Dehradun, March 25: The Uttarakhand Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Wednesday approved a series of significant policy decisions spanning infrastructure, governance, energy, education, and welfare.

Among the major decisions, the Cabinet approved tenders above ₹1 crore under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-assisted bridge improvement project of the Public Works Department, aimed at strengthening critical infrastructure in the state.

In a key relief for judicial officers, the Cabinet sanctioned soft loans of up to ₹10 lakh at nominal interest rates for vehicle purchase. The interest rate has been fixed at 4% for electric vehicles and 5% for other vehicles.

The Cabinet also approved amendments in service rules under the Forest Department, reducing the minimum required service for the post of Chief Administrative Officer from 25 years to 22 years, aligning it with personnel department norms.

Under the energy sector, the Cabinet allowed continuation of subsidies for beneficiaries who had installed systems under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana until March 31, 2025.

In higher education, approval was granted for framing statutes related to Swami Rama Himalayan University under the Uttarakhand Private Universities Act, 2023.

The Cabinet also cleared the implementation of rules under the Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Damage Recovery Act, 2025, after consultation with finance and legal departments.

In the Home Department, amendments to service rules for Home Guards Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ were approved, facilitating promotions, including for the post of Commandant in the Central Training Institute. Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned the appointment of experts from National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology to train police personnel in digital investigation following the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Cabinet also decided to continue the previous recruitment rules for uniformed posts such as constables and sub-inspectors for the next three years, maintaining existing age and physical criteria.

In education, a sub-committee will be formed to examine issues related to recognition of teachers’ service for promotions in aided schools, following court directions.

For the agriculture sector, the Cabinet approved procurement of wheat at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,585 per quintal for the 2026–27 Rabi marketing season, with a target of 2.2 lakh metric tonnes. It also decided to levy a 2% mandi fee on wheat and paddy procurement as per Government of India norms.

Disclaimer: This news is written on the basis of information received from different authentic sources.