Guwahati: The Union Cabinet today approved the conversion of the Guwahati-based Institute of Advanced Studies in Science and Technology (IASST) into an autonomous grants-in-aid institute of the Government of India, under the Department of Science and Technology (S&T).

"By this time the institute has been functioning under the aegis of Government of Assam. This would meet the hopes and aspirations of people of Assam and North Eastern Region", an official release from the Department of S&T said.

IASST would endeavour to spot local scientific talent and inspire them to attain national and global level of competence.

This would lead to enrichment of the culture of scientific research and would have significant impact on the development of resources of the Assam and the region as a whole.