Assam

PM on two-day visit to Assam from Dec 20, CM Himanta reviews preparations

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired a meeting to review the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed two-day visit to the state from December 20. Sarma said the PM, during his visit, will "herald a new wave of development" in the state. "Assam is all set to welcome Adarniya Shri @narendramodi ji on 20th December as he will herald a new wave of development in the state," the chief minister posted on X on Wednesday. "Reviewed preparations for his welcome and the marquee events which will take place during the visit," he added. The prime minister, during his visit, will inaugurate the new terminal building of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and also unveil a statue of Bordoloi, Assam's first chief minister, at Borjhar. Modi is also scheduled to address a public meeting at Guwahati. He will also lay the foundation stone for a new brownfield ammonia-urea complex of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes annual capacity at Namrup, and address a public

CAG terms Assam budget 2023-24 'unrealistic', questions excessive grants

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has termed the Assam government budgetary assumptions for 2023-24 "unrealistic and overestimated," pointing out that in several cases supplementary grants were approved where expenditure of the original allotted funds was not even done. It also highlighted non-submission of Utilisation Certificates (UCs) and annual accounts of several autonomous councils and other bodies. The CAG report on state finances for 2023-24, laid in the Assembly on Saturday, said the budgetary assumptions of the state government "continued to be unrealistic and overestimated" during the fiscal year, as it incurred an expenditure of Rs 1,39,449.66 crore against grants and appropriations of Rs 1,69,966.13 crore, resulting in overall savings of Rs 30,516.47 crore. These savings stood at 17.95 per cent of total grants and appropriations made for the year. The report said that "the savings were notional, as the funds were not actually available for expenditure", since t

Gogoi flags concerns over Assam govt's land rights plan for tea workers

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday questioned the timing and intent of the state government's decision to grant land rights to tea garden workers, alleging it could be an election gimmick. Speaking on the sidelines of a party meeting here, Gogoi said, "There are deep doubts on the timing of this decision and whether it will remain on paper or actually be implemented." 'If the government truly intended to give land rights to the tea community, why didn't they do it in the last 10 years? Why has this law been brought just four months before the elections?," the Congress leader questioned. Gogoi asserted that if the government really intended to do so, it could have been done either during Sarbananda Sonowal's tenure or immediately after Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed the chief minister's office. Alleging that the CM and his family had acquired multiple tea gardens over the past five years, Gogoi said, "If the government genuinely wished to provide

Assam Assembly passes six education bills amid opposition walkout

The Assam Assembly on Saturday passed six bills related to the Education department amid a walkout by opposition members who alleged that ruling party legislators had entered the House after the Speaker ordered closure of all doors for voting on amendments moved by them. After over four hours of debate on four bills moved by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, Congress, CPI(M) and Independent legislator Akhil Gogoi expressed dissatisfaction that not even a single amendment brought by them was accepted by the government. Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia of the Congress demanded voting on the amendments, supported by CPI(M) MLA Manoranjan Talukdar and the Independent member. As Speaker Biswajit Daimary began the process of passing the bills, Saikia said they will not be withdrawing the proposed amendments. Daimary ordered immediate closing of all doors of the House, barring any MLA from leaving or entering. However, the opposition benches alleged that about 10 ruling BJP legislators

Assam passes anti-polygamy bill as CM Himanta promises UCC if re-elected

The Assam assembly on Thursday passed a bill to ban polygamy, making it an offence which may lead to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment, barring some exceptions. It kept people belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category and areas under the Sixth Schedule out of the purview of the legislation. During the passage of the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the portfolio of the home and political departments, said the law is "irrespective of religion and not against Islam as being perceived by a section". "The Hindus are not free from polygamy. That's also our responsibility. This bill will cover people from Hindu, Muslim, Christian and all other societies," he added. Despite the CM's request to all opposition members to withdraw their respective amendments to send a message from the House that the bill is passed unanimously to empower women, AIUDF and CPI(M) went ahead with their modification suggestions, which were defea

