March 24, 2025: In a landmark session, the Assam Assembly has passed several crucial bills, including the Assam Budget 2025-26, presented by Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, and the highly contentious Private University Amendment Bill 2025. The new regulations aim to bring sweeping changes to the state's private education sector amid shocking allegations of religious conversions and concerns over national security.

The government has raised serious red flags over alleged conversion activities happening within private educational institutions. In a fiery address to the Assembly, the Education Minister, Ranoj Pegu accused certain private institutions of engaging in religious conversions under the guise of education. Although no institution was named outright, insiders believe the allegations point towards some of the most prominent private universities in the state.

In a bid to tighten the noose, the government has now mandated that any private educational institution seeking to operate in Assam must first secure official approval from the government. Additionally, institutions must disclose their sources of income to the Home Department before beginning operations — a move aimed at preventing foreign or suspicious funding that could compromise national security.

The new law comes with even more stringent conditions. From now on, private universities will no longer be allowed to open medical, nursing, technical, or agricultural colleges. The government has declared that these critical fields will remain exclusively under the jurisdiction of state universities, emphasizing the need to maintain educational standards. Private universities will be restricted to general education colleges only, signaling the government’s intent to limit their reach.

The revelations of religious conversions have sent shockwaves across the state. Reports suggest that some private institutions have been covertly pushing religious agendas, prompting the government to intervene with unprecedented urgency. In a decisive step, the government has announced that private institutions will be inspected every three years to ensure compliance with state policies.

Moreover, the Assembly has made it clear that the government will no longer permit the establishment of new private medical colleges, a decision taken to safeguard the quality of medical education. The Education Minister introduced the Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences Amendment Bill 2025, reiterating the government's commitment to protecting students from exploitation in the name of education.

Without mentioning names, the government hinted at a well-known private university where such activities are allegedly rampant. The amendment is seen as a direct attempt to clamp down on these covert practices.

This bold move by the Assam government has sent a strong message to private educational institutions — that national security and ethical educational practices will not be compromised at any cost. With inspections set to increase and the government keeping a close watch, the private education sector in Assam is now under intense scrutiny like never before.