General Studies of Assam | Assam General Knowledge useful for Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) Prelims and other competitive exams. Assam is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of 78,438 km2 (30,285 sq mi). It is the second largest state in northeastern India by area and the largest in terms of population.
The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to the east; Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Bangladesh to the south; and West Bengal to the west via the Siliguri Corridor, a 22-kilometre-wide (14 mi) strip of land that connects the state to the rest of India. Assamese and Boro are the official languages of Assam. Meitei (Manipuri) is recognized as an additional official language in Hojai district and for the Barak Valley region, alongside Bengali, which is also an official language in the Barak Valley.
The Assam state has 35 districts with 5 divisions. Guwahati is the largest city in northeastern India. Assam is known for Assam tea and Assam silk. The Assamese economy is aided by wildlife tourism to Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park, which are World Heritage Sites.
The state was the first site for oil drilling in Asia. Assam is home to the one-horned Indian rhinoceros, along with the wild water buffalo, pygmy hog, tiger and various species of Asiatic birds, and provides one of the last wild habitats for the Asian elephant.
General Studies of Assam | Assam General Knowledge
Chapter 1: Assam – An Overview
Assam is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of 78,438 km2 (30,285 sq mi).
The state is bordered by:
- Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north;
- Nagaland and Manipur to the east;
- Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Bangladesh to the south; and
- West Bengal to the west via the Siliguri Corridor, a 22-kilometre-wide strip of land that connects the state to the rest of India
Assam state has 35 districts with 5 divisions. Guwahati (containing the state capital Dispur) is the largest city in northeastern India. The Assamese economy is aided by wildlife tourism to Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park, which are World Heritage Sites. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is famed for its feral horses.
Chapter 2: First in Assam
| Category | First |
| First Chief Minister of Independent Assam | Gopinath Bordoloi |
| First governor of Independent Assam | Sir Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari |
| First woman Chief Minister | Syeda Anowara Taimur |
| Arjun award winner | Bhogeswar Barua |
| First to participate in Olympic | Talimeren Ao (Footballer, London 1948) |
| First female Olympic participant | Lovelina Borgohain (Boxing, Tokyo, 2020) |
| First ACS | Anundoram Barua |
| Justice in Supreme Court | Parbati Kumar Goswami |
| Justice of Gauhati High Court | Holiram Deka |
| First to win gold in Asian Games | Bhogeswar Barua |
| First Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University | Krishnakanta Handique |
| Winner of Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Dr Bhupen Hazarika |
| First Assamese Chief Justice of Supreme Court | Ranjan Gogoi |
| First Assamese Governor in any Indian state | Bishnuram Medhi |
| First Assamese to become President of India | Fakharuddin Ali Ahmed |
| Winner of Saraswati Award | Lakshminandan Borah |
| Winner of Assam Ratna Award | Dr Bhupen Hazarika |
| Winner of Arjun Award (Female) | Monalisha Barua Mehta |
| Winner of Assam Ratna Award (Female) | Mamoni Raichom Goswami |
| Winner of Bhara Ratna Award | Gopinath Bardoloi (Posthumously) |
| Martyr of India’s Freedom Movement | Maniram Dewan, Piyoli Barua |
| 1st Paper Mill | Ashok Paper Mill, Jogighopa |
| First Assamese Short Story Collection | Surabhi (Lakshminath Bezbarua) |
| Agriculture University | Assam Agricultural University (Jorhat) |
| First Sonnet | Priyotomar Chithi (Hemchandra Goswami) |
| First Sonnet Book | Malos (Hiteswar Barbarua) |
| First Medical College | Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh |
| First Published Novel | Lahori (Padmanath Gohainbarua) |
| Book to win Jnanpith Award | Mrityunjay (Birendra Kuamr Bhattacharya) |
| First Women College | Handique Girls’ College (Guwahati) |
| Travelogue (Book) | Bilator Chithi (Jnanadabhiram Barua) |
| First University | Gauhati University |
| Romantic Poem | Bonkunwari (Chandrakumar Agarwala) |
| Book to win Sahitya Academy Award | Banaphool (Jatindra Nath Duwara) |
| Novel to win Sahitya Academy Award | Iyaruinam |
| First Bridge on River Brahmaputra | Saraighat Bridge |
Chapter 3: Assam Budget 2024-25
Chapter 4: Assam Current Affairs 2024
The Assam Current Affairs E-Book provides comprehensive details of the most important current affairs from Assam useful for exams like APSC, ADRE, and other state level exams. Covered important key events and developments, this e-book is designed to help aspirants stay informed and excel in their competitive exams.
