Assam Current Affairs & GK (January 2021 – June 2021)
( Assam’s all important Current Affairs & GK topics for January 2021, February 2021, March 2021, April 2021, May 2021 June, 2021)
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January 02, 2021
Assam Assembly passed Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2020
The Assam Legislative Assembly recently passed the Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to make amendments to the Assam Ease Of Doing Business Act, 2016. The amendment will avail 0.25% additional borrowing from the centre. The new bill will simplify procedures and bring transparency and efficiency in the system.
Key points of Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2020 are
Under the new Amendment Bill, the government has committed to create an investor friendly atmosphere in the state of Assam.
The Government of Assam is to do away with all types of renewal certificate, permissions and licences under be Assam is of doing business Amendment Bill . This is being done because a large number of renewable applications are pending at different levels in Assam. This causes unreasonable delay .
A computerized Central random inspection system is to be implemented. Under the system allocation of inspectors will be done centrally at random. The amendment makes sure that the same Inspector is not assigned to the same unit in the subsequent year.
FACTFILE – Assam Ease of Doing Business Act 2016
- The Act was enacted in 2016. The Act aimed to streamline the regulatory structures and processes and simplify the procedures related to renew license, certificate, permissions in setting up of Enterprises and industries in the state of Assam.
- Under the provisions of the Act, Assam Bureau of Investment Promotion was established to oversee the overall supervision and administration of speedy processing of applications.
January 04, 2021
Asian Development Bank’s $231 mn loan to enhance generation capacity in Assam
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Union Government of India signed a $ 231 million loan to augment electricity generation capacity in the state of Assam through construction of a 120MW hydroelectric power plant that will enhance availability of electricity for households.
This is the third tranche loan for the ongoing Assam Power Sector Investment Programme that was approved by the ADB Board in July 2014. Its two previous tranches, focuses on enhancing capacity and efficiency of the energy generation and distribution systems in Assam to improve electricity service to end users.
The project will add to Assam’s power generation capacity from clean hydroelectric source and improve electricity availability. Increased supply of affordable and clean electricity facilitated through the project will help improve living conditions, promote business expansion, and increase employment opportunities in the state beside reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The proposed hydroelectric project is run-of-the-river project over Kopili river which will help increase electricity supplied from clean energy by 469 gigawatthour (GWh) by 2025 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 360,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
A $2 million grant from Japan fund for poverty reduction (JFPR) is also associated with the project to finance equipment and consulting services to improve capacity for resource management and community resilience.
January 07, 2021
Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia Appointed As Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court
- Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court. Gauhati High Court acting Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh administered the oath of office to him during a programme in Raj Bhavan.
- The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Law Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua, Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, high court judges and senior officials of the state government.
FACTFILE – Guwahati High Court
- The Guwahati High Court was promulgated by the Governor general of India on 1 March 1948 after the Government of India Act 1935 was passed.
- The High Court of Assam was established with effect from 5 April 1948, for the then Province of Assam. It was originally known as the High Court of Assam and Nagaland, but was renamed as Gauhati High Court in 1971 by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.
- It’s High Court with largest jurisdiction in terms of states, with its area covering the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
- It has Circuit Benches at Kohima, Aizawl and Itanagar.
January 11, 2021
Assam govt to rehabilitate Dibru Saikhowa National Park forest villagers in Tinsukia & Lakhimpur districts
- Assam government has decided to rehabilitate the forest villagers of Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Tinsukia and Lakhimpur districts. The villagers of Laika would be rehabilitated in groups in the degraded reserve forest areas of Paharpur, Saleki and Namphai of Digboi forest division in Tinsukia district. And, the villagers of Dadhia will be settled in groups in Adakhana area of Pabha reserve forest in Lakhimpur district.
- The State government has constituted a committee headed by state forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya to monitor and support the process of relocation and rehabilitation.
- Around 135 hectares of land in Pabha RF would be diverted to settle the inhabitants of Dadhia while 166 hectares in Paharpur RF and 72 hectares in Namphai RF would be diverted to settle people of Laika.
