam 2020 Yearbook comprehensively covers all the important events/topics of Current affairs of Assam. Varied subjects covered in the Assam 2020 Yearbook are State profile of Assam, Assam’s Governance and Polity & Administration, Judiciary, Geography, History, Culture & Literature. It also covers contemporary issues/topics important for competitive exams point of view.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
10 Chapters
Introduction – State Profile of Assam
Important Events of Assam in 2019
Governance and Politics of Assam
Judiciary in Assam
Geography of Assam
Medieval History of Assam Special Coverage: Chaolung Sukaphaa & Paik System
Economy of Assam Special Coverage: Provisions related to Assam & North East India in the Union Budget 2019-20
Demography of Assam
Culture & Literature of Assam
Union Budget 2019-20
10 Important Topics
TOPIC 1. National Register of Citizens (NRC) & National Population Register (NPR)
TOPIC 2. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019
TOPIC 3. Assam Accord (1985)
TOPIC 4. e-Governance initiatives of Assam Government
TOPIC 5. Good Governance Ranking (CGI) of Indian States
TOPIC 6. Indian Forest Cover Report 2019 – Important Highlights
TOPIC 7. 13th South Asian Games 2019
TOPIC 8. SDG India Index Report
TOPIC 9. Nobel Prize 2019 – Full list of Winners
Special Article – Assam’s Nobel Prize Connection through Dr Ronald Ross
Infrastructure of Assam and North-East – Airways and recent development
Infrastructural Developments in Assam and North-East India
For decades, poor infrastructure and limited connectivity have acted as roadblocks hindering the socio-economic development of the North-east states. Assam along with Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are geographically connected to the rest of the country, by a narrow corridor of land, known as Chicken’s Neck.
However, recently there is a push in the infrastructure sector in these states as the Indian government’s ‘Act East’ policy focuses on strengthening relations with neighbouring countries and enhance connectivity through various projects pertaining to road, rail, air, telecom, power and waterways, via these states.
NEC is funding upgradation of infrastructure in 12 operational airports. Japan also expressed its desire to offer support to India for development of infrastructure in the north-east.
Air Communication and Recent Developments
Assam
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
It is the primary international airport of the North-Eastern States of India. The airport has undergone numerous expansions and renovations since its establishment in 1958. It handled more than 3.7 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 36% from 2016.
Recent Development: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 2018 approved the proposed Rs 1,383 crore new international terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport, with the ambition of making it the hub of transport with ASEAN countries.
Completion of the 1,02,500 square metre terminal building will increase the airport’s annual capacity to handle passengers to nine million. This will encourage investment and tourism in the Northeast with thrust on Act East policy.
The new terminal building was necessitated as the existing one of 16,800 square metres has saturated with 3.8 million passengers in 2016-17.
Silchar Airport
It was built by the British as RAF Station Kumbhirgram in 1944 and transferred to the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF). It is also a Civil enclave airport as it is under the control of Indian Air Force. It is the fourth busiest airport of the north-east India next to Guwahati, Agartala and Imphal.
Recent Development:A new terminal building to be constructed at Silchar as well as in Jorhat, along with the modification and expansion of the existing buildings. Re-carpeting of the runway would be done at Silchar and Lilabari airport.
Lilabari Airport It is located in the Lakhimpur district in the town of North Lakhimpur. Construction of the airport had finished by 2003.
Recent Development:Starting in January 2019, a direct Spicejet flight from Lilabar to Kolkata began service on a daily basis.
In Dibrugarh an aircraft hangar and a new control tower cum technical block would be constructed, the runway extended and power infrastructure installed.
Sikkim
Recent Development:
Pakyong Airport
The Pakyong Airport, the first airport in Sikkim, was recently inaugurated. It is also the first greenfield airport to be constructed in the Northeastern Region and the 100th operational airport in India. Located atop a hill at 4,500 feet above sea level, is one of the five highest airports in the country. The first commercial flight will take off on October 4 from this airport.
Arunachal Pradesh
Passighat Airport
It is located at Pasighat in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The airstrip was laid down during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The IAF took over the airstrip in February 2010. An Air Traffic Control Tower, apron for parking aircraft, a perimeter road and security wall was constructed.
