# Sarma ministry

The Sarma ministry is the current council of ministers of the Government of Assam which has been in office since 10 May 2021. The ministry is headed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and consists of 16 cabinet ministers. The chief minister and 14 other ministers were sworn-in into office by Governor Jagdish Mukhi on 10 May 2021.

## Background

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with its allies, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) contested the election to the Assam Legislative Assembly and won 75 seats with the BJP itself winning in 60 seats, the AGP in 9 and the UPPL in 6 seats. The opposition led by Indian National Congress won 50 seats and an independent candidate won a seat.
After the election results were out on 2 May 2021, it was widely speculated that incumbent chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal could be re-appointed for a second term in office while his senior ministerial colleague Himanta Biswa Sarma was too a forerunner. Eventually, BJP observers- Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and National General Secretary Arun Singh held meetings with the newly elected BJP legislators and the other legislators from the alliance parties and unanimously elected Himanta Biswa Sarma as the leader of the legislative party and hence as the chief minister. Outgoing chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal tendered his resignation to the Governor Jagdish Mukhi on 9 May 2021 paving way for Sarma to be sworn-in the next day.
Sarma was eventually sworn-in as the state's 15th Chief Minister on 10 May 2021 along with the 14 other cabinet ministers who were all administered oath by the governor. Among attendees included BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda, outgoing Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Ministers Biplab Deb of Tripura, Conrad Sangma of Meghalaya, N. Biren Singh of Manipur and Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland.
Sarbananda Sonowal was inducted into the union council of ministers on 7 July 2021 and was appointed as the Union Cabinet Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH. He resigned as a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly on 29 September 2021 after being elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha for Assam.

## Composition

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn-in along with 13 other ministers which included 10 BJP legislators, namely Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Parimal Suklabaidya, Ranoj Pegu, Ashok Singhal, Jogen Mohan, Sanjoy Kishan, Ajanta Neog, Pijush Hazarika and Bimal Bora; 2 AGP legislators namely Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta and one UPPL legislator Urkhao Gwra Brahma. Patowary, Suklabaidya, Bora and Mahanta were cabinets in the outgoing government while Hazarika, Mohan and Kishan were ministers of state (independent charge). The chief minister himself along with his colleague Ajanta Neog served as ministers under the Congress government of Tarun Gogoi while Pijush Hazarika was a parliamentary secretary.
The ministry was expanded on 9 June 2022 with the induction of two BJP legislators Nandita Garlosa and Jayanta Malla Baruah as cabinet ministers.

## Changes

* On 20 July 2021, the Department of Urban Development and the Department of Guwahati Development were merged together to form the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs.
* On 30 July 2021, the Department of Indigenous Faith and Culture was created.
* On 5 May 2022, the Department of Health and Family Welfare was bifurcated into two separate departments, namely, the Department of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of Medical Education and Research.
* On 8 June 2022, the following departments were created:
** The Directorate of Women and Child Development under Social Welfare Department was separated and the Department of Women and Child Development was formed.
** The Directorate of Social Justice and Empowerment under Social Welfare Department was separated and the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment was formed.
** The Department of Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes Department was renamed into the Department of Tribal Affairs (Plains), while the Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Castes was placed under the newly created department of social justice and empowerment.
* A cabinet reshuffle took place on 9 June 2022. Two ministers - Nandita Garlosa and Jayanta Malla Baruah, both of BJP were inducted and portfolios of several ministers were changed.
* A minor cabinet reshuffle took place on 23 May 2023 in which the portfolios of ministers Nandita Garlosa and Jogen Mohan were changed.
* On 18 June 2024, resignation of Minister Parimal Suklabaidya was accepted and a minor reshuffle took place. Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta was assigned the portfolio of Transport and relieved of the health department which was taken over by the chief minister.
* On 7 December 2024, a cabinet reshuffle took place and four ministers were inducted, viz. Prasanta Phukan, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, and Rupesh Gowala, while Labour and Tea Tribes Welfare Minister Sanjoy Kishan was dropped from the ministry. Two days later, on 9 December, the portfolios were alloted to the new ministers while portfolios of several existing ministers were changed.