Chapter 5: States Reorganisation Act, 1956
The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries of India’s states and territories, organising them along linguistic lines.
In these classifications, Part A states had a Governor, Part B states had a Rajpramukh and Part C states had a commissioner.
- Assam: No change of boundary in 1956.
Part A states – which were the former governors’ provinces of British India, were ruled by a governor appointed by the president and an elected state legislature. The nine Part A states were Assam, Bihar, Bombay, Madhya Pradesh (formerly Central Provinces and Berar), Madras, Odisha (formerly Orissa), Punjab (formerly East Punjab), Uttar Pradesh (formerly the United Provinces), and West Bengal.
Chapter 6: Assam – History & Freedom Movements
The Assam Movement (also Anti-Foreigners Agitation) (1979–1985) was a popular uprising in Assam, India, that demanded the Government of India detect, disenfranchise and deport illegal aliens.
Assam played an important role in the Indian freedom struggle. The region was actively involved in various movements such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement.
Chapter 7: Polity & Administration of Assam
The political structure of Assam in India is headed by the ceremonial post of the Governor. He is assisted by a council of ministers, headed by the Chief Minister, who is members of the Assam Assembly.
The Assam legislative structure is unicameral and consists of the 126-member Assam Assembly. Members are elected for a period of five years. The Assam Assembly is presided over by the Speaker, who is generally a member of the ruling party.
Chapter 8: District & Divisions of Assam
List of divisions:
| Division Name | Divisional Office | Districts | Population |
| Barak Valley | Silchar | Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj | 3,612,581 |
| Hills and Central Assam | Nagaon | Dima Hasao, Hojai, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Morigaon, and Nagaon | 5,894,460 |
| Lower Assam | Guwahati | Baksa, Barpeta, Bajali, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Nalbari, Kamrup Metropolitan, Kamrup Rural, Kokrajhar, and South Salmara-Mankachar, Tamulpur | 13,179,980 |
| North Assam | Tezpur | Biswanath, Darrang, Sonitpur, and Udalguri | 4,246,834 |
| Upper Assam | Jorhat | Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Sivasagar, and Tinsukia | 7,840,943 |
Chapter 9: Neighboring states of Assam
Assam shares Interstate boundary with West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to the east; Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Bangladesh to the south; and West Bengal to the west via the Siliguri Corridor, a 22-kilometre-wide (14 mi) strip of land that connects the state to the rest of India.
Assam shares Interstate boundary with West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. The length of boundary of Assam with its neighboring state is as follows:
- Assam- West Bengal : 127.00 KM
- Assam- Arunachal Pradesh : 804.10 KM
- Assam- Meghalaya : 884.90 KM
- Assam- Tripura : 46.30 KM
- Assam- Nagaland : 512.10 KM
- Assam- Manipur : 204.10 KM
- Assam-Mizoram : 164.60 KM
Assam also shares International Boundary Bhutan and Bangladesh. The India (Assam)-Bhutan Boundary stretches to a total of 265.8 KM falling within 4 (four) sector namely,
- Kokrajhar-Bhutan – 61.4 KM
- Chirang-Bhutan – 70.7 Kms
- Baksha-Bhutan – 82.9 Kms
- Udalguri-Bhutan – 50.8 Kms
The Survey of India is looking after the survey work along Assam-Bhutan boundary and PWD is executing the construction/repairing of BPs.
The India (Assam)-Bangladesh boundary stretches to a total 263 KMs falling within 3 (three) sectors namely,
- Dhubri-Kurigram Sector – 134.0 Kms
- Cachar-Sylhet Sector – 33.6 Kms
- Karimganj-Sylhet/ Moulvibajar Sector- 95.4 Kms
Chapter 10: Geography of Assam
As per the plate tectonics, Assam is in the Easternmost projection of the Indian plate, where the plate is thrusting underneath the Eurasian plate creating a sub-duction zone and the Himalayas. Assam possesses a unique geomorphic environment, with plains, dissected hills of the South Indian plateau system and with the Himalayas all around its North, North-East and East. Geomorphic studies conclude that the Brahmaputra, the lifeline of Assam is an antecedent river, older than the Himalayas. The total area of Assam is 78,438 sq km.
