The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, today announced a wide range of decisions covering jobs, farmer support, healthcare expansion, welfare schemes and administrative reforms aimed at strengthening governance and public services in the state.
In a significant relief move, the Cabinet approved a one-time review of rejected compassionate appointment cases, directing departments to reconsider genuine cases with applicable relaxations.
The government also approved the Encroachment Regularisation Policy, 2026, designed to address the concerns of landless families and marginal farmers occupying government land for residential and agricultural use. The policy, framed in line with Supreme Court directions, has been sent to the Centre for approval.
To support the farming community, the Cabinet cleared the Agriculture Loan Interest Subvention Scheme, under which 50% interest on loans up to ₹3 lakh will be borne by the state, benefiting over 6,000 farmers.
On the employment front, a major recruitment drive was approved, including 400 Work Inspectors, 300 Medical Officers, 250 Multi Task Workers, and 200 Staff Nurses, along with hundreds of other posts across health and administrative departments. The Cabinet also sanctioned additional faculty posts in medical colleges and Himachal Pradesh University.
Healthcare infrastructure received a strong push with approvals for new posts and upgradation of facilities, including Civil Hospital Sarkaghat, Civil Hospital Baddi, PHC Kalol, and new health centres across districts.
The Cabinet also greenlit the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-Up Yojana Phase-IV, offering subsidies for e-buses and diesel buses to promote entrepreneurship and improve public transport services.
In another key decision, amendments were approved to the NDPS Rules, 1989, allowing regulated cultivation and processing of cannabis for medical and scientific use.
A relief package of ₹7 lakh per family was sanctioned for 15 fire-affected families in Shimla district, with total assistance of ₹84.70 lakh.
Other major decisions included reduction in compounding fees for tractor operators transporting minerals, approval of Grazing Policy 2026, enhancement of HIMCARE insurance coverage up to ₹10 lakh, and adoption of a State Innovation Policy for technical education to boost startups and entrepreneurship.
The Cabinet also approved the restructuring and upgradation of several hospitals and health institutions across the state, along with elevation of key local fairs to state and district-level status.
With these decisions, the government moved ahead on a broad reform agenda focusing on welfare, employment generation, infrastructure development and economic growth.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
