Guwahati: The Assam government on Friday proposed an investment of Rs 1,750 crore to strengthen higher education, with major allocations for state universities, financial support for autonomous colleges, expansion of the Guru Dakshina scheme, and continuation of the provincialisation of eligible venture colleges.
Presenting the Assam Budget 2026-27 in the Legislative Assembly, Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah outlined a series of measures aimed at strengthening higher education institutions across the state.
Under the proposal, Sibsagar University, Jagannath Barooah University, Nagaon University, North Lakhimpur University, Kokrajhar University, Bongaigaon University, and Gurucharan University will receive Rs 100 crore each in a phased manner to upgrade infrastructure.
Another Rs 50 crore each has been proposed for Madhabdev University, Bhattadev University, Rabindranath Tagore University, Birangana Sati Sadhani Rajyik Vishwavidyalaya, Assam Women’s University, Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University, and Majuli University of Culture.
Baruah also announced an allocation of Rs 100 crore for Gauhati University this year, adding that Dibrugarh University has already received an equivalent amount.
The Finance Minister said the Majuli University of Culture would be expanded beyond its existing cultural focus by introducing Science and Arts programmes.
The Budget also proposes financial assistance for autonomous colleges after the University Grants Commission (UGC) granted autonomous status to 27 colleges in Assam. Each institution will receive Rs 2 crore in two equal instalments to support academic and institutional development.
On teacher welfare, Baruah said more than 15,000 teachers from lower primary, upper primary, high schools, higher secondary schools and degree colleges have applied under the Guru Dakshina scheme. The Education Department will scrutinise the applications before determining the financial assistance to be provided.
He further informed the Assembly that around 8,000 applications have been received for the provincialisation of venture educational institutions, and the government will continue the process for eligible venture colleges.
Baruah also announced that the government would amend The Assam Education (Provincialisation of Services of Teachers and Re-organisation of Educational Institutions) Act to revise the cut-off date for provincialisation, expanding eligibility for teachers and tutors.