The Assam government has outlined a policy to grant a five per cent weightage in total marks during government job recruitment for candidates hailing from families where no member is currently employed in either government service or a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) firm. This initiative, first announced in February 2024, aims to foster greater equity in the state’s employment landscape.
The proposed policy seeks to democratise access to government jobs, extending opportunities to households that have historically lacked representation in the public sector. By providing this additional weightage, the state government intends to offer a crucial advantage to aspirants from economically vulnerable backgrounds, thereby promoting social stability and inclusive growth across Assam.
What was announced
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the government’s plan to introduce a five per cent weightage in the total marks for candidates applying for government jobs, specifically if their families do not have any members working in government or PSU firms. This announcement was made during a discussion on the state budget for 2024-25 in the Assam assembly on February 14, 2024. Earlier, on February 12, 2024, when the state budget was tabled, Finance Minister Ajanta Neog also highlighted this novel approach, confirming that the measure would apply to recruitment for all Grade-III and Grade-IV posts. Neog further stated that the government would soon introduce new legislation to formalise the implementation of this proposal.
Why it matters
Chief Minister Sarma emphasised that the policy is a step towards “democratising the government job sector.” He noted that while some households might have multiple government employees, others lack even a single member in the public sector, which can impact family stability. The provision of a 5% weightage is designed to address this disparity, ensuring that more families can benefit from the security and opportunities associated with government employment. The Chief Minister also indicated that this policy would be applied to recruitments in departments such as police and forest services. Finance Minister Ajanta Neog echoed this sentiment, stating that increasing the presence of government employees across more families would significantly contribute to social equity in recruitment.
Background
The Assam government has consistently prioritised employment generation as a key policy objective. Ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections, the ruling BJP had pledged to provide one lakh government jobs. Under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership, the government not only fulfilled this commitment but exceeded it, facilitating over 1.64 lakh appointments through the Assam Direct Recruitment Examination (ADRE) and other departmental recruitments. These recruitments were notably conducted with an emphasis on transparency and merit, with no reported cases of corruption or litigation, a marked departure from past practices, according to official statements.
Building on this momentum, the state government launched “Mission 2 Lakh Govt Jobs” in May 2026, a significant initiative aiming to create an additional two lakh government jobs for unemployed youths across various departments, autonomous bodies, semi-government organisations, missions, and societies over the next five years. To oversee this ambitious mission, a task force headed by the Chief Secretary was constituted in the first cabinet meeting of the Himanta Biswa Sarma government, with a mandate to submit a comprehensive report within three months. Chief Minister Sarma has repeatedly stressed the government’s commitment to delivering on its promises, stating that his team is actively identifying vacancies, preparing a detailed roadmap, and setting timelines for this large-scale employment drive.
The proposed 5% weightage policy is part of this broader vision to ensure equitable distribution of government employment opportunities and to further democratise the recruitment process, aligning with the government’s electoral pledges.
Key details
The core of the proposed policy involves adding five per cent to the total marks obtained by a candidate in the government job recruitment process. This benefit is specifically earmarked for individuals from families where no member is currently employed in any government department or Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) firm. The policy is intended for recruitments across Grade-III and Grade-IV posts within the state administration. To legally implement this provision, the Assam government plans to introduce new legislation.
Reactions
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has consistently articulated the policy’s intent to foster social equity. “We are democratising the government job sector,” Chief Minister Sarma said, adding, “We have seen that one house may have three to four government employees, while the next house may not have even a single one working in the sector. Having a government staffer in a family gives a sense of stability.” Finance Minister Ajanta Neog also supported the proposal during her budget speech, stating that the presence of government employees in as many families as possible would “augur well in terms of social equity in recruitment.”
What’s next
The Assam government is expected to introduce new legislation to formalise the 5% weightage policy for candidates from families without government or PSU employees. This legislative action is anticipated within the current year, following its announcement during the 2024-25 state budget. Concurrently, the task force established for “Mission 2 Lakh Govt Jobs” is working on its comprehensive roadmap, which will guide the phased implementation of recruitment drives across various state departments.
Sources & References
Source: PTI via ThePrint – Assam democratising government recruitment process, says Himanta Biswa Sarma