Overview
On 4 March 2026, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued a directive prohibiting coaching centres from using successful Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) candidates in their advertisements. Institutes have been given one week to withdraw all such promotional material. The policy aims to shift focus from commercial branding back to individual merit and the rigour of public service exams.
Timeline of Events
The directive was issued during a ceremony distributing appointment letters to 289 candidates who cleared the APSC State Civil Services examination. The Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure the removal of photographs and names of successful candidates from coaching centre advertisements at the earliest.
Impact on Aspirants
This move directly challenges the prevailing narrative that success in competitive exams is a product of specific coaching institutes. For years, advertisements featuring rank holders have created a perception that enrolling in a particular centre is essential for clearing the APSC. The state government argues this commercialises a personal achievement and misleads aspirants, especially those from middle-class and poor families for whom government jobs represent a significant opportunity.
By removing these advertisements, the policy seeks to reframe success as the result of sustained individual effort, discipline, and perseverance, rather than institutional branding.
What Should Aspirants Do Now
Aspirants should view this policy shift as a clarification of what truly matters in exam preparation.
- Focus on Fundamentals: Success hinges on a deep understanding of the syllabus, consistent self-study, and developing analytical skills, not on shortcut methods promoted by some institutes.
- Evaluate Coaching Critically: Choose study support based on the quality of resources and guidance, not merely on past results advertised. The claim of an institute directly producing toppers will no longer be visually promoted.
- Own Your Journey: Recognize that the long, often solitary journey of preparation is a personal investment. The new directive reinforces that the credit for success belongs primarily to the candidate's hard work.
FAQ
Q: What is the new rule for coaching centres in Assam?
A: Coaching centres must withdraw all advertisements featuring APSC exam toppers within one week, as per a directive from the Chief Minister issued on March 4, 2026.
Q: Why has this directive been issued?
A: The government states it is to prevent the misuse of candidates' success stories for commercial gain and to counter the perception that institutes, rather than individual merit, are central to clearing competitive exams.
Q: Does this affect advertisements for other exams like UPSC or SEBA?
A: The official directive specifically mentions the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC). As of now, no official confirmation is available regarding its extension to other examinations.
Q: What did the Chief Minister say about coaching centres?
A: He referred to some as "rote-learning factories" that make students memorize content and wrongly claim credit for their success. He also suggested the APSC should set papers contrary to what these centres teach.
Q: How many government appointments has the current administration made?
A: During the event, it was stated that around 1.6 lakh government appointments have been made in the past five years.
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