Himachal cabinet meeting today, key decisions on budget announcements expected

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is set to return to Shimla after his Kerala tour on Saturday (April 5, 2025).
Upon his arrival, a state cabinet meeting will be convened at the Secretariat in Shimla in the afternoon. The General Administration Department has already issued the necessary orders for the meeting.

This will be the first cabinet meeting after the presentation of the state budget for the financial year 2025-26 on March 17. Key decisions regarding the implementation of new budget announcements are expected to be taken.

New budget provisions to take effect from April 1

The Himachal Pradesh government has made several announcements in the budget, which will come into effect from April 1, 2025.

The cabinet is likely to approve proposals such as increasing milk procurement rates, raising MGNREGA wages and enhancing honorariums for elected representatives of panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies.

Additionally, the meeting may address the removal of restrictions on employee transfers, allowing ministers to proceed with routine transfers.

Focus on employment, pending policy decisions

The state government has pledged to provide jobs to 25,000 youth in the new financial year. The cabinet may discuss filling vacant posts across departments and creating new positions.

Another key agenda could be the compassionate appointment policy, pending before the government. A sub-committee led by Education Minister Rohit Thakur is expected to submit its report by April 15, but preliminary discussions may take place in today’s meeting.

Sunil Chadha