The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved the Toll Tax Barrier Policy 2026-27, setting the tone for a wide-ranging meeting that cleared the Excise Policy 2026-27, major welfare measures, big-ticket health investments and hundreds of new government posts.
The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, with the government signalling tighter regulation, social security expansion and infrastructure upgrades across sectors.
Alongside the toll tax policy, the Cabinet approved the Governor’s address for the upcoming Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
Big Push for Women, Children and the Differently-Abled
In a significant relief measure, the Cabinet decided to extend 26 weeks of maternity leave to female Home Guard volunteers.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, under which daughters of widows pursuing professional courses in government institutions—within or outside the state—will get financial assistance. Where hostel facilities are unavailable, beneficiaries will now receive ₹3,000 per month as rent assistance.
To improve maternal and child health, the Cabinet cleared the rollout of the Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana, aimed at enhancing nutrition for children below six years, as well as pregnant and lactating women.
The marriage grant for specially-abled persons was sharply enhanced. Persons with over 70% disability will now receive ₹2 lakh, up from ₹50,000, while those with 40–70% disability will be given ₹25,000.
Education Reforms and Teacher Recruitment
The Cabinet approved the creation of 600 teaching posts—150 each of Sanskrit, Physical Education, Music and Drawing teachers—for proposed CBSE schools. These posts will be filled through the Rajya Chayan Aayog.
It also decided to merge 31 boys’ and girls’ schools across the state into co-educational institutions and approved the Digital Classroom Project for 777 additional schools.
₹1,617 Cr Health Modernisation Plan
A major highlight was the approval of a ₹1,617.40 crore project to modernise medical colleges, super-specialty hospitals and Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans, aimed at ensuring quality healthcare within Himachal and reducing the need for patients to seek treatment outside the state.
The Cabinet also approved procurement of modern medical equipment for:
Mother and Child Hospital at Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla
Civil Hospitals at Sundernagar and Nurpur
Regional Hospital Una
50-bedded Critical Care Block, Civil Hospital Bhoranj
District Integrated Public Health Laboratory, Regional Hospital Bilaspur
New Departments of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion will be set up at Dr YS Parmar Government Medical College, Nahan, along with required staff.
The Cabinet also approved a Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance Programme across all public health institutions to ensure safety, prevent breakdowns and improve hospital efficiency.
Recruitment Drive Across Departments
The Cabinet cleared the creation and filling of:
190 Junior Engineer (Civil) and 151 Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts in the Directorate of Recruitment
40 Pharmacy Officer, 150 Assistant Staff Nurse, and 30 Radiographer posts in the Health Department
Drug Testing Laboratories at Nurpur, Baddi and Una, with 36 new posts
10 Food Safety Officer posts
8 Safai Karamchari posts in the HP High Court Registry
5 Welfare Organizer posts in Sainik Welfare Department
3 Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts in the Revenue Department
Roads, PWD Reforms and Veterinary Upgrade
The Cabinet approved a Road Drainage Policy for the PWD to improve safety, durability and all-weather connectivity, along with a Standard Operating Procedure for pothole filling and patch repair, ensuring transparency and compliance with national standards.
PWD divisions in Nahan, Shillai, Paonta Sahib, Sangrah, Rajgarh and Sarahan in Sirmaur district will be reorganised in line with Assembly constituencies.
The Veterinary Hospital at Kotkhai in Shimla district will be upgraded to a Sub-Divisional Veterinary Hospital.
Sports, Skills and New University
The Cabinet approved:
Increase in bed capacity of Sports Hostel, Luhnu (Bilaspur) from 80 to 100
Opening of Sports Hostel (Volleyball) for boys at Chopal
Sports Hostel (Kabaddi) for girls at Shillai
Introduction of Boxing for girls at Jubbal
Establishment of Sports Hostel (Handball) at Morsinghi, Bilaspur
It also cleared the establishment of the Distil Global Skills and Digital University in Chamba district.
Lottery Rules and Cabinet Sub-Committee
A Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, with TCP Minister Rajesh Dharmani as a member, was approved to draft the H.P. State Lottery (Regulation) Rules, 2026. The Director, Treasury and Accounts will act as Member Secretary.
With the new toll tax policy as the headline decision, the Cabinet meeting underscored the Sukhu government’s focus on regulatory reform, welfare expansion, healthcare strengthening and large-scale recruitment ahead of the Budget Session.
