What was announced
The revised procedure was communicated through an executive order issued by the Personnel Department of the Assam Government on August 23, 2026. The order states that appointing authorities can now offer provisional appointments to selected candidates based on a notarized affidavit concerning their character and antecedents. Concurrently, these authorities are mandated to request the relevant police department to conduct the full verification process. The Police Verification Report must be submitted to the appointing authority within a fixed period, not exceeding six months from the date of the provisional appointment.Why it matters
This policy revision is poised to significantly accelerate the induction of new recruits into various government departments, cutting down on the waiting period that many successful candidates previously faced. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized that police verification would no longer impede appointments, describing the initiative as a step towards making the transition from selection to government service “simpler and faster”. The government has also stipulated that if the verification process is not completed within the stipulated six-month period, the candidate’s records will be deemed to have been cleared. This provision ensures accountability and efficiency within the police verification system itself, preventing indefinite delays. The measure is particularly crucial for a state like Assam, where government employment remains highly sought after, and recruitment drives often attract a large number of applicants.Background
The Assam Government’s decision to overhaul the police verification process stems from a broader commitment to expediting recruitment and enhancing administrative efficiency. Delays in police verification have historically been a significant factor contributing to prolonged appointment cycles for government jobs across India, including Assam. The revised procedure by the Personnel Department was issued in pursuance of a Supreme Court judgment dated December 5, 2024, in a civil appeal, which likely provided guidelines or observations regarding the balance between verification and timely appointments. This executive order supersedes an earlier office memorandum issued on November 18, 2021, which had also introduced provisions for appointments based on notarized affidavits but without the explicit framework for provisional appointments and a strict six-month deadline for police reports. The government has, in recent years, focused on conducting large-scale recruitment drives, making the streamlining of post-selection procedures a priority to ensure that successful candidates can join service without undue delay. The verification process is fundamentally intended to establish a candidate’s character, antecedents, nationality, and the genuineness of submitted documents.Key details
Under the new guidelines, selected candidates are required to submit a notarized affidavit in a prescribed format, declaring their character and antecedents. This affidavit must attest that the candidate has no pending criminal cases, no convictions involving moral turpitude, is not associated with any unlawful organizations, and possesses suitable character for government service. The appointing authority is responsible for uploading this notarized affidavit to its official portal, and it will also be made available under the Right to Information Act, 2005, if requested. To facilitate a quicker police verification process, appointing authorities have been directed to provide all relevant documents, including the active mobile phone numbers of selected candidates, to the police authorities. If the appointing authority is satisfied with the candidate’s character and antecedents based on the affidavit, a provisional appointment can be made while the police verification is underway. Once the police verification confirms the candidate’s credentials, the appointment process will be regularized and treated as complete. However, the government has issued a stern warning: if an adverse police report or any subsequent information contradicts the declarations made in the affidavit, the candidate’s provisional appointment will be immediately cancelled, and the person will be removed from service. Any candidate found to have submitted a false notarized affidavit may also face legal action.Reactions
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma underscored the state government’s commitment to facilitating a smoother entry into public service.The Chief Minister’s statement highlights the government’s resolve to address the practical challenges faced by job aspirants and ensure that administrative processes do not become impediments to employment.“Police verification will no longer hold up appointments,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, adding that the move aims to make the transition from selection to government service “simpler and faster.”