## Full council of ministers

| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Chief Minister and also in-charge of: Department of Home Department of Personnel Department of Public Works And all other departments not allocated to any Minister. | Himanta Biswa Sarma | 10 May 2021 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of General Administration | Himanta Biswa Sarma | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of General Administration | Ranjeet Kumar Dass | 9 June 2022 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Judicial | Himanta Biswa Sarma | 11 May 2021 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Judicial | Ranjeet Kumar Dass | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development | Ranjeet Kumar Dass | 11 May 2021 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs (Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, until 2024) | Ranjeet Kumar Dass | 11 May 2021 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs (Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, until 2024) | Kaushik Rai | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Public Health Engineering | Ranjeet Kumar Dass | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Public Health Engineering | Jayanta Malla Baruah | 9 June 2022 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Agriculture Minister of Horticulture Minister of Border Protection and Development Minister of Implementation of Assam Accord | Atul Bora | 11 May 2021 | Incumbent | AGP |
| Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary | Atul Bora | 11 May 2021 | 9 December 2024 | AGP |
| Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary | Krishnendu Paul | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Co-operation | Atul Bora | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | AGP |
| Minister of Co-operation | Nandita Garlosa | 9 June 2022 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Co-operation | Jogen Mohan | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Handloom, Textiles and Sericulture Minister of Soil Conservation Minister of Welfare of Bodoland (Minister of Welfare of Plain Tribe and Backward Classes (BTC), until July 2021) | Urkhao Gwra Brahma | 11 May 2021 | Incumbent | UPPL |
| Minister of Transport | Chandra Mohan Patowary | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Transport | Parimal Suklabaidya | 9 June 2022 | 18 June 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Transport | Keshab Mahanta | 18 June 2024 | 9 December 2024 | AGP |
| Minister of Transport | Jogen Mohan | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Industries and Commerce Minister of Skill Employment & Entrepreneurship | Chandra Mohan Patowary | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Industries and Commerce Minister of Skill Employment & Entrepreneurship | Jayanta Malla Baruah | 9 June 2022 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Public Enterprises | Chandra Mohan Patowary | 11 September 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Public Enterprises | Bimal Bora | 9 June 2022 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises | Bimal Bora | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship | Chandra Mohan Patowary | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship | Jayanta Malla Baruah | 9 June 2022 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship | Prasanta Phukan | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Welfare of Minorities and Development | Chandra Mohan Patowary | 11 May 2021 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Welfare of Minorities and Development | Nandita Garlosa | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Act East Policy Affairs | Himanta Biswa Sarma | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Act East Policy Affairs | Chandra Mohan Patowary | 9 June 2022 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Environment and Forests | Parimal Suklabaidya | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Environment and Forests | Chandra Mohan Patowary | 9 June 2022 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Excise | Parimal Suklabaidya | 11 May 2021 | 18 June 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Excise | Keshab Mahanta | 18 June 2024 | 9 December 2024 | AGP |
| Minister of Excise | Atul Bora | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | AGP |
| Minister of Fisheries | Parimal Suklabaidya | 11 May 2021 | 18 June 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Fisheries | Keshab Mahanta | 18 June 2024 | 9 December 2024 | AGP |
| Minister of Fisheries | Krishnendu Paul | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Information Technology Minister of Science, Technology and Climate Change (Minister of Science and Technology, until September 2021) | Keshab Mahanta | 11 May 2021 | Incumbent | AGP |
| Minister of Health and Family Welfare | Keshab Mahanta | 11 May 2021 | 18 June 2024 | AGP |
| Minister of Health and Family Welfare | Himanta Biswa Sarma | 18 June 2024 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Health and Family Welfare | Ashok Singhal | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Medical Education and Research | Keshab Mahanta | 20 May 2022 | 18 June 2024 | AGP |
| Minister of Medical Education and Research | Himanta Biswa Sarma | 18 June 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Medical Education and Research | Prasanta Phukan (PMABY) | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Education (Higher, Secondary and Elementary) | Ranoj Pegu | 11 May 2021 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes (non-BTC) | Ranoj Pegu | 11 May 2021 | 7 July 2021 | BJP |
| Minister of Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes | Ranoj Pegu | 7 July 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Tribal Welfare | Ranoj Pegu | 9 June 2022 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Irrigation | Ashok Singhal | 11 May 2021 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Guwahati Development Minister of Urban Development | Ashok Singhal | 11 May 2021 | 20 July 2021 | BJP |
| Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs | Ashok Singhal | 20 July 2021 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs | Jayanta Malla Baruah | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management | Jogen Mohan | 11 May 2021 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management | Keshab Mahanta | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | AGP |
| Minister of Hill Areas Development | Jogen Mohan | 11 May 2021 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Mines and Minerals | Jogen Mohan | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Mines and Minerals | Nandita Garlosa | 9 June 2022 | 29 May 2023 | BJP |
| Minister of Mines and Minerals | Jogen Mohan | 29 May 2023 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Mines and Minerals | Kaushik Rai | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Welfare of Tea Tribes and Adivasi Minister of Labour and Welfare | Sanjoy Kishan | 11 May 2021 | 7 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Welfare of Tea Tribes and Adivasi Minister of Labour and Welfare | Rupesh Gowala | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Finance | Ajanta Neog | 11 May 2021 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Social Welfare | Ajanta Neog | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Women and Child Development | Ajanta Neog | 9 June 2022 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Water Resources Minister of Information, Public Relations, Printing and Stationery | Pijush Hazarika | 11 May 2021 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Water Resources Minister of Information, Public Relations, Printing and Stationery | Chandra Mohan Patowary | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment | Pijush Hazarika | 9 June 2022 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Cultural Affairs | Bimal Bora | 11 May 2021 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Power | Bimal Bora | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Power | Nandita Garlosa | 9 June 2022 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Power | Prasanta Phukan | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare | Bimal Bora | 11 May 2021 | 29 May 2023 | BJP |
| Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare | Nandita Garlosa | 29 May 2023 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Tourism | Bimal Bora | 11 May 2021 | 9 June 2022 | BJP |
| Minister of Tourism | Jayanta Malla Baruah | 9 June 2022 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Tourism | Ranjeet Kumar Dass | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture | Ranoj Pegu (Library and Museum) | 9 June 2022 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture | Nandita Garlosa (Archaeology) | 9 June 2022 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture | Himanta Biswa Sarma (excluding Library and Museum, and Archaeology) | 9 June 2022 | 9 December 2024 | BJP |
| Minister of Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture | Jogen Mohan | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Public Works Buildings and National Highways | Nandita Garlosa | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Public Works Roads | Krishnendu Paul | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Barak Valley Development | Kaushik Rai | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |
| Minister of Home (Prisons, Home Guards and Civil Defense) | Rupesh Gowala | 9 December 2024 | Incumbent | BJP |

