Current Affairs

1. Peace accord with ULFA

The Union Government, The Assam Government and a key faction of Assam’s oldest insurgent group, ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) signed a tripartite peace agreement on 29th December 2023, to shut violence, disband the organisation and join the democratic process.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the pact as a watershed that will end decades of violence in northeastern state and will start a new era of prosperity. It is a new era of peace for Assam and the entire North-East region.

With this agreement, the ULFA will give up Arms, vacate their camps and join the mainstream to be a part of the democratic process. An Indian Institute of Management, new railway lines, more national highways were part of the deal and that outsiders cannot procure land within a 5km radius of iconic structures in the state.

2. Mrs. Nina Singh is appointed as the first woman Director General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

3. Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham, Ayodhya and redeveloped Ayodhya Dham junction, i.e. (Railway Station of Ayodhya), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30th December 2023.

4. The president has constituted the 16th finance commission for the period 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2031. Shri Arvind Panagariya is appointed as its chairman. Earlier he also served as vice chairman of NITI Aayog.

The members of 16th Finance Commission would be notified separately. Shri Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey is appointed as secretary to the commission. The new finance commission will make its report by October 31st, 2025 and cover a period of 5 years from April 1st, 2026 to March 31st, 2031.