AASU Applauds IIM in Assam, Cites Assam Accord Clause 7 as Key Victory

In a landmark move for Assam’s higher education landscape, Parliament has approved the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the state. The decision has been widely welcomed by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which has long demanded the creation of national-level institutions under Clause 7 of the Assam Accord.

Assam is already home to several prestigious institutions, including IIT Guwahati, AIIMS Guwahati, National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA) Assam, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Guwahati, and the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST). The new IIM in Guwahati will further strengthen the state’s profile as an academic hub in Eastern India.

AASU Reaction and Educational Impact

AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjya described the development as “a historic step” and reiterated the need for additional national-level institutions to bolster Assam’s educational infrastructure. Analysts suggest that the addition of an IIM will not only provide high-quality management education locally but also attract national and international students, fostering research, entrepreneurship, and investment in the region.

We welcome the passage of the bill in Parliament for the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Assam. The State is home to central universities and esteemed national institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology (@IITGuwahati) Guwahati, All India…

— Dr. Samujjal Bhattacharjya (@SamujjalBhatta) August 20, 2025

Political Controversy

The bill’s passage, however, exposed political fault lines. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a sharp attack on Congress MPs from the state, who reportedly opposed the IIM Bill. “Can you imagine how much the Congress hates Assam, and how fiercely anti-people and development they are that they don’t even want an IIM to come up in our state!” he tweeted, vowing that the people of Assam “will neither forget nor forgive them.”

Parliamentary Proceedings

The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, piloted by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, was passed in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote. The session witnessed noisy protests by the Opposition over unrelated issues such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The Centre has earmarked ₹550 crore for the establishment of the new IIM, which will be the second in the Northeast, joining IIM Shillong, and will hold the status of an institution of national importance.

Strategic and Economic Implications

Experts note that the IIM in Guwahati complements Assam’s existing educational ecosystem. With an IIT, AIIMS, and now an IIM, the state is poised to emerge as a major education and talent hub in Eastern India, potentially driving growth in sectors such as technology, healthcare, law, and management consulting. This also aligns with broader government objectives to decentralize higher education from traditional metropolitan centers to emerging regions.

Chief Minister’s Statement

Following the bill’s approval, CM Sarma posted on X: “Truly a historic day for Assam as the Lok Sabha passes the bill to establish the State’s first Indian Institute of Management. My gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, Hon’ble Ministers Shri @AmitShah Ji and Shri @dpradhanbjp Ji for steering this endeavour.”

He added that the combination of top-tier institutions positions Assam on the threshold of becoming an educational powerhouse in Eastern India, signaling potential long-term benefits for employment, industry collaboration, and regional development.

Analytical Outlook

• Educational: Provides access to premier management education locally, reducing student migration.

• Economic: Likely to attract investment, increase skilled workforce, and foster start-up ecosystems.

• Political: The Congress opposition has fueled debates about development politics in the state.

• Strategic: Reinforces Assam’s position in India’s national education map, complementing existing IIT and AIIMS campuses.

The approval of the IIM in Assam represents a convergence of educational ambition and political theatre, highlighting how infrastructure development is increasingly intertwined with regional and national political narratives.

Also Read: BJP Slams Congress MPs for Opposing IIM in Assam, Calls Move “Anti-State”