The Assam Cabinet on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, approved a significant policy change to extend a three per cent reservation for the tea tribes and Adivasi communities in Class I and Class II state government jobs. This decision expands a policy that was previously limited to Class III and Class IV posts.

The move aims to enhance the representation of these historically marginalised communities in higher-level government services, addressing long-standing social and economic disparities. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision reflects the government’s intent to ensure greater participation of tea tribes and Adivasi youth in policy-making and administrative roles.

What was announced

The Assam Cabinet, during a meeting held at the Assam Legislative Assembly complex in Dispur, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, cleared the proposal for the three per cent reservation. This approval means that the tea tribes and Adivasi communities will now benefit from reservation in top-tier state government positions, including state civil services and professorial appointments. Chief Minister Sarma announced the decision, highlighting its importance for the communities. The new rule will apply immediately to jobs advertised from February 18, 2026, while for higher-level recruitments, it will be applicable from the next year.

Why it matters

This policy expansion is crucial for the tea tribes and Adivasi communities, who constitute almost 20 per cent of Assam’s population and have historically faced underrepresentation in senior government positions. The decision is expected to open new avenues for educated youth from these backgrounds, encouraging them to pursue higher education and aspire to administrative and policy-making roles. The Chief Minister emphasised that the government’s aim is to bring the 40 lakh people of the tea community into the mainstream of society, stating that Assam as a whole cannot progress otherwise. The cabinet noted that this extension would help address long-standing social and economic disparities.

Background

The tea tribes and Adivasi communities in Assam are descendants of indentured labourers brought by British planters from central India, primarily the Chotanagpur plateau, and other regions like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, during the 19th century to work in tea plantations. Despite their significant contribution to Assam’s economy, particularly through the tea industry, they have long struggled for socio-economic upliftment and recognition.

For decades, these communities have been demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, which they believe would provide better access to quotas in education and jobs. Currently, they are categorised as Other Backward Classes (OBC) or More Other Backward Classes (MOBC) in Assam. The Assam government had previously implemented a three per cent reservation for these communities in Class III and Class IV state government jobs within the existing 27 per cent OBC/MOBC quota. This earlier reservation, effective from October 6, 2023, aimed to ensure adequate representation in lower-level government posts.

Chief Minister Sarma had first announced the intention to extend this reservation to Class I and Class II jobs in October 2025 during the 19th biennial general conference of the Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association (ATTSA) and the central biennial general conference of the Assam Tea Tribe Women’s Association in Jorhat district. He reiterated this commitment in January 2026, stating that nearly 1,000 youths from these communities had already secured government jobs under the existing quota in 2025. The government has also taken other initiatives for the welfare of these communities, including reserving 30 MBBS seats in Assam’s medical colleges for tea community students, which was recently increased by 14 additional seats, and constructing 44 hostels for students.

Key details

The approved reservation provides a three per cent quota for the tea tribes and Adivasi communities in Class I and Class II state government jobs. This reservation falls within the existing 27 per cent quota designated for OBC and MOBC communities. The policy will be implemented for all recruitments, with immediate effect for jobs advertised from February 18, 2026, and for higher-level recruitments from the next year. This expansion covers posts such as those in the Assam Civil Service (ACS) and Assam Police Service (APS), as well as professorial appointments.

What’s next

The Assam government will proceed with the implementation of this expanded reservation policy. Recruitments for Class I and Class II posts will now incorporate the three per cent quota for tea tribes and Adivasi communities. The Chief Minister indicated that for jobs advertised from February 18, 2026, the new rule would come into play immediately, while for other higher-level recruitments, it would be applicable from the next year. This phased implementation suggests that the full impact of the policy will be observed in upcoming recruitment cycles for senior government positions.

Sources & References