Popular News

ANINI : An adolescent labourer was rescued from the construction site of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) road project along National Highway-313 at Etalin in Dibang Valley district during a coordinated operation on Saturday. The rescued boy, aged 15, is a native of Dajo village under Kumarshat Post Office in Tripura’s Unakoti district. Officials found him engaged in labour at the construction site, in violation of the provisions of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, as amended. During the operation, it was found that the minor had been employed by Anil Basumatary, who was working under a sub-contractor engaged in the execution of the road construction project. Following the rescue, the child was produced before the Dibang Valley Child Welfare Committee for care, protection and rehabilitation under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Legal action has been initiated against the employer in accordance with the law. Reiterating its commitment to eliminating child labour, the district administration appealed to contractors, employers and members of the public to strictly comply with child protection laws. It also urged citizens to report any instances of child labour or exploitation to the authorities to facilitate timely intervention and safeguard the rights and well-being of children. (DIPR)      

ITANAGAR : The first edition of the Arunachal Science League 2026 concluded on Friday with the state government announcing that the event will now feature in the annual calendar of the Department of Youth Affairs, marking a major step towards promoting scientific innovation and STEM education among the youth. Organised by the Department of Youth Affairs in collaboration with the State Council for Science and Technology, Arunachal Pradesh, the event was held at the Arunachal Pradesh Science Centre at IG Park under the theme “STEM for Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat.” The competition brought together some of the state’s brightest young innovators, who presented projects addressing real-world challenges through science and technology. Participants showcased innovations across a wide range of themes, including emerging technology, water conservation and management, green energy, sustainable agriculture, health and hygiene, waste management and other contemporary STEM disciplines. Officials said the inclusion of the Science League in the department’s annual calendar reflects the government’s long-term commitment to fostering scientific temperament, innovation and research among students and young entrepreneurs. The competition received more than 40 entries from across Arunachal Pradesh, with the junior category alone attracting over 30 submissions. The organisers said the quality of projects was so impressive that the jury found it difficult to shortlist winners. In recognition of the exceptional standard of entries, the department enhanced the first prize in the junior category from the originally announced Rs 70,000 to Rs 90,000. The projects were evaluated by an eminent panel comprising Dr Arup Misra, chairman of the Assam Pollution Control Board, who attended as the chief guest, Dr Nitin Maurya, Scientist ‘E’ at the National Innovation Foundation, Noida, and Dr Bula Chaudhuri of Biotech Park, Guwahati. Adding to the event’s appeal, Technical Officer Tarun Das of the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, Kolkata, conducted an interactive Fun Science Show featuring live scientific demonstrations and a bubble show that drew enthusiastic participation from students. The Arunachal Pradesh Science Centre also organised complimentary planetarium shows for more than 350 students, offering them an immersive introduction to astronomy and space science. In the senior category, Mitto Mossang of Rajiv Gandhi University won the first prize for a project on emerging technology. Tabuk Taggu and Paul secured the second prize for their work on water conservation and management, while Niktar Tare, Vijay Taniu and Toko Tem finished third for developing a Hybrid Multi-Layered TEG System. In the junior category, Bengia Ama of Don Bosco College claimed the top prize for a Hands-Free Cooking Device. Yompin Kena of Scholars Institute secured second place for Kombo AI, while Swati Upadhyay and Aditya Mishra of NERIST finished third for their project Gesture to Voice. Among the special recognitions, Rei Lemo of NIOS received the People’s Choice Award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 10,000, after securing the highest number of public votes for an emerging technology project. Bolam Loham was presented the Special Jury Award and a cash prize of Rs 10,000 for developing an innovative Exoskeleton project, which the jury described as having significant future potential. Despite persistent rain throughout the day, students from different parts of the state participated enthusiastically, demonstrating resilience and creativity. The Department of Youth Affairs thanked participants, mentors, educational institutions, judges, volunteers and visitors for contributing to the success of the inaugural edition. Officials said the Arunachal Science League is envisioned to become the state’s premier platform for nurturing scientific talent, encouraging innovation and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.

