Himachal Pradesh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has approved the launch of the Mukhyamantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana. Under it, eligible women aged 18 to 59 years will receive financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month. Eligible beneficiary families will also be provided 300 units of free electricity.
According to the government, 3.50 lakh eligible women have been identified under the scheme. The government has already raised the monthly assistance for women above 59 years of age from ₹1,050 to ₹1,500.
Other key cabinet decisions
Khelo Himachal Chitta Mukt Abhiyan-2026: The cabinet approved the campaign, which will run in all 12 districts. It aims to keep young people away from drugs by involving them in sports, and to promote healthy lifestyles, discipline and community participation.
Raw water policy: The state will adopt a uniform policy for selling surplus raw water to neighbouring states, government agencies and industrial units. The initial benchmark rate is ₹100 per 1,000 cubic feet. It will apply to current and future water projects, including inter-state projects, and will be revised periodically by linking it to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
Power projects: The cabinet decided to cancel the allotment of 222 solar projects that have not been implemented for a long time. Allotment of 13 hydropower projects above 25 MW will also be cancelled for not following policy provisions, and fresh tenders will be invited for 20 hydropower projects.
The cabinet also approved an amendment to the Swarn Jayanti Urja Neeti-2021. For operational projects of central public sector undertakings, it provides 50 percent free power royalty for the next 10 years after 40 years of operation. After 50 years from commissioning, projects will be transferred to the Himachal Pradesh government at no cost.
Transport: Under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Startup Yojana-2023, the subsidy on purchase of diesel buses has been raised from 30 percent to 40 percent for passenger buses on identified sub-divisional routes. Subsidy has also been fixed for bus operations from Hamirpur bus stand to Dr. Radhakrishnan Medical College, Jolsappar, and from IGMC Shimla’s new OPD to Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities, Chamiana. Electric bus purchases will get a 50 percent subsidy.
Farmers: The minimum support price of naturally grown ginger has been raised from ₹30 to ₹40 per kg. Under the Market Intervention Scheme, the purchase price of C-grade apples has been raised from ₹12 to ₹13 per kg.
Health:
- 1,000 Rogi Mitras will be appointed in the Health Department to help provide affordable, quality healthcare.
- 561 posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) will be created and filled in government medical and dental colleges and the Directorate of Medical Education, for effective implementation of the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS).
- Data entry operators will also be appointed for HMIS operations.
- The monthly honorarium of outsourced perfusionists in government medical colleges has been raised from ₹25,000 to ₹45,000.
- Geriatric medicine departments will be set up at IGMC Shimla, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College Tanda and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Medical College Nerchowk, with the required posts, including senior residents.
- Eight posts of assistant professor and one of associate professor will be filled at Dr. Radhakrishnan Medical College Hamirpur.
- Posts will be created for the Mother and Child Wing of Civil Hospital Nurpur and for Civil Hospital Haripurdhar in Sirmaur.
Police and administration:
- The upcoming written examination for police constable recruitment will be held offline instead of online, as a one-time relaxation, through an amendment to Rule 11 of the HP Police Department (Constable Recruitment) Rules, 2024. The HP Public Service Commission has been directed to develop adequate arrangements for online exams within six months, after which future exams will be online.
- Police post Baroh in Kangra district will be upgraded to a police station, a new police post will open for Dr. Radhakrishnan Medical College Hamirpur, and a new SDM office will be set up at Dadasiba in Kangra.
Recruitment in other departments: 20 posts of JOA (IT) in the Rural Development Department, 15 posts of Stenographer Grade III in various courts, four posts of JOA (IT) and one of Multi Task Worker in the Treasuries, Accounts and Lotteries Department, and three posts under the 4 percent reservation for persons with disabilities in the Youth Services and Sports Department.
Registration Seva Kendras: The cabinet approved a project to modernise land and property registration by upgrading existing sub-registrar offices on the lines of Passport Seva Kendras. The first phase will cover Solan, Shimla, Kangra and Sirmaur districts.
Land and fairs: Approval was given to lease 2.26 hectares of land for a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district. The district-level Phool Yatra fair in Pangi, Chamba, has been upgraded to a state-level fair.
