Assam

Assam tables ₹2.85 trn Budget for 2026-27, aims to cut deficit to ₹419 cr

The Assam government on Friday presented a Rs 2,85,084 cr Budget for the 2026-27 financial year and proposed to raise the tax exemption limit for small tea growers by four times and cut VAT on piped natural gas by almost 10 percentage points. Presenting his maiden Budget, Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah also announced to continue all the major schemes rolled out during the last five years, while stating that he aims to cut Budget deficit to Rs 419 crore. "The Budget estimates of financial year 2026-27 show a receipt of Rs 1,51,843.23 crore under the consolidated fund of the state... After adding the receipt of Rs 1,34,466.22 crore under public account and Rs 2,000 crore under contingency fund, the aggregate receipts amount to Rs 2,88,309.45 crore," he added. As against this, the total expenditure from the consolidated fund in the 2026-27 fiscal is estimated at Rs 1,56,714.88 crore, Baruah said. He further said that taking into account the expenditure of Rs 1,26,369.57 .

Polygamy to invite welfare benefits bar, dismissal from service: Assam govt

The Assam budget on Friday proposed that persons practising polygamy will not be eligible for benefits under state-run welfare schemes, while government employees found guilty of the practice will face dismissal. Presenting his maiden Budget, state Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said welfare measures should not only reach the deserving but also enforce "inclusivity, integrity and moral ethos" in society. "Speaker Sir, in order to promote women's empowerment and gender justice, any male practising polygamy shall not be eligible to avail benefits under any government welfare scheme," Baruah said. The budget proposed amending the Assam Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1964, to provide that any government servant found to have practised polygamy shall be liable for dismissal from service, in accordance with law. "To promote integrity and responsible citizenship, I propose that any person convicted of an offence under any criminal law shall not be eligible to avail benefit

Purabi Dairy, Suzuki join hands to set up compressed biogas plant in Assam

North East Dairy and Foods Ltd (NEDFL), which markets products under the Purabi brand, on Sunday said it has partnered with the NDDB and Suzuki R&D Centre India (SRDI) to establish a compressed biogas plant in Assam. The three organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote sustainable development and clean energy in the state, NEDFL said in a statement. Under the agreement, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will provide technical and institutional support for the project, while NEDFL will be responsible for executing the project, operating the proposed CBG plant, and marketing and selling the compressed biogas and organic fertilisers produced. Suzuki R&D Centre India will invest in the project and realise the carbon credits and other benefits associated with the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The project aims to convert agricultural and dairy waste into compressed biogas, a clean and renewable fuel, and organic fertiliser, marking a ...

Assam's June GST collection jumps 15%, outpaces national average growth

Assam witnessed a 15 per cent growth in GST collection in June compared to the corresponding period a year ago, Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said on Saturday. The GST collection in June stood at Rs 1,437 crore as against Rs 1,255 crore in the same month last year. "June 2026, witnessed 15 per cent GST growth compared to June 2025, well above the national average of 9 per cent, placing Assam among the country's top performing major states. "Focused efforts to improve compliance, plug leakages, strengthen digital tax administration and widen the tax base are delivering encouraging results," Baruah said in a post on X. The GST collected in the first quarter from April to June was Rs 4,467 crore compared to Rs 3,026 crore during the corresponding period in 2025. Assam outperformed several larger states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal, officials said. ''We remain committed to transparent governance, robust revenue mobilisation and building a

Assam HSLC Compartment result 2026 to be out today; how to check scores

The Board of Secondary Education, Assam, will declare the SEBA HSLC Compartmental Result 2026 today at 11 am on the official website. Students can check their results using their credentials

Nabard appoints G Ramesh Kumar as new Chief General Manager of Assam unit

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Monday said G Ramesh Kumar has taken charge as its Chief General Manager of the Assam unit. Kumar assumed the responsibility from Loken Das with immediate effect, NABARD said in a statement. "An accomplished banking professional, G Ramesh Kumar brings over 30 years of extensive experience in banking and finance, with a strong focus on rural and development banking as well as project and corporate debt financing," it said. Before his current posting in Assam, he led the Business Operations vertical of NABARD for more than four years, contributing significantly to the growth and strengthening of various banks and financial institutions, it added. Kumar has previously served as Chief Financial Officer of NABSAMRUDDHI Finance, a subsidiary of NABARD, and as Vice President of NABCONS, the bank's consultancy arm wherein he handled and executed various national and international consultancy assignments.

EU lifts travel advisory for Assam, except 3 districts under Afspa: Himanta

European Union (EU) member-states have withdrawn their negative travel advisory for Assam, except for the three districts under the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act or AFSPA, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday. EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin informed the Assam chief secretary that the restriction has been lifted from Friday, he said. "After reviewing the situation in Assam, they have withdrawn the negative travel advisory from yesterday. All the 27 member-states of the EU have lifted the restrictions for its citizens travelling to our state, barring the three districts of Charaideo, Tinsukia and Sivasagar which are under AFSPA," Sarma said on Facebook Live. He said that the USA and Canada are yet to lift the travel restrictions for Assam, and the state government was pursuing the matter with them. Australia and Japan had earlier withdrawn similar advisories for their citizens last year, the CM said in a post on X. "This development, following the recent visi

