In Assam Budget, satellite city near Guwahati airport, semiconductor push

📌 Summary:

• Assam FM Jayanta Mallabaruah presented a ₹2,85,084-crore Budget for 2026-27 — the second-term Himanta Biswa Sarma government's first; CM termed it a "revenue neutral Budget"

• Aerotropolis: a satellite city to be developed around Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport as nucleus; ₹2,100 crore allocated for land acquisition; implemented via the Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority (GSCDA), a 100% government-owned SPV; new Brahmaputra bridge near the airport to spur urban growth

• Semiconductor push: 'Semiconductor Ecosystem on Manufacturing and Innovation' project in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), ~₹1,164 crore over 5 years; Tata Electronics' semiconductor assembly and testing facility expected to commence production

• Health: proton therapy facility for cancer treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (~₹550 crore, operational within 3 years)

• Employment: target of 2 lakh employment opportunities across the public-sector ecosystem over 5 years; Task Force under the Chief Secretary to prepare the roadmap

• Welfare: ₹6,000+ crore for flagship beneficiary welfare schemes; men "practicing polygamy" barred from all government welfare benefits — follows Assam's Uniform Civil Code Bill and the law criminalising polygamy

• Feasibility study announced for a Guwahati metro over/alongside the existing Ring Road project

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Indian Economy — state budgeting, infrastructure-led urban development, semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem (India's chip mission), welfare conditionality debates.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Assam Budget 2026-27 size: ₹2,85,084 crore
• Aerotropolis around Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport via GSCDA SPV
• Semiconductor project partner: JICA (Japan); Tata Electronics assembly & testing unit in Assam
• Proton therapy facility at Gauhati Medical College (~₹550 crore)

🔑 Key Term: Aerotropolis — an urban form in which a city's layout, infrastructure and economy are centred on a major airport, positioning aviation-linked industries around it.