Assam Cabinet Eases University Land Rules and Sets New Homestay Standards

Guwahati: Assam officials just overhauled rules for the state tourism and education sectors. The Cabinet pushed through changes to bring order to homestays and invite more private cash into higher education.

Homestay owners now face stricter registration hurdles. Every registered establishment must provide at least eight rooms to tourists. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says these new guidelines are meant to "streamline the homestay sector and improve tourism infrastructure across the state." The state government believes standardizing these accommodations will make the area more attractive to travelers.

Higher education also saw big changes. The state slashed land requirements for private universities to encourage more development. Developers can now build on just 35 bighas in rural areas or 21 bighas in the city. The move seeks to expand local options for students by making it cheaper and easier to start a new campus.