Page 13 - Assam

IIT Guwahati developing India's 1st VR metaverse for PM SHRI schools

Learning concepts of maths and science in local languages using virtual reality will soon be possible for students at PM Shri Adarsh Vidyalayas in Assam with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati developing the country's first VR-enabled metaverse platform for schools to engage students' curiosity and creativity. The project called "Gyandhara" in collaboration with Ministry of Science and Technology, and Department of Education, Assam Government will start as a pilot initiative in 56 PM Shri schools in Assam, later this year. The program is designed to enhance their educational experience by providing a more engaging way to learn about various scientific and academic topics that might otherwise be abstract or difficult to grasp in traditional learning format. According to Dr. Keyur Sorathia, Associate Professor at the Department of IIT Guwahati, who is spearheading the initiative, the "Gyan Dhara Metaverse" utilises virtual reality (VR) technology for creating interacti

Nearly 24.4 mn tourists visited state in last 4 yrs: Assam tourism minister

Assam Tourism Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass said in the state assembly that, more than 24.3 million domestic tourists and 60,306 foreign tourists visited Assam in last four years

No new schemes in Assam budget, focus on expanding existing ones: CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the state budget for 2025-26 has no new announcements, as the government is focused on expansion of existing schemes and ensuring that the benefits percolate to more people. He maintained that the Assam government is pursuing a model of development where physical infrastructure is built along with taking forward culture and heritage. "Some are trying to say that this is an election budget. But, there are no new announcements in it," Sarma said during a discussion on the budget in the assembly. He said the budget focuses on taking forward the existing schemes with some new additions. Some of the new additions in the budget the second BJP-led state government's last full-fledged one before the assembly polls next year relate to the ones about the OTT platform for Assamese content and own satellite, the chief minister said. Assam's budget and capital expenditure have increased manifold over the last 10 years, he asserted, add

Assam tea body welcomes proposal for AI-driven, blockchain auction system

The North East Tea Association (NETA) on Tuesday welcomed the Assam budget's proposal for an AI-driven, blockchain-based tea auctioning system in the state. It also lauded the extension given to the exemption of green leaf cess for another two years. "The proposal in the state budget presented on Monday for an AI-driven, blockchain-based tea auctioning system is an excellent initiative and we welcome this step of the government," NETA advisor Bidyananda Barkakoty said on Tuesday. According to the budget proposal, the Assam government will work with tea industry stakeholders to introduce India's first AI-driven, blockchain-based tea auctioning system to enhance transparency and efficiency. The digital platform will revolutionise the tea trade by ensuring secure transactions and fair pricing. The initiative will strengthen Assam's position as a global leader in the tea industry, it said. Barkakoty pointed out that a blockchain auction is a decentralised, transparent and tamper-proof

Assam's Byrnihat tops global pollution list; Delhi leads capitals: Report

Thirteen of the world's top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam topping the list, according to a new report published on Tuesday. The World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir said Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India ranked as the world's fifth most polluted country in 2024, down from third in 2023. The report said India saw a 7 per cent decline in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Yet, six of the world's 10 most polluted cities are in India. Delhi recorded consistently high pollution levels, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 91.6 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly unchanged from 92.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. The 13 Indian cities in the world's top 20 most polluted cities are Byrnihat, Delhi, Mullanpur (Punjab), Faridabad, Loni, New Delhi, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, ...

Assam's annual borrowings increase by 78% over 3 years: Economic Survey

The average annual borrowings by the Assam government increased by nearly 78 per cent over three years from 2019-20, while growth has slowed down for GSDP and per capita income during the current fiscal compared to the preceding year, according to the state's Economic Survey report for 2024-25. The report, tabled in the state assembly on Monday, said the borrowing of the state government was Rs 16,634.53 crore in 2019-20. It increased to Rs 30,510.80 crore in 2022-23, with an annual average growth of 77.92 per cent over the previous year. It said that as per advance estimates, the nominal GSDP at current prices for 2024-25 is likely to be Rs 6.43 lakh crore as against Rs 5.70 lakh crore in 2023-24, reflecting a growth of 12.74 per cent. According to figures mentioned in the budget speech of Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, the state's GSDP growth was 19 per cent in 2023-24 compared to the preceding year, indicating a fall in the projected annual growth rate for 2024-25. The Economic .

