The Assam government has announced a one-time book allowance of ₹1,000 for all state government employees, to be disbursed in November. The move will benefit around four lakh employees and incur an estimated expenditure of ₹40 crore.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement following a cabinet meeting in Guwahati. He said the initiative is part of a broader effort to promote reading habits, with 2025 being declared as the ‘Year of Books’.

In addition to the allowance, the cabinet approved a financial grant of ₹25,000 each for 1,000 young writers engaged in creative, academic, and scientific writing.

To encourage literary culture, all official gifts at government events will now be books. A book on the life and contributions of Bhupen Hazarika will also be published and distributed to prominent individuals and institutions across Assam and India.

The state will further support book fairs by providing ₹5 lakh for events at the district level and ₹2.5 lakh for those at co-district headquarters, in collaboration with the Assam Prakashan Parishad.