Author name: OnlineAge

GUWAHATI : The Assam government on Monday tabled a Bill on the Uniform Civil Code, seeking to ban polygamy and make registration of live-in relationships compulsory. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora tabled ‘The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill’ in the assembly on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The opposition parties, including Congress, Raijor Dal and Trinamool Congress, opposed the move and demanded wider consultation with all the stakeholders before its introduction. “The Bill aims to consolidate and simplify laws governing marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships,” Sarma said in the ‘Statement of Object and Reasons’ in the Bill. For marriage, the Bill sets 21 years and 18 years as minimum ages for men and women respectively, and prohibits polygamy, he added. “For the first time, Bill provides a legal framework for live-in relationships. By requiring registration, the law ensures that the rights of partners — and any children born from such unions — are formally recognised and protected,” the CM said in the Bill. The Bill, however, said that it will not be applicable to any of the Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay arrived in Assam on Monday and is expected to meet the governor later in the day. State Cabinet minister Atul Bora received the Bhutan prime minister at the state guest house here and later said that he expected the visit would open new avenues of goodwill, cooperation and cultural exchange between Assam and Bhutan. “I had the honour of according a warm and heartfelt welcome to Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan, His Excellency Dasho Tshering Tobgay, at State Guest House Number One, Koinadhora, Guwahati,” Bora said in a post on X. He said that under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam continues to strengthen its historic ties and friendly relations with neighbouring Bhutan in the spirit of regional cooperation, mutual respect and shared prosperity. “Assam and Bhutan share an age-old relationship rooted in mutual trust, harmony and deep socio-cultural ties. Our enduring friendship has been strengthened over generations through close people-to-people connections, shared traditions and longstanding cooperation across diverse sectors,” Bora said. “I firmly believe that the visit of the prime minister of Bhutan to Assam will further deepen the special bond between Assam and Bhutan, while opening new avenues of goodwill, cooperation and cultural exchange for the greater benefit of our people,” the minister added. Assam police chief Harmeet Singh, General Administration Department secretary Narsing Pawar and other senior officials of the state government also accompanied Bora in receiving the Bhutan prime minister. A Lok Bhavan spokesperson said the visiting dignitary is scheduled to call on Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya later on Monday. A detailed itinerary of Tobgay’s visit has not been shared yet. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Monday raised concern over the fiscal sustainability of the Assam government in its report for the 2024-25 fiscal, pointing at the increasing debt load, high committed expenditure and limited capital investment in the state. In the report on state finances for 2024-25 tabled in the Assembly, the CAG also said that the delay in submission of utilisation certificates, pending accounts of departmental undertakings and autonomous bodies, is affecting financial reporting. It said the state’s economy showed moderate growth during the 2024-25 fiscal year, with Gross State Domestic Product registering a growth of 13.07 per cent as against the 2023-24 financial year. The state contributed 1.95 per cent to the country’s GDP, with the figure on an increasing trend over the past five years. During 2024-25, the state’s revenue receipts grew by 5.87 per cent, driven primarily by growth in the state’s share in union taxes and duties, higher tax collections, notably under SGST. However, non-tax revenue of the state declined by 9.34 per cent, and grants from the Centre also decreased during the period, the CAG report said. The state’s expenditure was dominated by a moderate growth of revenue spending (6.10 per cent). The CAG report said that during the previous five years, despite increasing pressure from committed expenditure, the state was able to maintain a consistent level of fiscal flexibility, though with limited scope for expansion in discretionary and developmental expenditures. Capital expenditure during the previous five years remained “volatile and below budgeted levels (except for 2021-22), reflecting constraints in infrastructure investment”, the report said. Subsidies during 2024-25 increased sharply (124.63 per cent), mainly due to power subsidies, the CAG noted. “As a result, the state was not able to arrest the revenue and fiscal deficits within the target levels of the State FRBM Act, thereby rendering little room for fiscal consolidation,” the report said. “Though outstanding liabilities remained within the numerical targets, this needs to be seen in the context of growing outstanding off-budget borrowings and contingent liabilities through guarantees,” it added. The increasing debt load, high committed expenditure and limited capital investment raise concerns about fiscal sustainability, the report said, stressing revenue augmentation, better expenditure control and structural reforms to ensure long-term fiscal health. The CAG said transparency should be enhanced in off-budget borrowings, ensuring timely accounting and reports, and steps should be taken for more judicious budget provisioning. (Source: PTI)