The Assam Cabinet on July 25 approved a series of policy decisions, including a waiver of stamp duty on loans of up to ₹10 lakh availed by members of self-help groups (SHGs), mandatory registration of several categories of property-related documents, and amendments to admission and recruitment rules.
Announcing the decisions after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said stamp duty on individual loan documents executed by SHG members under the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission would be waived. The exemption will apply to loans of up to ₹10 lakh taken for livelihood and enterprise purposes from scheduled commercial banks, regional rural banks, cooperative banks and other financial institutions regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
The Cabinet also approved compulsory registration of agreements for sale, development agreements, property-related powers of attorney, short-term leases, equitable mortgages, sale certificates, bank guarantees, conveyance through merger and demerger, and partnership deeds involving immovable property.
The state government also cleared the Assam Ayurvedic Health Services Rules, 2026. According to the Chief Minister, the new rules will regulate the recruitment process and service conditions of Medical Officers (Ayurveda) appointed to the Assam Ayurvedic Health Service under the Health and Family Welfare Department.
The Cabinet further approved amendments to the Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges of Assam (Regulation of Admission into 1st Year MBBS/BDS Courses) Rules, 2017. Under the revised provisions, one additional reserved MBBS seat each will be allotted in government medical colleges for candidates belonging to the Moran, Matak, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom and Chutia communities.
In another decision, the Cabinet reserved two MBBS seats for domiciled orphan candidates. These seats will be adjusted against the candidates’ respective social category quotas.
The amended rules also make students eligible for admission under the Assam state quota if they are permanent residents of the state for three generations, even if they completed their schooling outside Assam.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the procurement mechanism for masoor dal and sugar for the period from October 2026 to March 2027. Procurement will be undertaken through NAFED, which will invite tenders and determine procurement rates based on prevailing open market prices, the Chief Minister said.
