{"id":"in-assam","country":"in","kind":"state","name":{"en":"Assam","local":"অসম"},"languages":["as","bn","brx","en"],"currency":"INR","symbol":"₹","fxPerUsd":94,"cities":{"T1":"Guwahati","T2":"Dibrugarh","T3":"Barpeta"},"basket":{"teaCup":10,"simpleMeal":100,"haircutMen":80,"milkLitre":62,"breadLoaf":45,"unskilledDayWage":500,"minWageMonthly":10543,"shopRentSqftMonth":{"T1":110,"T2":55,"T3":22},"electricityCommercialKwh":8.9,"lpgCommercialCylinder":3046.5,"petrolLitre":105.73},"tax":{"salesTax":"GST 5/18% (national)","smallBizThreshold":"₹40 lakh goods / ₹20 lakh services","localLevies":"Professional tax up to ₹208/month on salaries above ₹10,000; GMC trade fee ₹1,750–20,000"},"licences":[{"name":"Trade licence, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC Act 1971)","fee":"₹100 application + trade fee about ₹1,750–20,000/yr by business type; valid 1 Apr–31 Mar","authority":"Guwahati Municipal Corporation","source":"https://gmc.assam.gov.in/node/93429"},{"name":"Assam Shops and Establishments Act 1971 registration","fee":"Fee not found for 2026","authority":"Labour Welfare Department","source":"https://www.agileregulatory.com/blogs/trade-licence-registration-in-assam-guwahati-"}],"festivals":[{"name":"Rongali (Bohag) Bihu","dates2026_27":"14–20 Apr 2027 (holidays 14–16 Apr)","effect":"Biggest festival: gamosa, mekhela, pitha, fish/meat; shops shut 2–3 days then boom"},{"name":"Bhogali (Magh) Bihu","dates2026_27":"14–15 Jan 2027","effect":"Feast festival: fish, meat, rice cakes, curd; Uruka night"},{"name":"Durga Puja","dates2026_27":"15–21 Oct 2026","effect":"Large in Guwahati and Barak Valley; food and clothing peak"},{"name":"Ambubachi Mela, Kamakhya","dates2026_27":"22–26 Jun 2027","effect":"Lakhs of pilgrims in Guwahati; food/water vending boom near Nilachal hill"},{"name":"Kati Bihu","dates2026_27":"18 Oct 2026","effect":"Quiet lamp-lighting festival; little trade effect"}],"seasons":[{"months":"May–Sep","what":"Brahmaputra and Barak floods; Guwahati flash flooding; roads and rail cut"},{"months":"Mar–Apr","what":"Pre-monsoon storms (Bordoisila)"},{"months":"Oct–Feb","what":"Dry, pleasant; peak trade, weddings and Bihu run-up"}],"payments":{"digitalShare":"about 50–65% in Guwahati; 30–45% in T2/T3","credit":"udhaar common; tea-garden pay days drive demand in Upper Assam"},"notes":"Assam is the commercial gateway to the North-East, but its wage floor is low (₹10,543/month unskilled, shops, statewide, VDA from Jan 2026) and commercial power is expensive (₹8.94/unit flat with a ₹150/kW fixed charge). Guwahati licences are municipal with a published ₹100 application fee and trade fees of roughly ₹1,750–20,000. Unlike the smaller NE states, Assam uses the national ₹40 lakh GST goods threshold. Floods from May to September are the main business risk, hitting stock and road access. Food businesses must observe the Dec 2024 ban on serving beef in hotels, restaurants and public places. Bihu (April and January) sets the demand calendar, and the state's Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan pays ₹10,000 seed money to women in self-help groups to start micro-businesses.","factors":[{"id":"P01","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, unskilled, shops & commercial establishments","value":"₹405.52/day, ₹10,543/month (VDA notified 17 Jun 2026, effective 1 Jan 2026; statewide, no zones)","role":"HV","source":"https://hrengage.ai/compliance/minimum-wages/assam","estimate":false},{"id":"P02","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, semi-skilled / skilled","value":"₹471.44/day (₹12,257) semi-skilled; ₹589.34/day (₹15,323) skilled","role":"HV","source":"https://hrengage.ai/compliance/minimum-wages/assam","estimate":false},{"id":"P03","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, highly skilled","value":"₹758.08/day (₹19,710/month)","role":"HV","source":"https://hrengage.ai/compliance/minimum-wages/assam","estimate":false},{"id":"P04","cat":"Wages","name":"Typical informal shop helper pay (T2)","value":"₹8,000–10,000/month (Dibrugarh); ₹9,000–12,000 (Guwahati)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: informal helpers commonly paid at or below the state floor; based on the state unskilled minimum and the national informal-helper presets in the BizGame shared constants (T2 ₹9–13k)","estimate":true},{"id":"P05","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T1 (Guwahati)","value":"₹110/sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no 2026 high-street rent survey found for this city; reasoned from the BizGame national presets (T1 ₹80–150, T2 ₹35–70, T3 ₹15–30 per sq ft/month) and the city's size and land scarcity; Guwahati GS Road/Fancy Bazar are the region's prime retail streets","estimate":true},{"id":"P06","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T2 (Dibrugarh)","value":"₹55/sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no 2026 high-street rent survey found for this city; reasoned from the BizGame national presets (T1 ₹80–150, T2 ₹35–70, T3 ₹15–30 per sq ft/month) and the city's size and land scarcity; Guwahati GS Road/Fancy Bazar are the region's prime retail streets","estimate":true},{"id":"P07","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T3 (Barpeta)","value":"₹22/sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no 2026 high-street rent survey found for this city; reasoned from the BizGame national presets (T1 ₹80–150, T2 ₹35–70, T3 ₹15–30 per sq ft/month) and the city's size and land scarcity; Guwahati GS Road/Fancy Bazar are the region's prime retail streets","estimate":true},{"id":"P08","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial electricity, small shop (~200 units/month)","value":"LT Commercial (0.5–30 kW) ₹8.94/unit flat; fixed ₹150/kW/month (AERC order 25 Mar 2025; APDCL sought same rates for FY 2026-27)","role":"HV","source":"https://thediscombill.com/tariffs/assam/","estimate":false},{"id":"P09","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial LPG 19 kg cylinder","value":"₹3,046.5 (25 Oct 2026; national Delhi reference ₹2,810)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.goodreturns.in/lpg-price.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P10","cat":"Energy","name":"Domestic LPG 14.2 kg (illegal for commercial use)","value":"₹991","role":"HV","source":"https://www.goodreturns.in/lpg-price.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P11","cat":"Energy","name":"Petrol, per litre","value":"₹105.73 (25 Oct 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.goodreturns.in/petrol-price.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P12","cat":"Tax","name":"Professional tax","value":"Monthly: nil ≤₹10,000; up to ₹208/month (≈₹2,500/yr)","role":"HV","source":"https://calcguru.in/professional-tax-india-state-wise-guide-fy-2026-27/","estimate":false},{"id":"P13","cat":"Tax","name":"GST registration threshold / composition","value":"₹40 lakh goods / ₹20 lakh services (Assam opted for the higher goods limit); composition ₹1.5 crore","role":"PD","source":"https://cleartax.in/s/special-category-states-in-gst","estimate":false},{"id":"P14","cat":"Prices","name":"Cup of tea, roadside (T2)","value":"₹10","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Dibrugarh roadside tea ₹10 (Assam tea, cheap leaf); national chai notes put a tapri cup at ₹10–15 with milk ~55% of cost; set from the state milk price and wage level","estimate":true},{"id":"P15","cat":"Prices","name":"Simple veg meal / thali (T2)","value":"₹100","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Dibrugarh fish/veg thali ₹80–120; scaled from the national street-food meal band (₹60–120) by state wage and rent level","estimate":true},{"id":"P16","cat":"Prices","name":"Men's haircut, basic salon (T2)","value":"₹80","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Dibrugarh ₹70–100; scaled from the national salon notes (basic men's cut ₹80–150 urban, ₹50–80 T3)","estimate":true},{"id":"P17","cat":"Prices","name":"Packet milk, per litre (toned/standard)","value":"≈₹62/L (Purabi/Amul in Guwahati)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Purabi (West Assam Milk Union) tracks Amul; national ₹60–62 toned plus freight; 2026 Purabi list not found","estimate":true},{"id":"P18","cat":"Prices","name":"Bread loaf, 400 g (T2)","value":"₹45","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Dibrugarh ₹45; national branded 400 g loaf ₹40–50 plus freight to the state","estimate":true},{"id":"P19","cat":"Wages","name":"Casual unskilled day wage, open market (T2)","value":"₹500/day","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Dibrugarh casual labour ₹500/day; open-market casual rates run at or slightly above the notified unskilled floor in towns (MGNREGA and construction rates as lower/upper anchors)","estimate":true},{"id":"P20","cat":"Demographics","name":"Per-capita income (GSDP per capita, current prices)","value":"₹2,03,760 (2025–26); about 81% of national","role":"HV","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_states_and_union_territories_by_GDP_per_capita","estimate":false},{"id":"P21","cat":"Demographics","name":"Urbanisation (Census 