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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong slams Himanta, Assam govt over tribal evictions, corporate bias
Guwahati: Senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora criticised chief minister and his govt, accusing them of unjust shooting and dispossession of indigenous and tribal communities through eviction drives and favouring corporate interests. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Bora's sharp remarks come just months ahead of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections and amid ongoing mass evictions across several districts of Assam. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Bora alleged that the BJP, which came to power on the promise of 'Jati-Mati-Bheti' (community, home and hearth), has instead displaced tribal communities and handed over land to corporate tycoons under the guise of clearing encroachments. "Their slogan has shifted from Jati-Mati-Bheti to the interests of Adani, Ambani, and Ramdev," he said. He recalled the 2017 Amchang eviction under former CM Sarbananda Sonowal, which left over 1,000 Mising, Bodo, and Karbi families homeless, and alleged police firing injured two women -- Bina Doley and Malati Das -- during a separate eviction drive in city's Panjabari area. "During the protest against AIIMS at Raha in 2017, Mintu Deori, a youth from Tiwa community, lost his life during a gun fire. Similarly, during the CAA protest, five men died," Bora added. Further, he alleged that thousands of bighas of land have been lost, and indigenous tribes have been displaced as a result of development projects like the satellite township in Palashbari, thermal power in Dhubri and Kokrajhar, solar power plants in Karbi Anglong and Nagaon, and more. "A 55-MW hydropower project is planned at Kulsi river in Ukiam on the Assam-Meghalaya border. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A 62-metre dam threatens 26 villages near Chandubi lake, inhabited by Rabha, Bodo, Garo, and Khasi people in south Kamrup, which would damage about thousands of lands comprising about 400 villages," he added. He also accused the govt of cutting funds meant for SC, ST, and OBC welfare — citing reductions of up to 10-20% — and delaying ST status for ethnic groups awaiting recognition since 2016. "Similarly numerous autonomous councils like the Raha, Mising, Sonowal Kachari and more have faced repeated fund cuts, or delays in disbursements, which were meant for their development," he further added.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rahul Gandhi in Assam: ‘CM Himanta Biswa Sarma acts like king, but people will jail him'; vows Congress return
ANI file photo NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visiting Guwahati on Wednesday along with party president Mallikarjun Kharge for a one-day tour aimed at energising the party's Assam unit ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. Speaking at a party event in Chaygaon, Rahul, targeting Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, said, 'He thinks he is a 'raja', but he will not be in power for long. He will end up in jail — not because Congress wants it, but because the people of Assam will send him there for corruption.' He further said, "The people of Assam know the truth... There will be elections soon, and the Congress will sweep those elections. We have created a new team here... We have started the work, and the people of Assam will soon see the results." — ANI (@ANI) The Congress leader accused the BJP of trying to manipulate elections through voter list changes. Referring to the Maharashtra assembly polls, he said, 'The BJP won by cheating in Maharashtra using voter list revision. They are trying the same in Bihar.' He added that the fight in India today was between two ideologies — 'RSS' hatred and violence versus Congress' truth and non-violence.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Rahul also claimed that 'There are two Hindustans now – one of a few billionaires who host lavish weddings, and the other of common people who are burdened with taxes.' Earlier in the day, Rahul and Kharge arrived at the Guwahati airport, where they were welcomed by Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and other senior leaders with traditional Assamese 'gamosas'. Rahul also greeted Bodo dancers performing at the airport. The two leaders began their day with a closed-door meeting with the party's state unit, including MPs, MLAs, PCC office-bearers, and grassroots leaders. They also interacted with members of tribal communities. This marks the Congress leaders' first trip to Assam since Gaurav Gogoi was appointed state party president.
National Geographic
15-07-2025
- General
- National Geographic
They used to poach this rare bird. Now, they save them.