February 02, 2021
Assam launches Pragyan Bharati & Bhasha Gourab Scheme for Authors and Students
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched Pragyan Bharati & Bhasha Gourab Scheme to provide monetary assistance to college students and literary bodies of the state. The schemes- Pragyan Bharati and Bhasha Gourab awarded Rs 1500 to college students, Rs. 50 thousand to 600 writers and Rs 43 crore to 21 Sahitya Sabhas.
Under Pragyan Bharati scheme, 3,26,046 college students were given Rs 1,500 each for purchasing textbooks. A total of Rs 161 crore was reimbursed for the free admission of 4 lakh eligible students.
Under the Bhasha Gourab second scheme, the state government provided 21 Sahitya Sabhas with a total of Rs 43 crore as a contribution towards their corpus funds. Under this scheme, 600 authors have been provided with an amount of Rs 50,000 each to help in their literary activities.
February 10, 2021
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Cabinet approves Grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited, Assam
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today accorded approval to the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for Grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL), Namrup to sustain operations of it’s urea manufacturing units.
Despite being the first gas based urea manufacturing unit in India and having all the infrastructure and feedstock availability, it has been difficult to maintain reasonable production level from the existing units in a cost effective manner because of their old & obsolete technology. In order to ensure the safe, sustainable and economic operation of the plants, certain equipment and machineries need to be replaced/overhauled. The minimum functional repair to be undertaken for smoother operation of the plants with procurement of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and catalyst items etc. shall attract an estimated expenditure of Rs.100 crores.
The grant in aid of Rs. 100 crore to BVFCL will restore the urea production capacity of 3.90 Lac MT per annum and ensure timely availability of Urea to Tea Industry & Farming Sector in the entire North Eastern region specially Assam.
FACTFILE – Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL)
- BVFCL, Namrup is a Public Sector Undertaking formed as per Companies Act, under the administrative control of the Department of Fertilizers (DoF), Government of India.
- Presently, the Company is operating its two vintage plants viz. Namrup-ll and Namrup-lll in the premises of BVFCL in Namrup.
- BVFCL plays an important role of economic growth in the region.
February 12, 2021
Mandarin Duck spoted in Assam after 118 years
The Mandarin duck which is a colourful duck from eastern Asia was spotted in Assam recently after 118 years, by the team of avian specialists in the Maguri-Motapung Beel of Tinsukia district in eastern Assam. Spotting of the Mandarin has raised hopes for the wetland which was affected by a blowout and inferno at a natural gas well in the year 2020.
Mandarin duck is the habitat of eastern China and southern Japan. The duck does not come regularly to India. But some of the ducks may join other migratory birds and follow their migration path.
The spotted duck accompanied a flock of Indian spot-billed duck that was migrated either to China or Japan. The last Mandarin duck was spotted in Assam in the year 1902.
FACTFILE – Mandarin duck
The scientific name of mandarin duck is Aix galericulata. It is a perching duck species which is native to the East Palearctic.
The duck is closely related to North American wood duck.
The ducks were once widespread in East Asia region. But they were exported on large-scale so the population reduced in the eastern Russia and China. Further, the destruction of its forest habitat further accelerated the reduction in population so much so that the population reduced below 1,000 pairs in each of Russia and China. Japan has an estimated population of around 5,000 pairs.
February 18, 2021
Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurated Centre of Perishable Cargo at LGBI Airport
- Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) at Lokpriyo Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport. The Chief Minister also ceremonially flagged off an export cargo consignment of 600 kilograms of vegetables on the occasion of the inauguration.
- This state-of-the-art facility will go a long way towards boosting exports of perishable produce, empowering farmers to add value to agri-products. The building will also solve infrastructure bottlenecks in exports.
- The CPC was constructed with a total project cost of Rs 19 crore 84 lakhs where Rs 50 lakhs was contributed by the State Government and rest was borne by the Central Government.
