The Assam Cabinet on Tuesday, August 11, approved significant revisions to government recruitment policies, including mandatory police verification for new recruits and the issuance of Other Backward Classes (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer certificates to eligible communities. The cabinet also modified the payment structure for the Chief Minister’s Foreign Language Initiative for Global Human Talent (CM-FLIGHT) scheme and sanctioned a budgetary provision of Rs 118.58 crore for the Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana Scheme for the 2026-27 financial year.

These decisions, taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur, aim to streamline government processes, enhance transparency in recruitment, and bolster youth empowerment initiatives across the state. The measures reflect the government’s continued focus on administrative reforms and welfare programmes.

What was announced

The Assam Cabinet approved a mandatory requirement for police verification of candidates appointed to government service. This verification will cover their character, antecedents, nationality, and the authenticity of documents submitted. The police are mandated to complete this verification within six months of appointment. However, to prevent delays in the appointment process, candidates will continue to submit notarised affidavits.

In a move to ensure equitable opportunities, the cabinet also approved the issuance of OBC Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificates in a prescribed state format. This provision is specifically for eligible members of six communities that are included in Assam’s State List of OBCs but are not part of the Central List of OBCs for the state.

Furthermore, the cabinet revised the payment structure for Foreign Language Training-cum-Implementation Partners (FLTIP) under the CM-FLIGHT programme. Under the updated arrangement, the Rs 1 lakh training support will be disbursed in three milestone-based instalments. Candidates will receive Rs 30,000 after completing three months of training, followed by another Rs 30,000 after six months. The remaining Rs 40,000 will be released upon the successful completion of training and submission of a foreign language proficiency certificate. The Rs 50,000 post-placement assistance under the scheme remains unchanged.

For the Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana Scheme, the cabinet approved a budgetary provision of Rs 118.58 crore for the 2026-27 financial year. This allocation will facilitate the disbursement of financial assistance to 48,366 selected graduates from the 2025 batch, who will receive Rs 2,500 per month for the remaining applicable period of 10 months.

Why it matters

The introduction of mandatory police verification for government recruits is a significant step towards ensuring the integrity and reliability of individuals joining public service. This measure aims to prevent individuals with questionable backgrounds or fraudulent documents from entering government employment, thereby upholding the sanctity of public administration.

The approval for state-format OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificates is crucial for addressing a long-standing demand from specific communities. This will enable eligible individuals from the six identified communities to avail reservations and other benefits in state government jobs and state-run educational institutions, promoting inclusivity and social justice within Assam.

The revised payment structure for the CM-FLIGHT scheme is designed to enhance cash flow for candidates and alleviate their financial burden during foreign language training. This adjustment is expected to make the programme more accessible and attractive, encouraging more Assamese youth to pursue global career opportunities, particularly in countries like Japan, which face labour shortages. The scheme’s core objective is to create globally competent professionals from Assam by integrating language training, vocational upskilling, and ethical placement support.

The substantial budgetary allocation for the Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana Scheme underscores the government’s commitment to supporting fresh graduates during their critical transition from education to employment. This monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 aims to provide a crucial safety net, allowing young graduates to focus on preparing for competitive examinations, job interviews, or exploring entrepreneurial ventures without immediate financial pressure. The scheme is intended to motivate them to build careers within their home state, thereby addressing unemployment and fostering self-sufficiency.

Background

The CM-FLIGHT scheme, officially known as the Chief Minister’s Foreign Language Initiative for Global Human Talent, was launched by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 13, 2025. Its primary goal is to prepare Assamese youth for overseas employment, with an initial focus on Japan, by providing intensive foreign language training and workplace readiness skills. The initiative was born out of high-level diplomacy and Memoranda of Understanding signed after the Advantage Assam 2.0 outreach, recognising Japan’s acute labour shortages due to an ageing population.

Initially, the scheme offered financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh per candidate to training partners and an additional Rs 50,000 as post-placement assistance. This reduced the effective fee for candidates to approximately Rs 30,000 from an original private training fee of Rs 3.6 lakh. The programme aims to train and place 50,000 youth by 2030, with a potential extension to one lakh.

The Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana Scheme was introduced by the Government of Assam on November 3, 2025. It was designed to offer financial support to fresh graduates who completed their studies in 2025 from any state or central government college or university in Assam. The scheme, managed by the Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department, provides Rs 2,500 per month for one year, aiming to ease financial stress as graduates navigate their early career paths.

Both schemes underscore the Assam government’s broader vision of youth empowerment and skill development, aiming to leverage the state’s demographic dividend for economic growth and global competitiveness.

Key details

The police verification process for government recruits will examine character, antecedents, nationality, and document authenticity. While a six-month deadline is set for police completion, candidates will still submit notarised affidavits to avoid delays in appointments.

For OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificates, the new state-specific format will benefit six communities currently listed in Assam’s state OBC list but not in the central list, allowing them to access state-level benefits.

The CM-FLIGHT scheme’s revised training support payout is structured as follows:

  • Rs 30,000 upon completion of three months of training.
  • Rs 30,000 upon completion of six months of training.
  • Rs 40,000 after completion of training and submission of a foreign language proficiency certificate.

The Rs 50,000 post-placement assistance remains a key component of the scheme, supporting candidates with relocation and initial settlement costs abroad.

The Jibon Prerana Scheme’s Rs 118.58 crore allocation for 2026-27 will support 48,366 graduates from the 2025 batch. Each eligible graduate will receive Rs 2,500 per month for a period of 10 months.

What’s next

The mandatory police verification for government recruits is expected to be implemented immediately, with the stipulated six-month completion period commencing from the date of appointment. The continued use of notarised affidavits will ensure that appointments are not unduly delayed while verifications are underway.

The new state-format OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificates will be issued to eligible candidates, allowing them to access benefits in state government jobs and educational institutions. The revised payment structure for the CM-FLIGHT scheme will take immediate effect, providing more flexible financial support to trainees. The Rs 118.58 crore budgetary provision for the Jibon Prerana Scheme will be disbursed to the identified 2025 graduates over the coming 10 months, providing ongoing financial assistance.

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