Check out the latest Assam Cabinet decisions

Guwahati: The Cabinet meeting held in Bongaigaon had a lot of announcements and here is the list of decisions that the cabinet took.

1. Assam's education system and textbooks will be revamped as a robust step towards echoing the National Education Policy. This education system is divided into 15 academic years from the start to class XII, where the first five years will be identified as foundational, the next three years as a preparatory period, the subsequent three years will span across the primary and middle period and the last four years as higher secondary.

2. In the interest of liberating the Satras of Assam from encroachment, a committee was formed under the leadership of Former Minister Prodip Hazarika with Khumtai constituency MLA Mrinal Saikia and Nagaon constituency MLA Rupak Sarmah as members for audit and public hearing of the encroached land belonging to the satras. Prodip Hazarika will receive Cabinet status and the other two members will receive the status of a Minister of State for the 1-year tenure of the committee.

3. The Government of Assam has granted additional short leaves for all levels of staff, administrative officers and ministers on January 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th so that they may spend some time with their ageing parents or in-laws. People whose parents or in-laws have passed on or those who do not wish to spend time with them will not be able to avail these leaves. People on police and emergency duty on these dates will be able to avail this leave later.

4. On the occasion of the 400th birth anniversary of Veer Lachit Barphukan, a year-long solemn programme will be held to highlight the great work accomplished by this braveheart in the national context. The Cultural Department of the Assam Government will take special responsibility for this.

5. The Assam Government has decided to set up a Youth Commission for aspirants of Central and State Government jobs as well as for aspirants of medical and engineering education to help vernacular students secure such positions. The Commission will take measures to provide 100 students from each district with training from the best training institutes in the country.

6. The Assam Government has decided to build a new trust with a grant of Rs 5 crores to help the families of those martyred or gravely injured during the Bideshi Bahishkar Andolan. Ordinary citizens will also be able to make contributions to this trust called the "Trust for welfare for victims of Assam Agitation and their Family".

7. Formerly, it was mandatory for people of Assamese indigenous origins to be in possession of a piece of land in the city area for 20 years in case they wished to purchase it. Today's Cabinet decided to reduce that period to 10 years.

8. During today's Cabinet Meeting it was decided that from now on, all tenders for sale and purchases above Rs 25 lakh will be done via 'e-tenders'. Tribal councils of Assam will not fall under the purview of this decision.

9. Today's Cabinet approved the decision to reduce the price of petrol and diesel in Assam, as was decided a few days ago. It was also decided by the Cabinet to increase the state tax on liquor to a certain extent. The Excise Department will issue notifications in this regard shortly.

10. Today's Cabinet decided to increase the number of reserved seats for postgraduate education of doctors providing medical care under the State Government from 23 to 40. In addition, some measures were also taken to ensure that doctors pursuing post-medical education in medical colleges in Assam, at various levels, can take up jobs within Assam.

11. Assamese and English will no longer be mandatory subjects for ACS and APSC examinations. Instead from now on, the applicants for these examinations have to be residents of Assam, their names should be registered at an employment exchange centre in Assam and they should be able to speak Assamese, Assamese allied state language or any tribal language of Assam fluently.

12. On acquisition of land under the Assam Mala Scheme, the owner of the occupied land will be compensated even if there is no lease for the land.

13. Today's Cabinet approved the recruitment policy of the Commando Battalion of Assam Police. According to this policy, the recruitment process and physical examination of the commando jawans will be tougher than that of the regular jawans. Youth between the ages of 18 and 21 years will be able to apply for this post.

14. The VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel for flights operating within Assam in its airports, which are excluded from UDAN Scheme, have been reduced from 23.5 per cent to 1 per cent to match the UDAN scheme. This will enable the general public to avail of air services at a lower price.