Assam Cabinet Clears Key Reforms on Land, Education, Tourism; Boost for Investment and Welfare Delivery

The Assam cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Tuesday approved a series of significant policy decisions aimed at boosting industrial growth, strengthening public service delivery, and easing regulatory frameworks across sectors.Among the key decisions, the cabinet approved the Assam Regulation of Re-classification and Re-classification-cum-Transfer of Lands (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The proposed legislation, set to be introduced in the upcoming Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, seeks to streamline land-use regulations and facilitate investment in sectors such as MSME, hydrocarbon, solar energy, and conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.In a move to ensure uninterrupted distribution

of essential commodities, the Cabinet extended the validity of licences for all Fair Price Shops (FPSs) across the state till December 31, 2026. The extension replaces the earlier deadline of June 30, 2026, and is expected to benefit NFSA beneficiaries by ensuring continued access to subsidised foodgrains.The Cabinet also approved the release of Rs 9.75 crore to Assam Tea Corporation Ltd. (ATCL) to facilitate a proposed Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for its executives.To encourage private investment in higher education, the Cabinet cleared amendments to the Assam Private Universities Act, 2007. The revised norms reduce the minimum land requirement for establishing private universities from 60 bighas to 35 bighas in rural areas, and from 30 bighas to 21 bighas in urban areas.Further, in the school education sector, the Cabinet approved revised infrastructure norms while maintaining academic and safety standards. The minimum built-up area requirement has been fixed at 1 bigha for urban schools and 3 bighas for rural schools, with mandatory provisions for sanitation, drinking water, boundary walls, disaster mitigation compliance, and physically challenged -friendly facilities.In a push to promote tourism, the Cabinet also approved the Assam Tourism Accommodation (Development & Registration) Rules, 2026. The new rules introduce a simplified single-window system for registration of homestays and other accommodations, along with an auto-renewal mechanism every three years. These decisions reflect the state government's continued focus on economic growth, ease of doing business, and improved public service delivery across Assam.