- Extending from 89° 42′ E to 96° E longitude and 24° 8′ N to 28° 2′ N latitude, it has an area of 78,438 km2, similar to that of Ireland or Austria.
The State of Assam, popularly known as the land of the red river and blue hills is the gateway to the North East India. Geographically the state is extending from 22°19′ to 28°16′ North Latitude and 89°42′ to 96°30′ East Longitude between the foot hills of the Eastern Himalayas and the Patkai and Naga Hill Ranges.
The state of Assam comprises three physiographical divisions, namely, the Brahmaputra Valley, the Barak Valley and the Karbi-Anglong and the North-Cachar hills.
The Brahmaputra Valley in Assam is approximately 80 to 100 km wide and almost 1000 km long. The width of the river itself is 16 km at many places within the valley.
The hills of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao district and those in and around Guwahati and North Guwahati (along with the Khasi and Garo Hills) are originally parts of the South Indian Plateau system. These are eroded and dissected by the numerous rivers in the region. The average height of these hills in Assam varies from 300m to 400m to a maximum of about 2000m almost. There are also hills in the North Bank bordering Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh as well as those near Burma.
The southern Barak Valley is separated by the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam. The Barak originates from the Barail Range in the border areas of Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur and flowing through the district of Cachar, it converges with the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh.
The river with steep gorges and rapids in Arunachal Pradesh entering Assam, becomes a braided river (at times 16 km wide) and with tributaries, creates a flood plain (Brahmaputra valley: 80-100 km wide, 1000 km long). The hills of Karbi Anglong, North Cachar and those in and close to Guwahati (also Khasi-Garo hills) now eroded and dissected are originally parts of the South Indian plateau system. In the South, the Barak originating in the Barail range (Assam- Nagaland border) flows through the Cachar district with a 40-50 km wide valley and enters Bangladesh with the name Surma.
The state is one of the richest biodiversity zones in the world. Total forest cover stands as 35.83% as per state report 2017 but as per latest forest report 2021 total forest cover stands as 36.09% and consists of tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, riverine grasslands, bamboo, orchards and numerous wetland ecosystems. The Assam state has 7 national parks, 17 wildlife sanctuaries.
Chapter 11: Assam Population
The population of Assam according to the 2011 Census stands at about 31 million, making it the 14th most populated state in India. The state makes up about 2.58% of the country’s population a figure that has gone up since, the last census in 2001. The state is spread over an area of about 78438 sq km making it the 16th largest state in the country in terms of area. The density of population per sq km is about 397 and is fairly equal to the national average.
The state has a growth rate of about 17.07% which is again very close to the national growth rate of about 17.64%. The population of the state is rising considerably due to rapid efforts towards development and progress. The literacy rate in the state is about 72.19% a figure that has improved tremendously in the last few years due to the consistent efforts of the government. The sex ratio in Assam exceeds the national average by a good 18 points and is one of the better states in the country with respect to the sex ratio. The statistics in the Assam Census 2011 reveal facts that can be instrumental in planning for a better development plan for the state. The largest city in the state of Assam is Guwahati while Dispur is the capital of the Assam. The languages spoken in the Assam state includes Assamese, Bodo and Karbi.
| Description | 2011 | 2001 |
| Approximate Population | 3.12 Crores | 2.67 Crore |
| Actual Population | 31,205,576 | 26,655,528 |
| Male | 15,939,443 | 13,777,037 |
| Female | 15,266,133 | 12,878,491 |
| Population Growth | 17.07% | 18.85% |
| Percentage of total Population | 2.58% | 2.59% |
| Sex Ratio | 958 | 935 |
| Child Sex Ratio | 962 | 965 |
| Density/km2 | 398 | 340 |
| Area(Km 2) | 78,438 | 78,438 |
| Total Child Population (0-6 Age) | 4,638,130 | 4,498,075 |
| Literacy | 72.19 % | 63.25 % |
| Male Literacy | 77.85 % | 71.28 % |
| Female Literacy | 66.27 % | 54.61 % |
Chapter 12: Tribes of Assam
The Constitution order of 1950 was amended in 1976 wherein the Scheduled Tribes of Assam were re-categorised as Scheduled Tribes (Hills) and Scheduled Tribes (Plains). According to the amendment, the Scheduled Tribes (Hills) are those tribes who are indigenous to the two Autonomous Hilly Districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar, they are Karbi (Mikir), Kuki, Dimasa, Garo, Hazong, Mizo, Khasi, Jaintia, Hmar, Lokers, Powis, Man (Tai Spaeking), Chakma, Syntheng Panar, Syntheng, War, Bhoi, Lyngngam and Naga Tribe.
