Guwahati

Aiming to woo the younger generation, the Assam government on Tuesday decided to set up a new department dedicated to the youth of the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting here, he said that a new hydrocarbon policy was also approved in order to give incentives to exploration of minerals and crude even if there are no findings.

"The cabinet approved setting up of the Youth Empowerment and Welfare Department. With this, Assam will probably become the first state to have a dedicated youth department," Sarma said.

The proposed department, which will start functioning from September 17, will look after all issues related to the youth, including the Employment Exchange, he added.

"Most of our government's programmes revolve around the youth. Out of 10 programmes by us, nine are dedicated to the youth. That is why the youth supported us every time. This is nothing new, but a continuous process for the youths," he said.

The new department will also focus on career guidance, entrepreneurship, leadership development and convergence of youth initiatives, Sarma said.

"The existing Sports and Youth Welfare Department will be re-designated as the Sports Department, dedicated exclusively to sports development," he added.

The CM also said that the cabinet has approved a new hydrocarbon policy to give incentives for exploration of oil reserves.

The proposed 'Assam Hydrocarbon Exploration, Production and Upstream Ecosystem Development Policy, 2026' will have a validity of five years from the date of its notification.

"The crude happening in Assam is all from old discoveries. In the last 20 years, we have not found any new minerals because we have not done any exploration. There is a risk in exploration as they may not result in findings and all investment will be useless then," he added.

In order to create a positive environment, the state government will give incentives like GST rebate or subsidised land lease agreements, Sarma said.

"We have been producing around 4 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of crude annually. If we don't have new reserves, this will start declining after 10 years," he added.

Sarma said that the Vedanta group has found some new oil reserves along the Assam-Nagaland border, but it is in a disputed area.

"The incentive that we want to give may not be very big, but we just want to give a message to the industry. Assam is a friendly state, and explorers are welcome here," he added.

The CM further said that the state cabinet has approved the enactment of The Assam Private Coaching Institutes (Control and Student Mental Health Safeguard) Rules, 2026.

As per this rule, any institute with over 50 students must register, and the district commissioner will serve as the competent authority, he added.

It will have to renew registration annually, submit infrastructure safety certificates and proof of qualified counsellor engagement, he said.

Sarma said that the cabinet has approved land allotment of 574 bighas to IIM-Guwahati and 200 bighas to Azim Premji Foundation for establishment of Azim Premji University in Kamrup district.

To strengthen administrative efficiency in the Barak Valley region, the cabinet also approved the renaming of Mini Secretariat, Barak Valley as Assam Secretariat Barak Valley, Silchar, he added.

"Functioning of all the major and important 32 departments out of 59 will be accommodated in Assam Secretariat, Barak Valley," he said.

To ensure safety, security, dignity and well-being of children, the cabinet has approved the Assam State Child Protection Policy, 2026 as a commitment towards effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and POCSO Rules, 2020, Sarma said.

"This will help to establish a uniform, state-wide protection protocol across public and private entities caring for children," he added.

The state cabinet has approved the draft Assam Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Rules, 2026 for effective implementation of all the provisions laid down in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 (as amended) in Assam.

It has also approved 'The Assam Social Security Rules, 2026' framed under the central Code on Social Security, 2020.

To optimise administrative efficiency, the cabinet approved an amendment to the Assam Social Welfare (Recruitment and Promotion) Service Orders, 1994, regarding cadre restructuring, creation of new cadres, promotion criteria, and streamlining of promotion processes.

"In view of the increasing importance of statistical data in fiscal management, economic planning, public expenditure management and outcome-based governance, the Directorate of Economics & Statistics will be transferred from the administrative control of the Transformation & Development Department to the Finance Department," Sarma said.

He said that to enhance ease of doing business and streamline milk cooperative management, the cabinet has approved fully digitising, simplifying and expediting the registration of dairy co-operative societies in Assam through an online portal.

READ MORE:Aisha Ayub's digital business hinges on peoples' power

As empowered by the Central Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the state cabinet has approved the notification of Assam Industrial Relation Rules, 2026, which replaces three outdated colonial and post-independence regulations to streamline state labour governance.