Guwahati: The Assam Government has significantly eased the police verification process for government job appointments, allowing selected candidates to join service by submitting a notarised affidavit while their background checks are pending. This major policy shift, announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, aims to drastically reduce delays in recruitment and appointment procedures across various state departments.

The new streamlined process mandates that police verification, covering character, antecedents, nationality, and document genuineness, must be completed within six months. If the verification is not finalised within this stipulated period, the candidate’s records will be deemed cleared, ensuring that administrative holdups do not impede their entry into government service.

What was announced

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the revised police verification norms on Monday, August 17, 2026, through a post on the social media platform X. He stated that police verification would no longer delay the appointment of candidates selected for government jobs. The Chief Minister described the initiative as a step towards making the transition from selection to government service “simpler and faster.”

Under the updated policy, candidates will be permitted to join government service immediately upon submitting a notarised affidavit. This affidavit will confirm that the candidate has no pending criminal cases, convictions involving moral turpitude, associations with unlawful bodies, or unsuitable character. The formal police verification will then proceed concurrently with their service.

Why it matters

This policy change is expected to benefit thousands of job aspirants in Assam who often face prolonged delays in receiving appointment orders or joining government service due to pending verification procedures. By allowing candidates to join with an affidavit and setting a firm six-month deadline for verification, the government aims to inject greater efficiency and transparency into the recruitment system.

The move addresses a long-standing issue where administrative delays in background checks unnecessarily prevented eligible candidates from taking up their posts, despite successfully clearing competitive examinations. This reform is particularly significant given the high demand for government employment among Assam’s youth, with recruitment examinations attracting a large number of applicants.

Background

The Assam government has, in recent years, intensified its focus on expediting recruitment and appointment processes for government jobs, conducting large-scale recruitment drives across various departments. Chief Minister Sarma has consistently emphasised a shift towards merit-based and transparent recruitment, moving away from past allegations of influence-driven appointments and corruption.

In December 2025, Chief Minister Sarma highlighted that recruitment processes in the state had undergone a fundamental transformation, with “zero court cases related to government recruitment and no allegations of corruption.” Earlier, in July 2021, the Chief Minister had informed the Assembly that the government intended to make police verifications for various purposes, including job confirmation, time-bound.

The Assam Cabinet had previously approved a policy in August 2026 requiring police verification to be completed within six months of appointment, in line with Supreme Court directions. The Supreme Court had, in December 2024, emphasised that police officers must verify the credentials of government job candidates within six months of their appointment to prevent future complications.

The government’s commitment extends to creating substantial employment opportunities, with Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah announcing in July 2026 a target of two lakh employment opportunities across the broader public sector ecosystem over the next five years. A dedicated task force was constituted in May 2026 to prepare a roadmap for these recruitments.

Key details

The core of the new policy allows candidates to join government service immediately after submitting a notarised affidavit. This affidavit serves as a provisional declaration of their character and antecedents.

The police verification process, which includes checks on character, antecedents, nationality, and document authenticity, will now have a strict deadline of six months from the date of appointment. Should the police authorities fail to complete and submit the verification report within this six-month period, the candidate’s records will be automatically considered cleared.

The government has clarified that while the verification process continues, its pendency beyond the stipulated six months will no longer prevent eligible candidates from formally entering service or regularising their appointments. Any candidate found to have submitted a false notarised affidavit may face legal action and removal from service.

What’s next

The new policy takes effect immediately, with Chief Minister Sarma’s announcement on Monday, August 17, 2026. Job aspirants who have successfully cleared recruitment examinations can now anticipate a faster onboarding process. The government will continue to monitor the implementation of the time-bound verification to ensure its effectiveness. This move aligns with the state’s broader agenda of efficient governance and employment generation.

Sources & References

Source: Assam Eases Police Verification Rules To Reduce Delays In Govt Jobs – Ommcom News