The Budget aims to create 2 lakh government jobs within the next five years, proposes ₹72,000 crore for investment in the power sector, and continues key welfare initiatives like Orunodoi and Nijut Moina.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma referred to it as a “revenue-neutral” Budget, indicating that revenue receipts, expenditures, and capital spending are well-balanced, showcasing the state’s fiscal stability.
Focus on Employment and Infrastructure
The government intends to generate 2 lakh job opportunities over the coming five years by filling existing vacancies and creating new roles across various government departments, universities, medical colleges, statutory bodies, Sixth Schedule councils, and state-owned enterprises. A task force led by the Chief Secretary has been established to devise the recruitment strategy.
To enhance the employability of youth, the Budget includes skill development initiatives in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), visual effects (VFX), and foreign languages, including English, Japanese, and Korean.
Additionally, ₹72,000 crore has been set aside for thermal, hydro, solar, and battery energy storage projects to bolster Assam’s power infrastructure. Plans include expanding Guwahati Airport into an aviation hub with a capacity of 80 million passengers and accelerating projects related to road, rail, bridge, and airport connectivity. The government is also set to develop Dibrugarh into Assam’s second capital.
Healthcare, Education, and Welfare
The state aims to hire 33,000 healthcare professionals to reinforce public health services and continue recruitment for new educational institutions including universities and colleges.
To support agriculture, the Budget allocates ₹4,000 crore for irrigation projects in the Brahmaputra Valley.
Over ₹6,000 crore has been designated for flagship welfare programs, including Orunodoi and Nijut Moina, which are set to resume in August after a hiatus during the election season. All beneficiary-oriented initiatives will be processed through the Digital Infrastructure for DBT Schemes (DIDS) with Aadhaar-based verification.
Polygamy, Welfare Eligibility, and Tax Proposals
The Budget stipulates that men engaging in polygamy will be disqualified from receiving state welfare benefits, and government employees found guilty of this practice could face dismissal through amendments to the Assam Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1964. Individuals convicted under criminal law will also be excluded from certain welfare schemes.
It proposes to quadruple the tax exemption limit for small tea producers and reduce VAT on piped natural gas by nearly 10 percentage points, while aiming for a Budget deficit of ₹419 crore.
After the Budget announcement, Sarma stated that the fiscal framework aligns with the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ pledges regarding employment, women empowerment, connectivity, power, and agriculture. He noted that capital expenditures have risen from ₹2,951 crore in 2015-16 to ₹29,000 crore, while the Budget remains mostly tax-neutral, barring a proposed green cess designed to curb pollution.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that Assam is collaborating with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to establish a ₹1,200-crore semiconductor ecosystem and plans to implement AI modules in state government offices incrementally, starting with four to five departments.
