Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the state’s 8th pay commission has started work, with revised salaries for government employees to be considered after the panel submits its report.
The commission was established in January, making Assam the first state or Union Territory to constitute its 8th state-level pay commission. Sarma had announced the development on X, formerly Twitter, and appointed former Additional Chief Secretary Subhas Das as the panel’s chairman.
Assam will become the first state in the country to constitute the 8th State Pay Commission, marking a significant step towards employee welfare and progressive governance.
#5YearsOfSewa https://t.co/3LHeyDqZtZ
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 1, 2026
The commission is expected to submit its recommendations within 18 months. Its mandate includes reviewing pay scales, allowances, service conditions and pensions. Revised salaries could come into effect in 2027 or 2028, while arrears may be calculated from January 1, 2026. However, an announcement is not expected until the Centre’s pay commission submits its recommendations.
Assam records 1.65 lakh appointments under CM’s two terms
Separately, Sarma distributed appointment letters to 439 candidates recruited across four state government departments on Sunday, taking the total number of appointments made during his two terms to 1,65,749, PTI reported.
Addressing the programme, the chief minister highlighted the turnaround at the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank, which had previously faced the prospect of losing its licence from the Reserve Bank of India.
“The bank is now managed using information technology and artificial intelligence, and has returned to profitability while securing recognition as a scheduled bank, enabling it to safely hold government funds,” he was cited as saying in a PTI report.
The bank has filled 175 posts and created additional indirect employment opportunities, Sarma added.
ESI scheme expands medical services
The chief minister also spoke about healthcare facilities available under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme for workers earning less than ₹21,000 a month.
“A medical college has been established in Guwahati under the scheme, with 50 MBBS seats. Its second batch of students will begin classes this year,” he said.
Twelve Insurance Medical Officers were appointed at the programme to serve the 33 dispensaries and hospitals operating under the scheme.
Assam government plans further recruitment
Sarma said the state had approximately four lakh government employees, including around 1.65 lakh young people recruited in recent years. Nearly 40% of the workforce is below 40 years of age, he added.
The government intends to make another two lakh appointments, according to the chief minister. He also pointed to faster promotions within the administration, which are expected to open up lower-level positions for new recruits while allowing existing officers to advance to posts such as director and joint director.
Of the candidates appointed on Sunday, 184 were recruited to the Public Health Engineering Department and 68 to the Water Resources Department, officials said.
Also read: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma allocates portfolios among ministers
-With PTI inputs