Assam Govt Amends Population Policy, Reinforces Two-Child Norm

The Assam government has approved amendments to the Population and Women Empowerment Policy, 2025, reinforcing the two-child rule for government jobs, elections, and self-help group benefits.

Under the new rules, ST, SC, Tea Garden Tribes, and the Moran and Motok communities are allowed a three-child limit.

Candidates with more than two children (or three in exempted communities) will be ineligible for government employment and certain welfare benefits. Individuals marrying below legal age will also lose eligibility.

The amendment proposes barring individuals with more than two children from contesting Panchayat and municipal elections, with similar criteria possibly extending to MLAs.

The policy is effective immediately and applies prospectively, with limited exemptions for multiple births or differently-abled children.