Assam CA 25 June

1.

To empower students from Government High Schools in Kamrup District, the Kamrup District Administration has joined forces with IIT Guwahati for the Super-20(Sopan) training programme. The aim of this initiative is to inspire and prepare students to appear in prestigious engineering entrance exams such as JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) and AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Exam).

This visionary program initiated by the Kamrup District Administration aims to provide academic guidance, mentoring, and counseling to aspiring engineering students. Through the expertise of faculty members from IIT Guwahati, the selected 20 students will receive free training for one year to excel in competitive exams through a combination of online and offline modes.

The Super-20(Sopan) training programme is set to empower and equip students from Kamrup District with the necessary skills and support to excel in national-level engineering entrance exams, opening up avenues for brighter futures and promising careers.

2.

 an amount of Rs 205.73 crores will be given to Numaligarh Refinery Limited as equity share.  

Assam Government holds a 26 percent share in Numaligarh Refinery Limited. The equity of this 26 percent, along with an additional equity share, amounts to a total investment of 823 crores, which has been approved by the cabinet. Out of this amount, 205.73 crores will be provided to Numaligarh as equity share

It is noteworthy that Numaligarh Refinery Limited is set to become a Maharatna Company, and the Assam Government’s 26 per cent share in this company has received approval from the cabinet

3.

In a strategic move, the Assam government is mulling to construct northeast India’s first-ever rail-road tunnel under the Brahmaputra river.

After detailed discussion and with an estimated cost of Rs 6000 crore it was decided to construct a rail-road underwater tunnel between Gohpur and Numaligarh.

 the first tender will open on July 4, 2023, for the preparation of the DIPR for land selection and if everything goes as per plan, the construction of this project will start during present CM’s tenure

It is to be mentioned here that Pm Modi has already approved the project to bring the north and south of Brahmaputra closer.
 

4.

In a weekly cabinet meeting, the Assam cabinet on Saturday approved filling up the vacancies for the posts in which the candidates selected in the examination for Grade III and Grade IV did not join.

The cabinet approved that to fill the posts where candidates selected in the examination for Grade III and Grade IV posts did not join, other candidates who were not selected but secured the same cut-off marks in the respective lowest Grade Pay category in the recruitment examination will be appointed.

The criteria set by the cabinet for filling up the vacant posts are:

• Maximum vacancies will be filled up with candidates who have already appeared in the recruitment process and obtained the same cut-off marks

• The number of posts to be filled up in this category will depend upon the vacancies communicated by the respective administrative departments

It may be mentioned that the results to fill up numerous Grade-III and Grade IV positions in the Government of Assam were declared on May 3 and 4 respectively. The results for the examination conducted by the Assam State Level Recruitment Commission were declared on the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) official website. However, it is noticed that several selected candidates did not join the posts or resigned after joining due to which the cabinet decided to fill up the vacancies.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, taking to Twitter, informed of the several other decisions taken as part of the cabinet meeting held earlier in the day.

5.

Streamlining Monthly Accounting

• Revised Procedure for online submission of monthly accounts relating to Works and Forest Department to Accountant General’s (AG) office

• Approval to:

1. Online submission of consolidated monthly accounts to AG
2. Dispensing with manual cheque drawal for works-related expenditure through submission of online treasury bills forms TR59 and TR60
3. Dispensing with operating remittance head of account 8782 for Works/Forest expenditure
4. Draft Assam Treasury (Amendment) Rules, 2023

The proposed system shall streamline Works/Forest accounts through technical integration, resulting in timely accounting and facilitating generation of real-time information regarding finance through civil accounts which in turn will help in taking decision

6.

Government’s Additional Equity in NRL Project

• Government to invest Rs. 823 crore as additional equity in the Expansion Project of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) against the ‘Right issue of Additional Equity Share of 74809091 nos. to the Govt of Assam’

• Rs. 205.72 crore to be released by Government of Assam towards the first call against the total right Shares amounting to Rs. 823 crore
• NRL has undertaken a major expansion project at an estimated cost of Rs. 28,026 crore for:

1. Refinery expansion from existing 3 MMT to 9 MMT
2. Laying of 1,398 km Crude Pipeline from Paradeep to Numaligarh
3. Laying of 605-km Product Pipeline from Numaligarh to Siliguri

• The proposed expansion project of NRL to bring an investment of Rs. 28,026 crore in the state

7.

The Assam Cabinet under the chairmanship of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday approved new regulations for idol immersion in the state, including a total ban on the use of synthetic colours for painting idols that would be immersed.

As per the cabinet decision, the state cabinet has given its approval to amendment of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Assam Rules, 2022 to incorporate “Regulation for Idol Immersion” for the prevention of Water Pollution.

The key features shared by Assam Government in this regard are:

Identification of designated and permanent immersion ghats along river banks with protected reach. While, unprotected reaches will be avoided with barricades built to prevent damage to slope.