After decades of political unrest, former poachers and community members rallied to protect the Bengal florican. A Bengal florican sitting in long blades of grass. Photograph By Dhritiman Mukjerjee During mating season, the male Bengal florican bird, in glossy black plumes with streaks of white beneath a mottled back, performs aerial leaps as his white wings flare against a neck 'pouch' of puffed black feathers to attract females. The enamoured female, draped in buff-brown and black, then chooses her mate. Tourists now come to Manas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Assam, India, to see the Bengal floricans, the world's rarest bustard, and other wildlife. But the birds' resurgence has been a long—and still challenging—process. Listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, fewer than 800 Bengal floricans survive globally. The world's largest population—between 350 and 400—is in northeastern India today, and part of their recovery is being driven by communities intent on saving these two-foot-tall, three-or-four pound birds. The twist? Many of them once hunted the bustards. 'I was around 14 or 15 when I began poaching with my friends,' says Rustam Basumatary, now 40, of the Bodo tribe, who lives in Khamardwasa village near Manas National Park and its adjacent non-protected grassland in Kokilabari. Basumatary says he and other young poachers once hunted birds, including the Bengal floricans, with slingshots and bow and arrows. They consumed the meat but also sold the surplus for profit. 'Poverty pushed certain sections of our community to hunt wildlife for survival,' he says. From the late 1980s through the early 2000s, a conflict between members of the Bodo ethnic group and the Indian state over the group's autonomy left Manas National Park desolate, devoid of patrols or offices. This meant its wildlife was more at risk than ever, says Basumatary. Bengal floricans were poached, but so were other animals like rhinos. Fewer than 800 Bengal floricans survive globally. Photograph By Dhritman Mukherjee When the Bodo movement ended in 2003, about 100 members formed the Manas Maozigendri Ecotourism Society (MMES) and pushed for change so that the park could regain its former glory. Basumatary was part of this effort to transform poachers into protectors. The MMES began reaching out to villagers, motivating them to become a part of their conservation movement. Local nonprofits, such as Aaranyak, also joined them to discourage hunting. 'We made them aware of the consequences, such as imprisonment, penalties, and environmental damage,' and encouraged them to divert their skills to protection, says Bibhuti Lahkar, Aaranyak's grassland expert. Gradually, community members began patrolling voluntarily alongside forest guards, protecting the very wildlife they once hunted. Basumatary notes that the transition was not easy, as poaching was, for so long, a means of survival But some nonprofits and wildlife enthusiasts provided essentials, including rations, for a couple of months to help the adjustment. The team's work was also supported by some senior district officials who visited their villages frequently and advised them to surrender their illegal arms and hunting weapons. Villagers 'would be thus relieved from the constant fear of being chased by police, and could return to a normal life,' says Anwaruddin Choudhury, a former senior bureaucrat and ornithologist who helped reform many poachers. Park enforcements were also strengthened to deter hunting. According to Basumatary, who began as a birding guide in 2004, over 60 weapons were willingly surrendered by villagers in 2006 and 2007, and in 2011, Manas National Park was removed from the UN's list of World Heritage in Danger. 'It was a moment of pride for our local community that our efforts were eventually paying off,' says Basumatary. According to records of the Bodoland Territorial Council, as of 2023, more than 800 volunteers, including former poachers and local community members, have been formally appointed to assist in various protection and forestry tasks. Today, a growing number of tourists from around the world visit, and have the chance to witness the Bengal florican and its legendary dance. And that helps the local economy. According to Basumatary, more than 2,000 families living around the park earn $400 to $450 per month during the florican season, from November through June. 'The same birds we killed in the past for food are today sustaining our households,' Basumatary says. Meanwhile, though still critically endangered, the Bengal Floricans are showing signs of improvement. A 2024 study in the Journal of Threatened Taxa found ten more of the birds in Manas compared to a 2011 survey, calling the modest increase an 'encouraging' sign. 'Today the Bengal florican has become a symbol of our culture, and we are proud in being able to protect the rare bird and show its unique ways to the rest of the world,' Basumatary says.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
UPSC CSE 2025 Mains Exam from August 22
