The Assam government presented a series of bills in the assembly on Thursday aimed at increasing the ease of doing business. These include a proposal to replace the existing MSME law and strengthen the state's single-window mechanism.
The Assam government presented a series of bills in the assembly on Thursday aimed at increasing the ease of doing business. These include a proposal to replace the existing MSME law and strengthen the state's single-window mechanism.
The Minister of Industries, Trade and Public Enterprises, Bimal Borah, introduced the 'Assam Law on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Promotion and Facilitation) 2026'. This document is intended to replace the 2020 law regulating this sector.
In his statement on the objectives and reasons, Borah emphasized that the MSME sector remains the foundation for job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth in the state. He noted that the initial 2020 law was enacted to ensure timely processing of permits for MSMEs, but its implementation experience, along with the Central Government's focus on ease of doing business, the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP), self-certification, single-window systems, and digital approval mechanisms, necessitated a comprehensive review of the legislation.
The proposed legislation abolishes and replaces the existing framework to create a more business-friendly foundation for MSMEs, according to Borah.
The Minister of Social Welfare of Workers, Rameshwar Teli, introduced the 'Amendment to the Assam Shops and Establishments Act 2026'. The goal of this change is to reduce the burden on commercial enterprises while simultaneously promoting a favorable regulatory environment for businesses.
The amendment seeks to align the law with new concepts such as digital governance, self-certification, presumptive registration, and round-the-clock economic activity, while maintaining guarantees regarding employee welfare, working conditions, safety, overtime, and weekly holidays.
The government also presented the 'Amendment to the Assam Ease of Doing Business Act 2026'. It provides for the creation of a Single Window Task Force to coordinate and expedite proposals related to notified industrial zones.
Borah stated that this bill also includes a dedicated module on the existing centralized web portal for industrial zone proposals and empowers the task force to engage external agencies to assist in fulfilling its functions.
Another legislative act, the 'Assam Honesty Act (Amendment to Provisions) 2026', aims to modify six existing state laws. These include laws governing non-governmental educational institutions, private universities, town planning and rural planning, fire and emergency services, land reclassification, and film regulation.
According to Borah, the proposed amendments are intended to reduce unnecessary compliance requirements, facilitate faster issuance of permits and approvals, and stimulate institutional expansion and investment in the state.
The Minister of Tourism, Ajanta Neog, also presented the 'Amendment to the Assam Tourism Act (Development and Regulation) 2026'. It proposes changes to several existing provisions and aims to repeal the colonial-era 'Sarai Act' of 1867.
Hindi has been introduced for the first time in the history of the Assam Legislative Assembly. This initiative was implemented under the leadership of the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Ranjit Kumar Das.
Starting from July 6, the first day of the XVI Assam Legislative Assembly's budget session, Hindi will be used in addition to Assamese, English, and Bodo in the assembly. Das informed ANI that the decision to include Hindi was made at a meeting of the General Committee of the Assam Legislative Assembly, which took place on Saturday under his chairmanship.
During this meeting, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Piduj Hazariaka, Minister Keshab Mahanta, opposition leader Vazed Ali Choudhury, assembly members Kamalakhya Dei Purkayasta, Sabaram Basumatari, Chakradhar Gogoi, and Joy Prakash Das were present. Das emphasized that since Hindi is a Rashtra Bhasha, the decision was made to introduce it, supplementing the previously existing three languages.
Furthermore, he noted that the ALA (Assam Legislative Assembly) channel will be renamed Assam Vidhan Sabha TV starting Monday. The Speaker of the Assam Assembly added that they will try to make Assam Vidhan Sabha TV similar to the Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV channels soon.
The Assam Legislative Assembly's budget session will begin on July 6 and last for 21 working days, concluding on July 31. The state budget will be presented on July 10. Currently, 10 new bills have been presented in the session.
Discussing the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Japan to India, the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly stated that Assam will definitely benefit from the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to India. He also mentioned the increase in GST collection in Assam, noting that alongside the efforts of the state government, the credit belongs to the taxpayers of Assam.