2011; Census 2027 pending)","value":"14.1% urban","role":"HV","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_and_union_territories_of_India_by_urban_population","estimate":false},{"id":"P22","cat":"Language","name":"Business languages","value":"Assamese (official); Bengali (official in Barak Valley); Bodo (official in BTR); English","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Assam Official Language Act 1960 as amended","estimate":true},{"id":"P23","cat":"Payments","name":"Digital (UPI) share of small-shop takings","value":"about 50–65% in Guwahati; 30–45% in T2/T3","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national UPI is 86.8% of retail payment volume (Q1 FY27, CareEdge) but street/kirana merchant shares are far lower; scaled down for this state's income and urbanisation — https://www.outlookbusiness.com/amp/story/news/upi-emerges-as-dominant-retail-payment-system-with-transaction-volume-share-at-87-careedge","estimate":true},{"id":"P24","cat":"Payments","name":"Credit culture","value":"udhaar common; tea-garden pay days drive demand in Upper Assam","role":"HV","source":"Est.: kirana/udhaar pattern from BizGame kirana notes, adjusted for state income level","estimate":true},{"id":"P25","cat":"Currency","name":"INR per USD","value":"₹95.7 (RBI reference, Sep 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.wisemonk.io/blogs/indias-minimum-wage-guide-in-usd","estimate":false},{"id":"P26","cat":"Licences","name":"GMC trade licence process","value":"₹100 application fee; inspection; issued within 21 working days; online via gmcportal.in; rent agreement and property-tax receipt needed","role":"HV","source":"https://gmc.assam.gov.in/node/93429","estimate":false},{"id":"P27","cat":"Licences","name":"GMC trade fee range","value":"About ₹1,750–20,000/yr depending on trade (older reports said ₹700+)","role":"HV","source":"https://sentinelassam.com/news/information-about-how-to-get-trade-licence","estimate":false},{"id":"P28","cat":"Rules","name":"Beef ban in hotels, restaurants, public places","value":"Cabinet decision 4 Dec 2024 extending the Assam Cattle Preservation Act 2021 (jail up to 8 years, fine ₹3–5 lakh)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india%2Fassam%2Fassam-bans-serving-consumption-of-beef-in-hotels-restaurants-public-places-3303525","estimate":false},{"id":"P29","cat":"Rules","name":"Political continuity","value":"BJP retained power in the 2026 election — current schemes and rules expected to continue","role":"HV","source":"https://moneylife.in/article/3-cms-out-new-power-centres-rise-bjp-sweeps-bengal-retains-assam-congress-finds-solace-in-kerala/80377.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P30","cat":"Schemes","name":"Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA)","value":"₹10,000 seed grant to women SHG members in year 1; larger tranches (₹25,000, ₹50,000) promised later; cheques to 45,000+ women in Nagaon Jul 2026","role":"PD","source":"https://www.newkerala.com/news/a/assam-minister-pijush-hazarika-distributes-mmua-cheques-over-660.htm","estimate":false},{"id":"P31","cat":"Festivals","name":"Rongali Bihu","value":"14–20 Apr 2027: clothing (gamosa, mekhela), pitha, fish/meat peak; shutdown 2–3 days","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Bihu is on fixed solar dates (Bohag 1 = 14/15 Apr)","estimate":true},{"id":"P32","cat":"Festivals","name":"Ambubachi Mela","value":"22–26 Jun 2027: lakhs of pilgrims at Kamakhya; vending boom in Guwahati","role":"HV","source":"Est.: held 22–26 June every year","estimate":true},{"id":"P33","cat":"Climate","name":"2026 floods","value":"Jul 2026: 16 districts and 794 villages inundated in the second wave; Aug: 7 districts, 1.79 lakh people (ASDMA)","role":"RE","source":"https://www.sphereindia.org.in/sites/default/files/2026-08/02.08.2026%20SitRep-%205%20Extreme%20Weather%20Events%20in%20India.pdf","estimate":false},{"id":"P34","cat":"Risk","name":"Guwahati flash flooding","value":"Heavy rain floods Anil Nagar/Zoo Road etc.; shops shut for a day, stock damage","role":"RE","source":"https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/?p=12056","estimate":true},{"id":"P35","cat":"Risk","name":"Earthquake","value":"Seismic Zone V (highest)","role":"RE","source":"Est.: BIS seismic zoning","estimate":true},{"id":"P36","cat":"Risk","name":"Bandh / blockade","value":"Student-union or ethnic-group bandhs, and eviction-drive unrest, close markets 1–2 days a few times a year","role":"RE","source":"Est.: frequency far lower than 2000s; reasoned from 2023–25 press","estimate":true}]}