Assam Current Affairs 2 October 2026: Important Exam Updates

Why in News?

Charaideo district administration is using the Chirayu Charaideo initiative to identify children at risk of dropping out and bring out-of-school children back into education through peer participation and institutional convergence.

Key Exam Points

• The campaign includes “Apunar Bondhu Kot Gol, Notun Bondhu Kun Ahil” — a peer-participation mechanism for identifying absent and out-of-school children.
• Students report vulnerable cases while schools maintain attendance and peer-reporting registers.
• CRCCs verify cases through home visits and counselling.
• Average student attendance reportedly increased from 46.41% to 61.76% after the initiative began in 2024.
• Elementary dropout declined from 8.61% to 4.4%, while secondary dropout declined from 25.7% to 12.4%.
• The initiative also includes Janma Setu for delayed birth registration, Gramyo Grantha Mela, Sonjogi Bhasha Samol–Pipli and community-based digital learning through Prerona Kaksha.

Why in News?

Guwahati has been selected among 50 cities across 24 States under the Centre’s PRAGATI-50 initiative, launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0.

Key Exam Points

• PRAGATI-50 focuses on visible cleanliness, solid waste management, used-water management, sanitation and citizen participation.
• Cities are expected to prepare time-bound action plans and use key performance indicators and technology-enabled monitoring.
• The initiative places emphasis on measurable outcomes rather than only announcing projects.
• The newspaper highlighted continuing challenges in Guwahati involving waste segregation, sanitation, drinking water and implementation capacity.
• The programme is relevant to urban local governance and sustainable urban development.

Why in News?

The Manipur Cabinet approved one-time special humanitarian assistance of ₹10 lakh each to the next of kin of 49 persons reported missing in connection with the ethnic violence that began in May 2023.

Key Exam Points

• The proposed assistance will cost ₹4.90 crore and will be met from State funds.
• The families of deceased victims had already received ₹10 lakh each.
• Figures cited in the Assembly indicated 306 deaths and 49 missing persons up to August 31, 2026.
• Thirty-four persons previously reported missing were subsequently found dead.
• The Cabinet also approved a proposal to constitute the 5th Manipur State Finance Commission for 2026-27 to 2030-31.

Why in News?

The United States announced the departure of its last forces from Iraq, marking the end of the US-led military mission against the Islamic State in the country.

Key Exam Points

• The US-led international coalition’s military mission against ISIS in Iraq operated under the name Operation Inherent Resolve.
• The withdrawal follows a transition agreement reached between Iraq and the United States in 2024.
• The end of the military mission does not mean the complete end of US-Iraq relations.
• The newspaper noted that future cooperation can include advising Iraqi security forces, counter-terrorism cooperation, training and military equipment support.
• ISIS no longer controls territory in Iraq but remains a security concern through residual cells.

Why in News?

Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces. Afghan authorities reported civilian deaths and injuries, while Pakistan said the strikes targeted militant hideouts.

Key Exam Points

• The Afghan side reported that civilian homes were hit and that civilians were killed and injured.
• Pakistan stated that the strikes targeted armed-group camps and hideouts.
• The episode reflects continuing tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
• The issue is relevant to cross-border terrorism, sovereignty, civilian protection and regional security.
• Reports from the two sides presented differing accounts of the targets and casualties.

Why in News?

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India directed telecom service providers to prominently display TRAI-mandated recharge plans and special tariff vouchers on websites, mobile applications and exclusive points of sale.

Key Exam Points

• Operators have been directed to create a clearly visible “TRAI-Mandated Packs” section as the first tab in the prepaid recharge section.
• They must also prominently display the information at exclusive points of sale.
• The direction followed consumer complaints about poor visibility and accessibility of mandated vouchers.
• TRAI has also mandated special tariff vouchers for voice calls and SMS without bundled data.
• The new regulation focuses on vouchers with validity of 30 days or less.

Why in News?

India reported healthy growth in exports of products including motor vehicles, heavy water and moulding patterns following implementation of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Free Trade Association.