Japan's Takaichi may visit India in July with top execs from Suzuki, Toyota

The business delegation may include automaker Suzuki Motor, trading house Itochu and Toyota Motor trading arm Toyota Tsusho

CAG flags issues in Assam's social audit unit, suggests corrective steps

Assam's Social Audit Unit, set up to ensure transparency and accountability in rural development schemes, has faced severe operational and governance challenges, according to a CAG report. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on 'Local Bodies' for the period ending March 2024 highlighted that the registration of SAU expired long back due to infrequent governing Body meetings that hindered budget approvals and annual account certifications. "The registration of the SAU under the Societies Act remained invalid for almost five years, since December 2019. Gross shortfall in holding of governing body meetings implies the deficiency in monitoring at the government level," it added. The CAG recommended that governing body meetings should be held at stipulated intervals to ensure approval of the budget and annual accounts of SAU, and to facilitate effective monitoring of the activities. It also pointed out that the manpower policy of SAU is yet to be firmed up, even .

No Aadhaar after 18 in Assam: Move to curb infiltration comes with issues

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government will restrict Aadhaar enrolment for adults above 18 years to prevent alleged illegal immigrants from obtaining the official ID

Assam to stop Aadhaar issuance for those above 18 yrs: CM Himanta Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the Cabinet has decided that Aadhaar cards would not be issued to those above the age of 18 to ensure illegal immigrants don't acquire the document. "In exceptional cases, the district commissioner will have to send a proposal to the state government seeking permission for issuing the card," he said at a press conference here after chairing a cabinet meeting. Remarking that Aadhaar card issuance has reached a saturation point in the state, Sarma said, "In some districts, it has crossed the 100 per cent mark, and we must ascertain who these people are who are taking the additional Aadhaar cards." The step is being taken to ensure that no illegal Bangladeshis get Aadhaar cards, he said.

Massive fake certificate recruitment scam exposed in Assam, case registered

The scam recently surfaced in Jorhat and has drawn attention to Naosholia village, where forged resident certificates were allegedly created and used by candidates from other states

Assam Assembly passes Uniform Civil Code Bill amid Opposition protest

The Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed the UCC Bill that seeks to put in place a common legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships irrespective of religion, even as the opposition demanded that it be sent to a select committee. With the passage of the proposed legislation, Assam became the third state, after Uttarakhand and Gujarat, to pass a Uniform Civil Code Bill. Goa also has one common civil law, which continued from its erstwhile Portuguese colonial period. After a day-long discussion on the 'The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill', Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass asked Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to move it for passage. Dass rejected the opposition's demand that the Bill be sent to a select committee for wider consultation, prompting them to move to the Well of the House and keep on shouting till the Bill was passed. The Speaker put the Bill for voice voting, amid continuous slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Shree Ram' by th

DRI seizes 60,000 kg smuggled areca nuts in Assam, Mizoram; 5 arrested

According to the Ministry of Finance release on Friday, initial investigations revealed that foreign-origin dried areca nuts were smuggled into India from Myanmar through the Myanmar-Mizoram border

River Traveller: Hazarika brings alive the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra ecosystem

Mr Hazarika's book will appeal to environmentalists, historians, diplomats, anthropologists, political scientists, bureaucrats, and activists as well as readers who enjoy reading travelogues

Assam, UP and Meghalaya India's fastest-growing states, says study

Smaller and mid-sized states are emerging as India's fastest-growing economies, signalling a broader and more balanced growth story beyond traditional industrial hubs

Assam cabinet approves UCC bill, certain tribes to be exempt: Himanta Sarma

The Assam Cabinet on Wednesday approved the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, but the tribal population will be kept outside its purview, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The UCC Bill will be laid before the new legislative assembly on May 26, the chief minister said at a press conference here after chairing the first cabinet meeting of his second term as the head of the government. "This is a major decision taken in the first cabinet meeting and aligns with the commitment we made during the elections," he said. Sarma said Uttarakhand, Goa and Gujarat have already implemented the UCC, but his government has customised it for the requirements of Assam. ''We have completely exempted the tribal population from the purview of UCC. All rituals, traditions and customs practised by the people of Assam outside the scope of UCC,'' he said. The UCC will deal with succession, marriage, live-in relationships and compulsory registration of marriage and divorc

Assam and Kerala assembly election results: Key highlights | BJP | UDF

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA secures a big win in Assam, with Himanta Biswa Sarma set for a second term as Chief Minister. Meanwhile, in Kerala

Assembly election results highlights: BJP sweeps Bengal, Assam, Vijay-led TMK wins Tamil Nadu | TMC

Vote counting across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry has concluded, bringing major political shifts. The Bharatiya Janata Party sweeps West Bengal

Himanta Biswa Sarma takes oath as Assam CM for second straight term

Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the chief minister of Assam for the second consecutive term on Tuesday. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to Sarma at a grand ceremony held at the Veterinary Ground in Khanapara area in Guwahati. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Sarbananda Sonowal, Pabitra Margherita, chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and BJP president Nitin Nabin were present at the swearing-in ceremony. The swearing-in ceremony marks the formation of the third successive NDA government in the state. Sarma's mother Mrinalini Devi, wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, son Nandil Biswa Sarma and daughter Sukanya Sarma were also present on the occasion. The NDA won a record 102 MLAs of the 126-member assembly, including 82 from the BJP. The BJP allies, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF), bagged 10 seats each.