The Assam Cabinet on June 23, 2026, approved significant amendments to the Assam Private Universities Act, 2007, relaxing land requirements and endowment fund criteria, while also easing regulations for private schools across the state. The decisions aim to foster the expansion of educational institutions and enhance access to school education, according to government officials.

These policy changes are expected to catalyse private investment in the education sector, thereby boosting industrial growth, tourism, and indirectly creating employment opportunities within Assam. The move is part of a broader government strategy to improve the ease of doing business and strengthen the state’s educational infrastructure.

What was announced

The Assam Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 23, 2026, approved amendments to the Assam Private Universities Act, 2007. These revisions significantly reduce the minimum land requirement for establishing private universities in the state.

Under the amended provisions, the land required for setting up a private university in rural areas has been lowered from 60 bighas to 35 bighas. For urban areas, the requirement has been reduced from 30 bighas to 21 bighas. Additionally, the Cabinet relaxed the endowment fund criteria for private universities, according to a report by India Today NE.

Concurrently, the state government eased regulations for private schools to facilitate their expansion. The minimum built-up area requirement for Lower Primary to Secondary schools has been set at one bigha in urban areas and three bighas in rural areas. However, these institutions are mandated to comply with essential standards related to sanitation, drinking water, boundary walls, toilets, disaster mitigation measures, and facilities for persons with disabilities, officials said.

Chief Minister Sarma, announcing the decisions, highlighted that the amendments would be introduced during the upcoming budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly.

Why it matters

The policy reforms are designed to attract greater private investment into Assam’s education sector, which is a key pillar of the state’s human resource development strategy. By easing land and financial norms, the government aims to remove long-standing administrative bottlenecks that have deterred investors and institutional promoters, officials familiar with the matter said.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that the amendments are aimed at “attracting greater private investment in the higher education sector and facilitating the establishment of quality educational institutions in Assam.” He added that the reforms would “accelerate the growth of higher education infrastructure, improve access to quality learning opportunities, and strengthen Assam’s position as an emerging education hub in the Northeast.”

The relaxation of norms for private schools is expected to improve access to school education, particularly in underserved areas, and contribute to the government’s goal of enhancing educational quality and reducing regional disparities. The overall impact is anticipated to boost industrial growth, education, and tourism, thereby indirectly generating employment opportunities across the state.

Background

The Assam government has been actively pursuing a comprehensive reform agenda to enhance the state’s economic and social landscape. The recent cabinet decisions are part of a broader series of policy reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business and attracting private investment across various sectors.

Prior to these amendments, the Assam Private Universities Act, 2007, stipulated a minimum land requirement of 60.50 bighas outside municipal limits and 30.25 bighas within municipal limits for establishing a private university. The original Act also mandated an endowment fund of one crore rupees for universities in Scheduled Tribes areas and two crore rupees in other cases.

The current reforms align with the Chief Minister’s stated vision to “holistically transform the state’s education ecosystem and deliver the best quality of teaching for the student community,” with a focus on improving quality, ending regional disparities, and enhancing access to education. In June 2026, Chief Minister Sarma had directed education officials to ensure that key indicators like dropout rates and gross enrolment ratios surpass the national average.

In a related development in November 2025, the Assam Cabinet had approved the Assam Non-Government Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) (Amendment) Bill, 2025. This bill aimed to bring minority-run private schools under a mandatory fee regulatory framework, mandating transparent fixation and periodic reviews, a move that had drawn reactions from Christian forums in the state. This earlier initiative showcased the government’s intent to regulate the private education sector more broadly, complementing the current focus on infrastructure and establishment norms.

Beyond education, the June 23, 2026, cabinet meeting also approved the Assam Regulation of Re-classification and Re-classification-cum-Transfer of Lands (Amendment) Bill, 2026. This proposed legislation seeks to streamline land-use conversion for sectors such as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), hydrocarbons, solar energy, and agriculture-to-non-agriculture projects, without requiring prior approval from district commissioners. This is expected to accelerate industrial and commercial investments.

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the Assam Tourism Accommodation (Development and Registration) Rules, 2026, introducing a simplified single-window registration system for homestays and other tourism accommodation units with an automatic renewal mechanism every three years.

Key details

The key details of the policy changes approved by the Assam Cabinet on June 23, 2026, are as follows:

  • Private Universities:
    • Minimum land requirement in rural areas reduced from 60 bighas to 35 bighas.
    • Minimum land requirement in urban areas reduced from 30 bighas to 21 bighas.
    • Relaxation of endowment fund criteria for establishing private universities.
  • Private Schools (Lower Primary to Secondary):
    • Minimum built-up area requirement set at one bigha for urban schools.
    • Minimum built-up area requirement set at three bighas for rural schools.
    • Mandatory compliance with standards for sanitation, drinking water, boundary walls, toilets, disaster mitigation measures, and facilities for persons with disabilities.

These changes are expected to streamline the process for private entities to establish and expand educational facilities, contributing to the state’s development goals.

Reactions

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized the strategic intent behind these reforms. “The amendment is aimed at attracting greater private investment in the higher education sector and facilitating the establishment of quality educational institutions in Assam,” Sarma said. He added that these reforms would “accelerate the growth of higher education infrastructure, improve access to quality learning opportunities, and strengthen Assam’s position as an emerging education hub in the Northeast.”

Government officials stated that the decisions are collectively aimed at “improving the ease of doing business, strengthening the education infrastructure, and boosting tourism in the state.”

What’s next

The amendments to the Assam Private Universities Act, 2007, and the revised norms for private schools, along with the Assam Regulation of Re-classification and Re-classification-cum-Transfer of Lands (Amendment) Bill, 2026, are slated for introduction in the upcoming budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly. Once passed, the new policies will come into effect, paving the way for easier establishment and expansion of private educational institutions.

The government’s focus on these legislative changes indicates a continued push towards creating a more investment-friendly environment and enhancing public services across Assam. Further details on the implementation mechanisms are expected to be released following the legislative process.

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