Assam Cabinet approves land law amendments to boost investment

Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet has approved the Assam Regulation of Reclassification and Reclassification-cum-Transfer of Lands (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will be introduced in the forthcoming Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly to streamline the regulatory environment and promote industrial and commercial investment in the state.

The sectors covered under the Bill include MSMEs, hydrocarbons, solar energy, and the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural use.

The Cabinet has also approved the extension of the validity of licences for all Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the state until December 31, 2026, from the existing deadline of June 30, 2026, to ensure uninterrupted operations and the smooth distribution of foodgrains to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).


The Cabinet approved the release of Rs 9.75 crore to Assam Tea Corporation Ltd. (ATCL) to fund a proposed voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for its executives.

It also approved amendments to the Assam Private Universities Act, 2007, reducing the minimum land requirement for establishing private universities. The requirement in rural areas has been reduced from 60 bighas to 35 bighas, while in urban areas it has been reduced from 30 bighas to 21 bighas.

Further, the Cabinet approved proposals relating to the school education sector while ensuring compliance with prescribed academic and safety standards. Under the revised norms, the minimum land requirement for LP to Secondary schools will be 1 bigha in urban areas and 3 bighas in rural areas. Such schools will be required to mandatorily provide sanitation facilities, drinking water, boundary walls, toilets, and comply with disaster mitigation and accessibility norms for persons with disabilities.

The Cabinet also approved the Assam Tourism Accommodation (Development and Registration) Rules, 2026, for the registration of homestays and other tourism accommodation facilities. The rules provide for a simplified single-window registration process and introduce an auto-renewal mechanism every three years.