March 2025: The Assam government has unveiled a significant expansion in the education and healthcare sectors in its 2025-26 budget, focusing on strengthening medical facilities, setting up new universities, and improving access to quality education. The budget outlines ambitious plans for the establishment of new hospitals, medical colleges, engineering institutions, and model schools across the state.
In a major push for higher education, the government has announced the creation of Kanaklata University with a proposed budget of ₹400 crore. Dibrugarh Polytechnic in Lahowal will be upgraded into a full-fledged engineering college, providing students with enhanced technical education opportunities. Additionally, new agriculture and veterinary colleges will be set up in Karbi Anglong, alongside another agricultural college in Patharkandi, Sribhumi, to cater to students pursuing careers in farming and allied sciences. The budget has also introduced the Assam Higher Education Funding Scheme, which will assist educational institutions in securing infrastructure development loans, with the state government providing a 25% capital subsidy and bearing the full interest liability.
For school education, the government has taken a major step by expanding its model school initiative. This year, 97 new model schools will be established across the state, while 25 Bodo-medium schools will be upgraded. To further boost minority education, nine new women’s colleges and 21 model residential schools will be developed in areas with high concentrations of minority communities. Teachers working under the Banikanta Kakati Computer Literacy Programme will also benefit from an increased salary of ₹20,000 per month, along with an extended service age of 60 years. Additionally, the government has proposed reforms to educational boards to enhance assessment quality, integrate digital learning, and expand scholarship programs for meritorious students.
In the healthcare sector, the budget allocates ₹5,393 crore to the Health & Family Welfare Department, with a strong emphasis on expanding medical education and healthcare infrastructure. Among the major announcements is the establishment of three new medical colleges in Charaideo, Biswanath, and Bongaigaon, which will be operational by 2026-27. The construction of six more medical colleges in Sivasagar, Sribhumi, Tamulpur, Dhemaji, Morigaon, and Golaghat is already underway, while plans are in place to establish three additional medical colleges in Darrang, Hojai, and Hailakandi. To support medical education further, seven new nursing colleges will be set up in different districts.
Assam is also set to become a leader in advanced cancer treatment with the establishment of a Proton Therapy Centre at the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati. This facility, the first of its kind in Eastern India and the third in the country, will cost ₹550 crore. Additionally, an 800-bedded general hospital is being developed at Guwahati Medical College & Hospital, while six medical colleges will receive new super-specialty wings with funding from JICA. Cutting-edge robotic surgery units will also be introduced at Assam Medical College and Silchar Medical College, bringing world-class surgical technologies to the state.
The Assam Cancer Care Foundation, in collaboration with Tata Trusts, has been instrumental in enhancing cancer care facilities. Seven cancer hospitals have already been set up, with two more inaugurated in 2024 and another seven currently under construction. To further improve access to healthcare, the government has launched the Healthy Garden Population - Comprehensive Health Screening initiative in 20 tea gardens, focusing on preventive healthcare for tea garden workers. The Swasth Bagan Yojana will continue to provide medical assistance through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, mobile medical units, and PPP hospitals in rural areas. Additionally, the expansion of Special Newborn Care Units, Pediatric ICUs, and Kangaroo Mother Care units aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
To ensure that rural areas receive better healthcare services, the government has introduced the Durgam to Sugam initiative, which will provide financial incentives for doctors working in remote locations. Selected hospitals in underdeveloped districts will be operated under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, offering quality healthcare at standardized rates.
With these transformative initiatives, the Assam Budget 2025 aims to revolutionize the state’s education and healthcare landscape, ensuring improved access to learning and medical facilities for citizens across all regions. The government’s investment in new universities, technical institutes, hospitals, and medical colleges reflects a long-term commitment to strengthening Assam’s social and economic infrastructure.