Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam has entered the final stage of choosing a partner for its Earth observation satellite system. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared the update on National Space Day. The project, dubbed AssamSAT, represents India’s first state-led satellite initiative. The government aims to transition from a consumer of satellite imagery to an active player in the space-tech sector.
Officials previously invited Expressions of Interest to find a firm for the DBLOTT model. This contract covers the design, build, launch, operate, train, and transfer phases. Private companies across India submitted proposals for the work. Dedicated committees now review these bids to finalize the selection. Sarma said, "Assam would move from being only a user of satellite data to becoming an active participant in the space-tech ecosystem."
The state expects to use the system for better governance. Fast, evidence-based data will assist with developmental and administrative planning. Officials believe this project will cement space technology as a core tool for the state’s future growth.
Updated at 24th August 2026 at 1:49pm
The vision for the project dates back to the 2025-26 state budget, when then-Finance Minister Ajanta Neog first introduced the plan. Neog pitched the satellite as a tool for border security, police operations, and large-scale socio-economic projects.
The state is building the system alongside IN-SPACe, the national space promotion body. Planners intend to use the satellite to feed data into agriculture, disaster management, and infrastructure development. Beyond governance, the program aims to get students involved in building experimental satellites with backing from ISRO and IN-SPACe.
Updated at 24th August 2026 at 5:49pm
Beyond the satellite project, the state administration is managing a massive recovery effort following this year's devastating floods. Chief Minister Sarma met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on August 24 to discuss the damage. Shah pledged unequivocal support for rehabilitation and restoration in the affected districts. The floods have claimed at least 105 lives so far, forcing authorities to prioritize immediate rescue and aid for destroyed homes and infrastructure.
Sarma also noted recent gains in the state's agricultural sector. During the first 100 days of the current government term, the state procured 2.19 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. This effort reached over 17,000 farmers, providing them an organized market for their crops and boosting local income.
Updated at 24th August 2026 at 9:51pm
Beyond the meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, Sarma pressed Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for a rapid fix on flood-ravaged national highways. The Chief Minister pushed for smarter design in culverts and bridges to handle future high-water events and specifically asked for a total redesign of highway infrastructure at Jorabat to stop recurring flash floods.
Sarma also leaned on the Centre to speed up major construction projects, including the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor and the Guwahati Ring Road. Gadkari promised to give the state's road requests priority status and ongoing support.
Updated at 25th August 2026 at 1:49am
Beyond current procurement figures, the state has set an ambitious target to buy 10 lakh metric tonnes of paddy annually. Sarma says this shift protects farmers from market price swings and provides a consistent, dependable income stream by expanding procurement networks across the state.
Police in Biswanath district also landed a blow against organized crime, arresting 36 people involved in cattle smuggling. Officers intercepted 10 vehicles and rescued 106 cows held in inhumane conditions. Sarma signaled that the crackdown aims to stop illegal livestock transport and shield the state's agricultural interests.
Updated at 25th August 2026 at 9:47am
Beyond tech and flood recovery, the administration is shifting its bureaucratic footprint. The government officially redesignated the Mini Secretariat in Barak Valley as the Assam Secretariat, Barak Valley, Silchar. This change, effective August 21 following a cabinet sign-off, mandates that 32 of the state's 59 departments function directly from the Silchar site.
Officials also finalized standard operating procedures to govern how these departments interact with the regional headquarters. The move aims to decentralize power and bring the state's decision-makers closer to the southern districts.
Updated at 25th August 2026 at 1:49pm
During the sit-down with Gadkari, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita joined the talks. The delegation also included Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota and Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. K K Dwivedi, who provided technical input on the state's transport needs.
The state's fight against cattle smugglers expanded into the riverways this week. Police in Dhubri intercepted a small boat carrying 20 cows, leading to three arrests. Sarma noted that the illicit trade is shifting toward water routes to bypass road checkpoints, but warned that law enforcement is tracking these movements regardless of the terrain.
Updated at 25th August 2026 at 2:01pm
Sarma set a firm 10 lakh metric tonne annual target for state paddy procurement. He says the goal guarantees farmers better prices and shields them from the volatile open market. The government wants to widen the net to ensure more cultivators sell directly to state agencies.
Law enforcement is squeezing smuggling rings on all fronts. After the Biswanath raid, police in Dhubri caught three men moving 20 cows on a small boat. Sarma warned that smugglers cannot hide from the law by switching to water transport, promising that the crackdown will continue regardless of how they move the livestock.
Updated at 25th August 2026 at 5:49pm
Beyond the high-level policy talks, the meeting with Gadkari saw senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways join the delegation alongside state leaders. The sessions centered on technical integration between the state's flood data and the federal highway planning process to bolster drainage capacity in vulnerable regions.
Regarding the ongoing crackdown on animal trafficking, the recent Dhubri operation confirms the government is now employing specific anti-smuggling task forces to monitor river routes. Sarma explicitly stated that the state's legal pursuit of these syndicates remains indifferent to the methods or terrain traffickers choose to employ.
Updated at 26th August 2026 at 1:50am
Beyond infrastructure talks, Sarma landed a significant win for state housing. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved 3.8 lakh new homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a project worth roughly Rs 5,000 crore. The ministry also committed to providing additional housing units for flood-hit families and residents of tea garden communities.
Sarma also walked away with a Rs 139 crore sanction for the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The funds target sustainable farming and fresh agricultural investment to help the state recover from its recent flood-induced economic slump.
Updated at 26th August 2026 at 9:46am
Beyond the ongoing infrastructure negotiations, border enforcement saw fresh action in South Salmara. Sarma reported that authorities caught 11 people attempting to enter India illegally on August 25. The Chief Minister confirmed the group was identified and turned back, stating that the state remains vigilant against unauthorized border crossings.
Sarma further solidified his push for better road engineering during his sit-down with Nitin Gadkari. Beyond general requests, he explicitly pressed for the integration of flood-specific data into the actual design and placement of bridges and culverts. The Chief Minister expects this shift in planning to improve drainage and maintain highway access during the state's frequent bouts of high water.
Updated at 26th August 2026 at 9:49pm
Sarma took aim at the Congress party while in Delhi, labeling Rahul Gandhi a madman. The Chief Minister dismissed the politician as someone who surfaces only to lose elections and stir up noise before vanishing again. Sarma also addressed the ongoing police case involving Congress leader Pawan Khera, stating that Khera’s own recorded remarks remain on the official record in Assam.
The rhetoric intensified as Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Gandhi of directing Khera to manufacture false claims against Sarma and his wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, during the final hours of the 2026 assembly campaign. Rijiju alleged that Khera was handed a Rajya Sabha seat as a reward after those specific allegations failed to gain traction. The legal fallout from those claims continues, following a series of court battles that saw the Supreme Court direct Khera to resolve the matter in Assam courts.
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