Assam: Cabinet decides on legislation to regulate coaching institutes in state

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet today took several decisions, including the introduction of a new Act to regulate coaching institutes in the state and a request to the Centre to hold medical entrance exams only in government institutions, among others.

The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who later briefed the media about the meeting this evening. Addressing the media, the CM said, “There are many coaching institutes in Assam now, and we are planning to bring them under a system. So, the cabinet today decided to bring in a new act named the Assam Coaching Institute (Control and Regulation) Act, 2025. The bill for this legislation will be introduced in the Assembly during this session. This will help in controlling the mushroom growth of such institutes in the state, as many have opened such institutes in a haphazard manner.”

Moreover, the cabinet today decided to move the Centre to hold medical entrance exams only in government institutions, the CM said. “There is a lot of introspection among certain sections of society regarding the holding of entrance exams to medical colleges. Some of the professors of medical colleges said that they have come across many students who secured high marks in the entrance exams, but after admission, it was found that they were lacking in practical and educational aspects. They were not found to be as meritorious as thought. We asked the Special Branch of the Assam Police to look into the matter, and they reported that the entrance exams are held in private institutions. For example, such exams are not held in Cotton Collegiate School or Kamrup Academy School in Guwahati but in private schools in places like Hojai and Hailakandi. However, we do not conduct the medical entrance exams. We will request the Government of India to ensure that the exams are held in government institutes,” the CM said.

“The way the ADREs (Assam Direct Recruitment Exams) are monitored by the DCs and SPs, the medical entrance exams should also be monitored along similar lines. Biometric tests should be conducted for the examinees before they enter the examination hall. Today’s cabinet decided to move the National Testing Agency, and the chief secretary has been authorized to do so. Personally, I will speak with Human Resources Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on this issue,” the CM added.

The Chief Minister also said that, in the near future, the DTOs will not issue driving licenses. This will be done by accredited driver training centres. He said, “I have been saying that DTOs will be brought away from issuing driving licenses. Each of the 126 LACs will have one accredited driver training centre. Every district will have an automated driving testing track. The Cabinet today decided that driving licenses can be issued by accredited driver training centres only. So people do not have to visit the DTOs.”

The Cabinet also decided to pursue the process for according UNESCO World Heritage Site status to Majuli and Sivasagar in two different categories. The expenses for carrying out research and other preparatory work will be borne by the state government, the CM stated.

Today, it was decided at the cabinet meeting to amend the Kokrajhar University Act, the Veterinary and Fishery Act, and the Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences Act. The CM said, “From now onwards, if anyone sets up a private nursing college, dental college, or pharmacy institute, they have to obtain national security clearance from the Home & Political Department. They will have to be secular and not involved directly or indirectly with religious conversion. Land allotment has also been done to the Industries department for setting up two mega industrial parks in Kamrup and Morigaon districts.”

The cabinet also approved revocation of the quota for Sar areas in the Assam MBBS/BDS Admission Rules, 2017, from the session 2025-26 onwards.

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