Assam’s Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department has announced the selection of 74,694 beneficiaries under the second phase of the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan (CMAAA), with the first installment of financial assistance already disbursed. Training for these beneficiaries is currently underway and is expected to conclude by July 31, 2026.

The significant outreach aims to bolster entrepreneurship and self-employment among the state’s youth, aligning with the broader vision of a self-reliant Assam. This phase builds upon the initial success of the scheme, which seeks to transform job seekers into job creators across various sectors.

What was announced

Assam Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Minister Bimal Borah announced on July 18, 2026, that nearly 75,000 individuals have been selected for the second phase of the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan. Minister Borah confirmed that the first tranche of financial assistance has been released to these beneficiaries. The ongoing training programmes are a critical component of the initiative, designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to establish and manage their own enterprises, with a deadline for completion set for the end of July 2026.

Why it matters

The selection of 74,694 beneficiaries marks a substantial expansion of the CMAAA, demonstrating the Assam government’s commitment to fostering economic independence and reducing unemployment. This initiative is crucial for empowering a large segment of the state’s youth by providing them with the capital and skills needed to launch their own businesses. The scheme is expected to stimulate local economies by promoting small and medium-sized enterprises across diverse sectors, including agriculture, animal husbandry, manufacturing, and services. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has previously highlighted the scheme’s role in transforming the state’s economic landscape by encouraging innovation and job creation.

Background

The Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan (CMAAA) was launched by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in September 2023, with the ambitious goal of providing financial assistance to one lakh (100,000) unemployed youths in Assam over a period of two years. The overarching aim of the scheme is to enable these young individuals to establish their own ventures, thereby contributing to the state’s economic growth and reducing reliance on government jobs. The first phase of the programme saw the selection of 22,000 beneficiaries. The CMAAA is conceptualised as a key initiative under the state’s broader agenda to achieve self-reliance, echoing the national ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission. The scheme’s total outlay was initially projected at ₹1,000 crore, underscoring the government’s significant investment in youth entrepreneurship.

Key details

Under the second phase of the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan, a total of 74,694 beneficiaries have been identified. These individuals have already received their initial installment of financial assistance, which is intended to support their training and the initial setup of their business ventures. The training component is integral to the scheme, ensuring that beneficiaries are well-prepared to execute their business plans effectively. All training activities for this phase are scheduled to conclude by July 31, 2026. The scheme’s design involves providing financial support in installments, with subsequent disbursements often linked to the progress and successful implementation of the beneficiaries’ projects. While specific per-beneficiary amounts for this phase were not detailed in the announcement, similar government entrepreneurship schemes often provide substantial seed capital and linkages to institutional finance.

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