Assam govt to introduce strict law against religious conversions in health institutes, announces major reforms in NEET

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 9, 2025

The Assam government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is set to introduce a strict new law to prevent religious conversions in health institutes, following its recent amendment to the Assam Private University Act, 2007.

At a crucial Cabinet meeting on Sunday, the government decided to amend the Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences Act to ensure private nursing colleges, dental institutes, and pharmacy institutions strictly adhere to government norms and do not engage in religious conversions.

Speaking at a press conference, Sarma emphasized that any individual or organization establishing these institutes must now obtain national security clearance from the State Home and Political Department to prevent potential security threats.

“No one running a nursing, dental, or pharmacy institute can directly or indirectly engage in religious conversion,” he declared.

NEET Examination Process: Proposed Reforms

The Cabinet also addressed major irregularities in the NEET examination process, revealing that most NEET exam centres were located in private institutions, raising concerns about the credibility of the examination process.

To ensure transparency and fairness, the Assam government will recommend the following reforms to the Centre:

• Shift all NEET exam centres to government schools.

• Conduct exams under the direct supervision of District Commissioners (DCs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) for stricter monitoring.

• Implement biometric verification before students enter exam centres.

The government also raised concerns over discrepancies between high NEET scores and poor student performance in medical colleges, leading to an investigation by the Special Branch (SB).

Coaching Institutes: Regulation on the Horizon

To regulate the rapid expansion of coaching institutes, the Cabinet approved the Assam Coaching Institutes (Control and Regulation) Act, 2025. This law aims to protect students from exploitation and ensure proper academic guidance. Another stricter law is also being planned to control the unregulated growth of coaching centres across the state.

Driving License Issuance: A Major Overhaul

The Cabinet also announced a major revamp of Assam’s driving license issuance process by establishing Accredited Drivers Training Centres (ADTCs) equipped with Automated Driver Testing Tracks (ADTTs).

Five ADTTs are currently under construction in Dibrugarh, Nagaon, Biswanath, Barpeta, and Kamrup, set to be operational within five months.

126 new driving institutes will replace District Transport Offices (DTOs) as the new licensing authorities.

The initiative aims to eliminate human intervention and introduce a scientific, transparent, and standardized testing system.

Cultural Recognition and Infrastructure Projects

After successfully nominating Charaideo Maidam for UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Assam government will now recommend Majuli and Sivasagar for the same recognition under two different categories. The state will bear all expenses related to technical studies and research.

The Cabinet also approved several key infrastructure projects aimed at boosting industrial and tourism growth:

MSME Growth: Rs. 21.52 crore allocated under the SIDBI Cluster Development Fund for MSME-driven economic growth.

Tourism Expansion: Expansion and upgradation of Vivanta Guwahati with land allocation to the Tourism Department.

Industrial Development: New industrial park and smart township in Hajo, Kamrup, to attract investors and boost Assam’s industrial ecosystem.

Economic Boost: Mega industrial parks to be established in Kamrup and Morigaon districts to enhance economic activity and job creation.