The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has approved a wide-ranging package of welfare, employment, healthcare, energy, agriculture and administrative measures, including the launch of the ‘Mukhya Mantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojna’, under which eligible women aged 18 to 59 years will receive financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month along with 300 units of free electricity for eligible beneficiary families.
The Cabinet said that approximately 3.50 lakh eligible women have been identified for coverage under the new scheme. The government has already increased the monthly financial assistance for women above 59 years of age from ₹1,050 to ₹1,500. The latest decision extends the government’s financial-support framework to another category of women beneficiaries.
In another important decision concerning the state’s water resources, the Cabinet approved a uniform policy for determining and periodically revising the rates for the sale of surplus raw water to neighbouring states, government agencies and industries. An initial benchmark rate of ₹100 per 1,000 cubic feet will apply to all existing and future state projects, including inter-state water projects. The rates will subsequently be revised at prescribed intervals through a mechanism linked to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
Sports-based campaign against drugs
The Cabinet approved the launch of the ‘Khelo Himachal Chitta Mukt Abhiyan-2026’ across all 12 districts. The campaign will seek to involve young people in sports and community activities, using physical fitness, discipline and constructive engagement as tools to strengthen the state’s campaign against drug abuse.
Changes in energy policy and cancellation of non-performing projects
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy, 2021, relating to free power royalty and the transfer of commissioned hydropower projects operated by Central Public Sector Undertakings.
Under the revised provision, such projects will be required to provide free power royalty at the rate of 50 per cent for the first 10 years after completing 40 years of operation. Upon completion of 50 years from their commissioning dates, the projects will be transferred to the Himachal Pradesh Government free of cost.
The Cabinet also decided to cancel the allotment of 222 solar power projects because of prolonged non-implementation. In the hydropower sector, allotments of 13 projects with capacity above 25 MW will be cancelled for non-compliance with policy provisions, while 20 projects will be put up for fresh bidding.
Higher subsidies for bus operators and electric mobility
To encourage passenger transport services on identified intra-sub-division routes, the Cabinet approved an increase in the subsidy for purchasing diesel buses from 30 per cent to 40 per cent under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojna, 2023.
It also approved a 50 per cent subsidy for purchasing electric buses and a 40 per cent subsidy for diesel buses with seating capacity of more than 10 passengers for operating on two specified routes:
– Hamirpur Bus Stand–Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Jolsapper.
– New OPD, IGMC Shimla–Atal Institute of Medical Super Speciality, Chamiyana.
The decision is aimed at improving connectivity to major medical institutions while encouraging the participation of private operators in passenger transport.
Ginger MSP raised; higher procurement price for C-grade apple
The Cabinet approved an increase in the minimum support price of naturally grown ginger from ₹30 to ₹40 per kg, providing an additional ₹10 per kg to growers.
It also enhanced the procurement price of C-grade apple under the Market Intervention Scheme from ₹12 to ₹13 per kg. The increase is intended to provide additional support to apple growers whose produce falls in the lower commercial grade.
1,000 Rogi Mitras and major expansion of healthcare workforce
The Cabinet approved the engagement of 1,000 Rogi Mitras in the Health Department to facilitate access to affordable and quality healthcare services for people across the state.
To strengthen the digital management of hospitals and improve administrative efficiency, it sanctioned the creation and filling of 561 Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts in government medical colleges, dental colleges and the Directorate of Medical Education. The Cabinet also approved the engagement of Data Entry Operators in the Health Department for implementing the Hospital Management Information System.
The monthly remuneration of outsourced Perfusionists working in government medical colleges has been increased substantially from ₹25,000 to ₹45,000.
In a significant step towards specialised healthcare for senior citizens, the Cabinet approved the establishment of Departments of Geriatric Medicine at three major medical institutions:
– Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.
– Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda.
– Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College, Nerchowk, Mandi.
The decision includes the creation and filling of the required departmental and Senior Resident posts.
The Cabinet also approved the creation and filling of posts across various categories for the smooth functioning of 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 in different departments have been approved for creation and filling.
Additional staffing support was cleared for the newly upgraded Civil Hospital at Haripurdhar in Sirmaur district and for the Primary Health Centre upgraded to a Civil Hospital at Kotkhai in Shimla district. The Cabinet decided to fill the requisite posts at both institutions.
Police recruitment, new police stations and administrative appointments
The Cabinet granted a one-time relaxation in Rule 11 of the Himachal Pradesh Police Department (Recruitment of Constables) Rules, 2024, allowing the written examination for constable recruitment to be conducted in offline mode instead of online.
It also approved the upgradation of Police Post Baroh in Kangra district to a full-fledged Police Station, along with the creation and filling of the necessary posts. A new Police Post will also be opened for Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur.
In the Rural Development Department, 20 Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts will be filled. The Cabinet also approved the creation and filling of 15 Stenographer Grade-III posts in various courts across the state.
Four Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts and one Multi Task Worker post will be created and filled in the Treasuries, Accounts and Lotteries Department.
Further, three posts in different categories will be filled in the Youth Services and Sports Department from among Persons with Disabilities under the stipulated four per cent reservation quota.
Registration offices to be modernised on Passport Seva Kendra model
The Cabinet approved the implementation of the Registration Sewa Kendra Project to modernise existing Sub-Registrar Offices on the lines of Passport Seva Kendras.
The project will be rolled out in its first phase in four districts—Solan, Shimla, Kangra and Sirmaur. The initiative is intended to improve the delivery of registration-related services and make the process more organised and citizen-friendly.
Land for Central School and new status for Pangi fair
The Cabinet approved the leasing of 2.26 hectares of land for establishing a Central School at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district.
It also decided to upgrade the district-level Phul Yatra Mela of Pangi in Chamba district to the status of a State-level fair, recognising its regional and cultural significance.
Another administrative decision was the creation of the office of Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) at Dadasiba in Kangra district. The Cabinet also approved the creation and filling of various posts required for the functioning of the new office.
Broad focus on welfare, employment and public services
The latest Cabinet decisions cover a wide range of sectors, from direct financial assistance to women and support for farmers to healthcare staffing, police infrastructure, public transport and administrative modernisation.
The measures also include changes in the state’s approach to hydropower project ownership, stricter action against non-performing renewable energy and hydroelectric project allotments, and fresh incentives for passenger transport operators.
Taken together, the decisions represent a broad administrative and policy package aimed at expanding welfare coverage, strengthening public institutions, creating employment opportunities and improving access to essential services across Himachal Pradesh.
