theTripurapost News Images

Assam ST Status for Six Communities Still Pending; Centre Yet to Take Final Call

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Guwahati
  • Jul 09, 2026
  • 145

The long-pending proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities in Assam continues to await approval from the Union Government. The Assam Government informed the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday that the proposal remains under examination by the Centre, and no specific timeline can be provided for its completion.

The clarification came during the Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly after MLA Chakradhar Gogoi sought details regarding the current status of the proposal and questioned whether any administrative or legal hurdles were delaying the process.

Centre Holds Constitutional Authority Over ST Status

Responding to the query, Assam Tribal Affairs Minister Ranoj Pegu stated that the constitutional authority to include any community in the Scheduled Tribe list lies exclusively with the Central Government and Parliament of India.  Consequently, the Assam Government is not in a position to indicate when the final notification will be issued.

He emphasized that the state has already completed its assigned responsibilities and is awaiting further action from the Union Government.

 

Also Read

Hindi Introduced as Official Language in Assam Assembly; Bodo Continues as Official Language

https://thetripurapost.com/NewsTripuraPost/hindi-introduced-as-official-language-in-assam-assembly-bodo-continues-as-official-language-3655.html

 

Centre Requested Detailed Assessment

The minister informed the House that the Union Government had sought a comprehensive report from Assam to ensure that extending ST status to the six communities would not adversely affect the constitutional safeguards, reservation quotas, educational benefits, employment opportunities, and other protections currently available to existing Scheduled Tribe communities in the state.

This assessment was considered necessary to maintain the balance of constitutional rights among recognized tribal groups.

 

Related Story

Assam Cabinet Expansion 2026: Himanta Biswa Sarma Inducts 12 New Ministers
https://thetripurapost.com/NewsTripuraPost/assam-cabinet-expansion-2026-himanta-biswa-sarma-inducts-12-new-ministers-council-strength-rises-to-17-3328.html

Group of Ministers Submitted Recommendations

To examine the issue in detail, the Assam Government constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM). After extensive deliberations, the committee prepared its recommendations, which were approved during the Winter Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly in November 2025.

According to Minister Pegu, the process of forwarding the approved report and official recommendations to the Union Government is currently underway.

Final Decision to Be Taken by Parliament

The minister reiterated that the state government's role in the process has largely been completed. The proposal will now move through constitutional scrutiny before the Centre and Parliament decide whether the six communities should be granted Scheduled Tribe status.

While no deadline has been announced, the government expressed confidence that the longstanding demand of the six communities would receive due consideration during the constitutional process.

Why the ST Status Demand Matters

Granting Scheduled Tribe status would enable eligible communities to access constitutional safeguards, reservation benefits in education and public employment, political representation, and various welfare schemes designed for Scheduled Tribes. However, the proposal also requires careful evaluation to ensure that the rights and benefits of existing ST communities remain protected.

The issue has remained one of Assam's most significant socio-political demands for several years and continues to attract attention from community organizations, political leaders, and policymakers.

 

For the latest Assam News, Northeast News, National News, Politics, Governance, and Breaking Updates, stay connected with TheTripuraPost. Follow us for fast, accurate and credible journalism from Tripura, Northeast India and across the country.