CM Sarma awards 11,250 scooters to meritorious Assam students

• Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma distributed scooters to 11,250 students who scored over 80% in higher secondary exams.
• The scooters were given under the Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award; beneficiaries fell to 11,250 from 48,673 last year due to scheme changes.
• 6,860 girls received scooters this year; the scheme has benefited 1,86,442 students since 2017-18, costing over ₹1,043 crore.
• CM urged recipients to obtain a driving license and wear a helmet; a new 'Nijut Moina' scheme for girls and a similar one for boys were mentioned.
• Sarma highlighted Assam's educational development, noting over 25 medical colleges, 25-26 state universities, and nearly 30 engineering colleges.

Why It Matters: Assam's initiatives foster academic excellence and educational infrastructure.