Recent Development: The upgraded airstrip was inaugurated by Kiren Rijiju in August 2016 and a Sukhoi Su-30 fighter of the Indian Air Force landed on the airstrip. A new passenger terminal was built in 2017. A helicopter service on behalf of the Arunachal Pradesh government is operated by Pawan Hans between Pasighat and various regional stations.
In April 2018, an Air India Regional ATR-42 aircraft carried out a test landing at the Pasighat ALG, in preparation for scheduled commercial services under the Regional Connectivity Scheme called UDAN.
Tezu Airport
Recent Development:
The upgraded Tezu Airport was inaugurated on 9 February 2019. It is upgraded to handle ATR 72 type of Aircraft. Tezu was one of five airports that were shortlisted in 2015 for the implementation of AAI’s “no-frills model”, which will provide only essential services needed to operationalise the airport.
Connectivity to neighbouring districts like Lower Dibang Valley, Anjaw, Namsai and Dibang Valley, is expected to improve greatly.
Meghalaya
Shillong Airport or Umroi Airport
The airport was constructed in the mid-1960s and became operational in the mid-1970s. The new terminal building, built at a cost of Rs. 30 crore, was inaugurated in June 2011.
Recent Development: Runway extension works will be taken up by the NEC in Umroi Airport at Shillong, to enable bigger aircrafts to land. Tura airport to be operationalisation and development.
Tripura
Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport or Agartala Airport
Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport is a domestic airport in Agartala. It is thesecond busiest airport in northeast India after Guwahati and is proposed to be upgraded as an international airport.
Recent Development:It is undergoing expansion work of the terminus building.
Manipur
Imphal Airport or Bir Tikendrajit International Airport
It is the second largest airport built in the Northeastern region of India, after Guwahati, and the third busiest airport in the north east region after Guwahati and Agartala.
Recent Development: The Imphal airport in Manipur would have a new integrated terminal.
Mizoram
Lengpui Airport
Lengpui Airport is a domestic airport in Aizawl, Mizoram. Lengpui Airport is the first large airport in the country to be built by the State Government.
Nagaland
Dimapur Airport
The airport is built during World War II and is the only civil airport in the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland.
Recent Development: There are plans for expansion of the airport to meet international norms by buying land at Aoyimti village.
North-Eastern Council (NEC)
The North-Eastern Council (NEC) is a nodal agency for economic and social development of the north-east states. The Governors and Chief Ministers of these eight states are the members of NEC.
Assam, Bihar and J&K at bottom of Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS)
Assam, Bihar and Jammu & Kashmir featured on the bottom of the new Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) index due to the lack of good transport facilities, scarcity of logistics services and bad track record in timeliness.
Best Performer – Gujarat, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh
The LEADS index is developed by the Commerce and Industry Ministry and Deloitte – ranks states in terms of the logistical support they provided to promote goods trade.
Assam and Uttar Pradesh – worst performers in Healthcare Access and Quality Index
The index is created by the Global Burden of Disease study and published in the medical journal The Lancet.
Best Performer – Goa and Kerala
Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are the laggards in UN’s India SDG index
Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are the laggards in the sustainable development goals (SDG) Index
Best Performer – Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Ranking of states released by federal policy think tank NITI Aayog and the UN.
The SDG India Index Ranking
India as a whole has a score of 58, showing the country has reached a little beyond the halfway mark in meeting the sustainable development goals adopted by India and 192 other nations in 2015.
Tamil Nadu topped the states in poverty reduction
Kerala topped in providing quality education
Kerala and Tamil Nadu also topped in facilitating good health and well-being.
Sikkim topped in Gender equality
National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2017-18
To check the progress in sanitation outcomes, including the open defecation free (ODF) status under Swacch Bharat Abhiyan.
Kerala and Mizoram are the best performing States, with 100% of open defecation free households
Kerala topped the Public Affairs Index 2018 by Public Affairs Centre (PAC)
Top 5 states – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Gujarat
Bottom states – Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh topped Ease Of Doing Business Ranking by DIPP & WB
Top 10 states – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and West Bengal.
Pune led the Ease of Living Index of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Q1. The Quorum for a meeting of the Gaon Panchayat is
1/10 of the total member
1/5 of the total member
1/4 of the total member
1/3 of the total member
d. 1/10 of the total member
Or one-hundred number of voters of the village/villages whichever is less.
Q2. Which of the following is not a member of Zilla Parishad?