ZIRO : The Ziro Tourism Organisation (ZTO) and the Nagaland Tourism Association (NTA) have jointly advocated mandatory engagement of certified local tourist guides to promote sustainable tourism, preserve cultural heritage and create employment opportunities for local youth. The proposal emerged during an interaction between members of the two organisations at Suchusi Homestay in Ziro on Saturday. The NTA delegation was visiting Arunachal Pradesh as part of a Familiarisation (FAM) Tour aimed at exploring the state’s tourism potential and strengthening inter-state cooperation. The delegation had earlier interacted with tourism stakeholders in Namsai and Pasighat. During the meeting, both organisations highlighted the crucial role of local tourist guides in enriching visitors’ experiences by introducing them to the region’s history, culture and natural heritage while encouraging responsible and respectful tourism. ZTO Chairman Hibu Tatu, NTA Chairman Vimeto Vakha and NTA Secretary Aseba Kezo said engaging certified local guides would help maintain cultural authenticity, improve visitor safety and generate sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. The two organisations also reaffirmed their commitment to working together to promote sustainable, community-based tourism across the Northeast while safeguarding the region’s cultural and natural heritage and supporting long-term economic growth.      

BASAR : The Basar Planning Authority (BPA) on Saturday finalised the proposed Local Planning Area (LPA) for the formulation of the Comprehensive Basar Township Master Plan and resolved to recommend it to the state government for issuance of the preliminary notification under the relevant statutory provisions. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Leparada Deputy Commissioner Himani Meena at the DC’s conference hall. Besides members of the authority, the meeting was attended by public representatives, Gram Panchayat Members (GPMs) and Gram Panchayat Chairpersons (GPCs) from villages adjoining Basar township and falling within the proposed planning area. Welcoming the participants, Meena said the Basar Planning Authority, constituted under the Arunachal Pradesh Urban and Country Planning Act, 2007, is preparing a state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Master Plan for Basar township. She said the declaration of a clearly defined Local Planning Area is a statutory requirement for determining the jurisdiction of the Master Plan, covering both the existing urban area and adjoining peripheral regions. She emphasised that a well-defined planning area would ensure systematic development, regulate future growth and prevent haphazard urban expansion. Clarifying concerns over the inclusion of rural areas within the proposed LPA, the deputy commissioner said such inclusion would not automatically alter the status of rural land but would facilitate coordinated and sustainable development in accordance with the law. BPA Town Planner-cum-Member Secretary Tabom Tamut gave a detailed presentation on the procedure for declaring the Local Planning Area, relevant statutory provisions and urban planning protocols. He also proposed extending the existing urban limits to include the Old Market Area and Pajo Area, which was discussed extensively during the meeting. The deliberations witnessed active participation from PRI members and public representatives, who underscored the need for timely and planned urban development to ensure the orderly growth of Basar township. The authority also resolved to undertake an extensive public awareness and sensitisation campaign across all villages within the proposed planning area during the statutory period following the preliminary notification. The campaign will involve PRI leaders, public representatives and other stakeholders to familiarise residents with the planning process and the long-term benefits of the proposed Local Planning Area. (DIPR)    

