The Assam government has launched a comprehensive suite of initiatives, including the Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana, Jibon Anuprerana, and Nijut Babu Asoni schemes, aimed at bolstering support for fresh graduates, research scholars, and students across the state. These programmes are designed to facilitate the transition from education to employment, foster research, and encourage higher enrolment in colleges, according to official announcements.
The initiatives, primarily implemented by the Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department and the Higher Education Department, signify the state’s intensified focus on youth empowerment and academic advancement. They seek to provide crucial financial assistance and skill development opportunities, addressing key challenges faced by Assam’s student and graduate population.
What was announced
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma formally launched the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the “Mukhya Mantrir Jibon Prerana” and “Jibon Anuprerana” schemes on February 26, 2026, at a programme held at Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir in Khanapara, Guwahati. During the same event, the Chief Minister also introduced the “Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Asoni” scheme and virtually inaugurated 31 advanced “Udyog 4.0” Technology Centres across various parts of the state.
While the formal DBT launch occurred in February 2026, the schemes had staggered initial announcements and implementations. The Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana scheme was launched on November 3, 2025, by Chief Minister Sarma, aimed at encouraging fresh graduates. The Mukhya Mantrir Jiban Anuprerana Scheme was launched earlier on June 7, 2025, at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati, specifically for research scholars. The Nijut Babu Asoni, a new scholarship-based financial assistance for male students, was announced by Chief Minister Sarma on January 1, 2026, with its official launch and implementation slated for February 1, 2026.
Why it matters
These schemes are pivotal in addressing the critical juncture between academic life and professional careers for thousands of young individuals in Assam. The Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana scheme aims to ease the financial burden on new graduates, motivating them to prepare for competitive examinations or embark on entrepreneurial ventures. This support is expected to foster self-reliance among the youth, aligning with the government’s commitment to building a stronger, more capable generation.
The Jibon Anuprerana scheme is designed to promote intellectual excellence by providing financial grants to research scholars, thereby encouraging high-quality research and innovation within the state. It seeks to alleviate financial constraints, enabling scholars to complete their research and enhance employability in educational institutions.
Furthermore, the Nijut Babu Asoni is a significant step towards achieving gender-balanced support in higher education. It complements the existing Nijut Moina scheme for girl students, aiming to reduce dropout rates among economically weaker male students and address any gender imbalance in enrolment and retention. The inauguration of Industry 4.0 technology centres underscores the state’s ambition to modernise technical education and equip its workforce with advanced skills for future industries.
Background
The launch of these initiatives is part of the Assam government’s sustained “higher education push” and broader agenda for youth empowerment and skill development. The state has consistently introduced programmes to support its student population. For instance, the ‘Pragyan Bharti’ fee-waiver scheme provides free admission for higher education courses to students whose parental incomes are less than ₹4 lakh per annum.
Prior to these schemes, the government had also revamped the Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM) Yojana, which provides financial support of ₹50,000 as seed money to individual beneficiaries and up to ₹1,000 crore for youth groups to encourage entrepreneurship. The Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM), established in 2015 under the Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department, serves as the apex body for skill development activities, aiming to provide assured employment and amplify entrepreneurship opportunities.
These ongoing efforts reflect a strategic approach to enhance employability, create skilled manpower, and stimulate the state’s economy by empowering its human resource.
Key details
The newly launched schemes offer distinct benefits to their target beneficiaries:
- Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana Scheme: This initiative provides financial assistance of ₹2,500 per month for a duration of 12 months to eligible fresh graduates. A total of 48,319 graduates from public institutions across Assam have been identified to receive this support through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme is managed by the Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department.
- Chief Minister’s Jibon Anuprerana Scheme: This scheme extends one-time financial assistance to full-time PhD research scholars. Regular scholars receive a grant of ₹25,000, while Divyang (differently-abled) scholars are eligible for ₹40,000. The support has been extended to 2,112 research scholars, including 13 differently-abled individuals. Eligibility requires permanent residency in Assam and enrolment in central or state government universities located within the state.
- Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Asoni: Designed to support male students, this scholarship-based scheme provides monthly financial assistance. Undergraduate students receive ₹1,000 per month, and postgraduate students receive ₹2,000 per month. This assistance is provided for up to 10 months in an academic year. The scheme targets male students from economically weaker sections, specifically those whose family income is below ₹4 lakh per year, and who are enrolled in the first year of regular undergraduate or postgraduate courses in government or provincialised institutions in Assam.
In addition to these financial aid programmes, the government’s push for skill development includes the inauguration of 31 advanced “Udyog 4.0” Technology Centres. These centres are part of a collaboration with Tata Technologies, aimed at modernising technical education and establishing Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in 43 government ITIs and 34 polytechnics. While some centres are already operational, the remaining facilities are expected to be completed by June 2026.
Reactions
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has consistently underscored the government’s dedication to addressing the challenges faced by the youth. He remarked that the government is focused on solving problems faced by the youth and transforming Assam’s conventional education system into a more outcome-oriented and future-ready framework.
Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Minister Prashanta Phukan highlighted the intent behind the Jibon Prerana scheme, stating that it was designed to build confidence among young people and help them upskill for the future. He added that every beneficiary under Jibon Prerana would receive ₹2,500 per month for one year directly in their bank accounts, and that 48,319 students had been selected under this initiative.
What’s next
The implementation of the Jibon Prerana, Jibon Anuprerana, and Nijut Babu Asoni schemes is ongoing, with beneficiaries continuing to receive support as per the scheme guidelines. The state government is also working towards the completion of the remaining Industry 4.0 technology centres and Centres of Excellence by June 2026, which will further enhance technical education infrastructure. Male students eligible for the Nijut Babu Asoni scheme are expected to apply through a dedicated online portal as per guidelines issued by the Higher Education Department.