Sonakshi Sarkar

The Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly began today at a time when the political environment across the state is gradually becoming active ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections expected in March–April. The present session is considered important because it is likely to be the last sitting of the current government before voters go to the polls to elect a new Assembly. The four-day session started with the customary address by the Governor, which traditionally outlines the government’s achievements, policy priorities and administrative plans. The address formally set the tone for the legislative proceedings and also marked the beginning…

The four-day Budget Session of Assam Legislative Assembly got underway today. Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog will present the vote-on-account for the fiscal 2026-27 in the Assembly tomorrow. Since assembly elections are due in the state this year, a vote-on-account or interim budget will be presented instead of a full- fledged budget. The new government to be formed after the polls will present a full-fledged budget later. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika said that the Governor will give his speech today and there will be a discussion on his speech. "Tomorrow, the proceedings will begin with Question Hour followed by…

The Congress party in Assam faces a significant challenge ahead of the Assembly polls as Bhupen Kumar Borah, the former president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), has resigned. He submitted his resignation to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, citing differences with the state leadership, particularly APCC president Gaurav Gogoi, regarding the formation of electoral alliances. Efforts are being made to convince Borah to reconsider his resignation, with Congress leader Mira Borthakur visiting him to persuade him to withdraw it. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Borah may be planning to join the BJP, potentially along with other Congress members from Lakhimpur…

Northeast Frontier Railway will operate four pairs of Holi Special Trains to accommodate increased festive travel from February to March 2026. The routes include: Narangi to Gorakhpur (Special Train Number 05633) and back (05634), running Thursdays and Fridays respectively, with six trips each. The Narangi departure is at 1:20 PM, arriving in Gorakhpur at 1:00 PM the next day; the return train departs Gorakhpur at 4:55 PM, arriving in Narangi at 9:40 PM the following day. Katihar to Amritsar (Special Train Number 05736) and back (05735), operating Wednesdays and Fridays with six trips each. Train 05736 leaves Katihar at 9:00…

Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya attended the 9th Assam State Film Awards ceremony held at the Sri Sri Damodardeva International Auditorium in Guwahati on Sunday. Congratulating the award winners, the Governor described the ceremony as a living symbol of Assam’s artistic consciousness, creative spirit, and vibrant cultural celebration. He said that the land of Assam, known for its natural beauty and rich traditions, has always preserved its identity through language, folk arts, and storytelling, and that cinema has given new dimensions to these traditions by taking them to wider audiences. Recalling the glorious journey of Assamese cinema, the Governor paid…

Tension arose in Ruksin, East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, on Sunday due to violent protests by local residents against the proposed silicon factory at the Niglok Industrial Growth Centre. The protests escalated, resulting in injuries to two police constables and one officer from the CRPF, leading to the detention of two individuals accused of inciting unlawful activities among the protesters. This unrest coincided with an effort by district administration and police to comply with an interim order from the Gauhati High Court, which instructed local authorities to facilitate the transportation of materials to the silicon factory. The High Court had…

The Guwahati Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets totaling Rs 8.90 crore in Guwahati and Goalpara, along with movable properties valued at Rs 3.71 lakh, as part of an investigation into disproportionate assets linked to Akhtar Hussain, who previously served as the Divisional Soil Conservation Officer for the Cachar Soil Conservation Division in Silchar, and his spouse, Dr. Jasmine Rahman, a Senior Medical and Health Officer in Kamrup (Metro). This investigation was prompted by a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Chief Minister's Special Vigilance Cell of the Assam Police, which accused Akhtar Hussain under…

Aaranyak hosted the 4th Refresher Workshop on Applied Environmental Education from February 11 to 13 in Guwahati, aimed at enhancing the skills of educators and practitioners in environmental education and conservation outreach. Organized by its Environment Education and Capacity Building Division (EECBD), the workshop, led by Jayanta Kumar Pathak, focused on applied approaches to environmental education, practical conservation strategies, and community engagement methods. Participants learned to identify environmental challenges and design interventions for various groups, including schools and local communities. The workshop emphasized integrating environmental education into school systems and promoting experiential learning. Notable presentations included a case study by…