Assam makes Proficiency in Local Language mandatory for government jobs

Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government has made Proficiency in Local Language mandatory for selection in government jobs, and this will protect the rights and interests of the local people.

Commenting on the reactions stemming from the notification of the Higher Education Department regarding exemption of permanent resident certificate (PRC) for appointment of Assistant Professor, librarian, Grade III and Grade IV employees in colleges, Sarma said that PRC cannot protect the rights of the local people, as PRC can be obtained if a person lives in Assam for three years.

He said that the government has made Proficiency of Local Language mandatory for selection which according to him would protect the rights and interests of the local people.


Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu stated in X, “The Notice pertaining to Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC) was issued by the Director of Higher Education without approval of the government. The DHE has been instructed to withdraw the Notice immediately.”
Sarma stated in X, “Enquire further on what authority the Director of Higher Education issued this circular. Such a circular could only have been issued by the Government, not by a directorate”.

The circular issued by the DHE had evoked criticism from several quarters with the All Assam Students Union (AASU) condemning the move and asking the government to be “more responsible towards local people.”

The students’ union had also demanded that the circular be repealed with immediate effect.

Sarma disbursed Rs. 68.44 crore to 349 institutions under Phase I of Pragyan Bharti scheme in Guwahati on Wednesday.

It may be noted that with the distribution, nearly one lakh students secured the way forward towards free education under the State government’s policy to ensure free higher education to poor and middle-class students. Launched in the year 2016-17, till 2023-24, a total of 22,30,257 students attained benefits from the scheme.

Sarma said that with an aim to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education in the state, Pragyan Bharti scheme was started in the year 2016-17. However, subsequently the scheme has been replicated to cover the students of higher secondary and postgraduate.

He said that under the scheme, besides 1,38,085 students in the year 2016-17, a total of 2,94,633 students got benefited in the year 2023-24. These statistics prove the success of Pragyan Bharti in the state.

Stating on the use of technology for admission in the institutions of higher education, Chief Minister Sarma said that using ‘Samarth Portal’ 2,28,399 students have applied for admission and 85.2 per cent students got admitted. He also said that technology and AI have a great role to play in the future education system. Therefore, the state government, using the technology ‘Samarth Portal’ has tried to make the entire process of admission clean and hassle free.