Guwahati, Jan 1: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 1 unveiled a new monthly financial assistance scheme aimed at supporting male students from the state pursuing higher education. Announcing the initiative at a press conference, Sarma said the stipend will be credited directly to the bank accounts of eligible students beginning February 1, as part of the government’s broader push to reduce financial pressure on young learners and encourage academic continuity.
Under the scheme, male students enrolled in undergraduate programmes will receive ₹1,000 per month, while those pursuing postgraduate studies will be entitled to a monthly stipend of ₹2,000. The Chief Minister said the assistance is intended to help students focus on their education without being weighed down by everyday expenses, thereby improving overall learning outcomes in the state.
Eligibility for the scheme will be restricted to students from non-affluent backgrounds. Male students whose parents are government employees or whose annual family income exceeds ₹4 lakh will not qualify for the stipend, Sarma clarified, adding that the initiative is targeted at those who need support the most.
The newly announced scheme expands Assam’s existing framework of student welfare programmes. The state government has previously introduced monthly incentives for female HSLC candidates and rolled out measures such as the Nijut Moina scheme, which provides financial support to female students from higher secondary level through postgraduate studies with the aim of promoting education and preventing child marriage.
Sarma said the stipend programme reflects the government’s continued focus on investing in human capital and ensuring that economic constraints do not derail the educational aspirations of Assam’s youth.
