Context:
On 23 November 2025, the Assam Government and the All-Assam Students’ Union (AASU) reached a consensus on most State-level recommendations of the High-Level Committee (HLC) led by Justice (Retd.) Biplab Kumar Sharma. This has provided fresh impetus to the long-pending implementation process.
About Clause 6 of the Assam Accord:
· Clause 6 of the Assam Accord (1985) mandates that “constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards…shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”
· To operationalise this, the Government of India formed a committee headed by Justice (Retd) Biplab Kumar Sarma, which submitted a report containing 67 recommendations.
· Out of the 67, 57 recommendations have been approved by the Assam Cabinet for implementation, while 10 remain under discussion with the Centre.
About Assam Accord (1985):
· The Assam Accord is a Memorandum of Settlement signed on 15 August 1985, between the Government of India, the Assam State Government, and leaders of the Assam Movement, notably the All-Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP).
· The Accord marked the end of a six-year-long agitation (1979–1985) against illegal immigration, particularly from Bangladesh.
Key Provisions of the Assam Accord:
1. Cut-Off Dates & Foreigners Identification
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- 1 Jan 1966 was set as the base date. People who came to Assam before this date would be “regularised” (i.e., granted full rights).
- Those who entered between 1 Jan 1966 and 24 March 1971 would be identified under the Foreigners Act (1946) and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order.
- Their names would be deleted from the electoral rolls, but they could register under the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939.
- After 10 years of being declared a foreigner, their names could be restored to the electoral rolls.
- Those who came on or after 25 March 1971 “shall continue to be detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with law.”
- 1 Jan 1966 was set as the base date. People who came to Assam before this date would be “regularised” (i.e., granted full rights).
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Conclusion:
The recent consensus between the Assam government and AASU marks a significant step toward the long-pending implementation of the Clause 6 safeguards of the Assam Accord. By agreeing on a clear roadmap for state-level recommendations and establishing a monitoring committee, the state government has demonstrated a strong political will to address the indigenous community's long-standing demands.
