The first Budget Session of the second government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma began today amid expectations of significant legislative changes that could reshape Assam’s governance framework, particularly in the areas of land administration, mining, urban development and investment facilitation.
With the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) commanding 102 seats in the 126-member Assam Legislative Assemblyā€”the largest legislative majority secured by any government in the state after Independenceā€”the ruling coalition is expected to face little resistance in passing the bills scheduled for the session.
On the eve of the Assembly session, the Assam Cabinet approved the introduction of several key legislations, including amendments to the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, reforms to ease business regulations, a new law facilitating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill and amendments to tourism and shop establishment laws.
The government has also approved amendments to the Assam Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2013, a move that signals a broader restructuring of the state’s mining sector. According to the Cabinet, the revised rules are intended to modernize mineral governance, improve regulation and address operational gaps that have affected mineral extraction and transportation.
Among the notable changes is the imposition of a charge of Rs 150 per cubic metre on sand and stone entering Assam from neighbouring states, along with a transit fee of Rs 200 per vehicle carrying minor minerals. Officials have argued that the amendments are aimed at improving monitoring and ensuring better revenue collection.
However, the proposed mining reforms are expected to revive longstanding concerns raised by environmental groups and civil society organisations over the government’s approach to natural resource governance.
Over the past few years, several indigenous organisations, environmental activists and rights groups have accused the state government of facilitating large-scale land acquisition for corporate investment by evicting communities from forest villages, wetlands and government lands. They argue that while the government has presented these actions as part of its industrialisation agenda, the process has often generated disputes over land rights, livelihood security and ecological conservation.
The mining sector has become particularly contentious following exploratory activities by private companies in ecologically sensitive regions. Environmental groups have expressed concern over oil and gas exploration undertaken by Vedanta in areas close to the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Jorhat district, home to India’s only ape species, the western hoolock gibbon. Conservationists have warned that industrial activities near the sanctuary could fragment wildlife habitats and threaten biodiversity.
Business conglomerate Adani Group has also shown interest in expanding investments in Assam’s natural resource and infrastructure sectors, reinforcing concerns among sections of civil society about increasing corporate participation in land and resource-intensive projects across the state.
The proposed amendment to the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation is therefore likely to attract close scrutiny during the Assembly session. Although the government has not yet made the detailed provisions of the amendment public, observers expect it to complement the administration’s broader policy objective of accelerating industrial investment and infrastructure development.
The Cabinet has simultaneously approved the Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Assam Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Bill, 2026, both of which seek to simplify regulatory procedures for businesses. Together with the proposed land and mining reforms, these measures indicate the government’s continued emphasis on creating an investment-friendly policy environment.
Urban expansion is another major focus of the session. The proposed Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill aims to establish a dedicated authority for planning and developing satellite townships around the rapidly expanding state capital, which has experienced sustained population growth and increasing pressure on civic infrastructure.
Among other legislative proposals are the Assam Tourism (Development and Registration) (Amendment) Bill, the Assam Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Bill and the Assam Jan Vishwas Bill, which seeks to improve administrative efficiency and simplify regulatory compliance.
Outside the legislative agenda, the Cabinet has approved the establishment of an integrated Emergency Response System based on the national Dial-112 framework. A new Emergency Response Centre will be set up at the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, integrating police, fire, health and disaster response services under a technology-driven platform.
The government has also partially relaxed austerity measures by allowing foreign visits by ministers and government officials, while approving the leasing of 33 bighas of land to AMUL for establishing a bulk milk cooling and chilling centre in Biswanath district.
Although the ruling alliance’s overwhelming majority virtually guarantees smooth passage of government bills, opposition parties and civil society organisations are expected to use the Assembly session to question the state’s development model, particularly on issues of land acquisition, environmental governance and corporate access to Assam’s natural resources.
With industrial expansion emerging as one of the defining priorities of the Himanta Biswa Sarma government’s second term, the Budget Session is likely to provide the clearest indication yet of how the administration intends to balance economic growth with ecological protection and the rights of indigenous communities.
