Assam’s 77th Republic Day Celebrations: Governor Highlights Massive Progress in Tackling Illegal Foreigners, Crime Reduction, and Economic Boom with GSDP Set to Cross ₹7 Lakh Crore
Assam Governor: 467 Deported, GSDP to Top ₹7 Lakh Crore
Assam marked the 77th Republic Day with grand celebrations across the state, culminating in a powerful address by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at the state-level function in Khanapara, Guwahati. Hoisting the national flag amid patriotic fervor, the Governor delivered a comprehensive speech that underscored the state’s remarkable strides in national security, law and order, and economic development. His remarks highlighted key achievements under the current administration, including efforts to address the long-standing issue of illegal foreigners, a sharp decline in crime rates, pioneering implementation of new criminal laws, and robust economic growth projections.
The speech comes at a time when Assam continues to grapple with challenges related to illegal immigration from neighboring countries, particularly Bangladesh, while simultaneously positioning itself as one of India’s fastest-growing economies.
Low Deportation Numbers Amid High Declarations of Illegal Foreigners
A major portion of Governor Acharya’s address focused on the ongoing process of identifying and deporting illegal foreigners—a sensitive and politically charged issue in Assam for decades. He revealed that Foreigners Tribunals have declared approximately 1.7 lakh individuals as illegal foreigners. However, only 467 have been successfully repatriated to their countries of origin so far.
The Governor provided detailed figures to illustrate the scale of the exercise: By October 31, 2025, around 4.35 lakh cases of suspected citizens had been referred to the Foreigners Tribunals. Of these, more than 3.5 lakh cases have been resolved, leading to the identification of nearly 1.7 lakh people as illegal foreigners. Despite the large number of declarations, the actual deportation figure remains low at 467, highlighting logistical, legal, and diplomatic hurdles in the repatriation process.
This disclosure has reignited discussions on the effectiveness of detection and deportation mechanisms in Assam, where the issue of illegal immigration has been a core concern since the 1980s Assam Agitation. Governor Acharya emphasized the state’s commitment to resolving these cases systematically while upholding due process.
Enhanced Border Security Measures Yield Results
To curb illegal infiltration, the Governor highlighted strengthened coordination between the Border Security Force (BSF) and local police in vulnerable border districts such as Cachar, Sribhumi, Dhubri, and South Salmara-Mankachar along the India-Bangladesh border. Currently, 14 border outposts and 14 patrol posts are fully operational in these areas, creating a robust multi-layered defense against unauthorized crossings.
These initiatives have significantly bolstered Assam’s border management, reducing incidents of illegal entry and contributing to overall internal security improvements.
Assam Achieves Top Rank in New Criminal Laws Implementation
In a moment of pride, Governor Acharya announced that Assam has secured the number one position nationwide in implementing the three new criminal laws introduced in 2024: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). These laws replaced colonial-era codes—the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act—aiming for more modern, victim-centric, and efficient justice delivery.
According to evaluations by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Assam leads on the National Criminal Law Implementation (NCLI) dashboard, outperforming other states. This achievement reflects proactive training, infrastructure upgrades, and administrative readiness by Assam Police and the state government.
Sharp Decline in Crime Rates, Especially Against Women
The Governor presented encouraging statistics on law and order, noting a substantial reduction in the overall crime rate. The crime rate per lakh population has plummeted from 379 in 2021 to 121.6 in 2025—a drop of over 67%. Crimes against women have seen an even more dramatic fall, decreasing from 10,546 cases in 2024 to just 4,426 in 2025.
These improvements are attributed to better policing, community engagement, implementation of new laws, and focused campaigns against gender-based violence. The data signals a safer environment for residents, particularly women, and positions Assam as a model for other states in crime control.
Prison Modernization and Broader Infrastructure Push
As part of ongoing reforms, the Governor mentioned rapid progress on a high-security jail in Hajo, Kamrup district, under the MHA’s prison modernization project. The facility, designed to house 150 inmates, incorporates advanced security features and aims to improve correctional standards.
Economic Surge: GSDP Poised to Cross ₹7 Lakh Crore
The economic segment of the speech painted an optimistic picture of Assam’s transformation. Thanks to prudent fiscal management, sustained revenue generation, and targeted investments over the past five years, the state’s economy has shown resilience and rapid expansion.
At constant prices, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) registered nearly 45% growth from 2019-20 to 2024-25, surpassing the national average. At current prices, the GSDP for 2025-26 is projected to exceed ₹7 lakh crore—more than double the level of 2020-21. Official estimates place it around ₹7.41-7.42 lakh crore, reflecting strong double-digit growth.
Capital expenditure has more than doubled, rising from about ₹12,500 crore in 2020-21 to over ₹26,000 crore in 2024-25. In 2023-24, Assam recorded the highest growth rate among all states at 17.4%. Preliminary projections suggest it will rank among the top six states in 2024-25, with per capita income expected to reach around ₹1.6 lakh—a 10.7% year-on-year increase.
Sectors like tea, oil, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure have driven this momentum, supported by investor-friendly policies and central government partnerships.
A Message of Hope and Progress
Concluding his address, Governor Acharya emphasized that these advancements in security, law enforcement, and economic spheres reflect the collective efforts of the state government, security forces, and citizens. The 77th Republic Day speech not only celebrated India’s constitutional values but also instilled renewed confidence in Assam’s future as a secure, prosperous, and forward-looking state.
As Assam continues its journey toward comprehensive development, initiatives like these are expected to attract more investments, improve quality of life, and resolve long-pending challenges. The Governor’s detailed highlights serve as a roadmap for sustained progress in the coming years.
