STATE PROFILE OF ASSAM

Assam, the gateway to the North East India is the largest State in the North East is bordering seven states viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Monipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal and two countries viz. Bangladesh & Bhutan. The State is endowed with abundant fertile land and water resources with total geographical area of 78,438 sq.km. of which 98.4 % area is rural. Assam shares about 2.4 % of the country’s total geographical area and provides shelter to 2.6 % population of the country. Most of the state population lives in the lush valleys of its two major river system in the 30 districts of the Brahmaputra valley & 3 districts of the Barak valley. Less densely populated three hill districts viz. Karbi-Along, West Karbi-Along & Dima Hasao, set in the low-laying hills that separate the two valleys. For administrative and revenue purposes, the state  has 33 districts including four districts Under the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area viz. Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska & Udalguri and 6 newly created districts viz., Biswanath, Charaideo, Hojai, South Salmara-Macachar ,  West Karbi-Anglong and Majuli.

The State has been blessed bountiful by nature. The mighty Brahmaputra truncating the state, the Barak river in the south and their tributaries provide abundant water resource; the dense forest cover is home to a wide range of valuable timber, bamboo & medical plants; the state reserve of oil and natural gas; the fertile valleys & hills lopes nourish tea gardens and horticultural crops while the rich and fertile soil lend itself to raising vital food-grains.

Assam is administratively divided into 33 district with 80 sub-division, 219 Development Blocks and 2202 Gaon Panchayats, out of which 3 districts with 4 sub-divisions & 16 Development Blocks are under three hill districts of Karbi-Along, East Karbi-Along & Dima Hasao. Further, four district with eight sub-divisions are under Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area viz Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska & Udalguri. The Brahmaputra valley consists of North Bank Plains Zone (NBPZ), Upper Brahmaputra valley Zone (UBVZ), Central Brahmaputra valley Zone (CBVZ) and Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone (LBVZ), whereas the Barak Valley Zone mainly consists of plain area of three districts, viz. Cachar, Karimganj & Hailakandi.

The State is severely affected by floods during rainy seasons causing enormous damage to crops, livestock, land, property & bringing untold miseries to the people at large. Both the Brahmaputra and Barak Valley witness devastating floods every year, which not only washes away valuable life & crops, but also lead to bank erosion and drainage congestion, virtually destroy the economy, more particularly, the rural economy of the State. 

Assam has heterogeneous population with socio-cultural & ethnic diversity. According to the Census of India, 2011 the population of Assam stands at 312.05 lakh of which 159.39 lakh are male and 152.66 lakh are female. The decadal growth of the State’s population works out at 17.07 percent during the decade 2001-2011 as against 17.68 percent for the country as a whole. Out of the total 312.05 lakh population, 86 percent population live in rural areas & 14 percent population live in urban areas of the State. The density of the population of Assam has increased to 398 persons in 2011 from 340 persons in 2001 Census or on an average, 58 more people inhabit every square kilometer in the State as compared to a decade ago.

For detail information it may refer - Assam at a Glance 2016.