Himachal Cabinet Approves 40% Subsidy for Electric Taxis, Hikes Honorarium for SPOs and Teachers, Clears Key Reforms in Health, Agriculture, and Education.
Shimla:
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, held a meeting in Shimla today and approved a series of significant policy decisions aimed at boosting employment, promoting sustainable development, strengthening the health and education sectors, and improving welfare for government employees and contract workers.
Boost to Green Mobility and Employment
In a major decision promoting clean energy and self-employment, the Cabinet approved the conversion of 1,000 existing diesel and petrol taxis into electric taxis. The conversion will be carried out under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Yojna, with the government offering a 40% subsidy. The Transport Department has been authorized to issue the necessary permissions for this initiative, aimed at curbing vehicular pollution and promoting eco-friendly transport options.
Honorarium Hike for SPOs, Teachers, and Support Staff
The Cabinet also decided to enhance the honorarium of Special Police Officers (SPOs) by Rs. 300 per month, effective April 1, 2025, benefiting 510 SPOs across the State, including 403 in non-tribal and 107 in tribal areas.
In addition, School Management Committee (SMC) teachers, including TGTs, C&V teachers, JBTs, Lecturers, and DPEs, along with IT and Computer Teachers, Mid-Day Meal Workers, and Part-Time Water Carriers, will receive an increase of Rs. 500 per month in their honorarium from April 1, 2025, in line with the Chief Minister’s earlier announcement.
Agriculture and Rural Development Initiatives
The Cabinet approved measures to streamline and strengthen the monitoring mechanism for the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojna and H.P. Crop Diversification Project (JICA Phase-II). This decision aims to enhance coordination among departments, SPNF, and JICA to ensure efficient governance and implementation of these flagship programmes.
A Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, was constituted to finalize Model By-laws for Rural Area Development, guiding Gram Panchayats in regulating construction activities in rural regions. The committee will include Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh, Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, and Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharamani as members.
Promotion of Sports and Youth Engagement
The Cabinet expanded the list of recognized sports for government job eligibility by adding 19 new games, including Baseball, Para Sports, Rugby, Triathlon, Deaf Sports, Mallakhamb, Kudo, Motor Sports, Pencak Silat, Shooting Ball, Soft Tennis, Roll Ball, Tenpin Bowling, Tug-of-War, Fencing, Netball, Sepak Takraw, Wushu, and Kickboxing. Meritorious sportspersons in these disciplines will now qualify for consideration in Group A, B, C, and D posts across government departments, boards, and corporations.
Reforms in Health and Medical Education
To improve medical education and healthcare delivery, the Cabinet approved the construction of Nahan Medical College at a newly selected site for expansion.
It also granted ex-post facto approval for the introduction of new postgraduate and super-specialty courses, ensuring proper regulation of admissions.
The Health Department’s proposal to shift 32 newly created posts of Assistant Professors in Super Specialty Departments across IGMC Shimla, Dr. RPGMC Tanda, SLBSGMC Ner Chowk, and Dr. RKGMC Hamirpur to Emergency Medicine departments was approved.
Additionally, the Cabinet cleared the Resident Doctors Policy–2025 and gave in-principle approval for a policy to regulate the appointment of Assistant Staff Nurses.
Renewable Energy and Solar Power Promotion
The Cabinet amended the existing scheme for Ground Mounted Solar Power Projects, now renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Saur Urja Yojna. Under this revised scheme, projects ranging from 100 KW to 2 MW in tribal and non-tribal areas will receive interest subsidies — 5% in tribal and 4% in non-tribal regions — to encourage local investment in solar energy generation.
Administrative and Employment Decisions
A separate State Cadre for Junior Office Assistant (IT) will be created under the Directorate of Recruitment, with 300 posts as Job Trainees to be filled in the first phase.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Rules, 2014, aligned with the Special Assistance Scheme for Capital Investment 2025–26.
The Himachal Pradesh General Industries Corporation has been designated as the nodal agency for the procurement, storage, transport, and supply of Extra Neutral Alcohol and related spirits used by pharmaceutical units in the State.
Tourism, Family Welfare, and Education Initiatives
A Tourism Investment Promotion Council (TIPC) will be established to attract, evaluate, and facilitate tourism investments efficiently and transparently.
In a pro-family welfare move, the Cabinet approved 15 days of paternity leave for male contract employees.
Three new Government Primary Schools will be opened in Solan district — at Haripur Sandholi-II, Surajmajra Lubana, and Chakkan in Block Baddi — meeting all prescribed norms for new institutions.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojna, expanding its benefits. Students will now be eligible for education loans at just 1% interest for pursuing postgraduate studies as well. The family income limit for eligibility has been raised from Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh per annum, significantly widening access to the scheme.
The Cabinet’s decisions reflect the State Government’s commitment to green mobility, rural development, healthcare reform, education support, and employee welfare, aligning with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s vision for a “Vyavasthit, Vikasit, and Vyavasthit Himachal.”
