Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 25 Feb: A meeting of the State Cabinet was held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in which the cabinet approved 28 proposals. In addition, the Cabinet also granted its consent to the Budget for the forthcoming financial year 2026–27, which will now be presented in the upcoming Assembly Budget Session. Compared to the previous financial year, the Budget has been enhanced by 10 per cent, and a total outlay of Rs 1.11 lakh crores will be placed before the House. The Cabinet also authorised the CM to take a final decision regarding any required modifications in the Budget.
No formal media briefing in respect of the cabinet decisions was held as the assembly session has already been summoned and a notification issued in this respect. Among the key decisions, the Cabinet approved the creation of 14 additional new posts within the framework of the UIIDB and sanctioned changes in the designation of the previously created post of Assistant General Manager (Accounts)/Accountant, along with revision of the honorarium of Office Boy. Under the Chief Minister’s Higher Education Research Promotion Scheme, it was decided to include 21 aided non-government colleges where regular principals are appointed within the ambit of the scheme. The Cabinet also approved the Swami Vivekananda Uttarakhand Library Scheme under the Higher Education Department and cleared amendments to the Uttarakhand Forest Department Surveyor Service Rules, 2010.
Under the Urban Development Department, the cabinet granted approval for the creation of posts of Environmental Engineers in all 11 Municipal Corporations of the state, with recruitment to be made on a contractual basis. The Cabinet also approved the Advanced Apple Nursery Development Scheme 2026 and the Honey Production Policy 2026. A decision was taken to include additional items in the materials provided to children in the age group of three to six years under the Chief Minister’s Child Nutrition Campaign, namely Bal Palash Yojana. Amendments were also approved to the Chief Minister’s Women Nutrition Scheme, under which nutritious food items other than egg, milk and banana will also be made available.
The Cabinet also granted permission to table the 24th Annual Report of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission in the House in the upcoming assembly session. It further approved retaining the State Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal in Dehradun and establishing an additional State Bench or Circuit Bench in Haldwani. Approval was also given by the Cabinet for reintroduction of the Uttarakhand Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill in the Assembly and for transferring the control of Bureau of Public Enterprises from the Industrial Development Department to the Finance Department.
The implementation of the World Bank-assisted Uttarakhand Efficient Water Supply Programme was also approved by the Cabinet. The cabinet also approved Uttarakhand Policy 2026 for Safe Reuse of Treated Water. Approval was further accorded for promulgation of the Service Rules, 2026 for Group ‘C’ and Group ‘B’ employees of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board. Under the Uttarakhand Consolidation Establishment, the Cabinet cleared the creation of one non-cadre post of Settlement Officer (Consolidation). It also approved reintroduction of the Uttarakhand Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Assembly and sanctioned the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Besides, the Cabinet approved amendments to the distance norms for establishment of Hot Mix Plants under the Uttarakhand Stone Crusher, Screening Plant, Mobile Stone Crusher, Mobile Screening Plant, Pulveriser Plant, Hot Mix Plant and Ready Mix Plant Licence (Third Amendment) Policy, 2024. In view of the State’s financial position, it was decided that under Rule 87(1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016, the Chairperson of the State Level Selection Committee will be paid an honorarium of Rs 5,000 per meeting and two members nominated from non-governmental organisations will be paid Rs 3,000 per meeting.
The Cabinet also granted approval to restructuring of the clerical and ministerial cadre posts in the Prison Administration and Reforms Services Department. The Cabinet sanctioned establishment of three additional Fast Track Special Courts at Vikasnagar in Dehradun district, Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar district and at the headquarters of Nainital district, along with creation of posts for these courts. Consent was further given for creation of 14 new posts of Court Managers, comprising one for the High Court at Nainital and 13 for district courts.
The Cabinet further approved constitution of a Steering Committee and Project Management Unit, along with creation of posts therein, for implementation of the World Bank-supported programme titled “Strengthening of Public Financial Management for Improved Service Delivery in Uttarakhand”. The Uttarakhand Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 also received approval. Following directions of the Supreme Court, the Cabinet sanctioned regular appointment of four Special Teachers, who were working on ad hoc, contractual or outsourced basis, against the posts of Assistant Teacher (LT) Special Education Teacher in the Secondary Education Department.
Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal informally shared that 32 subjects were discussed during the meeting, out of which 28 proposals received approval. He stated that detailed deliberations were also held regarding the Budget to be presented in the forthcoming Assembly session. He confirmed that the Cabinet has approved the Budget for the financial year 2026–27 and authorised the CM Dhami to take a final decision on any necessary modifications.
