Sonakshi Sarkar

The Assam government has decided to expand the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) to more than 40,000 schools across all 35 districts of the state, with the objective of promoting discipline, teamwork and overall personality development among students.Announcing the initiative on Monday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state’s education policy goes beyond academic achievement and places equal emphasis on developing life skills and values among young learners. Sharing details of the programme, Sarma said the government is committed to nurturing a generation of students who are prepared to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. “Beyond academic…

More than 18.60 lakh farmer families across Assam are set to receive financial assistance amounting to Rs 372.01 crore under the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday.The financial assistance will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, ensuring timely and transparent delivery of funds to farming households across the state.Sharing the update on social media platform X, Sarma said the initiative reflects the government's continued commitment to strengthening the economic security of farmers and supporting rural livelihoods.…

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged the Central government to provide northeastern states with greater access to funding through Externally Aided Projects (EAPs), saying the region has consistently demonstrated its ability to successfully implement large-scale development initiatives. Speaking after attending a seminar on “Leveraging EAPs in North-Eastern States” in Shillong on Friday, Sarma said he appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to increase the funding limits available to northeastern states under externally aided programmes. He stressed that such projects have become an important source of support for infrastructure creation and economic development across the region. According to…

In an effort to reduce wildlife casualties and protect the endangered Golden Langur, the BTC Forest Department and the Primate Research Centre Northeast India (PRC NE India) have installed two artificial canopy bridges along the Bismuri–Saralpara Road that passes through Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park in western Assam. The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the impact of an ongoing road widening project on the habitat of the rare primate species. Conservationists have warned that the expansion of the roadway has disrupted natural tree canopies, forcing Golden Langurs to descend to the ground while moving between forest patches and increasing the…

Assam is stepping up efforts to strengthen its power infrastructure as the state prepares for rising electricity demand in the coming years. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 19 said the government is making significant investments in the power sector with the goal of transforming Assam into an energy-surplus state while ensuring a reliable supply of electricity to every household. Sharing an update on social media platform X, the Chief Minister outlined the progress made so far and the plans underway to further enhance the state's power transmission and distribution network. According to Sarma, Assam currently operates 82 substations…

Two suspected drug traffickers were arrested during a joint anti-narcotics operation carried out by police in Assam's Nagaon district, officials said on Thursday. The operation was conducted late on the night of June 17 in the Lalipathar area under Dhing following specific intelligence inputs. The raid was jointly carried out by Dhing Police and Ahomgaon Police with assistance from members of the Village Defence Party (VDP). During the operation, police apprehended two individuals identified as Baharul Islam and Rajibul Islam. A soap case containing suspected narcotic substances was recovered from their possession. Police also seized a Bullet motorcycle bearing registration…

The Assam government has intensified preparations for the annual Ambubachi Mela at the revered Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, with authorities expecting a large turnout of devotees, saints and visitors during the four-day religious gathering beginning on June 22. Held every year at the Kamakhya Temple atop the Nilachal Hills, the Ambubachi Mela is one of the country's largest religious congregations. The festival marks the symbolic annual menstruation cycle of Goddess Maa Kamakhya and attracts pilgrims from across India as well as several foreign countries. Officials estimate that nearly 8 lakh devotees and visitors may attend this year's mela, prompting multiple…