Recognition of these tribes as Scheduled Tribes is limited to the two Autonomous Hilly Districts only. The indigenous tribes of the plain districts of Assam are recognised as Scheduled Tribes in plains and their recognition is limited to the plain districts only. They are Bodo, Mishing, Rabha, Sonowal Kachari, Lalung (Tiwa), Deori, Thengal (Mech), Hojai and Burman.
The tribal communities of Assam have their individual languages, cultural traits, rites and rituals. For centuries, the tribal communities have been sharing ethnicity and language with Assamese main stream. Their cultures and ways of life have interacted and overlapped with the culture of the main stream over many years. Assamese language has become lingua Franca amongst different ethnic groups of the Brahmaputra valley.
Likewise in the Barak valley where Bengali is predominant, the Bengali language and culture have influenced the tribes residing there. Basically, all the ethnic tribes of Assam were Hindu worshippers of various deities. Vaishnavism as propagated by the great Saint Srimanta Shankardeva has substantially influenced the tribesman of Assam. But of late a large number of tribesmen have embraced Christainity. The rate of conversion has accelerated in the recent past. Most of the tribesmen in Assam are agriculturists.
Chapter 13: Climate, Seasons and Soil
The climate of Assam is sub-tropical with warm humid summers and cool dry winters. The state is
situated in high rainfall zone with annual average rainfall of 2297.4 mm. The state normally receives 2
percent of the total rainfall in the winter season (JanuaryFebruary), 25 percent in the summer season
(March-May), 65 percent in the monsoon season (June-September) and 7 percent in post-monsoon
season (October-December).
With the ‘Tropical Monsoon Rainforest Climate’, Assam is a temperate region and experiences heavy
rainfall and humidity. Winter lasts from late October to late February. The minimum temperature is 6 to
8 degrees Celsius. Nights and early mornings are foggy, and rain is scanty. Summer starts in mid May,
accompanied by high humidity and rainfall.
The maximum temperature is 35 to 38 degrees Celsius, but the frequent rain reduces this. The peak of the monsoons is during June. Thunderstorms and frequent storms known as Bordoisila are frequent during the afternoons during the Bihu season.
Assam is prone to floods and drought like situations. The state though has natural potentialities to drive
the agriculture sector, erratic and unpredictable weather conditions and floods have been creating
adverse impact making the farmers vulnerable to the situations.
The state of Assam lies in the regime of monsoon climate of the sub-tropical belt. It enjoys heavy rainfall
in summer , winter drought, high humidity and relatively low temperature during the year. Assam shows
marked spatial variation in the climate primarily because of its location and physiography, the seasonal
changes in the pressure condition over the Bay of Bengal and the North-Western Indian landmass, the
tropical oceanic airmasses of South-West monsoon, flow of local mountain and valley winds and
presence of water bodies and rivers.
Chapter 14: Agriculture in Assam
Chapter 15: Minerals of Assam
Chapter 16: Rivers and Lakes
Chapter 17: Forest & Biodiversity of Assam
Chapter 18: Economy of Assam
Chapter 19: Transport & Communication
Chapter 20: Education in Assam
Chapter 21: Art & Culture of Assam
Chapter 22: Assamese Architecture
Chapter 23: Assamese Literature
Chapter 24: Awards and Prizes
Chapter 25: Assamese Cinema
Chapter 26: Press in Assam
Chapter 27: Assamese Script
Chapter 28: Places in Assam
Chapter 29: Eminent Personalities
Chapter 30: Facts on Assam
Chapter 31: Some Important Events of Assam (Since 1901 to 2024)
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