Atmanirbhar Assam – Apply Online Application for Registration
The Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA) was first introduced in 2023, with its second phase, CMAAA 2.0, launched on October 18, 2024. The Atmanirbhar Assam scheme is designed to provide financial aid and resources to educated yet unemployed youth, enabling them to start or expand their own businesses. By fostering entrepreneurship, the initiative seeks to create a ripple effect—generating employment opportunities and strengthening the rural and urban economies of Assam.
- Launch Date: Phase 1 began on September 23, 2023; Phase 2 (CMAAA 2.0) was inaugurated on October 18, 2024.
- Objective: To support 2 lakh eligible youths with financial assistance ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh over multiple phases.
- Vision: To build a self-reliant Assam by empowering micro-entrepreneurs and integrating them into the formal economy.
Highlights
| Full Name | Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA) |
| Launch Date | September 23, 2023 |
| Objective | Empower unemployed youth with self-employment opportunities and promote entrepreneurship in Assam |
| Target Beneficiaries | 2 lakh youth over two phases: 1 lakh in FY 2023-24 and 1 lakh in FY 2024-25 |
| Financial Assistance | – General Category: ₹2 lakh (₹1 lakh grant + ₹1 lakh interest-free loan) |
| – Professional Degree Holders (e.g., engineering, medical): ₹5 lakh (₹2.5 lakh grant + ₹2.5 lakh loan) | |
| Eligibility Criteria | – Permanent resident of Assam |
| – Age: 28–45 years (as of April 1, 2024) | |
| – Minimum Education: Class 10 pass (for all categories) | |
| – Skills/knowledge for income-generating activities | |
| – Bank account opened before April 1, 2024 | |
| Registration Fee | ₹200 (General Category), ₹100 (SC/ST/OBC) |
| Application Process | Online via the CMAAA portal (cmaaa.assam.gov.in); two phases: registration and detailed application |
| Key Milestones | – Portal launch: September 23, 2023 |
| – Application submission opened: December 8, 2023 (1,04,092 applications received) | |
| – Interviews started: February 28, 2024 | |
| – First disbursement: March 15, 2024 (100 beneficiaries) | |
| – CMAAA 2.0 applications started: February 1, 2025 | |
| Sectors Covered | Agriculture, horticulture, poultry, dairy, fishery, packaging, garments, hardware, service sector, etc. |
| Support Provided | Financial aid, skill training, market access, and guidance |
| Helpline | Email: support-cmaaa@assam.gov.in |
Key Objectives
The Atmanirbhar Assam initiative is rooted in the following goals:
Promoting Self-Employment: Encouraging unemployed youth to establish their own ventures rather than rely solely on traditional job markets.
Financial Empowerment: Providing subsidies and interest-free loans to kickstart entrepreneurial ventures.
Job Creation: Enabling beneficiaries to create employment opportunities for others in rural and urban areas.
Economic Growth: Strengthening Assam’s economy by supporting small businesses and focusing on the rural economy.
Skill Development: Enhancing the capabilities of beneficiaries through training programs to ensure the sustainability of their ventures.
Eligibility Criteria
To ensure that the scheme benefits deserving candidates, specific eligibility criteria have been established:
Residency: Applicants must be permanent residents of Assam.
Age Limit: Candidates should be between 28 and 45 years as of April 1, 2024. (Note: Earlier references mention an upper limit of 40 or 43 for certain categories, but the latest updates reflect 45 as the ceiling.)
Educational Qualification:
- General Category: Minimum qualification of passing Class 10 (matriculation).
- SC/ST/OBC Categories: Minimum qualification of completing up to Class 10.
Professional Qualifications: Degrees in engineering, medicine (MBBS/BDS), veterinary sciences, agriculture, fisheries, etc., qualify for higher assistance.
Skill Requirements: Applicants must possess skills, experience, or knowledge (e.g., through ITI, diplomas, or practical expertise) relevant to their proposed income-generating activity.
Bank Account: Applicants must have a scheduled commercial bank account opened before April 1, 2024.