## Guardian Ministers

Guardian minister of Assam is a cabinet-level minister in India appointed by a state government (Government of Assam) to oversee the development of a specific district within the state. In Assam state, the Himanta Biswa Sarma government has 14 guardian ministers, including the Chief Minister. The maximum number of ministers that the government can appoint is 19.
| District | Minister | Left office | Party |
| Sonitpur,Hojai,Udalguri | Pijush Hazarika | Incumbent | BJP |
| | Ranjeet Kumar Dass | Incumbent | |
| | Atul Bora | Incumbent | |
| | Bimal Bora | Incumbent | |
| | | Incumbent | |

## Demographics

| Region | | | |
| Region | Bharatiya Janata Party | Asom Gana Parishad | United People's Party, Liberal |
| North Assam Division | 1(Ashok Singhal) | | |
| Upper Assam division | 5(Prasanta Phukan,Rupesh Gowala,Jogen Mohan,Bimal Bora,Sanjoy Kishan) | | |
| Lower Assam division | 3(Urkhao Gwra Brahma,Himanta Biswa Sarma,Chandra Mohan Patowary,Pijush Hazarika | | |
| Central Assam division | 1(Nandita Garlosa) | | |
| Barak Valley | 3(Krishnendu Paul,Parimal Suklabaidya,Kaushik Rai) | | |
| Total | | | |