Key Exam Points

• EFTA comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
• India and EFTA implemented the TEPA on October 1, 2025.
• EFTA countries have committed to promoting USD 100 billion in investments in India over 15 years, according to the report.
• The investment commitment is linked to an expected creation of 1 million direct jobs.
• The agreement is relevant to trade diversification, investment and manufacturing.

Why in News?

Passenger vehicle dispatches in India’s domestic market were estimated at around 4.60 lakh units in September, representing approximately 21% growth over the previous year.

Key Exam Points

• The growth came as manufacturers increased supplies ahead of the festive season.
• Maruti Suzuki’s domestic passenger vehicle dispatches rose 37% to 1,81,838 units.
• Tata Motors recorded 68,810 units, while Mahindra & Mahindra recorded 64,092 units.
• Hyundai’s domestic wholesale dispatches rose 10.9% to 57,166 units.
• The newspaper linked demand conditions to GST rates, borrowing costs and changes in income-tax slabs.

Why in News?

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Food Corporation of India signed an agreement for a two-year Phase-I study on alternative fumigation technologies for safer and more sustainable management of storage pests in wheat and rice.

Key Exam Points

• The study will be implemented by the Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana.
• Traditional grain-storage pest control has relied heavily on aluminium phosphide and malathion.
• The study will examine nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide and a combination of carbon dioxide and phosphine.
• The initiative links food security with safer post-harvest management and reduced pest resistance.
• It is relevant to agricultural storage, post-harvest losses and food-grain management.

Why in News?

The Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association urged the Forest Department to make public the number of tea gardens that have digitally registered and geo-tagged shade trees under the Assam Trees Outside Forest (Sustainable Management) Portal.

Key Exam Points

• The portal is intended for digital registration and tracking of trees growing outside notified forest areas.
• The organisation sought authenticated data on registration and geo-tagging among more than 170 major tea gardens in Dibrugarh.
• Shade trees such as siris have ecological importance within tea plantations.
• The article contains allegations of illegal tree felling and irregular land transactions; these allegations had not been independently established and require verification.
• Digital geo-tagging can support monitoring, transparency and resource management.

Why in News?

The Pollution Control Board, Assam reported 24-hour average Air Quality Index readings for October 1, 2026 in several Assam cities.

Key Exam Points

• Guwahati recorded an AQI value of 58, classified as satisfactory.
• Nalbari recorded 29, classified as good.
• Nagaon recorded 67, classified as satisfactory.
• Sivasagar recorded 48 and Silchar recorded 48, both classified as good.
• AQI is used to communicate ambient air-quality conditions through a composite index.

Why in News?

Concerns over food hygiene and safety have increased in Goalpara ahead of the festive season, with demands for stronger inspections of restaurants, sweet shops, bakeries, markets and roadside food establishments.

Key Exam Points

• Concerns include stale food, repeated reuse of cooking oil, poor refrigeration and improper handling.
• Improper packaging and inadequate food labelling were also highlighted.
• Authorities were urged to focus on FSSAI registration, food sampling, laboratory testing, potable water, kitchen hygiene and food-grade packaging.
• Food safety is a public-health issue and requires regulatory inspection as well as consumer awareness.
• The report also highlighted concerns about non-standard weights and measures.

Why in News?

SpaceX launched four astronauts for a six-month mission to the International Space Station after a three-week delay linked to repairs to the spacecraft’s fuel system.

Key Exam Points

• The crew is led by NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins.
• Watkins became the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit, according to the report.
• The mission includes NASA’s Luke Delaney, Canada’s Joshua Kutryk and Russia’s Sergey Teteryatnikov.
• The spacecraft’s journey to the ISS was expected to take about eight hours.
• The mission was designated Crew-13 and is the 13th crew launched by SpaceX for NASA, excluding the company’s 2020 test flight.

Why in News?

A rare leafless orchid species, Gastrodia keyiensis, has been recorded from Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh and formally described in the journal Phytotaxa on September 9.

