Assam Current Affairs 19 September 2026: Important Exam Updates

Why in News?

The Gauhati High Court observed that the Assam administration appeared to be misusing the law while demolishing 21 dwelling units on private agricultural land in Goalpara district.

Key Exam Points

• The case concerns demolition of houses belonging to 21 petitioners in Goalpara.
• The court observed prima facie that there was no imminent danger justifying the drastic action.
• The order referred to possible misuse of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• The earlier order also referred to the principles of natural justice.
• Natural justice was linked in the order to Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
• The court will consider compensation if the demolition is found to have been unauthorised.
• The next hearing was fixed for October 13.

Why in News?

The Election Commission directed rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress not to use the party name or the reserved ‘flowers and grass’ symbol during the West Bengal bypolls until the dispute is finally determined.

Key Exam Points

• The rival groups are led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy, according to the EC’s interim order.
• The dispute requires substantive determination under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
• Neither faction may use the party name or reserved symbol during the interim period.
• The EC directed the groups to submit preferred names and symbols.
• The issue is relevant to the EC’s role in disputes over recognised political parties and reserved symbols.

Why in News?

The Supreme Court directed the Manipur Chief Secretary to explain steps taken regarding deaths, including unnatural deaths, of internally displaced persons living in relief camps.

Key Exam Points

• The court sought an affidavit concerning deaths in relief camps.
• The bench questioned why post-mortems were conducted in only 20 of 34 reported death cases.
• The Manipur State Legal Services Authority was asked to file a separate status report.
• The court directed attention to FIR registration and investigation of unnatural deaths.
• The CBI had investigated 31 cases, with final reports filed in 28, according to the submission before the court.
• State SITs had registered 3,020 cases, with charge sheets filed in 302 matters.

Why in News?

Lakhimpur Police arrested more than 100 persons in operations against intermediaries and touts operating around government offices and agencies.

Key Exam Points

• The operations covered areas around police stations, DTOs, revenue circle offices, pension offices and BDO offices.
• The drive is intended to reduce unofficial channels between citizens and government departments.
• A Gaonburha was arrested for allegedly accepting a Rs 20,000 bribe for a land-related service.
• The development highlights challenges of last-mile governance and access to public services.
• It is relevant to transparency, accountability and anti-corruption mechanisms.

Why in News?

The National Testing Agency released a tentative calendar covering 14 competitive examinations scheduled between December 2026 and March 2027.

Key Exam Points

• UGC-NET: December 14-19, 2026, with December 20-21 as buffer dates.
• Joint CSIR-UGC NET: December 20-21, 2026.
• JEE-Main: January 22-24 and January 28-30, 2027, with January 31 as buffer date.
• CMAT: February 7, 2027.
• CUET-PG: Multiple dates in March 2027, with March 30-31 as buffer dates.
• The dates remain tentative and may change for administrative, academic, statutory or logistical reasons.

Why in News?

The US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which would authorise sanctions on Russia and tariffs on countries including India and China for purchasing Russian oil and gas.

Key Exam Points

• The House approved the bill by 262-159.
• The US Senate had passed the legislation earlier by 86-11.
• The bill includes measures targeting Russia’s leadership, energy sector and its so-called shadow fleet.
• It would authorise punitive tariffs on countries including India and China.
• The Indian MEA said India would take necessary measures to protect its economic interests and energy security.
• India has identified diversified sourcing and evolving market dynamics as part of its energy-security approach.

Why in News?

Speakers at a conference on the sidelines of the 63rd UN Human Rights Council session argued in support of keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, while presenting their interpretations of India’s position under international law.

Key Exam Points

• The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan.
• It concerns utilisation of the waters of the Indus river system.
• The speakers cited India’s decision to place the treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack.
• Claims supporting India’s position were made by individual speakers at the conference and should be distinguished from an independent UN determination.
• The issue connects transboundary rivers, international law, water security and India-Pakistan relations.

