GUWAHATI: The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Friday, June 5, approved a series of key decisions, including a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for state government employees and pensioners, the declaration of Dibrugarh as the state's second capital region, and an enhancement of MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) funds.
ALSO READ: CAG Exposes Deep Fault Lines in Assam’s Urban Governance: Municipal Bodies Sitting on Funds While Cities Struggle
The Cabinet approved an increase in DA and DR from 58% to 60%, benefiting over eight lakh serving government employees, pensioners, family pensioners, extraordinary pensioners and compassionate family pensioners across Assam.
The cabinet also approved the declaration of Dibrugarh as the Second State Capital Region and cleared the formation of the Second State Capital Region Development Authority-Dibrugarh (SCRDA-D). The proposed region will cover an area within a 20-kilometre radius of the Dibrugarh Capital Complex. To support infrastructure development in the region, the government will allocate ₹500 crore through the budgets of concerned departments.
The cabinet further approved amendments to the Assam Secondary Education (Provincialised Schools) Service Rules, 2026, streamlining the promotion process for Grade IV employees to Grade III posts.
Additionally, the MLALAD allocation was increased from ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore per MLA for the financial year 2026-27. From 2027-28 onwards, the allocation will be raised to ₹2 crore. The revised guidelines will also allow legislators to use up to 10 per cent of their annual allocation for procuring and distributing community, educational, cultural, sports and disability-support equipment.