GUWAHATI: The Assam Education Department will release pending salaries for Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) teachers and implement an online mutual transfer system for eligible teachers. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu announced the twin developments on Tuesday, August 11, addressing long-standing concerns within the teaching community.

The decision is expected to benefit thousands of teachers across the state, particularly the approximately 200 to 250 SRD teachers whose salaries were delayed due to administrative issues or bank account discrepancies. The introduction of a streamlined online transfer portal aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in teacher postings, fulfilling a key demand from educators.

What was announced

Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu confirmed on Tuesday, August 11, that the state government would clear the pending salaries of Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) teachers. He also stated that the notification for an online mutual transfer process for eligible teachers would be issued on the same day.

Minister Pegu, speaking to the media in Guwahati, assured that pending payments for all affected SRD teachers would be credited. He noted that while nearly 15,000 teachers are covered under the SRD scheme, about 200 to 250 teachers faced salary delays due to unresolved issues, primarily bank account errors.

Regarding the transfer system, Pegu announced that the new mechanism would allow eligible teachers to apply for mutual transfers through a dedicated online portal. The Education Department plans to issue detailed instructions outlining the application process, eligibility requirements, and other conditions for these transfers.

Why it matters

The announcement holds significant importance for Assam’s teaching fraternity, particularly for SRD teachers who have faced delays in salary disbursement. The clearance of pending salaries addresses their financial concerns and acknowledges their regularised status as government employees.

The new online mutual transfer system is a crucial step towards modernising and making the transfer process more transparent. It is expected to provide teachers with greater flexibility in choosing their postings, subject to fulfilling eligibility criteria and maintaining the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) norms. This move aims to improve teacher morale and reduce administrative burdens associated with manual transfer requests.

Earlier reports indicated that the delay in salaries for SRD teachers was due to financial system reforms and a misunderstanding regarding payment mechanisms, with some teachers initially receiving salaries through district treasuries and later facing changes. The Minister clarified that the government has no financial problems and the delays were procedural.

Background

The issue of SRD teachers’ salaries and a transparent transfer policy has been a recurring point of discussion and demand within Assam’s education sector. Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) teachers were often contractual or state pool teachers under Samagra Shiksha Assam (SSA) who were later regularised into government service.

In August 2025, the Assam government extended key service benefits to SRD teachers in secondary schools, making their past services count for transfer purposes and making them eligible for mutual and single transfers. They also became eligible for promotion as Headmasters or Principals.

Prior to this, in March 2026, the Assam government had already eased certain teacher transfer norms by allowing newly appointed teachers to apply for mutual transfers and removing a previous two-year restriction on re-applying for transfers. This was done to facilitate administrative convenience and enable teachers to benefit from locational advantages.

Teacher associations, such as the Assam State Primary Teachers’ Association (ASPTA), had previously staged protests regarding proposed changes in salary disbursement mechanisms, specifically the shift from the FinAssam platform to the SNA-SPARSH module, citing concerns about service conditions.

The state has also seen large-scale teacher recruitment drives, with a Special Recruitment Drive in 2025 aiming to hire 10,673 teachers for Lower Primary and Upper Primary schools, specifically for those already working under SSA.

Education Minister Ranoj Pegu has consistently emphasised improving the education system through various reforms, including the launch of online applications for school administration and teacher performance appraisal in 2022.

Key details

The Education Department’s announcement confirms that the pending salaries for approximately 200 to 250 SRD teachers, out of nearly 15,000 covered under the scheme, were to be credited on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

The delays were primarily attributed to specific errors or issues in bank account details and administrative changes related to their transition from elementary teachers under Samagra Shiksha to secondary schools, bringing them under the Inspector of Schools as their Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO).

The Education Department has also decided to discontinue salary payments for SRD teachers through the SNA-SPARSH mechanism, processing them instead through the regular system applicable to other government teachers. This transition might take a few days, but the department aims to ensure teachers receive salaries on the first day of every month in the future.

The online mutual transfer system will allow eligible teachers to exchange their postings, provided they meet prescribed eligibility requirements and complete the necessary verification process. Transfer orders for both elementary and secondary school teachers will be issued in phases, with mutual transfers prioritised. The Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) norms will be strictly maintained to avoid leaving schools without adequate staff.

Reactions

“The issue regarding the salaries of the teachers appointed on a contractual basis through SRD, who were regularised later, has been resolved,” Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said on Tuesday. He added that out of the 15,000 teachers, around 200-250 are yet to receive their salaries due to issues in their bank accounts, and that those issues would also be resolved by Tuesday.

The decisions are expected to benefit teachers who have been waiting for their salaries as well as those looking for a transfer to a preferred place of posting.

The Assam State Primary Teachers’ Association (ASPTA) had previously expressed concerns over the proposed shift in salary disbursement to the SNA-SPARSH module, stating that their agitation was not against delayed payments but against the change in mechanism and the uncertainty it could create regarding the future status of SRD teachers.

What’s next

The Assam Education Department will issue detailed guidelines for the online mutual transfer system, clarifying the application process, eligibility criteria, and conditions. Teachers interested in mutual transfers should closely monitor official notifications from the department. The government also aims to ensure that SRD teachers receive their salaries on the first day of every month going forward.

Meanwhile, the General Administration Department has directed the School Education Department to ensure that teachers appointed as enumerators and supervisors for the 2027 Census are not transferred until their census duties are completed.

Quick FAQs

What is the Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) for teachers?

The Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) refers to a government initiative under which contractual or state pool teachers, primarily from Samagra Shiksha Assam (SSA), were regularised into permanent government service.

Why were some SRD teachers facing salary delays?

Salary delays for some SRD teachers were primarily due to administrative issues, including errors in their bank account details and procedural changes in the salary disbursement mechanism as they transitioned to regular government employee status.

How will the new mutual transfer system work?

The new system will be an online portal allowing eligible teachers to apply for mutual transfers. The Education Department will issue detailed instructions regarding eligibility, application procedures, and verification processes. Transfers will be conducted in phases while strictly adhering to Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) norms.

Are newly appointed teachers eligible for mutual transfers?

Yes, as per modifications made in March 2026 to the transfer policy, newly appointed teachers are now eligible to apply for mutual transfers without any waiting period, provided the transfer occurs between teachers of the same status and through the prescribed online process.