Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog tabled the budget in the state Assembly on Tuesday. She said, “ The foundation of the remarkable progress achieved over the last five years rests on prudent fiscal management, improved compliance, and sustained efforts to strengthen the State’s own resource mobilisation. I am honoured to share the good news with this August house that the 16th Finance Commission has recognised our exceptional performance in fiscal parameters in the last 5 years by increasing Assam’s inter-se share to 3.258%, arresting the downward trend seen in recent years. This has improved Assam’s position and will result in an unprecedented devolution above Rs.50,000 crore in the upcoming year itself”.
She added, “ Together with the Government of India, our Government has secured four historic peace accords with ULFA, Karbi, Adivasi and the DNLA groups — paving the way for enduring peace, stability, and integration. I sincerely thank Union Home Minister Amit Shah Ji for playing an instrumental role in this development. In the Union Budget 2026–27, the Government of India has earmarked Rs.500 crore as the first tranche of a Rs.5,000 crore special development and rehabilitation package under the 2023 peace accord with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). This is to support projects aimed at sustainable livelihoods, reintegration and long-term peace in Assam.”
She said, “ Under the Memorandum of Settlement, our government has committed Rs.3,000 crore from its own resources toward infrastructure and development projects linked to the ULFA peace agreement, complementing the Central support. Since 2021, sustained peace efforts in Assam have led to a total of 9,022 former cadres depositing 1,012 sophisticated weapons.”
The finance department said, “They mocked us when we promised 1 Lakh Government Jobs. Today, I place on record that we have not just met that target; we have crushed it, by providing over 1.58 lakh appointments, transparently. Further, the Kokrajhar–Gelephu new railway line, spanning 69 kilometres, has been recently sanctioned under the India–Bhutan connectivity initiative and a highway project is being planned from the semiconductor plant at Jagiroad to Bhutan Border via Udalguri by building another bridge over the Brahmaputra. The visionary proposal to construct the underground railway tracks along a 40-km Siliguri corridor, fortifying ‘Chicken’s Neck’ will create a secure transportation route connecting the Northeast with the rest of India”
She informed, “We have also requested the Government of India for expansion of air connectivity by conducting the feasibility study of five new airports in Assam at Nagaon, Diphu, Umrangso, Majuli and Manas.”
She further said, “The prosperity of our tea industry must flow directly to the hands of our tea garden workers; therefore, I am pleased to share that we are finalizing discussions with tea associations to announce enhanced wages for our tea garden workers within this year.”
