Assam Politics & Governance

Assam Co-operative Apex Bank seeks CBI probe into alleged fraud

1 April 2026

Assam Co-operative Apex Bank sought a CBI inquiry into alleged fraud in demand-bill-purchase transactions, its chairman said on 1 April. He said BIEO and the Enforcement Directorate were already examining the matter, but the board was dissatisfied with progress. The account establishes the bank’s request and allegations; it does not establish CBI acceptance or findings against particular individuals.

Notable Points

• CBI origins: The Special Police Establishment began in 1941; the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 provides the principal investigative framework.
• Enforcement Directorate: Enforces the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

Home voting begins in Sonitpur ahead of Assam Assembly election

1 April 2026

Sonitpur began home voting on 1 April, assigning 43 teams to 1,735 approved older voters and 419 voters with disabilities. Statewide approvals covered 19,774 older electors and 6,638 persons with disabilities, with completion planned by 5 April. The figures describe approved home-voting coverage rather than the number who had already cast ballots.

Notable Points

• Home-voting eligibility: The optional facility covers electors aged 85-plus and persons with benchmark disability of at least 40%, subject to the prescribed application process.
• Form 12D: Used to request absentee-voter postal-ballot facilities; approved polling teams collect ballots during home visits.

Revised toll charges take effect at Assam highway plazas

1 April 2026

Revised national-highway tolls took effect in Assam on 1 April, with reported increases of ₹5–₹35 according to plaza and vehicle category. The locations included Nazirkhat, Madanpur, Raha, Sulung, Rangamati and Doboka. The revision followed the March notification of new rates and affected charges on different highway sections rather than imposing one uniform increase.

Notable Points

• Fee rules: National-highway user fees operate under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
• Annual revision: The prescribed formula includes wholesale-price movements; charges vary with vehicle class and project parameters.
• NHAI mandate: Section 16 of the NHAI Act covers development, maintenance and management of entrusted national highways.

Candidate names and symbols installed on EVMs across Assam

4 April 2026

Candidate names and symbols were installed on EVMs across all 126 Assam constituencies between 31 March and 4 April. Candidates or authorised representatives attended the commissioning process. The exercise covered 41,320 Ballot Units, 43,975 Control Units and 43,997 VVPATs, including reserves, for 31,490 polling stations, with authorised ECIL technical personnel assisting.

Notable Points

• Machine components: The Ballot Unit presents candidate choices, the Control Unit records votes, and the VVPAT generates a paper audit trail.
• Commissioning: Candidate-setting and symbol-loading follow checking and randomisation; they are distinct preparation stages.
• Manufacturers: ECIL and Bharat Electronics are the public-sector manufacturers associated with India’s EVM system.

Morigaon voter-awareness campaign reaches 780 schools

5 April 2026

Morigaon’s voter-awareness campaign used a letter-writing activity across 780 schools, with around 50,000 pupils urging parents and guardians to vote on 9 April. The administration also introduced the mascot Amulya, a theme song and the slogan “Our vote is a precious vote”. The campaign used children as community messengers to reach adult electors.

Notable Points

• SVEEP: Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation combines information, motivation and facilitation.
• Programme history: Its first phase ran from late 2009 to March 2013.

Indian Oil reviews LPG supply preparedness in Assam and Meghalaya

6 April 2026

Indian Oil reviewed LPG stocks and delivery preparedness in Assam and Meghalaya on 6 April. Chairman A. Sahney met distributors, consumers and field teams and called for adequate inventories, compliance with safety procedures and faster e-KYC. The company described supplies as adequate and said no shortage had been reported to it, making this an operational review rather than a shortage declaration.

Notable Points

• LPG composition: Primarily propane and butane, stored as liquid under pressure. Natural gas is predominantly methane.
• Odour: An odorant is added to aid leak detection because the fuel itself does not provide a reliable warning smell.

ECI requires advance certification of political print advertisements around polling

6 April 2026

Political print advertisements appearing on 8 or 9 April required advance certification for the Assam election. Applications were due at least two days before publication. Candidates and individuals applied to district MCMCs, while recognised parties ...