- The Cargo Centre is built with a 1705 square metre area which will contain cargo handling facilities for inbound and outbound cargo, cold storage along other measures to export agricultural perishable goods.
- The CPC has been built by Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC).
- Airports Authority of India had leased 4050 square metres of land to AIDC for a period of seven years from May 31, 2017, for setting up the CPC at LGBI Airport, Guwahati.
- The CPC is set to have the capacity to handle 10000 Metric Tonnes of perishable cargo with a nominal licence fee of Re 1/per annum with no royalty, as per a Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India directive with approval of Cabinet.
- The cargo centre will consist of a one-stop facilitation centre to process perishable cargo with Customs EDI facility and further Forward and Backward Linkage project under TIES (Trade Infrastructure Export Scheme) by Positioning Airlines, Freight Forwarders, Customs Broker House, FPO’s, banks, plant quarantine etc.
February 19, 2021
PM Modi launches ‘Mahabahu Brahmaputra’ project, lays foundation of 2 bridges in Assam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on launched the ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ and also layed the foundation stone of Dhubri Phulbari Bridge via video conferencing. He also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Majuli Bridge.
The ’Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ program is aimed at providing seamless connectivity to the Eastern parts of India and includes various development activities for the people living around River Brahmaputra and River Barak.
The launch of Mahabahu-Brahmaputra will be marked by the inauguration of the Ro-Pax vessel operations between Neamati-Majuli Island, North Guwahati-South Guwahati and Dhubri-Hatsingimari.
The Ro-Pax services will help in reducing travel time by providing connectivity between banks and thus reducing the distance to be travelled by road. Ro-Pax operation between Neamati and Majuli will reduce the total distance of 420 km currently being travelled by vehicles to only 12 km, resulting in a substantial impact on logistics of small-scale industries of the region.
The proposed Dhubri Phulbari Bridge will be located on NH-127B, originating from Srirampur on NH-27, and terminating at Nongstoin on NH-106 in Meghalaya. It will connect Dhubri in Assam to Phulbari, Tura, Rongram and Rongjeng in Meghalaya. The bridge, to be built with a total cost of approximately Rs 4,997 crores, will meet the long-standing demand of the people from Assam and Meghalaya. It will reduce the distance of 205 km to be travelled by road to 19 km, which is the total length of the bridge.
A permanent Inland Water Transport Terminal will also be built at Jogighopa under the programme, which will connect with the multi-modal logistics park also coming up there. This terminal will help in reducing traffic on the Siliguri Corridor towards Kolkata and Haldia. It will also facilitate uninterrupted movement of cargo even during the flood season to various North-Eastern states like Meghalaya and Tripura and to Bhutan and Bangladesh as well.
February 25, 2021
AIIB to provide $304 million for Assam Power Transmission Project
The Union Finance Ministry has announced that Indian government has signed a loan agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for the Assam Power Transmission Project.
The loan agreement was signed worth $304 million, which will be used for strengthening the electricity transmission system in the state of Assam.
Total estimated cost of the Power Transmission project in Assam is $365 million, out of this, $304 million will be provided by AIIB. And the remaining amount will be provided by Assam govt.
This loan from AIIB has a maturity period of 24 years and a grace period of 5 years.
FACTFILE – Assam Power Transmission Project
- This power transmission project will build new networks in the state that will ensure the affordable and reliable power supply in the state.
- The project will also address the substantial energy deficit that the state of Assam faces because of congestion in transmission networks and electricity distribution.
- The project comprises the laying down of a transmission line and construction of 10 transmission substations.
- The project also seeks to strengthen the existing intra-state transmission network in the state by connecting it with new networks which will help in achieving the affordable, reliable, secure and efficient power.
March 5, 2021
Assam’s Red rice export to U.S.
The first consignment of Assam’s ‘Red rice’ was flagged off on March 4, 2021 to the United States, by rice exporter ‘LT Foods’.
