SHIMLA -12 Feb 2026

H.P Cabinet Decisions

The State Cabinet, in a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved the Toll Tax Barrier Policy 2026-27 and Excise Policy 2026-27.

The cabinet decided to extend the benefit of 26 weeks of maternity leave to female Home Guard volunteers.

It also approved the Governor’s address to be delivered during the upcoming Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.

The Cabinet approved amendments to the ‘Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to daughters of widows pursuing professional courses in government-run institutions, both within and outside the State. They will also be eligible for rent assistance of Rs. 3,000 per month in cases where hostel facilities are not available.

The Cabinet gave its approval to roll out the ‘Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana’, aimed at improving the nutritional status of children below six years of age and as well as expectant women and lactating mothers, through enhanced supplementary nutrition.

It also decided to enhance the marriage grant for specially abled persons. The financial assistance has been increased from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakh for persons with disabilities of more than 70 percent, whereas persons with disabilities between 40 and 70 percent will be provided a grant of Rs. 25,000.

The Cabinet gave its nod to create total 600 posts (150 posts each) of Sanskrit Teachers, Physical Education Teachers, Music Teachers and Drawing Teachers for the proposed CBSE schools. These posts will be filled up through Rajya Chayan Aayog. Additionally, it was decided to merge 31 boy's and girl's schools across the State into co-educational schools.

The Cabinet further approved a project for modernizing medical colleges, super-specialty hospitals and Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans with an outlay of Rs. 1617.40 crore. The project aims to strengthen healthcare services within the State and eliminate the need for patients to seek treatment outside the State by ensuring affordable and quality healthcare facilities within the state.

Additionally, the Cabinet decided to procure modern equipment for the Mother and Child Hospital at Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla, Civil Hospitals at Sundernagar and Nurpur, Regional Hospital Una, 50-bedded Critical Care Block at Civil Hospital Bhoranj and District Integrated Public Health Laboratory at Regional Hospital, Bilaspur.

The Cabinet approved the establishment of Departments of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion at Dr. YS Parmar government Medical College Nahan, along with the creation and filling up of requisite posts.

It also approved the implementation of a Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance Programme across all public health institutions in the State, which will ensure regular maintenance of medical equipment, enhance patient safety, prevent breakdowns and enable smooth functioning of hospitals.

Further, the Cabinet approved the creation and filling up of 190 Junior Engineer (Civil) and 151 posts of Junior Office Assistant (Information Technology) in the Directorate of Recruitment, as separate cadres.

It approved filling up 40 posts of Pharmacy Officer in the Health and Family Welfare Department.

It was also decided to fill up 150 posts of Assistant Staff Nurse in the Health Department.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved to establish Drug Testing Laboratories at Nurpur, Baddi and Una, along with the creation and filling up of 36 posts of various categories.

It also approved filling up 30 posts of Radiographers in the Health Department.

Additionally, the cabinet decided to create and fill up 10 posts of Food Safety Officer in the Department of Health Safety and Regulations.

It was also decided to fill up eight posts of Safai Karamchari in the Himachal Pradesh High Court Registry.

Further, it decided to fill up five posts of Welfare Organizer in the Department of Sainik Welfare.

The cabinet approved to create and fill up three posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) in the Revenue Department.

The Cabinet approved the implementation of the Digital Classroom Project in 777 additional schools across the State.

The Cabinet decided to reorganize the Nahan, Shillai, Paonta Sahib, Sangrah, Rajgarh and Sarahan PWD Divisions in Sirmaur district in accordance with Assembly constituencies.

It approved the upgradation of the Veterinary Hospital at Kotkhai in Shimla district to a Sub-Divisional Veterinary Hospital, along with the creation and filling up of requisite posts.

Approval was accorded to the Road Drainage Policy for the Public Works Department to enhance resilience, reduce life-cycle maintenance costs, improve safety and ensure all-weather connectivity across the State.

The Cabinet further approved a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for pothole filling and patch repair on bituminous and flexible pavement surfaces across the State. This will ensure that repairs are carried out in compliance with national standards and promote a transparent system.

Additionally, the Cabinet gave its nod to increase the bed capacity of the Sports Hostel at Luhnu in Bilaspur district from 80 to 100.

The Cabinet further decided to establish the Distil Global Skills and Digital University in Chamba district.

It also approved the constitution of a Cabinet Sub-Committee under the chairmanship of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, with Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani as a member, to frame the draft H.P. State Lottery (Regulation) Rules, 2026. The Director, Treasury and Accounts, will serve as the Member Secretary of the committee.

The Cabinet decided to open Sports Hostel (Volleyball) for Boys in Government Senior Secondary School, Chopal, district Shimla

It also approved to open Sports Hostel (Kabaddi) for Girls at Government Senior Secondary School, Shillai in Sirmaur district.

The Cabinet gave its nod to introduce Boxing for Girls at Thakur Ram Lal Girls Sports Hostel, Jubbal, district Shimla and decided to establish Sports Hostel (Handball) at Morsinghi in Bilaspur district.

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Physical test for Pashu Mitras based on policy and safety

The Spokesperson of the Animal Husbandry Department today here clarified that the reports circulating on social media and in certain sections of the press regarding the physical test for selection of Pashu Mitras were misleading and beyond facts. The selection process was being conducted strictly in accordance with the Pashu Mitra Policy, 2025, notified on 14 August, 2025.

He clarified that the physical test was a basic functional fitness check, conducted only to ensure that selected candidates can safely perform essential duties in veterinary institutions and livestock farms. These duties include handling animals, lifting sick sheep or goats (around 25 kg) and carrying cattle feed bags as part of routine veterinary support work.

The test was not an endurance competition and was not intended to humiliate or discriminate against any candidate, including women.

The honorarium of Rs. 5,000 per month was for a part-time (four hours a day) multi-task role. While the engagement was part-time, the nature of livestock-related work involves manual handling and minimum physical capability was therefore essential.

He further said that to ensure transparency, the physical tests were conducted by a committee headed by the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) and were videographed. Candidates may carry the prescribed weight in any manner comfortable to them, carrying on the head was not required. Any deviation from the notified procedure would be examined.

So far, 315 candidates have undergone the physical test and no injuries have been reported. He said that the department remains committed to fairness, safety and dignity of all candidates and urges the public to rely on the notified policy rather than selective or misleading portrayals.