President of Gaon Panchayat
Presidents of the Anchalik Panchayats
Members of Lok Sabha
Member of Legislative Assembly
a. President of Gaon Panchayat
Q3. In Assam, how many subjects are assigned to Panchayat?
21 subjects
19 subjects
27 subjects
23 subjects
d. 23 subjects
Q4. Under which article of Indian Constitution, the Assam State Finance Commission was setup to review the financial position of the Panchayats and to make recommendations in this regards?
Article 371-B
Article 356
Article 359
Article 243-I
d. Article 243-I
Q5. Who is the Chairman of the Fifth Assam State Finance Commission?
M P Bezbaruah
P K Borthakur
Prateek Hajela
Kandarpa Barman
a. M P Bezbaruah
Q6. Which of the following is NOT a source of fund for Gaon Panchyat?
Transfer by State Finance Commission for development purpose
Loan from Banks
Own Sources of Revenue (Tax and Non-Taxes)
Contribution by the communities themselves
b. Loan from Banks
Q7. Assam’s State Institute of Rural development (SIRD) is located at
Guwahati
Jorhat
Hailakandi
Dibrugarh
a. Guwahati
Q8. In Assam Panchayat election, what percent of seats are reserved for women?
67 per cent
50 per cent
33 per cent
25 per cent
b. 50 per cent
Q9. Which is the apex level under the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in Assam?
Gaon Panchayat
Anchalik Panchayat
Zilla Parishad
Nagar panchayats
c. Zilla Parishad
Q10. Who is the incumbent Union Minister of Panchayati Raj?
The Governor of Assam is a nominal and Constitutional head of the state and is the representative of the President of India in Assam.
Article 154 of Indian Constitution vests the executive powers of the state in the Gover nor who exercises all powers under the Constitution on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers
Governon can summon and prorogue the session of the Assam State Legislature, promulgate ordinances, assent to the bills and appoint the Council of Ministers of the Assam
Under Article 356, Governor exercises his discretion for sending report to the President and under Article 200 he can reserve any Bill for the consideration of the President.
Article 155, the Governor is appointed by the President for a term of 5 years.
Present Governor of Assam is Jagdish Mukhi.
Governors of Assam since 1947
1. Sir Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari 15 August 1947 – 28 December 1948
– Ronald Francis Lodge 30 December 1948 – 16 February 1949 acting
2. Sri Prakasa 16 February 1949 – 27 May 1950
3. Jairamdas Daulatram 27 May 1950 – 15 May 1956
4. Saiyid Fazal Ali 15 May 1956 – 22 August 1959
5. Chandreswar Prasad Sinha 23 August 1959 – 14 October 1959
6. General (Rtrd) S M Shrinagesh 14 October 1959 – 12 November 1960
7. Vishnu Sahay 12 November 1960 – 13 January 1961
– General (Rtrd) S M Shrinagesh 13 January 1961 – 7 September 1962
– Vishnu Sahay 7 September 1962 – 17 April 1968
8. Braj Kumar Nehru 17 April 1968 – 19 September 1973
9. Lallan Prasad Singh 19 September 1973 – 10 August 1981
10. Prakash Chandra Mehrotra 10 August 1981 – 28 March 1984
11. Justice Tribeni Sahai Misra 28 March 1984 – 15 April 1984
12. Bhishma Narain Singh 15 April 1984 – 10 May 1989
13. Harideo Joshi 10 May 1989 – 21 July 1989
14. Justice Anisetti Raghuvir 21 July 1989 – 2 May 1990
15. Justice Devi Das Thakur 2 May 1990 – 17 March 1991
16. Loknath Mishra 17 March 1991 – 1 September 1997
17. Lt. General (Retired) S K Sinha 1 September 1997 – 21 April 2003
18. Arvind Dave 21 April 2003 – 5 June 2003
19. Lt. General (Retired) Ajai Singh 5 June 2003 – 4 July 2008
20. Shiv Charan Mathur 4 July 2008 – 25 June 2009
21. K Sankaranarayanan 26 June 2009 – 27 July 2009
22. Syed Sibtey Razi 27 July 2009 – 10 November 2009
23. Janaki Ballabh Patnaik 11 November 2009 – 11 December 2014
24. P Balakrishna Acharya December 2014 – 17 August 2016[2]
25. Banwarilal Purohit 22 August 2016 – 10 October 2017[3]
