The Assam Cabinet has approved a series of reforms to encourage greater private participation in the higher education sector by easing regulatory norms for the establishment of private universities in the state.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the policy changes are aimed at expanding access to quality higher education and attracting reputed private institutions to invest in Assam.
“To harness Assam’s fullest potential, we aim to expand access to quality higher education and are keen to partner with reputed private players,” Sarma said in a post on X.
According to the Chief Minister, the Cabinet has rationalised the minimum land requirement for setting up private universities, reduced the mandatory endowment fund requirement and simplified regulatory norms to facilitate private investment in higher education.
The state government said the reforms are expected to strengthen Assam’s higher education ecosystem by improving access to quality institutions and expanding academic opportunities for students.
A senior government official said the revised policy is intended to attract credible educational institutions while maintaining academic standards. The changes are also expected to reduce procedural hurdles for investors and encourage the establishment of new private universities across the state.
The reforms are in line with the state’s broader strategy of strengthening human capital and developing a skilled workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.
Assam has significantly expanded its higher education infrastructure in recent years through the establishment of new government universities, medical colleges, engineering institutes and specialised educational institutions. The government expects increased private participation to complement public investment by offering students a wider range of academic programmes and research opportunities.
The reforms are also expected to support the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) by promoting multidisciplinary education, research, industry collaboration and enhanced institutional capacity.
The state government has reiterated that expanding access to quality higher education remains a key priority as Assam seeks to build a knowledge-based economy and attract greater investment across sectors.
(With IANS inputs)
