Himachal Cabinet Approves ₹1,500 Monthly Assistance and 300 Free Electricity Units

The news

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday, approved the Mukhyamantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana, under which eligible women aged 18 to 59 will receive ₹1,500 per month and eligible families will get 300 free electricity units. The state has identified 3.50 lakh women for the scheme. Assistance for women above 59 had already been raised from ₹1,050 to ₹1,500 per month.

The cabinet also approved an amendment to the Swarn Jayanti Energy Policy 2021. Under the amendment, after 40 years of operation of central public sector projects, the state will receive 50 per cent free electricity as royalty for the next ten years; after 50 years, the projects will be transferred to the state without any cost. The cabinet decided to cancel allocations of 222 solar energy projects that have not been implemented for a long time and 13 hydroelectric projects of more than 25 MW capacity for non-compliance with the policy; 20 projects will be retendered. The initial rate for surplus raw water sold to neighbouring states, government agencies and industries has been set at ₹100 per 1,000 cubic feet, with revision based on the wholesale price index.

In health and employment, the cabinet approved 1,000 Rogi Mitra positions and the creation and filling of 561 Junior Office Assistant (Information Technology) posts for implementing the Hospital Management Information System in government medical colleges, dental colleges and the Directorate of Medical Education. Outsourced perfusionists' monthly remuneration has been increased from ₹25,000 to ₹45,000. Geriatric medicine departments will be established at IGMC Shimla, Tanda and Nerchowk medical colleges. The cabinet also raised the minimum support price for naturally grown ginger from ₹30 to ₹40 per kg and the procurement rate for C-grade apples from ₹12 to ₹13 per kg. Under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Startup Scheme, the diesel bus purchase subsidy has been increased from 30 to 40 per cent.

What is the Mukhyamantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana?

The scheme provides ₹1,500 per month to eligible women aged 18–59 and 300 free electricity units to eligible families. The government has identified 3.50 lakh women for the scheme. Assistance for women above 59 had already been increased from ₹1,050 to ₹1,500 per month earlier.

How will the energy policy amendment work?

The amendment to the Swarn Jayanti Energy Policy 2021 links central public sector projects' operating life to the state's share of electricity and project ownership. After 40 years of operation, 50% free electricity is to be supplied as royalty for the next 10 years; after 50 years, projects are to transfer to the state without cost. The cabinet also decided to cancel allocations of 222 long-unimplemented solar projects and 13 hydroelectric projects above 25 MW for policy non-compliance, and will retender 20 projects.

What are the other key decisions?

The cabinet approved 1,000 Rogi Mitra positions and 561 Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts for hospital information systems. Geriatric medicine departments will be set up at IGMC Shimla, Tanda and Nerchowk. The minimum support price for naturally grown ginger was raised from ₹30 to ₹40 per kg and the procurement rate for C-grade apples from ₹12 to ₹13 per kg. The diesel bus purchase subsidy under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Startup Scheme was increased from 30% to 40%. The Khelo Himachal Chitta Mukt Abhiyan 2026 will cover all 12 districts. The cabinet also approved a one-time relaxation for conducting the constable recruitment written examination offline, while the HP Public Service Commission is expected to arrange online examination infrastructure within six months.