The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by CM Sukhu, approved the Toll Tax Barrier Policy and Excise Policy for 2026–27.
In a significant welfare decision, the Cabinet extended 26 weeks of maternity leave to female Home Guard volunteers and approved the Governor’s address for the upcoming Budget Session of the Vidhan Sabha.
Amendments to the ‘Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana’ were cleared to provide financial aid to daughters of widows pursuing professional courses in government institutions within and outside the State. Eligible students will also receive Rs. 3,000 per month as rent assistance where hostel facilities are unavailable.
The Cabinet approved the launch of the ‘Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana’ to enhance supplementary nutrition for children below six years, pregnant women and lactating mothers. It also enhanced the marriage grant for specially abled persons — increasing assistance to Rs. 2 lakh for those with over 70 percent disability and Rs. 25,000 for those with 40–70 percent disability.
In the education sector, 600 posts of teachers (Sanskrit, Physical Education, Music and Drawing) will be created for proposed CBSE schools, to be filled through the Rajya Chayan Aayog. The Cabinet also approved merging 31 boys’ and girls’ schools into co-educational institutions and expanding the Digital Classroom Project to 777 more schools.
To strengthen healthcare infrastructure, a Rs. 1,617.40 crore modernization project for medical colleges and hospitals was approved. The Cabinet also cleared procurement of advanced equipment for key hospitals across the State, establishment of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion departments at Dr. YS Parmar Medical College, Nahan, and implementation of a Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance Programme.
Several posts were approved across departments, including Junior Engineers, Junior Office Assistants (IT), Pharmacy Officers, Assistant Staff Nurses, Radiographers, Food Safety Officers and others. New Drug Testing Laboratories will be set up at Nurpur, Baddi and Una.
The Cabinet also approved a Road Drainage Policy and an SOP for pothole repairs to improve road safety and durability. It decided to reorganize certain PWD divisions in Sirmaur district and upgrade the Veterinary Hospital at Kotkhai.
In sports and youth development, the Cabinet approved expansion and establishment of multiple sports hostels, introduction of boxing for girls at Jubbal and enhancement of bed capacity at the Sports Hostel in Luhnu.
Additionally, approval was given to establish the Distil Global Skills and Digital University in Chamba district and to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee to draft the H.P. State Lottery (Regulation) Rules, 2026.
The decisions reflect the government’s focus on welfare expansion, healthcare strengthening, education reforms and infrastructure development across the State.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
