Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, August 6, 2026, reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to transparent, corruption-free recruitment for government jobs, while simultaneously announcing a substantial financial aid package of Rs 2 lakh each for 793 flood-affected schools and enhanced stipends under the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina and Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Aasoni schemes for students. The announcements, made at a programme in Guwahati, underscore the government’s dual focus on good governance and strengthening the education sector across the state.

The initiatives are poised to significantly impact thousands of job aspirants by ensuring fair opportunities, provide crucial relief to educational institutions grappling with flood damage, and offer extended financial support to a broad spectrum of students, thereby fostering higher education enrolment and reducing dropout rates. This multi-pronged approach aims to bolster public trust in state administration and mitigate the socio-economic challenges posed by natural calamities and financial constraints on education.

What was announced

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, addressing a gathering at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati on August 6, 2026, asserted that government job recruitment in Assam is now entirely free from corruption and pledged to maintain this transparency for the next five years. During the same event, the Chief Minister announced a one-time financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for each of the 793 educational institutions that sustained damage during recent floods. This aid, totaling Rs 15.86 crore, is specifically for schools in the districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat.

Furthermore, Chief Minister Sarma detailed enhanced financial support under two flagship student welfare programmes. Under the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina scheme, girl students in Higher Secondary will now receive Rs 800 per month, undergraduate girl students Rs 1,200 per month, and postgraduate girl students Rs 2,500 per month. For male students, the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Aasoni scheme has been enhanced, providing Rs 1,000 per month for degree students and Rs 1,200 per month for postgraduate students. These monthly stipends are disbursed for ten months in an academic year.

Why it matters

The Chief Minister’s strong declaration on corruption-free recruitment holds significant weight for job aspirants in Assam, many of whom have historically faced challenges due to alleged malpractices. The government’s emphasis on merit-based selection aims to restore faith in the system and ensure equal opportunities for all eligible candidates.

The financial assistance for flood-affected schools is critical for the swift restoration of educational infrastructure in vulnerable districts. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu stated that the Rs 2 lakh per school would facilitate repairs, clean-up operations, and the restoration of basic facilities, ensuring that students can resume normal classes without undue delay. This support is part of broader efforts to minimise the disruption to learning caused by recurring floods in Assam.

The enhanced financial schemes, Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu Aasoni, are designed to boost the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and reduce dropout rates, particularly in higher education. The Nijut Moina scheme specifically targets girl students, aiming to empower them financially and act as a deterrent against child marriage by encouraging them to pursue education beyond school. Similarly, the Nijut Babu Aasoni addresses the financial constraints faced by male students from economically weaker sections, ensuring that financial hardship does not impede their academic progress.

Background

Assam has a history marked by allegations of corruption in government job recruitments, notably the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) cash-for-job scam, which deeply eroded public trust. Chief Minister Sarma has frequently highlighted his government’s efforts to dismantle this network and establish a transparent, merit-based system. He stated that his government has provided 1,56,679 government jobs, all based purely on merit, without any allegations of corruption. The Assam Direct Recruitment Examination (ADRE) mechanism was introduced to ensure fairness and eliminate middlemen, with the Chief Minister noting that the entire recruitment exercise has remained litigation-free.

The state of Assam is also perennially affected by devastating floods, which frequently cause widespread damage to infrastructure, including educational institutions. The government has consistently rolled out relief measures, including assistance for flood-affected families, book grants, and free textbooks for students. For instance, in July 2026, the government announced Rs 15,000 in cash relief for over one lakh severely flood-affected households and Rs 7.62 crore for school uniforms for students in affected districts.

The Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Aasoni was initially launched in August 2024, with its second edition, Nijut Moina 2.0, starting in August 2025, to provide financial assistance to girl students from Higher Secondary to postgraduate levels. The scheme aims to empower girls and combat child marriage by encouraging them to continue their education. Following its success, the government introduced the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Aasoni on January 1, 2026, to extend similar financial support to male students, addressing a perceived gender imbalance in educational aid.

Key details

The Rs 2 lakh one-time financial assistance will be provided to 793 schools affected by recent floods in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat districts. This aid, totaling Rs 15.86 crore, will be transferred directly to the schools through bank transfers to facilitate repairs and restoration.

Under the enhanced Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina scheme, eligible girl students will receive monthly stipends for ten months in an academic year. Higher Secondary students will get Rs 800, undergraduate students Rs 1,200, and postgraduate students Rs 2,500. Eligibility for Nijut Moina Aasoni extends to all girl students domiciled in Assam, irrespective of family income, studying in government and provincialised institutions. However, married girls (except those pursuing postgraduate or B.Ed courses), daughters of ministers, MLAs, and MPs, and girl students studying in private colleges are not eligible. Students receiving benefits under the Banikanta Kakati Merit Award scheme must choose between the two.

For the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Aasoni, male students will receive monthly financial assistance for ten months in an academic year. Undergraduate students will get Rs 1,000 per month, while postgraduate students will receive Rs 2,000 per month. This scheme is applicable to male students in their first year of undergraduate or postgraduate courses, who are domiciled in Assam, belong to families with an annual income below Rs 4 lakh, and are enrolled in government or provincialised educational institutions. Married male students and those receiving benefits under the Banikanta Kakati Merit Award or the Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana scheme are not eligible. Both schemes require beneficiaries to maintain regular attendance and adhere to institutional conduct rules.

What’s next

The financial assistance for flood-affected schools is expected to be disbursed promptly, with Chief Minister Sarma set to formally release the funds during a programme in Guwahati. Application forms for the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu Aasoni schemes are being distributed, with the benefits to be disbursed through Aadhaar-linked Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) systems. Educational institutions have been tasked with verifying student applications and monitoring eligibility and attendance to ensure smooth implementation.

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