GUWAHATI: The Assam Cabinet on Sunday, July 5 approved a series of legislative and policy measures aimed at improving the ease of doing business, promoting industrialisation and easing regulatory compliance in the state. At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Lok Sewa Bhawan, the Council of Ministers cleared several bills for introduction in the upcoming session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, besides approving land for an Amul dairy processing unit in Biswanath Chariali, the Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill, an amendment to the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation and the formation of a committee to streamline the state's agarwood industry.
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Among the key legislative decisions, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Assam Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2024, to simplify the registration process for hotels, homestays and other tourism establishments. It also cleared amendments to the Assam Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2013, introducing measures to enhance revenue collection from forest resources, including a transit fee on forest produce entering Assam from other states. Amendments to the Assam Shops and Establishments Act were also approved to align the law with the relevant Central legislation.
The Cabinet further approved the introduction of the Assam Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Bill, 2026, which seeks to allow MSMEs to begin operations without prior government approval, except in the case of large or polluting industries. It also cleared the Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Assam Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026, aimed at easing compliance requirements relating to town and country planning, fire safety and land classification.
Beyond the legislative measures, the Cabinet approved the allotment of 33 bighas of land for an Amul dairy processing unit in Biswanath Chariali and cleared the Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill, 2026. The proposed authority will be a government-led body with no private sector participation. The Chief Minister will serve as its Chairman, while the Chief Secretary will head the Executive Committee.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to Chapter XII of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation to impose stricter norms on the purchase and sale of land within a five-kilometre radius of specified religious institutions and cultural monuments. According to the government, the changes are intended to strengthen transparency and oversight in land transactions. To support the agarwood sector, the Cabinet constituted a committee comprising Ministers Pijush Hazarika, Bimal Borah and Jayanta Malla Baruah to work with the Industries, Agriculture and Forest departments to streamline the trade and improve returns for farmers.