ITANAGAR : The State Cabinet on Friday approved a series of major policy decisions and development initiatives, including a cumulative investment of ₹7,834 crore for four flagship Chief Minister’s comprehensive schemes during 2026-29, aimed at strengthening infrastructure, education, power, entrepreneurship and governance while improving the ease of living and ease of doing business in Arunachal Pradesh. Chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the Cabinet approved ₹2,334 crore for Phase-II of the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive State Road Development Plan (CMCSRDP) to improve connectivity in district headquarters, township roads, Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Officer headquarters, besides easing traffic congestion in the Capital Complex. The Cabinet noted that 62 of the 67 projects sanctioned under Phase-I of the CMCSRDP, with an outlay of ₹899.58 crore during 2019-24, have been completed and directed that the remaining works be finished by March 2027. To improve rural connectivity, the Cabinet sanctioned ₹2,000 crore under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive State Rural Road Development Programme (CMCSRRDP) over the next three years for construction of roads and bridges to provide all-weather connectivity to habitations not covered under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Another ₹2,000 crore was approved under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive State Power Development Programme (CMCSPDP) for upgrading and modernising the state’s power infrastructure, with the objective of reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses to 18 per cent by March 2029. The Cabinet also approved ₹1,500 crore for Phase-II of Mission Shikshit Arunachal (2026-29) to bridge infrastructure gaps in schools, strengthen teacher training and enhance real-time monitoring through the Arunachal Vidya Nidhi (AVN) platform. It reviewed the success of Phase-I, under which ₹3,112.50 crore was invested in improving school infrastructure between 2023 and 2026. The Cabinet launched the Enterprise Human Resources Management System (E-HRMS) 2.0, an artificial intelligence-powered platform to digitise and automate the entire government employee lifecycle from recruitment to retirement, and directed all departments to adopt the system expeditiously. Among the new welfare initiatives, the Cabinet approved the Chief Minister’s Frontier Sainik School Scholarship Scheme to support Arunachali students studying in eight notified Sainik Schools and the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun. It also cleared an Indian Army-led coaching and mentorship programme to prepare students for admission to Sainik and military schools and future careers as Armed Forces officers. To strengthen the state’s economy, the Cabinet approved the launch of the ARUN MSME Mission, which aims to revive and upgrade 500 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) annually while providing market linkage, export and capacity-building support. The Cabinet also approved the Arunachal Human Capital and Economic Transformation Vision 2036, which envisages skilling one lakh youths, creating 10,000 entrepreneurs, facilitating 10,000 apprenticeships, enabling 10,000 overseas placements, forging 100 industry partnerships and upgrading all 10 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into modern skill hubs. In a significant employment decision, the Cabinet approved 20 per cent reservation for retired Agniveers from Arunachal Pradesh in constabulary and equivalent posts in the Arunachal Pradesh Police, Arunachal Armed Police, Indian Reserve Battalion, Fire and Emergency Services, Forest Guards, Mineral Guards, Special Tiger Protection Force, Foresters and Prison Wardens. It clarified that unfilled vacancies under the ex-Agniveer quota would revert to the regular Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) quota. The Cabinet also approved the Arunachal Pradesh Apiculture and Honey Policy, 2026, aimed at promoting scientific and commercially viable beekeeping, enhancing farmers’ and women Self-Help Group (SHG) incomes and positioning Arunachal honey as a premium product. To improve the ease of doing business, it approved the Non-applicability of Trade Licence (for Statutory Licence Holders) Notification, 2026, exempting businesses holding valid statutory licences under specified Central and State laws from obtaining separate trade licences. It also exempted 56 categories of business activities from trade licence requirements to reduce regulatory duplication. The Cabinet further recommended promulgation of the Arunachal Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, approved amendments to the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) Rules, 2018 by increasing the waitlist to 20 per cent of vacancies or up to five candidates, extending its validity from six months to one year, and approved the establishment of six new fire stations at Nyapin, Dambuk, Nari, Kaying, Jairampur and Menchuka. It also approved the Common Examination Scheme for Direct Recruitment to Group A and Group B Technical Posts Rules, 2026, the proposed Arunachal Pradesh Advocates Protection Bill, 2026, new service rules for the State Legal Services Authority and amendments to the Junior Librarian (Law) Recruitment Rules, 2020. To strengthen administrative capacity, the Cabinet approved the creation of 36 Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posts under the 1st and 2nd Arunachal Armed Police Battalions and granted special grade designations to various categories of prison personnel.