Blog

A four-day training and orientation programme on water management and the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) concluded at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Boleng on Friday. The event brought together government officials, teachers, health workers and Anganwadi personnel to enhance awareness of the proposed project and promote sustainable water resource management. The programme took place from July 28.

Vedanta Oil & Gas has initiated a relief effort to assist communities affected by recent flooding in Assam. The company is delivering dry ration kits and safe drinking water to families impacted by the floods in the Teok and Jorhat areas within Jorhat district.

The historic Nathu La Pass reopened on January 31, 2026, enabling border trade between India and China after a six-year closure. This reopening marks the revival of commerce along the ancient Silk Route and is expected to stimulate economic activity in Sikkim’s border regions.

The 2026 border trade season was formally inaugurated at No Man’s Land.

Dimapur police have dismantled an interstate cocaine trafficking network following the arrest of five individuals and the seizure of approximately 33 grams of suspected cocaine. The seized substance has been forwarded for forensic examination, according to police officials.

The arrest of a key alleged cocaine supplier operating within the city was confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) in Dimapur.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the Union Government’s decision on Saturday to release an additional Rs 3,552 crore to the state as tax devolution. He stated that this allocation would accelerate infrastructure development and strengthen Assam’s long-term growth.

Sharing the announcement on X, Sarma thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Centre’s continued support.

The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has condemned the Assam government’s decision to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against Indigenous land rights activist Pranab Doley. CASR described the move as an attack on democratic dissent and the rights of Indigenous communities.

The NSA was invoked against Doley a day after a Golaghat sessions court took action related to a protest at a hotel near Kaziranga, where Doley had demonstrated. CASR criticised the government’s approach, highlighting concerns over civil liberties and the right to protest.

Illegal sand and coal mining continue in several districts of Assam despite repeated interventions by the Supreme Court, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and the Gauhati High Court. This was revealed in a report published by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) spokesperson Reetam Singh on January 31, 2026. The report states that illegal mining remains widespread, indicating ongoing non-compliance with judicial directives.

Universities from the Northeast have secured prominent positions in the National Green University Ranking (NGUR) 2026, with four institutions from the region included among India’s top 50 for sustainability. This achievement underscores the increasing focus on environmentally conscious higher education in one of the nation’s richest biodiversity zones.

Leading the Northeast is Assam University, which has distinguished itself in the rankings, followed closely by institutions in Meghalaya, highlighting the region’s commitment to sustainable practices in academia.

Assam cartoonist Nituparna Rajbongshi has initiated a fundraising campaign to support the recovery of children affected by recent floods in the Sivasagar and Charaideo districts. Collaborating with the Kahini Children’s Library project under Fireflies, the campaign focuses on addressing the psychological trauma, educational disruptions and emotional challenges faced by these children. The initiative seeks to provide mental health support and help restore learning opportunities for the flood-affected young population.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann addressed women at a government-organised event in Dhuri town, Sangrur district, in June, saying, “You might start receiving messages just now that money has been credited to your accounts.” As he spoke, many women at the function stood up jubilantly.