13 November 2026
SHIMLA
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Friday approved a series of major decisions, including the launch of the ‘Mukhya Mantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojna’, under which eligible women aged 18 to 59 years will receive Rs 1,500 per month along with 300 units of free electricity for eligible beneficiary families.
Around 3.50 lakh women have been identified under the scheme. The government has already increased the monthly financial assistance for women above 59 years from Rs 1,050 to Rs 1,500.
The Cabinet also approved the launch of the ‘Khelo Himachal Chitta Mukt Abhiyan-2026’ across all 12 districts to engage youth in sports and strengthen the fight against drug abuse through healthy lifestyles, discipline and community participation.
In another major decision, the government approved a uniform policy for determining and periodically revising rates for the sale of surplus raw water to neighbouring states, government agencies and industries. An initial benchmark rate of Rs 100 per 1,000 cubic feet will apply to all existing and future state projects, including inter-state water projects. The rates will be revised in accordance with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy, 2021, providing 50 per cent free power royalty for the first 10 years after completion of 40 years of operation of commissioned projects of Central Public Sector Undertakings. These projects will be transferred to the state government free of cost after 50 years from their commissioning.
It also approved cancellation of allotments of 222 solar power projects due to prolonged non-implementation. Allotments of 13 hydropower projects above 25 MW will also be cancelled for violation of policy provisions, while 20 projects will be put up for re-bidding.
In the transport sector, the subsidy for purchasing diesel buses under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojna, 2023, was increased from 30 per cent to 40 per cent for operating passenger buses on identified intra-subdivision routes.
The Cabinet also approved a 50 per cent subsidy for electric buses and a 40 per cent subsidy for diesel buses with seating capacity of more than 10 passengers on the Hamirpur Bus Stand–Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Jolsapper, and New OPD, IGMC Shimla–Atal Institute of Medical Super Speciality, Chamiyana routes.
The government increased the minimum support price of naturally grown ginger from Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg. The procurement price of C-grade apples under the Market Intervention Scheme was also increased from Rs 12 to Rs 13 per kg.
The health sector received a major boost with the approval to engage 1,000 Rogi Mitras in the Health Department to facilitate affordable and quality healthcare services.
The Cabinet approved the creation and filling of 561 Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts in government medical colleges, dental colleges and the Directorate of Medical Education to strengthen the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS). Data Entry Operators will also be engaged in the Health Department for implementing the system.
The monthly remuneration of outsourced perfusionists in government medical colleges was increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 45,000.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of Geriatric Medicine departments, along with faculty and Senior Resident posts, at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College, Nerchowk, Mandi.
It further approved the creation and filling of requisite posts for the Mother and Child Hospital Wing at Civil Hospital Nurpur in Kangra district. At Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur, eight Assistant Professor posts and one Associate Professor post were approved in various departments.
The Cabinet granted a one-time relaxation in Rule 11 of the Himachal Pradesh Police Department (Recruitment of Constables) Rules, 2024, to allow the written examination for constable recruitment to be conducted offline instead of online.
It also approved filling 20 JOA (IT) posts in the Rural Development Department and 15 Stenographer Grade-III posts in various courts across the state.
In the Treasuries, Accounts and Lotteries Department, four Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts and one Multi Task Worker post were approved. Three posts in different categories will be filled from among Persons with Disabilities under the four per cent reservation quota in the Youth Services and Sports Department.
The Cabinet approved upgrading Police Post Baroh in Kangra district to a police station, along with the creation and filling of requisite posts. It also gave its approval to open a police post at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur.
The government also approved filling requisite posts at the newly upgraded Civil Hospital Haripurdhar in Sirmaur district and Civil Hospital Kotkhai in Shimla district.
In an administrative reform initiative, the Cabinet approved the Registration Sewa Kendra Project to modernise existing Sub-Registrar Offices on the lines of Passport Seva Kendras. The project will be launched in the first phase in Solan, Shimla, Kangra and Sirmaur districts.
The Cabinet also approved leasing 2.26 hectares of land for a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district.
The District-level Phul Yatra Mela in Pangi, Chamba district, was upgraded to the status of a state-level fair.
Another significant decision was the creation of the office of Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) at Dadasiba in Kangra district, along with the creation and filling of various posts.
The decisions cover welfare, employment, healthcare, agriculture, transport, energy, sports and administrative reforms, with the government announcing initiatives aimed at strengthening public services and infrastructure across Himachal Pradesh.