Why in News?

Pakistan and China held the inaugural meeting of a joint mechanism for managing their common border, based on their 2013 Boundary Management System agreement.

Key Exam Points

• The inaugural meeting was held in Islamabad.
• The mechanism is based on the 2013 Agreement on the Boundary Management System.
• India rejected the mechanism’s relevance to arrangements concerning Indian territory under what it considers illegal occupation.
• The issue also intersects with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
• The development is relevant to India’s concerns regarding Pakistan-occupied territories and China-Pakistan strategic cooperation.

Why in News?

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed a proposal for Canada to become the European Union’s first associate member.

Key Exam Points

• The proposal was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
• Associate membership in the EU does not currently exist as a status under the bloc’s treaties.
• The proposed relationship would cover trade, defence, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, space, research and financial services.
• Canada and the EU already have an existing free trade relationship.
• The development reflects changing economic and geopolitical alignments involving Canada, Europe and the United States.

Why in News?

South Korea announced plans to approve medication abortions for women up to nine weeks of pregnancy by the first quarter of 2027.

Key Exam Points

• The proposal follows the 2019 constitutional court ruling that ordered easing of the country’s abortion restrictions.
• The government plans to initially require abortion pills to be prescribed and dispensed directly by doctors.
• The proposed two-drug combination consists of mifepristone and misoprostol.
• The legislative gap after decriminalisation has created uncertainty over medication and surgical abortions.
• The issue involves reproductive healthcare, regulation, medical safety and women’s rights.

Why in News?

The Ministry of Finance expects the introduction of a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate on specified UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 to have limited impact on overall UPI usage.

Key Exam Points

• The MDR will apply from October 15, 2026.
• It applies to certain person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions above Rs 2,000.
• Person-to-person transfers and transactions below Rs 2,000 remain free.
• The MDR is 0.4%, capped at Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 or more.
• Railways, telecom, fuel and insurance transactions above Rs 2,000 attract a flat Rs 5 fee.
• Mutual fund and stock-market transactions attract a 0.02% rate, also capped at Rs 300.
• Small merchants collecting up to Rs 1 lakh a month through UPI QR codes remain exempt.

Why in News?

Oil India Ltd outlined its growth strategy at its 67th annual general meeting, focusing on domestic oil and gas production, exploration and selective expansion into clean energy.

Key Exam Points

• OIL is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise.
• In FY 2025-26, OIL produced 3.450 MMT of crude oil and 3.186 billion cubic metres of natural gas.
• It drilled 74 wells and reported a Reserve Replacement Ratio of 1.02.
• The company targets 10 MMTOE oil and gas production by the end of the decade.
• Its offshore portfolio includes the Andaman, Krishna-Godavari, Mahanadi and Kerala-Konkan basins.
• OIL is also involved in compressed biogas, waste-to-energy and renewable energy projects.
• The company is working towards Net Zero 2040.

Why in News?

GIFT City advanced nine places to 37th in the 40th edition of the Global Financial Centres Index.

Key Exam Points

• GIFT City moved from 46th to 37th in the GFCI.
• It also moved from 29th to 26th globally in the FinTech ranking.
• It is among the top 15 financial centres in the Asia-Pacific region in the latest index.
• The index evaluates financial centres on factors including innovation, access to finance, talent and regulation.
• Digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, financial crime controls and capital markets were highlighted as future priorities.

Why in News?

Global luxury cruise operator Scenic Group is planning an investment of around Rs 750-800 crore over the next decade to develop river cruising on the Ganga and Brahmaputra.

Key Exam Points

• The proposal covers river cruise tourism on the Ganga and Brahmaputra.
• The planned investment is around Rs 750-800 crore.
• The initiative is expected to support tourism infrastructure and local businesses in Assam.
• Potential beneficiaries include hospitality, transport, handicrafts, food, culture and adventure tourism.
• The development is connected with India’s inland waterways and cruise-tourism potential.

