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A young primatologist from Assam has earned a place in one of the world’s most competitive wildlife conservation programmes, marking a significant achievement for India’s research community. Dr. Joydeep Shil, a senior researcher with the Primate Research Centre and Conservation Himalayas, has secured a fully funded position in the prestigious Endangered Species Management Graduate Certificate (DESMAN) course under the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The scholarship covers his tuition, university fees, accommodation at the Durrell Wildlife Hostel in Jersey, and all food expenses during the 12‑week course, beginning February 16, 2026. The programme, validated by the University of Kent, is globally…

People across Assam on Tuesday paid tribute to the founder of the Ahom kingdom, Chaolung Sukapha, on the occasion of Asom Divas. A central celebration of Asom Divas was organised in Nazira, Charaideo district led by the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Tai Ahom Development Council, with support from the Sivasagar district administration and AASU Nazira Committee. The day-long programme saw the participation of several ministers, MLAs and dignitaries. Before the main event at the Nazira Sports Association playground, a 20-foot statue of Chaolung Sukapha was unveiled in Nazira. The statue, funded by the Tai Ahom Development Council, was…

The Group of Ministers (GoM), led by Tribal Affairs (Plains) minister Ranoj Pegu, will hold talks with the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) on December 4 to address the latter’s concerns over the report on the proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six OBC (Other Backward Classes) communities in the state. The communities seeking ST status comprise Tai-Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribe (Adivasi). The development comes in the wake of protests led by the CCTOA, an umbrella body of 26 tribal groups, since Saturday, rejecting the proposal by the GoM and warning…