UPSC Civil Services Main Exam 2025 Schedule: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the exam dates for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Mains 2025. According to the announcement, the written examination will be conducted over five days, from August 22 to August 31. The exam will be conducted with two three-hour papers scheduled each day. This year, a total of 14,161 candidates have qualified the UPSC Prelims 2025 to appear in the UPSC CSE Mains exam. These candidates will now participate in the written stage, following which the interview round is held for qualified candidates. (List of languages below) (List of subjects below) (Same subjects as Paper VI) List of languages for Paper-A (Indian Language): Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali (Devanagari / Olchiki Script), Sindhi (Devanagari / Arabic Script), Tamil, Telugu, Urdu List of optional subjects for Paper-VI & VII: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce & Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science & International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology. This also includes literature of any one of the following languages – Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English The Commission generally releases e-admit cards two to three weeks prior to the start of the examination. Given that the Mains are scheduled from August 22 to 31, candidates can expect the UPSC CSE Mains admit card to be issued in the second week of August 2025 on the official website of the Commission.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025 schedule released, exam from August 22
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Civil Services Mains Examination, 2025 timetable at UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025 schedule released As per the schedule, the exam will begin on August 22 (Friday) with the essay paper and end on August 31 with the optional subject (paper 2). Exams will be held in two sessions, session 1 from 9 am to 12 pm and session 2 from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Also read: Will be constrained to drag UPSC, central govt to SC if 8 HCS officers are promoted: Ex-minister Karan Singh Dalal UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025: Check the detailed timetable below Date Session 1 (9 am to 12 pm) Session 2 (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm) August 22 (Friday) Paper-I Essay No paper August 23 (Saturday) Paper-II General Studies-I Paper-III General Studies-II August 24 (Sunday) Paper-IV General Studies-III Paper-V General Studies-IV August 30 (Saturday) Paper-A Indian Language {Assamese / Bengali / Bodo / Dogri/ Gujarati / Hindi / Kannada / Kashmiri/ Konkani / Maithilli / Malayalam / Manipuri / Marathi / Nepali / Odia / Punjabi / Sanskrit / Santhali (Devanagari / Olchiki Script)/ Sindhi (Devanagari / Arabic Script) / Tamil / Telugu / Urdu} Paper-B English August 31 (Sunday) Paper-VI Optional Subject-Paper-1 {Agriculture / Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science / Anthropology / Botany / Chemistry / Civil Engineering / Commerce & Accountancy / Economics / Electrical Engineering / Geography / Geology / History / Law / Management /Mathematics / Mechanical Engineering /Medical Science / Philosophy / Physics / Political Science & International Relations / Psychology / Public Administration / Sociology / Statistics / Zoology / Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese / Bengali / Bodo / Dogri / Gujarati / Hindi / Kannada / Kashmiri / Konkani / Maithilli / Malayalam / Manipuri / Marathi / Nepali / Odia / Punjabi / Sanskrit / Santhali / Sindhi / Tamil / Telugu / Urdu / English} Paper-VII Optional Subject-Paper-2 {Agriculture / Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science / Anthropology / Botany / Chemistry / Civil Engineering / Commerce & Accountancy / Economics / Electrical Engineering / Geography / Geology / History / Law / Management /Mathematics / Mechanical Engineering /Medical Science / Philosophy / Physics / Political Science & International Relations / Psychology / Public Administration / Sociology / Statistics / Zoology / Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese / Bengali / Bodo / Dogri / Gujarati / Hindi / Kannada / Kashmiri / Konkani / Maithilli / Malayalam / Manipuri / Marathi / Nepali / Odia / Punjabi / Sanskrit / Santhali / Sindhi / Tamil / Telugu / Urdu / English View All Prev Next This year, UPSC is conducting the CSE for 979 vacancies, which include: 38 vacancies for candidates under the Benchmark Disability category 12 for candidates with blindness or low vision 7 for those who are deaf or hard of hearing 10 for candidates with locomotor disabilities 9 for those with multiple disabilities, including deaf-blindness. The UPSC CSE Prelims exam was conducted on May 25, 2025. It consisted of two objective-type papers (MCQs), each lasting two hours and carrying a maximum of 200 marks. The Prelims result was announced in June. After the Mains written examination, UPSC will hold the Interview/Personality Test round and announce the final results. Candidates are advised to regularly visit the commission's website for updates.
