Paromita Editor

The FICCI Northeast Advisory Council today welcomed the Assam Budget 2026-27, presented in the Legislative Assembly by Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah on July 10.This is the first full Budget of the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Government’s second consecutive term. The Budget provides for aggregate expenditure of Rs 2,85,084 crore, targets a fiscal deficit of 3 per cent of GSDP, and reduces the closing budget deficit to Rs 419 crore, while raising capital expenditure to around Rs 29,000 crore, stated a press releaseWelcoming the Budget, Ranjit Barthakur, Chairman, FICCI Northeast AdvisoryCouncil, said: “I congratulate the Chief Minister Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma and…

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the amendments made to the Assam Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2013 will strengthen transparency, plug revenue leakages and promote sustainable management of natural resources.The Chief Minister, in a post on X, added that those benefiting from the state's natural resources must also contribute to restoring the environment."Those who benefit from our natural resources must also contribute to restoring green cover. The amended Minor Mineral Concession Rules bring greater transparency, ensure royalty and GST compliance, curb leakages and strengthen sustainable growth," Chief Minister Sarma said.According to the amendments approved by the Cabinet,…

Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika on Sunday chaired a preparatory meeting with officials of the Agriculture Department ahead of the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) programme scheduled to be held in Guwahati on July 18.The programme will be graced by the Chief Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, as the Chief Guest and is expected to witness the participation of over 5,000 farmers across Assam along with officials from various banks.During the meeting, the Minister reviewed the preparations for the successful conduct of the programme and discussed measures for effective implementation of the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that…

The Asam Sahitya Sabha has announced that it will posthumously confer the prestigious 'Sangeet Sudhakar' title on legendary Assamese musician Zubeen Garg in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to music, literature and the cultural heritage of Assam.Asam Sahitya Sabha General Secretary Debojit Bora said the decision was approved by the organisation's executive committee and governing body in accordance with a resolution adopted during its Panchratna-Guwahati session.The honour will be formally conferred at a ceremony on July 30 at the Sangeetacharya Lakshmiram Barua Sadan in Guwahati. The title will be presented by Asam Sahitya Sabha president Dr Basanta Kumar Goswami.The felicitation…

The ruling BJP in Assam has accused the Opposition parties of a calculated attempt to foster anarchy and derail the state’s developmental momentum.“The Indian National Congress, along with other Opposition parties and a section of self-styled intellectuals, has become deeply entrenched in a calculated conspiracy to engineer an atmosphere of anarchy with the sole objective of obstructing Assam's unprecedented developmental trajectory,” Assam BJP spokesperson Ranjib Kumar Sarmah said on Monday.Addressing mediapersons at the party headquarters in Guwahati, Sarmah alleged that the Opposition parties were systematically attempting to sow chaos, destabilise society and undermine public confidence through an orchestrated campaign of…

The Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS) has appealed to all residents of Assam who identify themselves as Assamese and take pride in the state's identity to register Assamese as their mother tongue in the upcoming Census. In a statement issued by the organisation, signed by president Bubumoni Goswami and general secretary Ritul Baruah, MASS said that legally recognised migrants who have settled in Assam, grown up in the state, and were granted Indian citizenship under the Assam Accord should record Assamese as their mother tongue. The organisation described it as an appropriate way of expressing gratitude to Assam and fulfilling…

A political and legal controversy surrounding the mural of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has intensified after the Students' Federation of India (SFI), Assam State Committee, strongly criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's remarks on public murals, accusing him of attacking artistic freedom and democratic rights.The controversy began after a mural of Zubeen Garg painted beneath a flyover in Guwahati was partially erased during a beautification drive. According to the Chief Minister, the workers involved—who were themselves fans of the singer—failed to recognise the portrait. Following public outrage, the mural was repainted. However, Sarma remarked that the new artwork resembled Argentine…

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 5.54 crore of Jeevan Suraksha Group of Companies in a money laundering case.ED's Guwahati Zonal Office has issued the Provisional Attachment Order under Section 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), attaching movable and immovable properties of the group and its Directors.The attached assets comprise credit balances of around Rs 1.42 crore lying in 48 bank accounts and 22 immovable properties valued at around Rs 4.11 crore located in Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal.ED initiated investigation under the PMLA on the basis of FIRs and chargesheets filed by…

The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) has announced the players' pool for the inaugural edition of the Assam Premier League (APL).A total of 275 players have been shortlisted from among the registered players who expressed interest in participating in the league. The pool comprises 20 marquee players and over 250 players in the general category, all of whom will go under the hammer at the APL Player Auction as the franchises bid to assemble their squads for the first season, stated a press release.The marquee list is drawn from Assam's senior domestic ranks. Denish Das, Sibsankar Roy, Sumit Kashyap, Swarupam Purkayastha…