Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
In a meeting held here on Monday under the chairmanship of CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the State Cabinet approved the engagement of 1,602 Bijli Upbhogta Mitras in Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited to overcome the acute shortage of field staff and ensure quality services to consumers. It was also decided to fill up 1000 posts of T/Mates.
The Cabinet also gave its approval to fill 645 posts of Patwaris on trainee basis under the State Cadre.
It sanctioned the filling up of 400 posts of Staff Nurses as Job Trainees in various medical colleges across the State. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the engagement of 300 Job Trainees in Gram Panchayats to build a pool of trained manpower for Panchayati Raj Institutions through training, exposure and assistance on a fixed monthly stipend. To further strengthen healthcare services, the Cabinet decided to engage 200 Medical Officers as Job Trainees in the health department across the State. It approved to create and fill up 38 posts of Assistant Professors in Cardiology, Neurology, Urology and Gastroenterology in the medical colleges in the State. The Cabinet also approved the creation of 25 posts of Steno-Typists in the H.P. Secretariat.
Further, it approved filling of requisite posts of different categories for Police Stations at Parwanoo and Dharampur in Solan district to strengthen policing on National Highway. The Cabinet gave its nod for the restructuring of the department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change to streamline its functioning, along-with the creation and filling of five new posts of different categories. It further sanctioned the filling of one post each of Computer Operator and Junior Scale Stenographer.
It was decided to create and fill two posts of JOA (IT) in the office of Lokayukta, Himachal Pradesh. The Cabinet permitted placing 45 teaching and 61 non-teaching staff from seven de-notified colleges into the surplus pool of the Directorate of Higher Education. The Cabinet approved to withdraw the notification issued on September 6, 2025, concerning Higher Grade Pay, which had been intended to benefit 89 categories of the employees. It also approved the affiliation of 100 Government Schools with the CBSE from the next academic session.
It agreed the launch of the ‘Chief Minister Start-Up Scheme in the Hospitality Industry’ to promote self-employment opportunities for bonafide Himachalis in the tourism and hospitality sectors. The scheme aims to provide financial relief on loans taken for establishing new homestays as well as for upgrading existing ones. Under the scheme, an interest subsidy of 3 percent in urban areas, 4 percent in rural areas and 5 percent in tribal areas will be provided across the State.
To strengthen healthcare facilities, the Cabinet gave its nod to establish 28 dialysis centres in ‘Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans’ of nine districts, ensuring better health services for patients closer to their homes.
The Cabinet approved the bifurcation of the Medical Officer (General) cadre into Medical Officer (General) and Medical Officer (Specialists) to deliver more specialized healthcare services to the people of the State.
The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the existing provisions to allow 10 percent of the total Local Area Development Fund (LADF) annually to be utilized for providing financial assistance to the children of the State.
Further, it allowed amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog (Business and Procedure) Rules, 2024, granting time to candidates who do not possess valid certificates such as OBC, EWS and BPL at the time of application, subject to submission of undertakings.
To ensure planned construction activities in rural areas, the Cabinet approved model by-laws for regulating construction in villages, particularly in light of the devastation caused during recent monsoon seasons.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to empower Police Constables under Section 176(1) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The Constables who hold a graduate degree from a recognized university, have completed at least seven years of service, undergone six weeks of special training at a detective training school or police training college, passed the prescribed examination and have no departmental inquiry pending against them, will now be authorized to investigate cases punishable with imprisonment of up to three years or with fine.
The Cabinet decided to open a new Sub Tehsil at Saach in Pangi Tehsil of Chamba district, along-with the creation and filling of requisite posts. It approved the creation of a new Patwar Circle at Nangal by restructuring the existing Hatali and Malhanta Patwar Circles in Sub Tehsil Rey of Kangra district.
Further, the Cabinet decided to upgrade Sub Tehsil Chadiyar in Kangra district to full Tehsil status, with creation and filling of requisite posts.
The approval was given for the reorganization of Bhoranj, Bamson and Sujanpur Development Blocks in Hamirpur district, keeping in view the convenience of the people at large. It also put its seal to open a new Jal Shakti Sub-Division Harsi at Haler under division Jaisinghpur in Kangra district. It gave its nod to amend Rule-7 of the H.P. Lease Rules, 2013 to allow land lease in favour of HIMUDA for 80 years, enabling the authority to continue providing safe and affordable housing to people at genuine rates.
The Cabinet further approved the renewal of lease of Government land in favour of the Sangya Choling Association, Sanjauli (Shimla) for an additional 40 years.
To strengthen adventure tourism safety, it was decided to make it mandatory for all Tandem Pilots registered with the Department of Tourism to complete the Simulation during Flights – Paragliding Safety Course on or before 31st August, 2026, ensuring the safety of tourists engaged in paragliding activities.
The Cabinet approved leasing out land for establishing a Green Hydrogen Plant and Solar/CBG Power Projects at 13 sites across the State.
The Cabinet also gave its approval to extend the period for issuance of acquisition of land for Kangra Airport by 24 months, up to 3rd June, 2026.