Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma conducted a preparatory meeting on Wednesday at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Dibrugarh, involving various ministers, MLAs, and senior officials to review the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Namrup on December 21. Modi, during his visit to Assam on December 20 and 21, is set to inaugurate the new terminal building at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Borjhar, Guwahati, and unveil a statue of the esteemed Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi. Furthermore, he will lay the foundation for a significant ammonia-urea project in Namrup, valued at approximately Rs 12,000 crore…

The 13th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™️ Forum (EHNF) 2025 commenced among four partner institutions: Gauhati University, Assam Royal Global University, IIT Guwahati, and Cotton University. Each university hosted thematic sessions focused on their strengths, such as sustainable land futures, social entrepreneurship, energy, water, forests, and biodiversity. Notable international figures, including Her Excellency May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India, attended, highlighting the Forum’s global significance and promoting international environmental cooperation. Prominent companies like Tata Steel Foundation, SEROS, Coca-Cola, Google Singapore, and Tata Consumer Products Limited also contributed to the Forum, discussing their sustainability commitments within the Eastern Himalayan context. At Gauhati…

A major fire out at a multi-storey commercial building in the heart of Guwahati at the ABC area in the wee hours of Wednesday.Offices of State Bank of India and a popular apparel outlet called Sohum Emporia suffered extensive damage as the blaze rapidly engulfed all six floors of the building within minutes.However, there hasn't been any report of human casualty so far.Preliminary assessments indicate that cash, documents and property worth crores may have been lost in the incident.Several fire tenders were pressed into action, which took about hours to douse the flames.The cause of the fire is yet to…

Ambassador of Norway to India, Ms. May-Elin Stener, met Assam’s Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Irrigation, Ashok Singhal, at his office in the Assam Secretariat today and held discussions on a range of issues of mutual interest.During the meeting, the Ambassador showed keen interest in Assam’s diverse facets, interacting with the Minister on the state’s rich natural heritage, culture and its ongoing development journey. The Minister presented an overview of Assam’s potential, including its strides in sustainable development and public welfare initiatives.Both sides discussed strengthening mutual cooperation, with a special focus on women’s wellbeing, health systems strengthening and…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the martyrs of the historic Assam Movement on the occasion of Swahid Diwas, recalling their sacrifice and reaffirming the Union Government’s commitment to safeguarding the interests and aspirations that shaped the movement. In a message shared on social media, the Prime Minister said the Assam Movement holds an important place in India’s history and continues to shape the identity of the State. “Today, on Swahid Diwas, we recall the valour of all those who were a part of the Assam Movement. The movement will always have a prime place in our history. We…

A significant advancement in the state's rural housing objective was made when Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave home ownership permission letters to recipients of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G). The event took place at Boko. Attendees included Palashbari MLA Hemanga Thakuria, Boko MLA Nandita Das, Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass, and a number of dignitaries. PMAY-G residences have now been approved for over 3.25 lakh families with the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A substantial investment of Rs. 4,228 crore would be made to provide rural households with secure and respectable…

The Swahid Smarak, commemorating over 850 martyrs of the Assam Movement, will be inaugurated on Wednesday in Boragaon, Guwahati, coinciding with Swahid Divas. Established by the State government, the memorial's foundation was laid in 2019 on a site over 98 bighas. The project features various facilities, including water bodies, an auditorium, a prayer hall, a cycle track, and provisions for a sound and light show, aimed at showcasing the Assam Agitation and the region's history. Family members of the martyrs have been invited to the inauguration ceremony.

In an important step for wildlife conservation, the Central Zoo Authority of India has permitted the release of captive-reared critically endangered vultures from the Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre at Rani near Guwahati into the 6th Addition of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve under the Bishwanath Wildlife Division. This is the first time that vultures bred in captivity in Assam will be released into the wild. According to the official approval, 30 White-rumped Vultures and five Slender-billed Vultures will be sent from the Rani centre to Kaziranga. Both species are among the most threatened birds in the world and…

In a groundbreaking move, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has sanctioned the transfer of 35 critically-endangered vultures from the vulture conservation and breeding centre in Guwahati to Kaziranga National Park, administered by the Bishwanath Wildlife Division. The transfer includes 30 White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis) and five Slender-billed Vultures (Gyps tenuirostris), both listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and protected under Schedule I of India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Assam is a key habitat for these vultures, yet their populations are threatened by factors like pesticide poisoning. The Kaziranga National Park has been chosen for the release due…

The Supreme Court granted bail to former Gossaigaon College professor Md Joynal Abedin, who was arrested in May for posting allegedly anti-India content on social media. The court, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, clarified that the bail should not be seen as a reason for his reinstatement at the college. Abedin is facing two additional criminal cases: one for allegedly molesting female students and another for making obscene remarks about them online. The court reiterated its previous remarks labeling him as “a pervert” and “a threat to young girls,” emphasizing that these concerns remained relevant given…