Employment Exchange Registration: Candidates must be registered with the Employment Exchange of Assam.
Loan Status: Applicants should not have defaulted on any previous loans from scheduled commercial banks.
Family Restriction: Only one member per family (defined as husband, wife, brother, or sister) can avail of the benefits.
Financial Assistance Structure
The scheme offers two tiers of financial support based on the applicant’s qualifications:
- General Qualification Beneficiaries:
- Total Assistance: ₹2 lakh.
- Breakdown: ₹1 lakh as a subsidy (non-repayable grant) and ₹1 lakh as an interest-free loan (repayable over 5 years, starting after a 3-year moratorium).
- Examples: Graduates, ITI pass-outs, polytechnic diploma holders, and matriculates.
2. Professional Qualification Beneficiaries:
- Total Assistance: ₹5 lakh.
- Breakdown: ₹2.5 lakh as a subsidy and ₹2.5 lakh as an interest-free loan (repayable over 5 years).
- Examples: Engineers, doctors (MBBS/BDS), veterinarians, and graduates in agriculture or fisheries.
Disbursement Phases:
First Installment: ₹75,000 (disbursed to over 25,000 beneficiaries in Phase 1 by September 30, 2024).
Second Installment: ₹25,000 (planned for November 2024, subject to training completion).
Final Installment: Remaining amount (₹1 lakh for general, ₹4 lakh for professionals) based on progress.
Application Process
The application process for CMAAA is streamlined through an online portal, ensuring transparency and accessibility:
Portal: Applications are submitted via cmaaa.assam.gov.in, managed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
- Two-Phase Process:
- Registration:
- Candidates register with basic personal details, educational qualifications, and bank account information.
- Registration fee: ₹200 for General Category; ₹100 for SC/ST/OBC.
- An acknowledgment receipt is generated upon successful registration.
- Application Submission:
- Registered applicants log in to submit detailed project plans outlining how they will utilize the funds.
- Required documents include identity proof (e.g., Aadhaar, Voter ID), address proof, bank passbook, and a project report.
- Upon submission, an application reference number is provided for tracking.
- Key Dates for CMAAA 2.0:
- Registration began: October 18, 2024.
- Application window for Phase 2: Opened February 1, 2025 (based on recent announcements).
Targeted Sectors
The scheme supports a wide range of entrepreneurial activities across various sectors, including:
- Agriculture and horticulture
- Poultry, dairy, goatery, piggery, and fishery
- Packaging and readymade garments
- Fabrication and hardware shops
- Plantation (bamboo, rubber, agar, etc.)
- Timber industry
- Service sector (e.g., stationery, retail)
Applicants must submit a project report tailored to their chosen sector, which is evaluated for feasibility.
Achievements and Progress
Since its inception, the Atmanirbhar Assam initiative has made significant strides:
Phase 1 (2023-2024):
- Portal Launch: September 23, 2023.
- Registrations: Over 2,29,145 applicants registered.
- Applications Submitted: 1,04,092 applications received by December 8, 2023.
- Beneficiaries Approved: 25,238 entrepreneurs selected.
- Funds Disbursed: ₹510 crore transferred as the first installment of ₹75,000 each by September 30, 2024.
Phase 2 (CMAAA 2.0):
- Launch: October 18, 2024.
- Goal: Extend benefits to an additional 75,000 youths, with plans to reach 1 lakh beneficiaries in total.
- Application Portal: Reopened on February 1, 2025, for new registrations.
- Training Programs: District-level skill development sessions are being organized to enhance beneficiaries’ entrepreneurial success.
Conclusion
The Atmanirbhar Assam initiative, through the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan, represents a bold step toward economic empowerment and self-reliance in Assam. By combining financial assistance with skill development, the scheme not only addresses unemployment but also lays the foundation for a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. As of March 16, 2025, with Phase 2 underway and thousands of beneficiaries already empowered, Atmanirbhar Assam is steadily transforming the state’s economic landscape, one entrepreneur at a time.