Zubeen Garg's death 'plain and simple murder': Himanta tells Assam Assembly

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in the assembly on Tuesday that singer Zubeen Garg's death while swimming in the sea in Singapore is a case of "plain and simple murder". The special investigation team (SIT) that has been probing into the circumstances of Garg's death have added murder charges to the case. Sarma was speaking in the assembly during a discussion under an adjournment motion moved by the opposition on the singer's death. The motion was allowed by the Speaker at the request of the chief minister. "After preliminary probe, the Assam Police was sure that it was not a case of culpable homicide, but it was a plain and simple murder," Sarma said. "That is why, section 103 of BNS was added to the case within three days of his death," he added. The SIT under the CID of the state police has so far arrested seven people, examined 252 witnesses and seized 29 items in connection with the case, he said. "One of the accused killed Garg and others helped him. Four to

Assam Assembly winter session begins; Nellie massacre reports to be tabled

The five-day winter session of the Assam assembly began on Tuesday, during which two reports on the 1983 Nellie massacre, which claimed over 2,000 lives and displaced nearly 3 lakh people, will be placed. 'Big changes coming this winter session. From safeguarding families to modernising laws. Assam is gearing up for one of its most transformative legislative sessions," Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X. The reports of the Tewary and the Mehta commissions, which had probed into the Nellie massacre in the backdrop of the six-year-long Assam agitation against foreigners, will also be placed in the House during the current session. Sarma had earlier said that the state cabinet had decided to circulate the report among the members of the legislative assembly, and copies would also be provided to the assembly library. The House will, however, not table or hold discussions on the report, he said. The then government of Asom Gana Parishad had constituted the commissions to ..

Assam uses 1950 Immigrants Expulsion Act for first time: What it means

Assam's Sonitpur district administration has ordered five people, including four women and one man, who were declared foreigners by a tribunal, to leave India within 24 hours

Assam to undergo special electoral roll revision as ECI sets 2026 deadline

During the SIR drive being carried out in other states, the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are tasked with conducting house-to-house verification using blank forms

Assam's political season may feel the long shadow of Zubeen Garg's absence

The state is learning that the loss of a cultural icon can be more politically potent than any promise in an election manifesto

Adani Group plans to invest ₹63,000 crore in energy projects in Assam

Adani Power Ltd (APL) would invest around Rs 48,000 crore to set up a greenfield power plant while Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) would put in approximately Rs 15,000 crore for the two PSPs

Adani Group to invest ₹63,000 cr in two major power projects in Assam

The Adani Group will invest about Rs 63,000 crore in Assam to build major power projects, including the Northeast's largest private coal-fired plant, and new pumped-storage facilities. In a statement, the conglomerate run by billionaire Gautam Adani said its energy companies have received Letters of Award from the state government for two large power projects in Assam. Adani Power Ltd will put in roughly Rs 48,000 crore to build a 3,200 MW greenfield ultra-super-critical thermal plant under the Design, Build, Finance, Own and Operate (DBFOO) model. The company won the project with a tariff bid of Rs 6.30 per kWh (per unit) and has secured coal linkage under the Centre's SHAKTI policy. The plant will be commissioned in phases from December 2030 and is expected to generate 20,00025,000 jobs during construction and about 3,500 in operations. Adani Green Energy Ltd, the group's renewable energy company, will invest around Rs 15,000 crore in two Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) with a ..

Assam's new military station to boost security, intelligence: Experts

Amid apprehensions of increased cross-border crimes, activities by fundamentalist groups and alleged attempts by the Bangladesh caretaker government to create pressure on the chicken's neck' corridor that connects the North East with the rest of India, the upcoming army base in Assam has assumed special significance, experts said. Such a facility will boost border security and help the authorities concerned enhance intelligence, they said. Barely 40 km from the international border with Bangladesh, the Lachit Borphukan Military Station is being set up by the Indian Army at Bamunigaon in Assam's Dhubri district the first one in the western sector of the state. Lieutenant General RC Tiwari, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, laid the foundation stone for the facility last week during a visit to forward areas. The decision to set up the camp is a welcome one due to the prevailing situation in Bangladesh, Brigadier (retd) Ranjit Kumar Borthakur told PTI. The closes

Assam Cabinet clears Bill to ban polygamy, victims to receive compensation

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the state cabinet has approved a Bill to ban polygamy, for which convicts may face up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. However, there may be some exceptions for the Sixth Schedule areas. Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting here, Sarma said the government will also create a new fund to compensate the women victims of polygamy so that they do not face hardship in continuing with their lives. "The Assam cabinet today approved a Bill to ban polygamy. The Bill will be called 'The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025'. It will be tabled in the assembly on November 25," he added. Sarma said that if an accused is convicted of polygamy, he may face rigorous imprisonment of up to seven years. "We have also decided to create a fund to give compensation to the victim women. The government will help with financial support in the required cases so that no woman faces hardship in her life," he added.

