Future Edge Launches Minister Report Card Series; Releases First Assessment on Assam Minister Ranoj Pegu
Guwahati: Future Edge has officially launched its “Minister Report Card” series, a first-of-its-kind data-driven political and governance assessment initiative focused on key ministers of the Assam Government during the 2021–2026 Assembly tenure.
The series aims to evaluate ministerial performance through measurable indicators including budget utilisation, implementation of manifesto commitments, governance outcomes, infrastructure development, institutional reforms, welfare delivery, public communication, and citizen sentiment. Each report is based on government data, official records, policy documents, departmental updates, and field-level assessments.
The first report in the series assesses the performance of Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Assam’s Minister for School Education, Higher Education and Welfare of Plain Tribes & Backward Classes.
According to the assessment, Ranoj Pegu’s tenure was marked by major education-sector reforms and large-scale institutional restructuring. The report highlights that over 50,000 vacancies were filled in the education sector between 2021 and 2026, including more than 40,000 appointments under the Directorate of Elementary Education and over 11,000 under the Directorate of Secondary Education.
The report also notes the modernization of more than 1,500 schools under the Smart School initiative and the expansion of smart classroom facilities to nearly 3,883 schools across Assam. The state additionally expanded higher education infrastructure with 23 state universities and 24 model degree colleges during the tenure.
Among major governance indicators, the report estimates:
• Promise delivery rate: 85–90%
• Announced scheme implementation: 85%
• Average central fund utilisation: 86%
• Budget utilisation range: 84%–105%
The assessment highlights improvements in student-teacher ratios across all education levels. Lower Primary PTR improved from 28:1 in 2021 to 22:1 in 2026, while Higher Secondary PTR reduced from 31:1 to 27:1.
The report further notes the expansion of welfare initiatives such as the Nijut Moina Scheme, Mising-medium schools, tea garden education outreach, and tribal livelihood programs under Van Dhan Vikas Kendras.
However, the assessment also identifies key challenges and controversies during the minister’s tenure. These include the HSLC paper leak controversy in 2023, delays in ICT infrastructure implementation, declining budget utilisation trends after FY22, and student protests linked to the Dibrugarh University controversy in 2026.
Based on governance indicators and implementation outcomes, the report assigns Dr. Ranoj Pegu an overall public governance rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars.
Speaking on the launch of the initiative, Future Edge stated that the Minister Report Card series aims to encourage evidence-based political discourse and public accountability in Assam.
“This initiative is designed to move beyond rhetoric and provide structured, data-backed assessments of governance performance. Our objective is to create accessible, research-oriented ministerial evaluations based on measurable outcomes and public impact,” the organization said.
Future Edge further announced that similar report cards on several other key ministers of the Assam Government will be released in the coming days as part of the larger series.