The ceremony of the flagging-off of the export consignments was carried out by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Chairman Dr. M. Angamuthu in Haryana. The APEDA is involved in promoting rice exports with the help of several stakeholders along the value chain. The government had also set up a “Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF)” under the parent head of APEDA.
Rice Export from India
The non-basmati rice exports of India have increased to Rs 26,058 crore for the months of April-January 2020-21 as compared to the exports of Rs 11,543 crore for the same period in the fiscal year 2019-2020.
FACTFILE – Red Rice
The red rice, also called as the ‘Bao-dhaan’, is rich in Iron and is grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam. It is grown without using any chemical fertilisers.
FACTFILE – Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
APEDA is the Apex-Export Trade Promotion Active government body, came into effect from February 1986.
The body was set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It was set up under the APEDA Act 1985.
April 14, 2021
Bohag Bihu Bird Count 2021 begins
On April 14, 2021, the Bohag Bihu Bird count began in Assam. The Bohag Bihu Bird count was launched by Bird Count of India (BCI) for the first time.
Bohag Bihu
Bohag Bihu is the traditional ethnic festival celebrated in Assam. It marks the beginning of Assamese new year.
Rongali Bihu
During Rongali Bihu, many migratory species of birds that visited Assam and its surrounding regions during winter start flying back to their homes.
According to State of India’s Birds, 2020, the loss of habitat is mainly due to human activities, toxins, hunting and trapping for pet trade.
Highlights of State of Birds report, 2020
- 50% of 867 bird species in India are exhibiting population decline.
- The number of birds in Western Ghats have declined by 75% since 2000.
- Around 101 bird species in India have been placed under “high concern” category, 442 in “low concern category” and 319 in “moderate concern” category.
- The population of House Sparrow was stable, however, their population was declining in major cities.
- All the four Bustards namely the Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Macqueen’s Bustard and Bengal Florican are suffering from population decline.
- The House Sparrow has been declared as the “State Bird of Delhi”.
May 4, 2021
Putola Nach- Puppetry Art-form of Assam
- In collaboration with the UNICEF, a trust based in Assam recently made videos using the traditional art called “Putola Nach”. The art form was used to take the messages related to COVID-19 to the public through social media.
- The videos named COVID Shatru (enemy), COVID Bibharat (confusion) were released in Assamese. Mama ro Mina ko COVID Katha (COVID Tale of Mama and Mina) was released in Nepali language.
FACTFILE – Putola Nach
- It is a traditional string puppet theatre from Assam in North East India. It is also called putala bhaona.
- These dolls are 1.5 metres tall and are made of hollow wood or bamboo and their heads are made of terracotta.
- Musical Instruments used in performing the art are dhol, harmonium, kansi, double reed wind instrument and a bell metal plate beaten with a stick.
- There were three different styles of string puppetry in Assam, viz. Kalaigaon, Barpeta-Nalbari and Majuli island.
May 09, 2021
Himanta Biswa Sarma to take over as Assam Chief Minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma, the face of the BJP in Northeast India, will be sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam. Himanta Biswa Sarma and the outgoing Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, met Governor Jagdish Mukhi and put forward the BJP’s claim to form the government.
Earlier, Mr. Sonowal submitted his resignation to the Governor, paving the way for Sarma to succeed him.
The BJP won 60 of the 126 seats in the Assam Assembly election. Its allies, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), won nine and six seats, respectively.
Dr. Sarma was likely to keep the Finance, Health and Home portfolios with him. He handled Finance and Health in the Sonowal government as also in the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government earlier.
May 11, 2021
Assam become first Indian state to have a digital flood reporting system
With the launch of Flood Reporting and Information Management System (FIRMS), Assam becomes the first state in India to have an real-time digital flood reporting system. Jishnu Barua, Chief Secretary, Assam, launched a digital real-time Flood Reporting and Information Management System (FIRMS) in the state of Assam.
