Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Himachal Cabinet approves recruitment of 700 Home Guards, key policy reforms
Babushahi Bureau
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), May 31, 2025: The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, held a meeting today and approved several key decisions aimed at strengthening public services and administrative efficiency across the state.
One of the major decisions was the approval to fill 700 posts of Home Guard Volunteers in the Department of Home Guards and Civil Defence.
The Cabinet also approved the regularization of 203 Panchayat Secretaries (Zila Parishad cadre) who have completed two years of contractual service as of March 31, 2025.
In a significant reform for the health sector, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Postgraduate/Super Specialty (PG/SS) policy, removing the mandatory one-year field posting prior to eligibility for senior residency at Indira Gandhi Medical College (Shimla) and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College (Tanda).
This aligns the policy with the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities in Chamiyana. The amendment aims to streamline the selection process and harmonize it with resident doctor policies.The Cabinet further approved the relocation of the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office from Shimla to Dharamshala.
To address the growing issue of non-biodegradable waste, the Cabinet decided to implement a Deposit Refund Scheme-2025 on a pilot basis. Under this scheme, consumers will pay a refundable deposit in addition to the product cost, which will be returned upon the return of empty containers.
The scheme will apply to various packaging materials including glass bottles, plastic containers, aluminum cans, liquid cartons, flexible plastic, and multi-layer packaging.
In another administrative decision, the Cabinet gave in-principle approval to restart the De-novo Reservation Roster for members and chairpersons of Panchayati Raj Institutions, based on the 2010 framework.
The Cabinet also authorized the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation to carry out collection and dredging of minor minerals from rivers and ponds located within forest areas, for better resource management and environmental sustainability.
Approval was granted to establish a new block of elementary education at Baddi by bifurcating the existing Ramshehar block in Solan district. Required posts for smooth functioning of the new block will be created and filled.
Lastly, the Cabinet approved the reorganization of Sulah, Bhawarna, and Lambagaon blocks in Kangra district, and the Bhoranj block in Hamirpur district, to ensure better administrative services and outreach to residents.