Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed a major shakeup for state sporting events and administrative policies. The government cleared the third edition of Khel Maharan, which begins November 7. Officials split the event into two distinct categories. The Shoishab Krida Samaroh targets children under 12, while the standard Khel Maharan covers participants over 12. Competitions span eight disciplines: athletics, yogasana, chess, boxing, aquathlon, football, volleyball, and swimming. The goal is to track 300 top-tier young prospects. These athletes will receive structured training and better facilities to hone their skills.
Sarma noted the government wants to improve talent scouting. "The decision has been taken with the objective of speeding up promotions and providing eligible employees with earlier opportunities for career advancement," the Chief Minister said regarding internal staff changes. The cabinet cut the qualifying service period for Computer Operators moving to Junior Administrative Assistant roles in the Assam Secretariat. They dropped the requirement from four years down to three.
Ex-servicemen also see a change. The state raised the maximum age limit for Grade III and Grade IV government job applicants from 42 to 45 years. Students gain ground as well. The cabinet set aside Rs 109.38 crore to hand out free bicycles to Class IX students for the 2025-26 academic year. Finally, the administration adopted the Assam Green Cess Policy, 2026. This framework imposes environmental levies on specific high-impact sectors. Stone-crushing units, brick kilns, and imported timber top the list of industries facing the new tax.
Updated at 8th September 2026 at 2:00pm
The cabinet locked in these decisions during their September 7 meeting. This session formalizes the environmental management strategy through the new green levy framework.
Updated at 8th September 2026 at 5:51pm
State officials locked in the Khel Maharan and Shishu Khel Maharan calendar, with games running from November 1 through January 23. Competitions will move from the district level to a state final, providing a clear path for young talent to move up the ranks.
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan greenlit a Rs 110-crore infrastructure overhaul at Gauhati University. The campus is pivoting toward technical growth, adding labs for artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and machine learning. Students there can now enroll in an undergraduate minor in Quantum Technology or a diploma in Forensic Psychology.
As Assam marks the 100th birth anniversary of Bhupen Hazarika, the government committed Rs 35 crore for a dedicated museum at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra. The Chief Minister is calling on the public to hand over personal memorabilia to stock the building. The state is also pushing a social media contest where youth can submit reels documenting the life and ideals of the late artist.
Updated at 8th September 2026 at 10:07pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the state-wide tributes on September 8, marking the 100th birth anniversary of the Bharat Ratna awardee. Modi touted the artist's ability to carry the soul of the Northeast to the rest of the nation. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the year-long centenary events, launched by the Prime Minister last September, will wrap up with a final program in New Delhi later this year.
Sarma officially broke ground on the Rs 35 crore museum at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra during a ceremony at the Bhupen Hazarika Samannay Tirtha in Jalukbari. Beyond the physical structure, the government is leaning on local participation to stock the galleries. Sarma asked citizens to donate personal memorabilia and challenged the youth to capture the artist's life and ideals through an Insta-Reel competition.
District offices, including Barpeta, pushed the centenary message into local classrooms and municipal centers. Officials staged open quizzes and musical programs featuring Hazarika's work, such as the iconic 'Bistirna Parore', to bridge the gap between his legacy and younger generations.
Updated at 9th September 2026 at 1:49am
Beyond the new museum in Guwahati, the state is making a play for the musician's past in West Bengal. Chief Minister Sarma sent a letter to his counterpart in West Bengal on September 4, requesting help to buy the property at 77B, Golf Club Road in Tollygunge. Hazarika lived there for years, and the government plans to turn the house into a heritage site where he penned some of his most famous songs.
State Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya and state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi joined the Chief Minister at the memorial service in Jalukbari to honor the artist. The state is pinning its hopes on these centennial projects to lock in the legacy of the man known as Sudhakantha, bridging his creative history in Kolkata with his final resting place in Assam.
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