Key Exam Points

• The species belongs to the genus Gastrodia, which contains leafless orchids with underground or concealed growth habits.
• Only five flowering individuals were found at the discovery site.
• The species was found in deep shade on decaying litter.
• It is holomycotrophic, meaning it lacks leaves and chlorophyll and obtains nutrients through soil fungi.
• The plant can grow up to 35 cm tall and bears one to three white to pale-blue flowers.
• Its yellow, strongly curved labellum is a distinctive floral feature.

Why in News?

ICAR and the Food Corporation of India signed an agreement for a two-year Phase-I study on alternative fumigation technologies for safer and sustainable management of storage pests in wheat and rice.

Key Exam Points

• The project will be implemented by the Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana.
• The study addresses challenges associated with repeated use of conventional fumigants.
• Technologies under examination include nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide and a carbon-dioxide/phosphine combination.
• The initiative connects agricultural storage with food security and post-harvest management.
• The newspaper reported high pest-resistance frequencies in key States, increasing the need for alternative approaches.

Why in News?

During a review of development works in the Barak Valley, the Assam Chief Minister said that road and infrastructure projects worth more than ₹15,000 crore are currently under way in Silchar.

Key Exam Points

• The projects are being undertaken by NHIDCL and the Assam PWD.
• The scale of simultaneous construction has caused inconvenience to residents.
• Test piling for a proposed Silchar flyover has already been undertaken.
• A detailed review of Barak Valley projects was planned after the Durga Puja holidays.
• The development is relevant to regional connectivity, urban infrastructure and Northeast economic integration.

Why in News?

Tension arose in Barghuli, a village along the Assam-Meghalaya inter-State boundary in South Kamrup, after a section of residents reportedly sought inclusion of the village in Meghalaya.

Key Exam Points

• Barghuli is inhabited mainly by Garo and Rabha communities and lies around six kilometres from Ukiam.
• The dispute has coincided with government exercises involving census work and formation of a Forest Rights Committee.
• The Chhaygaon Circle Officer visited the village with forest officials, police and members of the Forest Protection Force.
• Officials explained the Forest Rights Act-related process to tribal residents occupying forest land.
• The episode illustrates the importance of border administration, community participation and implementation of forest-rights processes.

Why in News?

Charabari Satra in Nalbari, established by Mahapurush Madhabdev in 1581, has suffered damage to its Manikut and Kirtan Ghar following heavy rains and is seeking greater support for preservation.

Key Exam Points

• The satra was established by Mahapurush Madhabdev in 1581.
• Its Manikut and Kirtan Ghar have suffered roof damage and water-related deterioration.
• An Assam-type guest house was constructed under the Assam Darshan scheme at a reported cost of ₹15 lakh.
• A patkua associated with Madhabdev, two inscriptions and other heritage items are preserved at the satra.
• The case highlights the need for conservation of Assam’s religious and cultural heritage sites.

Why in News?

Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is preparing to host an exposition of sacred relics of the Buddha from November 1 to 7, along with an International Buddhist Conference from November 2 to 3.

Key Exam Points

• The programme is being organised by the Union Ministry of Culture with the State Government, International Buddhist Confederation and National Museum.
• The sacred relics are preserved at the National Museum in New Delhi.
• Tawang previously hosted an exposition in 2013, which attracted around 26,000 devotees.
• The programme coincides with Lhabab Duchen, an important day in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.
• The event has significance for Buddhist heritage, cultural diplomacy and tourism in the Northeast.

Why in News?

Filmmaker Theja Rio’s debut feature film Angh won the Platform Prize at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival along with a cash prize of CAD 20,000.

Key Exam Points

• Angh was the only Indian film selected for the 12-film Platform competition, according to the report.
• The film is set in the early 1960s and follows the last surviving chief of a deserted Konyak village near the India-Myanmar border.
• The story explores the interaction between traditional community life and social change.
• Rio had earlier made a short film of the same name in 2021.
• The film is relevant to discussions on Northeast identity, indigenous culture and representation in global cinema.