June 6
Shimla: In a wide-ranging set of decisions aimed at boosting employment, strengthening healthcare services and expanding welfare measures, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Saturday approved the recruitment of more than 1,400 personnel across departments, enhanced health insurance coverage under the HIMCARE scheme and cleared a one-time review of rejected compassionate appointment cases.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved the creation and filling of 400 Work Inspector posts, 300 Medical Officer posts, 200 Staff Nurse posts and 250 Class-IV/Multi Task Worker posts in the Health and Family Welfare Department. It also sanctioned recruitment for 162 paramedical positions, including operation theatre assistants, radiographers and laboratory technicians, besides approving 75 Assistant Professor posts in medical colleges and 17 Assistant Professor posts in Himachal Pradesh University.
In a significant relief for families awaiting government employment on compassionate grounds, the Cabinet decided to reconsider genuine cases that had previously been rejected by various departments, granting necessary relaxations as a one-time measure.
The Cabinet also approved the Policy for Regularisation of Certain Encroachments on Government Land, 2026, aimed at addressing humanitarian concerns involving landless families and marginal farmers occupying government land for residential, agricultural and horticultural purposes. The policy, framed in accordance with Supreme Court directions, has been sent to the Centre for approval.
To support financially distressed farmers, the government approved an Agriculture Loan Interest Subvention Scheme under which it will bear 50 per cent of the interest burden on eligible agricultural loans up to ₹3 lakh. The initiative is expected to benefit more than 6,300 farmers facing the threat of land auctions.
Healthcare received a major push with the approval to upgrade Civil Hospital Sarkaghat from 100 to 150 beds and Civil Hospital Baddi into a 200-bed facility. The Cabinet also approved the upgradation of PHC Kalol into a Community Health Centre, opening of PHC Manpura in Solan and a health sub-centre at Manjheli in Hamirpur, along with the creation of required posts.
The government further enhanced health insurance benefits under the HIMCARE scheme by shifting it to an insurance mode. Eligible beneficiaries will now receive coverage of ₹7 lakh and ₹10 lakh, compared to the existing ₹5 lakh limit.
In another employee-friendly measure, the Cabinet approved full salary during study leave and extended 15 days of paternity leave to Job Trainees. It also decided to convert part-time workers who have completed seven years of continuous service as of March 31, 2026, into daily wagers.
The Cabinet approved Phase-IV of the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-Up Yojana, under which beneficiaries will receive a 50 per cent subsidy on e-buses and a 30 per cent subsidy on diesel buses for operation on designated routes, promoting self-employment and improving public transport.
A major decision was also taken to withdraw advertisements for 80 post codes issued by the erstwhile Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission, Hamirpur. Candidates affected by the move will receive refunds of examination fees amounting to ₹4.27 crore.
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Himachal Pradesh NDPS Rules, 1989, to regulate the cultivation, processing, manufacturing, warehousing and transportation of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes.
Relief measures included a special package for 15 fire-affected families in Jubbal, Kotkhai and Rohru areas of Shimla district. Families whose homes were completely destroyed will receive ₹7 lakh each, with total assistance pegged at ₹84.70 lakh.
Among other decisions, the Cabinet approved the Grazing Policy 2026, a State Innovation Policy for Technical Education Institutions, a new PWD Sub-Division at Chadhiar in Kangra district, and the constitution of a Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri to streamline recruitment of Multi Task Workers.
The Cabinet also upgraded Shoolini Mela in Solan to National-level status and granted higher status to several fairs across the state. A presentation on CBSE schools was also made before the Cabinet by the Education Department.