With the river Brahmaputra flowing at the crux, Assam is prone to severe floods and erosion every year. Assam has a mandatory flood reporting protocol in place every year from May 15 to October 15.
FRIMS, a digital real-time flood reporting system, has been developed jointly by Assam State Disaster Management Agency (ASDMA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Tom White, UNICEF India Chief, Emergency and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) congratulated the Assam Government for becoming the first state to have a digital flood reporting system. “Such a system will go a long way in measuring the impact of disaster risk reduction interventions,” he added.
FACTFILE – Flood Reporting and Information Management System (FRIMS)
- The Flood Reporting and Information Management System (FRIMS) is a digital real-time flood reporting system launched in Assam.
- Assam is the first Indian state to adopt a digital flood reporting system that will replace the existing system of manual flood reporting.
- FRIMS has been developed jointly by Assam State Disaster Management Agency (ASDMA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
May 16, 2021
NABARD provided Rs 1,236 crores Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to Assam in 2020-21
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) recently announced that it provided Rs 1,236 crores to Assam in 2020-21 from its Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) was created in 1995-96 with an initial corpus of Rs 2,000 crores. In 2020-21, Rs 29,848 crores was allocated to RIDF.
The fund shall be used for 37 eligible activities as approved by the Govt of India. These eligible activities are classified under the three broad categories, namely, (i) social sector, (ii) agriculture and related sector; and (iii) rural connectivity.
Social Sectors
Solid Waste Management
Construction of Anganwadis
Setting of KVIC centres
Pay and Use toilets
Infrastructure for Rural Education Institutions
Drinking water
Public Health Institutions
Agriculture and Related Sectors
Mechanisation of farm operations
Dedicated Rural Industry estates
Separate Feeder lines
Solar Photovoltaic power plants
Infrastructure works related to solar energy, energy conservation, wind energy.
Desalination plants in coastal areas
Infrastructure for Information Technology in rural areas
Village Knowledge Centres
Mini Hydel Projects up to 25MW
Medium Irrigation Projects
Major Irrigation Projects
Modern Abattoir
Riverine Fisheries
Community irrigation well
Fishing harbour
Grading
Plantation and Horticulture
Seed/ Agriculture/ Horticulture Farms
Market Yard, Godown, Mandi, Rural Haat, Marketing Infrastructure
Cold storage, Public/ Joint sector cold storage at various exit points
Drainage
Flood Protection
Forest Development
Watershed Development
Soil Conservation
Minor Irrigation Projects
Rural Connectivity
Rural bridges and Rural Roads
Institutions which are eligible for funds from RIDF
State Governments and Union Territories
State Government sponsored and supported organisations
State owned corporations and state government undertakings
Panchayat Raj institutions and Self-Help Groups
May 26, 2021
Shiva Thapa secures 5th successive medal at Asian Boxing Championships
Assam pugilist Shiva Thapa put up a fabulous performance to defeat Nader Odah in the men’s 64kg quarter-finals at the 2021 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai.
With a comprehensive 5-0 victory against Kuwait’s Odah, Thapa progressed into the semi-finals and also confirmed his fifth back-to-back medal at the Asian Championships.
BIOGRAPHY – Shiva Thapa
- Shiva Thapa is an Indian boxer.
- Shiva Thapa participated in the 2012 London Olympics, and was the youngest Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics.
- Shiva Thapa is ranked 3rd in the bantamweight category in the AIBA Men’s World Ranking.
- He is the third Indian to clinch Gold at the Asian Games.
May 27, 2021
Assam govt gives OIL Rs 500 crore to increase stake in Numaligarh Refinery Limited
Assam government will raise its stake in Numaligrah Refinery Limited (NRL) to 26% from the initial level of 12.35%.
Govt of Assam raised its stake in NRL to 18.59%; another 7.41% shall be acquired. Total investment of Rs 2,187 crore, will be the highest ever investment by Govt of Assam in any PSU.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) would increase its capacity from the existing 3 million metric tonnes (MMT) to 9 MMT, besides bringing 6 MMT crude oil to Assam from Odisha.
