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The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has approved major policy and welfare measures covering healthcare, education, social security, and administrative reforms. Key decisions include modernizing medical infrastructure with an INR 1,617.40 crore outlay, creating hundreds of new positions in healthcare and education, establishing drug testing laboratories, launching nutritional and educational schemes for women and children, increasing marriage grants for persons with disabilities, and enhancing digital and CBSE school infrastructure. These initiatives aim to improve service delivery, reduce external dependency, and promote inclusive social development in the state.
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has approved several important policies and projects aimed at improving the state's governance, healthcare, education, and social welfare. The Cabinet sanctioned the toll tax barrier policy and the excise policy for 2026-27 and agreed to form a Cabinet Sub-Committee to draft the HP State Lottery (Regulation) Rules, 2026. The committee will be led by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, with Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani as a member, and the Director of Treasury and Accounts serving as Member Secretary. Advertisement
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Cabinet approved a project with an outlay of INR 1,617.40 crore to modernize medical colleges, super-specialty hospitals, and Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans. The initiative is designed to strengthen healthcare services within the state and reduce the need for patients to seek treatment outside, ensuring affordable and quality medical care locally.
The Cabinet also approved the creation and filling of 220 posts across different categories in the Health and Family Welfare Department. In addition, Drug Testing Laboratories will be established in Nurpur, Baddi, and Una, with 36 new posts for their operation. Separate cadres will be created in the Directorate of Recruitment, including 190 Junior Engineer (Civil) and 151 Junior Office Assistant (Information Technology) positions.
Other decisions include approving the Governor's address for the upcoming Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha and extending maternity leave to female Home Guard volunteers up to 26 weeks. Amendments were approved to the 'Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana,' offering financial support to daughters of widows pursuing professional courses in government institutions inside and outside the state. Beneficiaries will also be eligible for hostel rent assistance of INR 3,000 per month if hostel facilities are unavailable.
The Cabinet sanctioned the rollout of the 'Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana,' which aims to enhance the nutritional status of children below six years, expectant women, and lactating mothers through improved supplementary nutrition. Marriage grants for persons with disabilities were also increased, with grants raised from INR 50,000 to INR 2 lakh for those with over 70% disability and INR 25,000 for those with 40-70% disability.
In education, the Cabinet approved the creation of 600 teaching positions 150 each for Sanskrit, Physical Education, Music, and Drawing for proposed CBSE schools, to be filled through the Rajya Chayan Aayog. Additionally, 31 boys and girls schools will be merged into co-educational institutions. The government also approved establishing the Distil Global Skills and Digital University in Chamba district and implementing a Digital Classroom Project in 777 additional schools across the state.
Source PTI
FAQ
Q1. What are the key healthcare initiatives approved by the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet?
The Cabinet approved a project with an outlay of INR 1,617.40 crore to modernize medical colleges, super-specialty hospitals, and Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans. This aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, reduce the need for patients to seek treatment outside the state, and provide affordable, quality care locally. Additionally, 220 new posts have been sanctioned in the Health and Family Welfare Department, and Drug Testing Laboratories will be set up in Nurpur, Baddi, and Una with 36 posts for operation.
Q2. What welfare schemes have been approved for women, children, and persons with disabilities?
The Cabinet approved the 'Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana,' enhancing nutrition for children below six years, expectant women, and lactating mothers. Amendments to the 'Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana' provide financial support to daughters of widows pursuing professional courses, along with hostel rent assistance of INR 3,000 per month if accommodations are unavailable. Marriage grants for persons with disabilities were increased from INR 50,000 to INR 2 lakh for those with over 70% disability, and INR 25,000 for those with 40-70% disability.
Q3. What steps have been taken to improve education in the state?
The Cabinet approved the creation of 600 teaching positions150 each for Sanskrit, Physical Education, Music, and Drawing for proposed CBSE schools. A total of 31 boys and girls schools will be merged into co-educational institutions. The state will also establish the Distil Global Skills and Digital University in Chamba and implement a Digital Classroom Project in 777 additional schools to enhance digital learning infrastructure.
Q4. Are there any administrative and staffing reforms included?
Yes. Separate cadres will be created in the Directorate of Recruitment, including 190 Junior Engineer (Civil) and 151 Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts. The Cabinet also extended maternity leave for female Home Guard volunteers up to 26 weeks, approved toll tax and excise policies for 2026-27, and formed a Cabinet Sub-Committee to draft the HP State Lottery (Regulation) Rules, 2026.
Q5. How do these initiatives contribute to overall social development?
The measures aim to improve service delivery across healthcare, education, and social welfare, enhance local capacity, reduce dependence on external facilities, and ensure inclusivity for vulnerable groups. Investments in infrastructure, digital education, nutrition, and welfare grants are expected to promote balanced development and strengthen the state's human capital and social support systems.
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