PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun Various important decisions were taken by the State cabinet in its meeting held at Banbasa near the Indo-Nepal border in Champawat on Sunday. A total of 24 points were taken up by the cabinet presided over by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. According to officials, considering the shortage of senior residents, junior residents and demonstrators in government medical colleges, the cabinet approved the re-determination of the salary/stipend payable to the personnel posted on these posts. The cabinet approved the creation of Project Management Unit (PMU) in the office of nodal officer, Forest Conservation and creation of six posts for the purpose of technical examination of forest land transfer cases, examination of online alignment and strengthening of the nodal office. The proposal for granting landholder rights to the lessees/occupiers of Class-3 and Class-4 land was also approved, granting transferable landholder rights to the lessees/occupiers in Lalkuan Nagar Panchayat of Nainital district and regularisation of Class-4 land in Pargana Jaunsar-Bawar of Dehradun district. The regularisation of the land will be extended for one year on the basis of the circle rate of the year 2004 and thereafter it will be done as per the prevailing circle rate. Approval was also granted to the release of the remaining funds of Rs 66.29 crore to the Uttarakhand Seeds and Terai Development Corporation Limited in connection with the assets transferred for the expansion of the Greenfield Airport, Pantnagar. This amount will be spent on new construction and other designated works as per the corporation’s action plan. The cabinet approved the implementation of a system for verifying PANs provided by buyers, sellers, and other relevant parties in property purchase and sale transactions under the Stamps and Registration department. This will help reduce the use of incorrect or fraudulent PANs and ensure accuracy and transparency of data reporting to the Income Tax department. The Uttarakhand Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was also approved. Under the amended provisions, the annual fiscal deficit limit from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031, has been set at three per cent of GSDP, and the maximum limit for total cumulative debt from the financial years 2026-27 to 2030-31 has been set at 30 per cent of GSDP. Under disaster and security-related circumstances, there will be a provision for exemptions for deficits exceeding the prescribed limit, as per rules. Amendments to the Forest department’s head of department structure were also approved. The director of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve will be removed from the list of department heads, and the chief conservators of forests, Kumaon and Garhwal will be designated as department heads. This will expedite action in urgent situations such as forest fires, natural disasters, flood control, and human-wildlife conflict. In another decision, the cabinet approved the presentation of the report of the Sixth State Finance Commission regarding Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies in the upcoming Assembly session. The commission has submitted recommendations regarding the transfers to local bodies from the State’s net tax revenues and the financial and administrative arrangements for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. The cabinet also approved the issuance of a notification to implement the provisions of sub-section (3) of Section 19 of the Indian Civil Defence Code, 2023. Under this, in prescribed circumstances, the district magistrate may appoint another person as assistant public prosecutor for the relevant case after giving 14 days’ notice to the State government. In another important decision, the cabinet approved the promulgation of the Uttarakhand State Employees’ Conduct (Amendment) Rules, 2026. These rules will clarify and update provisions related to employees’ movable, immovable, and valuable property in accordance with current circumstances and the All India Services Conduct Rules. The cabinet also approved the restructuring of the Vigilance Establishment following which a total of 11 posts will be dedicated. The cabinet repealed the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, which had become irrelevant or inadequate in the present circumstances, and approved the Uttarakhand Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2026 to be tabled in the Assembly, in accordance with the special geographical conditions of the state. It also approved the creation of a new post of director general to ensure coordination, supervision, uniformity, and effective administrative systems within the departments of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries. The implementation of the Chief Minister’s Higher Education Skill Development Scheme, 2026, aimed at enhancing the employability and entrepreneurship of higher education students was also approved. The scheme will benefit approximately 1.19 lakh students studying in state and private universities and affiliated colleges. About Rs 200 crore will be spent on the scheme over five years. Amendment in the norms for establishment of private universities was also approved, following which under the revised framework, a minimum built-up area of 2,500 square metres will be required in mountainous areas and 20,000 square metres in plain areas. Separate evaluation standards will also be established to ensure the quality of proposals for the establishment of private universities.
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