FACTFILE – Numaligarh Refinery (NRL)
- Numaligarh Refinery is the largest among the four refineries operating in Assam. The refinery was set up as per Clause 7 of Assam Accord signed in 1985.
- The refinery was commissioned in the year 2000 and since then has consistently excelled in physical and financial performance.
- With the decision of the centre to privatize BPCL, NRL’s status as a Public Sector Enterprise was slated to be lost. To retain the public sector characteristics of the NRL, the Assam government accordingly took up the matter with the centre and decided to raise its stake in NRL to 26% from the initial level of 12.35%.
May 29, 2021
Assam hikes daily wages of Tea Garden Workers
The Assam government decided to hike wages of tea garden workers by Rs 38.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, held a meeting with representatives of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha and other tea bodies to discuss issues pertaining of wage fixation.
With this hike, the tea workers in Brahmaputra valley would get Rs 205 from the existing Rs 167 and tea workers of Barak valley would get Rs 183 from the existing Rs 145.
FACTFILE – Tea Industry of Assam
- Assam tea industry is India’s largest tea industry and second largest tea production region in the world after China.
- Assam produces more than 50 % of the tea produced in India and about 1/6th of the tea produced in the world.
- Tea industry has contributed substantially to the economy of Assam.
- About 17 percent of the workers of Assam are engaged in the tea industry.
June 05, 2021
Raimona National Park becomes Assam’s sixth national park
Raimona National Park in Kokrajhar district within the Bodoland Territorial Region has become Assam’s sixth national park. The 422 sq ft wildlife habitat in Kokrajhar district adjoins western-most buffer to Manas Tiger Reserve.
Assam’s Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, under stress for unregulated coal mining in the vicinity is also in the process of being declared as the seventh national park.
Assam already has the five national parks which are Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang and Dibru-Saikhowa.
Upgrading Dehing Patkai has been a long-felt need for the conservation of rainforest and elephant habitats. The area of the park includes the northern part of the notified Ripu Reserve Forest (508.62 sq. km), which forms the western-most buffer to the Manas National Park that straddles the India-Bhutan border.
Raimona also shares contiguous forest patches of the Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and the Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park in Bhutan (total area of 1,999 sq. km) creating a transboundary conservation landscape of more than 2,400 sq. km.
June 10, 2021
Assam gets Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary as its seventh national park
The Assam Government has decided in its recent cabinet meeting to declare Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary as the 7th National Park of the state. The newest national park, also known as Dehing Patkai Rain Forest, has unique floral and faunal diversity, which was recognized by the state government in 2004 when 111.19 square kilometres of the area was notified as Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.
Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is home to hoolock gibbon, elephant, slow loris, tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, golden cat, fishing cat, marble cat, sambar, hog deer, sloth bear, and several bird species including the endangered state bird, the white-winged wood duck.
With the addition big the two new national parks, Dehing Patkai and Raimona, Assam’s total national park goes to seven.
Assam now is the state with the second highest number of national parks in the country, after Madhya Pradesh’s 11. The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar has nine national parks.
June 10, 2021
Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain becomes the first female pugilist from the state to qualify for Tokyo Olympics 2020
Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain becomes the first female pugilist from the state to qualify for Tokyo Olympics 2020. The young athlete Lovlina would be seen fighting it out in the Women’s 69 kg Welterweight category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She is the first lady from Assam to represent India at the Olympics.
BIOGRAPHY – Lovlina Borgohain
- Lovlina was born on 2 October 1997, and hails from the Golaghat district of Assam.
- Lovlina’s career’s biggest break came when she was selected to participate in the 2018 Commonwealth Games welterweight boxing category, where she won a gold medal in the welterweight category.
- She had also won the bronze medal at the Asian Boxing Championships in Vietnam in November 2017 and the bronze medal at the President’s Cup held in Astana in June 2017.