Sitharaman lays foundation for Assam's first tech, vocational university

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday laid the foundation stone for Assam's first university focussed on technical and vocational education and training. The 'Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University' is being built at a cost of Rs 415 crore at Bholaguri in Gohpur in Biswanath district. The university will come up in a total area of 241 acres, with a built-up area of 7 lakh sq ft. It will feature academic blocks for 2,000 students, hostels for 1,620 students, residential quarters, guest house and a student facility centre. The university will offer courses in various technology domains, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, blockchain, drone and navigation technology, quantum computing, brain computer interface, internet of things, and smart cities and smart environments. The Union minister has been on a two-day visit to the state since Friday.

Assam gears up for high-profile visits by PM Modi, Shah in next 45 days

Union Finance Minister will arrive in Guwahati on November 7 and inspect the new semiconductor projects in Jagiroad

Projects worth ₹1.78 trillion to be launched by December: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that projects worth around Rs 1.78 lakh crore, committed during the investment summit earlier this year, will be launched by December. With the pouring in of investments and projects, youth will find more employment opportunities within the state, he said. The chief minister was speaking at a programme here on Friday evening for the laying of foundation stones for three major projects Medanta Super Speciality Hospital by Global Health Limited, Cocoon Mother and Childcare Hospital by RJ Corp Healthcare and the Lemon Tree five-star hotel. Asserting that the government has successfully projected a new image of Assam across the country, Sarma said investment commitments at Advantage Assam 2.0 are fructifying. He said that a thermal power project worth Rs 40,000 crore will soon commence in the state. By December, several projects, including multiple palm storage ventures worth Rs 30,000 crore, will begin, totalling investments of approxima

Gaurav Gogoi hits back at Himanta, says CM 'unfit' to hold office

A day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi is a "Pakistani agent, planted by foreign power", the opposition leader hit back on Saturday, claiming that such comments show that Sarma is "unfit" to hold his position as head of the government. Gogoi criticised the timing of the allegations on the day when the state's cultural icon Zubeen Garg's last movie was released on Friday. Sarma had been alleging Pakistani links of Gogoi through his British wife, with the chief minister reiterating the charges on Friday, and claiming that the Congress leader is a "Pakistani agent", planted by "foreign power", and that he had evidence to prove it. Reacting to the charges, Gogoi said in a post on X, "Over the past few months, Himanta Biswa Sarma dangoriya has lost credibility." "Yesterday, when the entire state was watching Zubeen Garg perform for the last time in 'Roi Roi Binale', the chief minister's comments showed his growing fear of

Singapore sends Zubeen Garg's post-mortem, toxicology reports to Assam SIT

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Singapore authorities have sent singer Zubeen Garg's post-mortem and toxicology reports to the state police. He maintained that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing Garg's death, has made substantial progress and will submit the chargesheet in court within the stipulated time. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here on Friday, Sarma said, When our SIT visited Singapore, they had assured of cooperation. Today, the Singapore authorities have formally sent the post-mortem and toxicology reports and their guidelines related to sea under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). The 52-year-old singer-composer had died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19. The 10-member SIT has arrested seven people so far, who are all currently in judicial custody. Sarma, who is also the state's home minister, asserted that the SIT will submit the chargesheet within the stipulated 90-day period. They (SIT

Zubeen's final film 'Roi Roi Binale' opens to packed halls across Assam

'Roi Roi Binale' (Tears still flow), the last film featuring popular singer-composer Zubeen Garg who died in Singapore last month, opened to packed shows across Assam on Friday. The first screening took place as early as 4.25 am at a multiplex in Guwahati with people queuing to watch their favourite star on the big screen for the last time. Shows started from morning hours in all cities of the state, with the movie also having a simultaneous nationwide release. With tickets of all shows for the next one week sold out, Garg's musical is expected to break all past box office records for Assamese cinema in the future. Most halls have scheduled up to seven shows a day, running till wee hours the next day to cater to demand. In 'Roi Roi Binale', Garg is playing the lead character, who is a blind musician. It has 11 songs, composed by himself. The film revolves around the life of a musician and his struggle. The trailer showed that his character was lying senseless on a sea beach and o