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India accepted bids worth Rs 50,000 crore in the first tranche of its open market operation sale of government securities.

Key Exam Points

• The operation was aimed at absorbing surplus liquidity from the banking system.
• The RBI accepted bids across several government securities maturing between 2029 and 2032.
• The largest acceptance reported was Rs 18,840 crore for the 8.28% government security maturing in 2032.
• Open Market Operations involve RBI purchase or sale of government securities to influence liquidity conditions.
• The issue is relevant to monetary policy transmission and liquidity management.

Why in News?

A newspaper analysis examined Guwahati’s recurring waterlogging and questioned whether urban transformation programmes have adequately addressed storm-water management.

Key Exam Points

• AMRUT was launched on June 25, 2015 to improve basic civic amenities in 500 cities.
• AMRUT 2.0 was launched on October 1, 2021 with a focus on water-secure cities.
• AMRUT 2.0 has an outlay of Rs 2,99,000 crore.
• Its objectives include water supply, sewerage and septage management, water-body rejuvenation, aquifer management and rainwater harvesting.
• The analysis noted that Guwahati’s listed AMRUT 2.0 projects focus on water supply and water-body rejuvenation rather than storm-water drainage.
• Guwahati’s urban flooding illustrates the importance of integrated urban water management.

Why in News?

Heavy rain caused widespread flooding in northern and north-central Vietnam, affecting homes, transport, agriculture and public services.

Key Exam Points

• Some areas received more than 50 centimetres of rain during the week.
• More than 2,000 homes were submerged and over 1,000 households were isolated.
• About 10,014 hectares of rice and other crops were submerged or damaged.
• Vietnam is considered highly vulnerable to flooding and severe storms.
• The flooding affected Hanoi and surrounding provinces, with schools and universities also disrupted.
• The event highlights disaster preparedness and climate-resilience challenges in Southeast Asia.

Why in News?

An annual initiative in Guwahati focused on collecting leftover Biswakarma idols and promoting responsible post-festival practices.

Key Exam Points

• The initiative has been conducted since 2012.
• It focuses on collection and responsible immersion of leftover idols after Biswakarma Puja.
• The programme aims to maintain cleanliness in public spaces and encourage community participation.
• The 2024 drive reportedly collected more than 1,000 idols from different localities in Guwahati.
• The issue connects festival practices with urban waste management and environmental responsibility.

Why in News?

AIIMS Guwahati completed and discharged its first two patients who underwent open-heart surgery at the institute on September 8.

Key Exam Points

• The patients were a 7-year-old child and a 47-year-old woman, both from Assam.
• The procedures involved congenital heart defects.
• The surgeries used a heart-lung machine or cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, cardiac anaesthesia, perfusion services and nursing teams were involved.
• Eligible patients can access cardiac surgery services free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, subject to applicable guidelines.

Why in News?

NHAI announced that its OneTag FASTag portability service is now available through the Rajmargyatra app.

Key Exam Points

• OneTag allows users to change their FASTag issuer while retaining the physical sticker.
• Users can check eligibility by entering their vehicle registration number.
• A mobile verification code is obtained from the existing issuer bank.
• After successful portability, the existing FASTag ID linked to the vehicle remains unchanged.
• The service illustrates the use of digital platforms to improve transport and highway services.

Why in News?

Boko Community Health Centre and First Referral Unit treated 654 snakebite patients between January 2022 and August 2026.

Key Exam Points

• Of the 654 cases, 16 involved venomous snakes.
• The venomous cases included cobra, pit-viper and krait bites.
• A total of 210 vials of polyvalent anti-snake venom were administered during the period.
• Two patients reportedly died during the period.
• In 2026 alone, 173 patients had been treated up to August, with 50 vials of ASV administered.
• Doctors emphasised rapid hospital treatment and warned against tightly tying cloth or rope above the bite site.