- Lovlina later won a silver medal at the Ulaanbaatar Cup in Mongolia in June 2018 and a bronze medal at the 13th International Silesian Championship in Poland in September 2018.
June 11, 2021
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launches Sishu Seva Achoni for COVID-19 Orphans
Assam CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has dedicated Chief Minister Sishu Seva Scheme to the service of the beneficiaries and handed over the cheques of financial assistance to few beneficiaries who lost both their parents due to COVID.
As per the scheme, an amount to the tune of Rs. 7,81,200 would be parked in the bank as fixed deposit in the name of each beneficiary.
Monthly financial assistance of Rs. 3500 which will be realised from the fixed deposit will be given to the beneficiaries till they attain 24 years of age.
On completion of 24 years of age, the principal amount parked as a fixed deposit against each beneficiary would be credited to their bank accounts.
Orphaned adolescent girls will be given accommodation in suitable and reputed institutions like Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya residential schools, to ensure their sensitive care and proper protection.
June 15, 2021
Assam’s Shahil Dey is Northeast’s first Chess International Master
Shahil Dey from Assam becomes first International Master from Northeast India. The 13-year-old chess player achieved the feat by achieving his third International Master norm at the First Saturday GM held from June 5-14, 2021 at Budapest in Hungary.
Shahil originally from Assam, now lives in Kolkata in order to receive better training facilities. He is coached by IM Roktim Bandyopadhyay.
FACTFILE – Grand Master Title
Grand Master is the highest title a chess player can attain in their entire chess career. This title is given by the highest governing body of chess i.e. FIDE. If the title of Grandmaster once achieved, it can be held for life. However, the “World Chess Federation” has made some rules for it, if a player is found guilty of “cheating and corruption”, then the title can be snatched from him.
June 22, 2021
Assam govt signs MoU with Survey of India for implementation of SVAMITVA scheme in Assam
Assam government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Survey of India for implementing the Svamitva scheme in the state, to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural areas. The MoU was signed between Assam, Director of Land Records and Surveys, Shantanu P Gotmare and Director Assam and Nagaland, Survey of India. It is expected to reduce property related disputes in rural areas and legal cases.
Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Assam Government’s Department of Revenue and Disaster Management will implement the scheme with the support of the Panchayat and Rural Development.
Survey of India will take steps for survey of inhabited rural land by drone as well as establishment of ground based control stations to enable a detailed spatial database of properties in rural areas.
FACTFILE – SVAMITVA scheme
The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme was launched on the National Panchayati Raj Day i.e. April 24, 2020.
The scheme is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Panchayati Raj Departments, State Revenue Departments and Survey of India.
It aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India.
It is a scheme for mapping the land parcels in rural inhabited areas using drone technology and Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS).
The mapping will be done across the country in a phase-wise manner over a period of four years – from 2020 to 2024.
June 24, 2021
World’s first genetically modified rubber plant planted in Assam
- The world’s first genetically modified (GM) rubber plant was planted on the outskirts of Guwahati. Chairman and Executive Director of the Rubber Board, K.N. Raghavan planted the saplings at the Rubber Board’s Sarutari research farm near Guwahati.
- The GM rubber plant was developed at the Kerala-based Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) through long years of research at its biotechnology laboratory.
Benefits of genetically modified rubber plant
- The GM rubber plant would be a game-changer in natural rubber cultivation in India, with additional copies of the gene MnSOD (manganese-containing superoxide dismutase) inserted in it.
- The GM rubber plant is expected to tide over the severe cold conditions during winter, which is a major factor affecting the growth of young rubber plants. Natural rubber is a native of warm humid Amazon forests and it is not naturally suited for the cold conditions in this part of the country.
FACTFILE – Rubber Board of India
- The Rubber Board is a statutory body constituted by the Government of India, under the Rubber Act 1947, for the overall development of the rubber industry in the country.
- Head Office is in Kottayam, Kerala
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