Shimla : The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday, approved a major recruitment package covering around 14,000 government posts across various departments, alongside increases in the monthly honorarium of Anganwadi workers, helpers and Van Mitras. The meeting also cleared a special relief package for disaster-affected families in Boh Valley of Kangra district, doubled the incentive for milk producers, introduced a minimum support price for fish from reservoirs and approved several healthcare, education, tourism, infrastructure and welfare initiatives.
The recruitment decisions cover the Jal Shakti, Education, Health, Medical Education, Forest, Technical Education, Public Works, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Treasury, Excise and Taxation, Cooperation, Election and Information and Public Relations departments, among others. The Cabinet also approved the creation of new healthcare facilities, specialised medical departments, police infrastructure and posts for public services.
Major recruitment drive across government departments
4,090 para-workers in the Jal Shakti Department
The Cabinet approved the recruitment of 4,090 para-workers in the Jal Shakti Department. The decision forms part of the government’s broader plan to fill vacancies and strengthen public service delivery across the state.
4,800 teaching and non-teaching posts in 100 additional CBSE schools
The Cabinet approved the preparation of a new scheme to bring another 100 government schools under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliation framework.
A total of 4,800 posts will be filled under the scheme, including 3,900 teaching posts and 900 non-teaching posts. The initiative is intended to strengthen the staffing structure of the schools being brought under the new arrangement.
The Cabinet also approved a Limited Direct Recruitment (LDR) examination for School Management Committee (SMC) teachers who could not participate in the earlier recruitment process. The eligible categories include Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs) and Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs).
Computer teachers working in government schools on an outsourced basis will also be recruited through a limited direct recruitment process. The number of posts under these two categories was not specified in the details provided.
Recruitment in higher education and administrative departments
The Education Department will fill 320 Assistant Professor posts under the backlog quota.
The Cabinet also approved the appointment of 29 Junior Office Assistants (IT) on compassionate grounds and the filling of two Sub-Editor posts in the Information and Public Relations Department.
Health and medical education
The Cabinet approved the recruitment of 500 Assistant Staff Nurses and 10 Radiographers in the Health Department.
In the Medical Education Department, 30 Radiologists, 13 Clinical Psychologists and six Perfusionists will be appointed.
A further 24 posts for specialist and super-specialist medical officers have been approved for Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. Ten posts will be created and filled for the Maternal and Child Hospital in Kullu.
To strengthen specialised treatment facilities, the Cabinet approved the establishment of two independent super-specialty departments: Critical Care Medicine and Surgical Gastroenterology. Necessary posts will also be created to strengthen their supporting departments, including Blood Transfusion, Anaesthesia and Radiology.
The Cabinet further approved the establishment of a government nursing college with 60 seats at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College in Chamba.
Forest Department: 500 Assistant Forest Guard posts
The Cabinet approved a recruitment policy for filling 500 Assistant Forest Guard posts in the Forest Department.
The government also approved the filling of 10 Range Forest Officer posts. In addition, the monthly honorarium of Van Mitras will be increased as part of the decisions concerning frontline and field-level personnel.
Technical Education, Skills and Entrepreneurship Development
The Cabinet approved changing the name of the Technical Education, Vocational and Industrial Training Department to the Technical Education, Skills and Entrepreneurship Development Department.
It also approved the recruitment of 40 Assistant Lecturers and 120 Assistant Craft Instructors in the department. Recruitment policies for these positions were approved.
Public Works Department
The Cabinet approved the filling of 172 Multi-Task Workers and 10 Junior Engineer posts in the Public Works Department.
Horticulture and Animal Husbandry
The Horticulture Department will recruit 40 Horticulture Extension Officers, five Senior Assistants and 10 Horticulture Development Officers.
The Animal Husbandry Department will fill 116 posts across different categories.
Treasury, Excise, Cooperation and Election Departments
The Cabinet approved the creation and filling of 18 Assistant Treasury Officer posts and seven posts in other categories in the Treasury, Accounts and Lotteries Department.
The Excise and Taxation Department will recruit 10 Junior Office Assistants (IT). The Cooperation Department will fill two Junior Registrar posts and 30 Assistant Inspector posts.
The Election Department will recruit 13 Election Kanungos.
The Cabinet also approved the creation and filling of five posts in the Directorate of Forensic Services. In the first phase, 14 posts will be created and filled in a separate recruitment directorate.
