Assam Makes State History and Geography Mandatory for Classes 6–8, Clears Major Education Reforms

The Assam government has introduced significant changes to its school curriculum by making Assam-specific History and Geography compulsory for students of Classes 6 to 8. The decision, announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on X, follows recommendations from the Justice (Retd.) Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee.

Under the new policy, students will now face mandatory 50-mark examinations in both subjects. The state government said the move is aimed at strengthening students’ understanding of Assam’s cultural identity, heritage and geography. The revised curriculum will be uniformly implemented across all elementary and upper primary schools.

The decision comes as the state continues to grapple with major infrastructure gaps. The education department recently informed the Assembly that more than 1,400 remote schools still lack drinking water and toilet facilities. Additionally, nearly 28,000 teaching positions remain vacant across government schools, including 12,382 in Middle English institutions and over 8,000 in lower primary schools.

Alongside the curriculum overhaul, the Assam Cabinet has cleared substantial educational investments. These include ₹243.66 crore for a Centre of Excellence at Assam Engineering College, focused on Aerospace & Defence, Automotive Engineering and Electric Vehicle technologies—fields expected to boost industrial growth and support MSMEs and startups.

A new Sainik School has also been approved for Karbi Anglong at a cost of ₹335 crore, making it the district’s second military school. The project will receive joint funding from the state and central governments.

The Assembly session also saw the passage of multiple education-related amendment bills, covering school fee regulation, provincialisation of teachers, institutional restructuring and teacher recruitment norms. Two new university bills—Azim Premji University Bill, 2025, and NERIM University Bill, 2025—were also approved. The session concluded amid an opposition walkout.