Secondly, commercial/private river liners not to anchor or harbor at permanent idol immersion points, with Water Resources Department to construct ramps for idol immersion.

Thirdly, construction of temporary ponds having earthen bunds along river banks for idol immersion.

And lastly, a complete ban on the use of synthetic colours for painting idols that would be immersed.

The cabinet claimed that these rules will ensure a decrease in the usage of Plaster of Paris (POP) and other harmful elements like chemicals and toxic paints in idol making, specify steps regarding immersion of idols, and ensure improvement in the water quality of rivers, etc.

8.

Joha Rice, an aromatic variety of rice cultivated in Assam can prevent diabetes, claims study.

According to scientists at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology which is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology located in Guwahati, it said that the Joha rice is effective in lowering the blood glucose and preventing diabetes onset.  

The scientists Rajlakshmi Devi and Paramita Choudhury in their research explored the Joha rice’s nutraceutical properties or the physiological benefit or its protective features against chronic disease.

The researchers through vitro laboratory analysis found that the Joha rice had two unsaturated fatty acids. These are linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic (omega-3) acids which are basically fatty acids that the human body can’t produce and they greatly assist in maintaining various physiological conditions.

Omega-3 fatty acid prevents several metabolic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

During the experiment, it was found that Joha was effective in lowering the blood glucose and preventing diabetes onset in diabetic rats.

Going further, the scientists also discovered that scented Joha rice has a more balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in comparison to the widely consumed non-scented variety.

This rice has several additional benefits. It is rich in several antioxidants, flavonoids, and phenolics.

Joha rice variety is a short-grain winter paddy which is well known for its distinct and significant aroma and delicate and excellent taste. Assam is the largest cultivator of this rice and it is widely cultivated in Garo Hills.

9.

The Gauhati High Court on Friday told the Assam government to be more proactive in the implementation of laws which concern the welfare and employment of transgender persons.

A HC bench of Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Devashis Baruah said this while hearing a batch of petitions filed before the court regarding the welfare of transgender persons in Assam. The plea, filed by transgender activist and advocate Swati Bidhan Baruah, referred to the recent process for recruitment of sub-inspectors and constables against vacant posts in the Assam Police, where a separate category for transgender persons was not included. They were instead clubbed along with male candidates. This resulted in criticism of the state government from Chief Justice Mehta for its lack of sensitivity.

the Court went on to direct the State to conduct further studies and to come up with a proposal for a draft action plan while conducting the future recruitment of members of the community, by June 27. This is the date when the matter is slated to be heard next.

During the course of hearing on Friday, Baruah also referred to the lack of concrete steps taken towards the formation of a transgender welfare board, which the court had called for while passing earlier orders. Chief Justice Mehta observed that the government’s submissions appeared to be vague on this aspect, after he had examined an affidavit filed by the State in the case.

On the other hand, Baruah suggested that mandatory boards and committees have to be formed as per the NALSA judgment of the Supreme Court, which has not been done. It was also declared before the Court that the recent police recruitment had violated the glossary of terms which was issued recently by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

10.

The Railway Ministry has allocated Rs 153.84 crore for the under-construction railway line between India’s Tripura and Bangladesh

The Rs 862.58 crore Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) railway project is expected to be operational by the end of this year or early next year.

the funding of the project is being done by the Ministry of DONER (Development of the North Eastern Region), and already about Rs 708.74 crore of the anticipated cost has been provided and utilised.

the new rail project would boost relations between India and Bangladesh, which would help the growth of small-scale industries in the border area and boost tourism in the northeastern region. It would also help in the export and import of commodities faster and help the local producers export their products outside the country faster.

Indian Railways is significantly working towards the PM’s vision of ‘Act East Policy’ and ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ by executing several new railway line projects connecting neighbouring countries. Constructing the Agartala-Akhaura international connectivity rail line project between India and Bangladesh is one such crucial project that is at an advanced stage of completion. The 15.064-km-long railway line (5.05 km in India and 10.014 km in Bangladesh) would link Bangladesh’s Akhaura through an international immigration station at Nischintapur (on the outskirts of Agartala), which would be a dual-gauge station for both passenger and goods interchange between India and Bangladesh. The project includes one major bridge and three minor bridges. After completion of the project, the travel time between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka of about 31 hours would be reduced to 10 hours, De said. Currently, the people of the region, especially those in Tripura and its adjoining areas, go to Kolkata via Guwahati by rail, spending more than 31 hours there. The Maligaon (Guwahati)-headquartered Northeast Frontier Railway is the nodal agency of the Agartala-Akhaura railway project, which was finalised in January 2010 when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during her visit to New Delhi. The NFR officials in Agartala said that over 90 percent of the work on the Agartala-Akhaura railway project on the Indian side has already been completed