Recruitment for persons with disabilities and other public services
The Cabinet approved filling 27 posts across different categories under the four per cent reservation quota for persons with disabilities. Another 11 Multi-Task Worker posts were also approved.
A new police post will be established at Koti under Dhalli Police Station in Shimla district, with eight posts to be created and filled.
The Regional Transport Office in Dehra will fill one Motor Vehicle Inspector post and one Junior Office Assistant (IT) post.
At the Community Health Centre in Kupvi, Shimla district, one Junior Office Assistant and one Multi-Task Worker post have been approved.
One Private Secretary post each will be created for the Family Courts in Shimla, Mandi and Dharamshala in Kangra district.
The Cabinet also approved a parking project at Baba Balak Nath Temple in Deotsidh, Hamirpur district, along with other development works.
Honorarium increases for Anganwadi workers and Van Mitras
The Cabinet approved a monthly honorarium increase of ₹1,000 each for Anganwadi workers and helpers.
The revised monthly payments will be:
* Anganwadi workers: from ₹10,500 to ₹11,500.
* Anganwadi helpers: from ₹5,800 to ₹6,800.
* Van Mitras: from ₹10,000 to ₹12,000.
The annual income eligibility limit for widowed, destitute and single women applying for Anganwadi worker and helper positions has been increased from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000.
The monthly honorarium of Special Police Officers (SPOs) deployed in border areas will rise by ₹500. This increase will be effective from April 1, 2026.
The Cabinet also approved increasing the monthly pension for persons with 100 per cent disability to ₹3,000, effective from April 1, 2026.
Cooks and helpers working under the PM-POSHAN scheme in government schools will receive 12 days of casual leave in a calendar year.
Milk incentive doubled; minimum price of reservoir fish fixed at ₹100 per kg
The Cabinet approved doubling the incentive under the Milk Incentive Scheme from ₹3 to ₹6 per litre, providing additional support to milk producers across the state.
The government also decided to direct government departments to procure milk and milk products through the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation, commonly known as Milkfed. The move is intended to strengthen market access for dairy farmers.
Minimum support price for fish
The Cabinet approved the launch of the Mukhyamantri Matsyakar Sahayata Yojana to provide a fair price to fishermen and fish farmers operating in reservoirs.
Under the scheme, the minimum support price for fish from reservoirs will be ₹100 per kilogram. If fish is sold at auction for less than ₹100 per kilogram, the state government will provide a subsidy of up to ₹20 per kilogram.
Trout Risk Fund
To help trout farmers deal with losses caused by natural disasters, the Cabinet approved the Trout Risk Fund Scheme with a provision of ₹1 crore.
The measure is intended to provide financial support to trout farmers facing disaster-related damage to their operations.
## Special relief package for disaster-affected families in Boh Valley
The Cabinet approved a special relief package for families affected by the disaster in Boh Valley in Kangra district.
The package provides for the following assistance:
* Families whose houses were completely damaged will receive ₹7.50 lakh each.
* An additional ₹1 lakh will be provided to compensate for the loss of household belongings.
* A rental allowance of ₹5,000 will be provided to affected families.
* Free ration will be supplied for six months.
* Compensation of ₹55,000 will be given for the loss of a buffalo.
* Loss of a goat or sheep will attract assistance of ₹15,000.
* Families suffering losses in fisheries will receive ₹1 lakh.
* Crop damage will be compensated at ₹2,000 per kanal.
* Damage to agricultural land will attract assistance of ₹5,000.
The package is aimed at helping affected families meet immediate needs and recover from losses to housing, livestock, agricultural land and livelihoods.
₹603 crore additional funding for the Solan rural development project
The Cabinet approved an extension of the Integrated Development Project in Solan district, which focuses on protecting rain-fed agriculture from the effects of climate change and supporting rural development.
An additional ₹603 crore has been sanctioned for the project. The funds will be used to continue and expand development activities in existing project areas and additional Gram Panchayats adjoining those areas.
Special NDPS courts in Kangra and Mandi
To expedite the hearing of narcotics-related cases, the Cabinet approved the establishment of one special court each in Kangra and Mandi districts.
The courts will hear cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Enhanced assistance for Home Guard volunteers and their families
The Cabinet approved an increase in financial assistance under the President’s Medha Sahayata Yojana for Home Guard volunteers and their families.
Assistance in cases of sudden serious crises, illness or injury will rise from ₹10,000 to ₹25,000. In the event of death, financial assistance of ₹1 lakh will be provided.
