Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Cabinet Splits Youth Sports Meet Into Two Age Groups, Grants Relief To Staff And Ex-Servicemen Assam's cabinet cleared a two-track version of its youth sports tournament starting November 7, alongside relief for Secretariat staff, ex-servicemen, Class IX students and a new green cess on polluting industries. Assam's council of ministers used a Monday sitting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to reshape the state's flagship youth sports drive and clear a fresh set of benefits for government staff, former soldiers and students, while also opening a new revenue stream from polluting industries. Khel Maharan returns in a new shape The cabinet gave the go-ahead for the third edition of Khel Maharan, this time restructured into two separate tracks. The tournament opens on November 7 and will run under two banners: Shoishab Krida Samaroh, reserved for athletes below the age of 12, and the main Khel Maharan event for competitors older than 12. A hunt for 300 young talents Shoishab Krida Samaroh is designed as a scouting exercise as much as a competition. Officials plan to shortlist 300 promising young players through it and then place them on a structured coaching track, giving them access to facilities meant to sharpen their skills over time. Both tracks together will span eight sporting disciplines: athletics, yogasana, chess, boxing, aquathlon, football, volleyball and swimming. Quicker promotions inside the Secretariat Away from the sports arena, the cabinet eased the promotion path for Computer Operators looking to move up to the post of Junior Administrative Assistant within the Assam Secretariat. The minimum qualifying service for that jump has been cut from four years to three. Sarma told reporters the change is meant to push promotions through faster and let eligible staff reach the next rung in their careers sooner than before. More room for ex-servicemen in state jobs Former military personnel hoping to join state government service also got relief. The cabinet raised the upper age ceiling for ex-servicemen applying to Grade III and Grade IV posts from 42 years to 45 years, widening the window during which they can compete for these positions. Free bicycles for Class IX students For the 2025-26 academic session, the cabinet cleared Rs 109.38 crore to hand out free bicycles to students studying in Class IX, a scheme aimed at easing their daily commute to school. A green cess on polluting sectors The cabinet also signed off on the broad framework of the Assam Green Cess Policy, 2026, which will impose a cess on sectors identified as environmentally sensitive. Stone-crushing units, brick kilns and imported timber are among the sectors named for the levy, though the policy covers other identified sectors as well. What this means for you The biggest immediate change lands on Assam's own students, employees and ex-servicemen, though the model could nudge similar moves in other states too. • Across India: States often watch each other's welfare and cess experiments before adopting similar ones. If Assam's green cess and youth-sports scouting model works, other state governments could roll out comparable schemes for their own students and industries. • In Assam: Class IX students across the state will receive a free bicycle for the 2025-26 session under the Rs 109.38 crore scheme, easing daily travel to school. • For Secretariat staff: Computer Operators now need just three years of service instead of four to be considered for promotion to Junior Administrative Assistant, meaning eligible staff could move up sooner. • For ex-servicemen: Those applying for Grade III and Grade IV government posts in Assam now have until age 45 instead of 42, giving them three extra years to apply. • For young athletes: Children under 12 get a shot at being among the 300 chosen for structured coaching under Shoishab Krida Samaroh starting November 7. • For industry: Stone-crushing units, brick kilns and importers of timber in Assam will need to budget for the new green cess once the 2026 policy takes effect. Questions & Answers 1. When will Khel Maharan 3.0 begin? It starts on November 7. 2. What are the two categories in Khel Maharan 3.0? Shoishab Krida Samaroh for players under 12 and the main Khel Maharan event for players above 12. 3. How many disciplines will the tournament cover? Eight disciplines: athletics, yogasana, chess, boxing, aquathlon, football, volleyball and swimming. 4. How much has the qualifying service for promotion from Computer Operator to Junior Administrative Assistant been reduced? From four years to three years. 5. What is the new upper age limit for ex-servicemen applying for Grade III and Grade IV posts? It has been raised from 42 years to 45 years. 6. How much money has been approved for free bicycles for Class IX students? Rs 109.38 crore for the 2025-26 academic year. 7. Which sectors will be covered under the Assam Green Cess Policy, 2026? Stone-crushing units, brick kilns and imported timber, among other identified sectors. 8. Who announced these Assam cabinet decisions? Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while briefing the media after the cabinet meeting. https://trendkia.com/en/assam/himanta-biswa-sarma-ki-aguvai-vali-kaibineta-ne-khela-ayojana-ko-do-vargon-men-banta-karmachariyon-aura-bhutapurva-sainikon-ko-di--29031 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.