Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced a new financial assistance scheme for male students pursuing higher education in the state. The scheme, called the ‘Babu Scheme’, will provide a monthly stipend to students studying at the graduate and postgraduate levels.
Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, the Chief Minister said the scheme will begin from February 1, and the money will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of eligible students. Graduate students will receive Rs 1,000 per month, while postgraduate students will be given Rs 2,000 per month.
Sarma said the main aim of the scheme is to help students continue their education without worrying about financial pressure. He added that many families struggle to support higher education expenses, and the state government wants to ease this burden so that students can focus on their studies. 
However, the scheme will not cover students whose parents are government employees or have an annual income of more than Rs 4 lakh. The government has said that the benefit is meant mainly for students from lower and middle-income backgrounds.
This new scheme comes after several earlier initiatives launched by the Assam government for female students, including financial support for HSLC candidates and assistance for girls studying from higher secondary to postgraduate levels under programmes such as Nijut Moina. The government has said these schemes are also part of its efforts to prevent child marriage and promote education.
During the same press briefing, the Chief Minister also highlighted major infrastructure developments taking place in Assam. He said that four bridges over the Brahmaputra River are currently under construction, including the bridge connecting Guwahati and North Guwahati, which is expected to open in February.
Sarma further announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the Kaziranga elevated corridor, a nearly 34-km stretch costing Rs 6,957 crore, later this month. The corridor is expected to improve connectivity while also helping protect wildlife movement in the Kaziranga region.
Another key project mentioned was the twin-tube underwater tunnel connecting Gohpur and Numaligarh. The Centre has approved this Rs 22,000-crore road-cum-rail project, which is expected to significantly improve transport links in upper Assam. The Prime Minister is also expected to lay the foundation stone of the Gelephu railway line project in February.
The Chief Minister also spoke about plans for an elevated corridor near Guwahati airport and the development of an Aerocity across 60 acres. In the healthcare sector, he said a new modern hospital building will be constructed at Guwahati Medical College, with financial support from the Asian Development Bank. The project cost is estimated at Rs 2,200 crore, and the existing structure will be demolished.
In the power sector, the government is preparing to inaugurate the 120 MW Kopili hydroelectric project, which is expected to boost electricity supply in the state.
“These projects reflect the scale of work undertaken in the last five years and our commitment to transforming Assam’s infrastructure,” Sarma said.