Assam to launch its satellite, talks on with Isro for ASSAMSAT project

Assam is preparing to launch its very own satellite, named 'ASSAMSAT', to collect data for socio-economic projects and border surveillance, said the state government

Assam ADRE results 2025 out: Grade 3, 4 results announced, details here

The Assam Direct Recruitment Exam (ADRE) results 2025 for Grade 3 and Grade 4 positions has been announced today, March 7, by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on the SLRC's official websites

Assam passes Bills allowing Guv to head autonomous councils if polls late

The Assam Assembly on Thursday passed amendment Bills related to seven autonomous councils, authorising the governor to take over the functioning of these bodies if holding of elections is found to be "impractical" even at the end of the mandated extended term of the elected committees. Tribal Affairs Minister Ranoj Pegu, who introduced the Bills, said that there is a provision of extending the term of the elected councils running these bodies for a maximum of one year. "The problem will arise if elections cannot be held even after the end of the extended period. And hence, these amendment Bills have been brought," he said. The amendment Bills pertained to Mising Autonomous Council, Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council, Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council, Deori Autonomous Council, Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council, Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and Tiwa Autonomous Council. The amendment states that if the governor is "satisfied that circumstances so exist which render holding

SLPRB Assam Police SI Result: Check results at slprbassam.in,direct link

The State-Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB) Assam will announce the Assam Police SI and other positions' written exam result today, March 6, at slprbassam.in at 11 am

Assam received Rs 5.18 trn investment proposals in biz summit: CM Himanta

A total investment commitment of Rs 5,18,205 crore was received at the recently concluded Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday. The commitments amount to 80 per cent of the state's gross domestic product (GDP), which is projected to reach Rs 6.43 lakh crore by March, Sarma said at a press conference here. "We will begin analysing the proposals in the new financial year, and over the next six months, we will prepare a roadmap for their implementation," he said. A detailed agreement will be signed after thoroughly studying the proposals to ensure their successful execution, he added. "It is not necessary that all MoUs will translate into investments. The usual success rate of implementation is around 50 per cent, but I am hopeful for 80 per cent, which would make Assam one of the leading states in the country," Sarma added. Providing land for projects and offering incentives are expected to be major challenges in

India's Got Latent Row: Chanchlani records statement with Guwahati police

Joint Police Commissioner Ankur Jain said that notices had been served to several individuals named in the FIR, including Ranveer Allahabadia, Samay Raina, Apoorva Mukhija, and Jaspreet Singh

Assam Rifles, police recover arms, ammunition in Mizoram, 3 arrested

The apprehended individuals and recovered items have been handed over to Mizoram Police for further legal proceedings

Central Assam hit by 5.0 magnitude earthquake; no casualty reported

An earthquake of 5 magnitude jolted the central part of Assam on Thursday morning, an official bulletin said. There is no immediate report of any injury to anyone or damage to any property, officials said. A National Center for Seismology report said the quake was recorded at 2:25 am in Morigaon district on the southern bank of Brahmaputra, at a depth of 16 km. The exact location of the epicentre of the earthquake is around 52 km east from Guwahati in central Assam. People in the neighbouring Kamrup Metropolitan, Nagaon, East Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Hojai, Dima Hasao, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar and Goalpara districts also felt the jolt. Darrang, Tamulpur, Sonitpur, Kamrup, Biswanath, Udalguri, Nalbari, Bajali, Barpeta, Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Lakhimpur on the northern bank of Brahmaputra too felt the tremor. The earthquake could be felt in some areas of central-western Arunachal Pradesh,

Adani Group to invest $18 billion in various projects across Assam, MP

Asia's second-richest person, on Tuesday, pledged spending Rs 50,000 crore in the northeastern state of Assam in areas including airports, city gas, transmission, cement and roads

