Previous Year Question
Who among the following have signed the agreement to resolve Assam-Meghalaya border dispute in March 2022?
Union Home Minister, Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya
Home Secretary of India and Director Generals of Police of Assam and Meghalaya
Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya
Home Secretary of India and Chief Secretaries of Assam and Meghalaya
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
On 29 March 2022, the then Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and the then Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K. Sangma, signed an agreement in New Delhi to resolve certain areas of the boundary dispute between the two states.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The decisive distinction in this question is between the signatories and the person present at the ceremony. According to the official account, the two Chief Ministers signed the agreement; therefore, option (a), which also includes the Home Minister as a signatory, is incorrect.
The agreement covered 6 of the 12 disputed areas. These were Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara–Pillangkata, and Ratachera. Therefore, the March 2022 agreement should not be understood as a complete settlement of all 12 areas.
Before the agreement, regional committees from both states visited the areas concerned, conducted public hearings, and consulted stakeholders. Their reports provided the basis for moving towards the agreement.
This is an example of cooperative federalism, in which state governments sought to resolve a mutual dispute with the Centre’s support.