Guwahati: The Assam government announced a plan to generate two lakh employment opportunities across the state’s public sector ecosystem over the next five years. Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah revealed the ambitious target during his presentation of the state budget for 2026-27 on Friday, July 10, 2026.
This initiative builds upon the government’s previous efforts, which saw over 1.64 lakh appointments in the last five years, and aims to address the persistent challenge of unemployment among the state’s youth. The new recruitment drive will encompass various government departments, universities, medical colleges, statutory bodies, societies, Sixth Schedule councils, and companies with substantial state government shareholding.
What was announced
Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah formally announced the creation of two lakh employment opportunities during the presentation of the 2026-27 state budget in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, July 10, 2026. The plan involves filling existing vacancies and creating new posts across a broad spectrum of the public sector. These opportunities will be distributed across government departments, state universities, medical colleges, statutory bodies, societies, Sixth Schedule councils, and state-backed companies.
To facilitate this extensive recruitment drive, a dedicated task force has already been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. This task force is responsible for preparing a comprehensive roadmap to ensure the timely and efficient implementation of the employment generation plan. The Finance Minister also indicated that the government would examine the creation of new posts in critical areas such as the police force, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and the forest department.
Why it matters
The announcement of two lakh new jobs holds significant importance for Assam, a state grappling with a substantial number of unemployed individuals. As of June 30, 2026, over 15.43 lakh people were registered as unemployed across the state, with Kamrup metropolitan district, Dibrugarh, and Barpeta showing the highest numbers. This initiative directly targets this challenge, offering a ray of hope for a large segment of the population, particularly educated youth who often struggle to find suitable employment.
The government’s commitment to creating these jobs within the public sector ecosystem aims to provide stable and secure employment, which is often preferred by job seekers in the region. Furthermore, the plan to accelerate promotions for existing employees is expected to create additional vacancies at entry levels, thereby expanding the scope of the recruitment drive. This push for employment is also seen as a fulfillment of promises made in the ruling party’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ (manifesto), underscoring the political commitment behind the initiative.
Background
Assam has consistently faced challenges in employment generation, with a rising number of educated job seekers. The Economic Survey for 2023-24 highlighted that nearly 10 lakh fresh educated youths registered in employment exchanges in 2022, a significant jump from 1.4 lakh in the previous year. The overall number of educated job seekers stood at 18,05,441 in 2021. This surge indicates a structural mismatch between available skills and market demands, leading to widespread frustration among the youth.
The state government has previously undertaken significant employment drives. In the last five years, the government provided over 1.64 lakh appointments, exceeding its earlier commitment of one lakh jobs. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had stated in August 2024 that his government created 99,097 jobs over three years, nearly reaching the one lakh target. This consistent focus on public sector employment reflects a broader strategy to address the state’s unemployment crisis and empower its youth.
The current announcement aligns with the government’s broader vision of transforming Assam into a developed state, as articulated by Chief Minister Sarma and Finance Minister Baruah. The 2026-27 budget, with an outlay of Rs 2,85,084 crore, places a strong emphasis on infrastructure, welfare, healthcare, education, and employment. The state’s economic progress has seen its Gross State Domestic Product nearly double from Rs 4 lakh crore in 2014 to approximately Rs 7.5 lakh crore by 2026, with per capita income rising to Rs 1,85,429. This growth provides a foundation for ambitious employment generation plans, including diversification into new sectors like semiconductors, green energy, and digital industries.
Key details
The Assam government’s plan aims to create 2,00,000 employment opportunities over a period of five years. These jobs will be generated across the broader public sector ecosystem, including various government departments, state universities, medical colleges, statutory bodies, societies, Sixth Schedule councils, and companies with significant state government shareholding.
A task force, headed by the Chief Secretary, has been established to develop a detailed roadmap for this initiative. This task force is tasked with identifying existing vacancies, exploring the creation of new posts, and streamlining the recruitment process to ensure transparency and efficiency. The government intends to accelerate promotions for current employees, which will further create vacancies at entry-level positions.
The Finance Minister also mentioned the government’s commitment to building a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, with almost one lakh people benefiting under the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA) in two phases. The government plans to start the selection process for another 50,000 youth under CMAAA in the current financial year, with an allocation of Rs 500 crore, and aims to empower 10 lakh young entrepreneurs in the next five years under this scheme.
Reactions
“Building on this achievement, we are now entering the next phase of employment generation. Over the next five years, the government will target 2 lakh employment opportunities across the broader public sector ecosystem of the state,” Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said.
“We are determined to create employment opportunities for our younger generation during the tenure of this government as per the promises made in the ‘Sankalp Patra’ (BJP manifesto),” Baruah added.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the 2026-27 Budget as “revenue neutral,” stating, “It means salary, interest, pension, and committed liabilities, which form revenue expenditure, and revenue earnings are balanced.” He further stated that the Budget reflects his vision of transforming Assam into one of India’s developed states.
Assam Minister and BJP leader Pijush Hazarika, while outlining the party’s promises, said the government aims to provide 2 to 2.5 lakh government jobs in the next term. He also highlighted the success of the Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Scheme, under which around one lakh youths have already received financial assistance.
“There’s no time to rest in our quest to deliver on our promises. My team is already at work to identify vacancies, create the roadmap, map out departments and bodies and chalk out the time frame to deliver on the commitment of 2 lakh Govt jobs,” Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
What’s next
The dedicated task force, under the Chief Secretary, is currently working to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for the implementation of the two lakh employment opportunities plan. This roadmap is expected to detail annual employment targets, department-wise projections, and establish robust mechanisms for implementation and monitoring. The task force has a three-month deadline to submit its report.
The government will also continue its focus on entrepreneurial development through schemes like the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA), with the selection process for another 50,000 youth set to begin in the current financial year. The aim is to empower 10 lakh young entrepreneurs over the next five years. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to diversify Assam’s economy beyond traditional sectors and foster growth in new areas such as semiconductors, green energy, and digital industries.
Sources & References
Source: ThePrint – Assam govt to create 2 lakh jobs in 5 years: Finance minister