The Chief Minister has launched three new direct cash transfer schemes aimed at supporting nearly one lakh students and researchers across the State.

Key Schemes Launched

1. Jibon Prerana Scheme

• • Monthly financial assistance to fresh graduates to support their job search and preparation for competitive exams.
  • Benefit: ₹2,500 per month for 12 months (totaling to ₹30,000)
  • Department: Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department, Government of Assam
  • Implementing Agency: Directorate of Employment and Craftsmen Training
  • Eligibility Criteria:
    • Residency: Must be a permanent resident of Assam.
    • Graduation Status: Must be a fresh graduate (2025 pass-out only) from a Government/ Public institution of the state or central government, situated in Assam. 
      • Students from open universities and private institutions are not eligible.
    • Employment Status: Should not be already employed.
    • Further Studies: Should not have taken admission in any Professional/Vocational courses.
  • Exclusions: Applicant should not be a beneficiary of the Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina Scheme.

• Parental Status Exclusions:

• • Applicant’s parents should not be employed in Public Offices (MLA, MPs or Ministers).
  • Applicant’s parents should not be registered as a contractor.
  • Applicant should not belong to a family of professionals with an income> ₹10 lakh per year.
  • Applicant’s parents should not be employed as a government employee, or pensioner (except for Grade IV employees).
• Beneficiaries: 48,319 fresh graduates
• Objective: 
  • To support fresh graduates during their job search.
  • To encourage fresh graduates to prepare for competitive examinations.
  • To empower fresh graduates to pursue self-employment opportunities.
    

2. Jibon Anuprerana Scheme

• One-time financial assistance to research scholars
• Benefit: ₹25,000 to general research scholars, and ₹40,000 to Divyang (differently-abled) research scholars.
• Beneficiaries: 2,112 research scholars, including Divyang scholars.
• Department: Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department, Government of Assam
• Implementing Agency: Directorate of Employment and Craftsmen Training
• Aim: Promote research, innovation, and higher academic pursuits.
• Eligibility Criteria: 
  • Residency: Applicant must be a permanent resident of Assam.
  • Academic Status: Applicant must be a Full-time Research Scholar.
  • Institution: Scholar must be from a Government or Public institution (State or Central) situated in Assam.
  • Admission Year: Applicant must be admitted to a PhD program on or after 1st April 2021.
• Mode of Disbursement: Transferred directly to the bank accounts of the eligible scholars through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

3. Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Asoni

• • Monthly financial assistance for Graduate and Post Graduate male students.
  • First-year undergraduate Students– ₹ 1,000 per month for 10 months (₹ 10,000/- assistance per academic year).
  • First-year postgraduate Students– ₹  2,000 per month for 10 months. (₹  20,000/- assistance per academic year).
  • Transfer of assistance amount directly to the student’s bank account.

• Eligibility Requirements:

• • Permanent residents of Assam.
  • Applicants must currently be in the 1st year of an UG or PG regular course within Assam.
  • Enrollment of students should be in a  Government or Provincialised Education Institute.
  • Student’s annual family income must not exceed Rs. 4 lakh.
  • UG students who enjoy benefits from the Chief Minister Jibon Prerana Scheme cannot submit an application.
  • PG students who receive the Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme are not eligible.
  • Married male students do not qualify.
• Focus: Prevent dropouts among economically weaker sections.
  

These schemes complement the existing Nijut Moina Scheme (2024), which provides up to ₹2,500 per month to girl students from Class 11 to postgraduation to prevent child marriage and improve female enrolment in higher education.

Together, Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu aim to cover nearly 10 lakh students, strengthening human capital development in Assam.

Skill Development Push

• The Chief Minister also launched 31 advanced technology laboratories across Industrial Training Institutes and polytechnic institutions in collaboration with Tata Technologies. 
• These labs aim to equip youth with skills in manufacturing, automation, and advanced technologies, aligning with the goals of Skill India Mission and the National Education Policy 2020.

Exam Hook

UPSC Prelims Question (Statement-based):

Consider the following statements regarding Assam’s recent student welfare initiatives:

1. The Jibon Prerana scheme provides monthly assistance to fresh graduates.
   
2. The Nijut Moina scheme is aimed at preventing school dropouts among boys.
   
3. The Jibon Anuprerana scheme supports research scholars through one-time grants.
   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

One-line wrap:
Assam’s new education-focused cash transfer schemes combine welfare, skill development, and social reform to strengthen youth empowerment.

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