Himachal Cabinet Decisions
Cabinet Clears Major Recruitment Drive, Welfare Boosts and Key Infrastructure Projects
In a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Himachal Pradesh government took a series of far-reaching decisions aimed at strengthening public services, creating employment opportunities, supporting farmers and vulnerable groups, and accelerating development across the state.
One of the most significant announcements was the approval for the engagement of 4,090 para-workers in the Jal Shakti Department, including Para Pump Operators, Para Fitters and Multipurpose Workers. The cabinet also approved the affiliation of 100 additional schools with the CBSE and cleared the recruitment of 3,900 teaching and 900 non-teaching staff under a new scheme to support these institutions.
The government further decided to conduct Limited Direct Recruitment (LDR) tests for left-out SMC teachers, including PGTs and TGTs, while also opening the way for outsourced Computer Teachers working in government schools to secure appointments through the LDR process.
In the health sector, the cabinet approved the recruitment of 500 Assistant Staff Nurses and sanctioned several specialist posts, including radiologists, clinical psychologists and perfusionists. New appointments were also cleared for Dr RPGMC Tanda, Adarsh Swasthya Sansthan, MCH Kullu and AIIMS Chamiyana, where new super-speciality departments of Critical Care Medicine and Surgical Gastroenterology will be established.
The education sector received another boost with approval to fill 320 backlog posts of Assistant Professors in colleges, while a Government Nursing College with 60 B.Sc. Nursing seats will be set up at Pt. JLNGMC Chamba.
Several departments, including PWD, Forest, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Treasury, Taxation and Cooperation, received approval to fill vacant posts, creating opportunities across a wide range of services. The cabinet also approved the recruitment of 500 Assistant Forest Guards and sanctioned multiple posts in newly created or upgraded institutions.
In a major relief for frontline workers, the monthly honorarium of Anganwadi Workers was increased from ₹10,500 to ₹11,500, while Anganwadi Helpers will now receive ₹6,800 instead of ₹5,800. The state also raised the income eligibility ceiling for widows, destitute and single women seeking Anganwadi appointments. Van Mitras will receive an enhanced honorarium of ₹12,000 per month, up from ₹10,000.
Farmers and dairy producers were among the key beneficiaries of cabinet decisions. The government doubled assistance under the Milk Incentive Scheme from ₹3 to ₹6 per litre and directed all government departments to procure milk and dairy products from Milkfed, ensuring a stable market for local producers. The cabinet also approved a ₹603-crore funding boost for climate-resilient agriculture projects in Solan district and launched the Mukhyamantri Machhuara Sahayata Yojana to guarantee better prices for reservoir fishermen through a minimum support price mechanism.
The cabinet approved several welfare measures, including increasing the monthly pension for persons with 100 per cent disability to ₹3,000 from April 2026. Financial assistance under the President’s Merits Assistance Scheme for Home Guard volunteers was also significantly enhanced.
Special attention was given to disaster-hit families in Kangra’s Boh Valley. A dedicated relief package will provide compensation for fully damaged houses, livestock losses, fisheries damage, crop losses and agricultural land damage. Affected families will also receive rental assistance and free ration support for six months.
To strengthen law enforcement and judicial processes, the cabinet approved the establishment of dedicated NDPS courts in Kangra and Mandi, cleared the Witness Protection Scheme and sanctioned a new police post at Koti near Shimla.
Development and infrastructure projects also featured prominently. The government approved a City Centre at Hamirpur, an Inter-State Bus Terminal at Shitalpur in Baddi, redevelopment of Chotta Shimla Chowk with an underpass, and a multi-level parking facility at the Baba Balak Nath Temple in Deotsidh. New health institutions and Jal Shakti facilities were also sanctioned in Kangra and Una districts.
The cabinet approved the transfer of land for Kendriya Vidyalayas in Una and Shimla districts and renamed the Department of Technical Education, Vocational and Industrial Training as the Department of Technical Education, Skill and Entrepreneurship Development. It also approved new recruitment policies for technical education institutions and digital reforms through amendments to e-stamping rules.
In the energy sector, the government cancelled the allotment of 33 small hydroelectric projects due to lack of progress by developers and decided to invite fresh bids for major hydropower projects, including Chhatru and Ropa I & III.
Among the other notable decisions, the cabinet accorded international status to the historic Sujanpur Holi Mela, extended the HPSHIVA project until 2030, approved a Nutrition Policy for 2026, and decided to take over the management of the Pir Nigah Temple in Una district.
Overall, the cabinet meeting reflected a strong focus on employment generation, social welfare, rural development, infrastructure expansion and institutional strengthening, with decisions that are expected to impact thousands of families across Himachal Pradesh.