Allocation of 33 small hydropower projects cancelled
The Cabinet decided to cancel the allocation of 33 small hydropower projects, each with a capacity of less than five megawatts.
According to the government, the project developers had not demonstrated sufficient seriousness in taking the projects forward.
The Cabinet also approved inviting fresh bids for the 126 MW Chhataru hydropower project and the 205 MW Ropa-1 and Ropa-3 projects.
The decision is intended to enable the projects to be allocated afresh for further development.
New healthcare facilities and Jal Shakti infrastructure
The Cabinet approved the opening of a new Jal Shakti Section at Darini in Kangra district.
The Primary Health Centre at Darini (Ridhkumar) will be upgraded to a Community Health Centre.
New Primary Health Centres will be established at Sansal in Kangra district and Panjoa in Una district. Necessary posts will be created for these health facilities and the new Jal Shakti Section.
Sujanpur Holi fair to receive international status
The Cabinet approved granting international status to the state-level Holi fair held in Sujanpur, Hamirpur district.
The decision is expected to strengthen the fair’s profile as a cultural and tourism event.
City Centre in Hamirpur and interstate bus terminal in Baddi
The Cabinet approved the establishment of a City Centre at the old bus stand in Hamirpur.
An interstate bus terminal will be developed at Sheetalpur in Baddi, Solan district.
At Baba Balak Nath Temple in Deotsidh, Hamirpur district, an eight-storey multi-level parking facility and toilet complex will be constructed to improve facilities for devotees.
Development of Durgasharanaya International Zoological Park
The Cabinet approved the creation and filling of 26 posts across various categories for the Durgasharanaya International Zoological Park in Kangra district.
It also approved the allocation of nine eco-tourism sites to facilitate the launch of tourism activities.
Other urban and religious infrastructure decisions
The Cabinet approved the redevelopment of Chhota Shimla Chowk, including the construction of an underpass to make pedestrian and general movement easier.
The government will also take over the management of Peer Nigaha Temple in Una district.
Committee to frame guidelines for government employee transfers
The Cabinet decided to formulate comprehensive guidelines to regulate the transfer of government employees to their home districts and transfers within the same district.
A Cabinet subcommittee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.
Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar and Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi will serve as members of the committee.
Amendments to e-stamping rules and approval for witness protection scheme
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Himachal Pradesh E-Stamping Rules, 2026, to provide legal recognition to digital stamping services.
It also approved a Witness Protection Scheme.
Guidelines were cleared for the design, construction and certification of ambulance access roads. These roads will be recognised as a separate category to support their planning and development.
Changes to cash awards for medal-winning athletes
The Cabinet approved amendments to the rules governing cash awards for Himachal Pradesh athletes who win medals as members of Indian teams at international sporting competitions.
Under the revised framework, the prescribed award amount may be distributed equally among eligible team members, with each player receiving an amount equivalent to the prescribed award for an individual medal winner.
An alternative proportional distribution mechanism will also be available, under which every player must receive at least 25 per cent of the cash award prescribed for an individual medal winner.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of District Youth Services and Sports Officer posts for work relating to athletes winning medals at the international level.
Dental college renamed after Rajiv Gandhi
The Cabinet decided to rename the Himachal Pradesh Government Dental College and Hospital in Shimla as the Rajiv Gandhi Government Dental College and Hospital, Shimla.
It also approved the transfer of two parcels of land to the Union Ministry of Education for the construction of Kendriya Vidyalayas at Gokul Nagar in Ghanari tehsil of Una district and Phuftu in Kotkhai tehsil of Shimla district.
Himachal SHIVA project extended until June 2030
The Cabinet approved extending the Himachal SHIVA project by two years, from June 2028 to June 2030.
The extension is intended to allow the project to continue its activities beyond the previously scheduled completion date.
The Cabinet also approved the Himachal Pradesh Nutrition Policy, 2026.
Broad agenda spanning jobs, welfare and development
The Cabinet decisions cover a wide range of policy areas, from government recruitment and healthcare staffing to social security, agricultural support, disaster compensation, tourism and hydropower development.
The proposed recruitment of around 14,000 personnel is a major component of the package, while the increases in honorarium and pension payments are intended to provide additional financial support to selected groups.
The implementation of the decisions will depend on the completion of recruitment procedures, the creation of sanctioned posts, the issuance of departmental notifications and the rollout of the approved schemes. The package also places emphasis on expanding healthcare access, supporting farmers and fish producers, improving transport and tourism infrastructure, and strengthening specialised public services across Himachal Pradesh.