Trade, tech, tourism, to be key drivers for Assam's growth: Piyush Goyal

Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said 3Ts trade, technology and tourism along with 3Is industry, infrastructure and investment will take Assam towards development. "Unprecedented progress is taking place in Assam which is the 'crown of the Ashtalakshmi' states of the Northeast region. It will surge further ahead due to the talent, hardwork and hospitality of the people of the state," Goyal said at the valedictory session of Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure summit here. Assam government rejected various investment proposals during the summit but focused on the practical and possible ones which could be implemented, he said. A permanent exhibition hall and convention centre like the Bharat Mandapam will be set up in Assam as a joint venture between the Centre and the state government, Goyal added.

MoUs worth Rs 10,785 cr signed on Day 2 of business summit in Assam

Investment proposals amounting to Rs 10,785 crore have been signed so far with companies across various sectors on the concluding day of the two-day Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025 here on Wednesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The state government inked a Rs 3,000 crore MoU with Virinchi Limited to set up a 200 MW data centre, along with another MoU worth Rs 200 crore with Virinchi Healthcare Private Limited to set up a 500-bed super specialty hospital. A Rs 3,200 crore pact was signed with Star Cements Ltd to establish a cement clinker and grinding plant through their subsidiary Star Cement North East Ltd. The state government also signed a Rs 1,500 crore agreement with Matheson Hydrogen Pvt Ltd to set up a 95 KTPA Hydrogen and Steam Generation Plant. A Rs 700 crore deal was inked with UltraTech Cement for establishing a grinding unit and a cement-bulk terminal. Copper Plus Holdings SAC signed a Rs 1,000 crore agreement for services and

World Bank bullish on India, reaffirms confidence in its economic potential

The World Bank on Wednesday expressed strong confidence in the Indian economy and appealed to all to come and invest in the country. Speaking at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Business Summit, World Bank country director Auguste Tano Kouame said the lender remains optimistic about India's economic prospects, despite a slight downward trend in growth. "We are not worried about India's growth at the moment. We are very bullish about India and will remain bullish," he added. He emphasised that fluctuations of one percentage point in economic growth do not alter the World Bank's positive outlook. "If somebody is worried about recent data, we would like to say that don't worry. India is the shining light in the world. If you are looking to invest, then come and invest here. The Indian growth makes it the place to invest," he added. For the current fiscal, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projected the economic growth at 7.2 per cent in December 2024, compared to 8.2 per cent in 2023-24.

Govt to spend Rs 4,800 cr for waterways development in Assam: Sonowal

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday that the Centre will spend Rs 4,800 crore for developing waterways and related infrastructure in Assam in the next five years. The ports, shipping and waterways minister was speaking at a session on the state's road, railway and riverine infrastructure at the 'Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit' here. "I want to announce that in the next five years, Rs 4,800 crore will be spent by my ministry in Assam," Sonowal said. The amount will be spent on various works, like building a ship repair facility, construction of alternate roads for ports and development of terminals. Sonowal said a centre of excellence in maritime education will also be established in the state, which will provide 5,000 skilled youth to the shipping industry annually. The union minister also highlighted the importance of waterways in economic development and maintained that the sector has received a major boost since the BJP-led government t

Star Cement proposes Rs 3,200-cr plant in Assam, agreement signed

Star Cement Ltd has proposed to set up a Rs 3,200-crore cement clinker and grinding plant in Assam. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed between the state government and the company on the concluding day of the Advantage Assam business summit on Wednesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Apart from this, an agreement was inked between the state government and Matheson Hydrogen Lvt Ltd, which is willing to set up a Rs 1,500-crore hydrogen and steam generation plant. The state government also signed a Rs 500-crore MoU with Global Health Ltd, while two non-financial agreements were signed with ITE Education Service. Sarma said he was grateful to the companies for their support, and noted that more agreements will be signed during the day. A total of 164 MoUs of investment proposals with companies in 15 sectors were signed on day one of the 'Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025' on Tuesday.