The Assam government has given in-principle approval to reserve 25% seats in private vernacular medium schools for meritorious students from low-income families, announced Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The state cabinet has decided to seek public opinion on the proposal, which aims to provide opportunities to deserving students. The scheme is planned to be implemented from the next academic year.

The government will reimburse the fees for the 25% reserved students to the schools, which will have to apply to the Education Department to be included in the scheme. Schools will conduct their own entrance exams to identify meritorious students from low-income backgrounds.

The scheme will apply only to select reputable vernacular medium schools, including Assamese, Bodo, and Bengali, but not to English medium schools.

The cabinet also decided to provide relief to small businesses with tax demands of Rs 5 lakh annually. Create 1,766 graduate teacher posts for mathematics in schools. And also will add 19 more villages to the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts to fulfill the Bodo Accord.