Himachal Pradesh Government

Senior residency policy to be framed for medical colleges: CM
- MD and MS programmes to be expanded across medical colleges
Presiding over a high-level meeting of the Health Education and Health Department here today, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the State Government would formulate a comprehensive 'Senior Residency Policy' for all medical colleges in Himachal Pradesh. The policy will focus on rationalisation of senior resident posts to ensure optimal utilization of human resources in medical institutions.

The Chief Minister stated that the quota for General Duty Officers (GDOs) in senior residency would be enhanced to 66 percent, as against the existing 50:50 ratio between GDOs and direct recruitment.

He further informed that MD and MS programmes in additional disciplines will be introduced in the medical colleges at Chamba, Nahan, Hamirpur and Nerchowk, which will significantly strengthen the state’s healthcare infrastructure and academic capacity.

The Chief Minister said that Doctorate of Medicine (DM) and Master of Chirurgiae (MCh) super-specialists would be appointed in medical colleges to augment specialized healthcare services. He also announced that state-of-the-art ICUs equipped with advanced medical technology will be established in all medical colleges.

To enhance patient facilitation and service delivery, the State Government will appoint 1,000 Patient Care Assistants (Rogi Mitras) i.e. 500 in medical colleges and 500 in other health institutions. A pilot project will be launched from Hamirpur district, for which a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has already been prepared. In the initial phase, Rogi Mitras will be deployed at Primary Health Centres, said Sh. Sukhu.

Additionally, Rogi Mitras will also be deployed on a pilot basis to assist patients above 70 years of age at Chamiyana Hospital, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College Tanda and Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla. Dedicated Rogi Mitra counters will also be established in these institutions, remarked the Chief Minister.

Data Entry Operators will be deployed in various OPDs of medical colleges to ensure systematic recording and management of patient-related data. Emphasizing the State Government’s commitment to healthcare excellence, the Chief Minister said that innovative measures along with long-term strategic planning were being implemented to strengthen health education and services, with the objective of making Himachal Pradesh one of the leading states in the country in the healthcare sector.

Chief Minister Principal Advisor, IT, Innovation and Digital technology, Secretary Health Priyanka Basu Ingty, Special Secretary Health Ashwani Sharma and Jitender Sanjta, Director Health Education Dr. Rakesh Sharma and Dr. Gopal Beri other senior of both the departments were present in the meeting.

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CM releases calendar of ARDB Bank
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today released the calendar for the year 2026 of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank.

Chairman of the Bank, Sanjay Singh Chauhan detailed the Chief Minister about the various activities of the bank and schemes. He informed that, during the past year, loans were provided to eligible beneficiaries in accordance with the directions of the State Government, ensuring timely financial assistance to those in need.

Managing Director Harish Gajju and General Manager R.M. Jhamalta were also present on the occasion.

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‘Vyavastha Parivartan’ in action: HPSEBL digital reforms to save state exchequer Rs.16.83 Crore :CM
Reaffirming the government's commitment to a complete systemic overhaul, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today stated that the recent digital and administrative reforms in the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) are testament to the ongoing "Vyavastha Parivartan" in the state. By prioritizing transparent procurement and technological self-reliance, the state is not only enhancing consumer services but also heading towards financial prudence.

"State government’s motive is clear, it is to change the system, not just to run it" he reiterated. By breaking the old patterns of high-cost outsourcing and introducing competitive transparent bidding, the annual support costs for electricity billing and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has been slashed by nearly 46 percent. He said that the annual cost for support services now stands at Rs. 6.68 crore, down from the previous Rs.12.29 crore, said the Chief Minister.

This initiative will result in a direct saving of approximately Rs. 5.61 crore annually, totaling Rs.16.83 crore over three years. These are public resources that will now be redirected toward the welfare of the people of Himachal, rather than being drained by inefficient legacy contracts, the CM remarked.

Emphasizing the importance of Ease of Living, the Chief Minister noted that the digitization of HPSEBL was designed to empower the nearly 29 lakh domestic and industrial consumers across the state. "The Government was committed to bring governance to the doorsteps of the citizens. From online applications for new connections to smart billing and prepaid services, it is being ensured that the common man no longer has to navigate bureaucratic hurdles for basic utilities," he added.

The Chief Minister said that HPSEBL has strengthened consumer services through end-to-end digitization, enabling online applications, bill payments, complaint registration and faster grievance redressal, thereby reducing delays and enhancing transparency. He added that to improve the Board’s financial health, the State Government was focusing on reducing AT&C losses, ensuring timely billing and collections through smart and prepaid metering, plugging revenue leakages and rationalizing operational costs.

He added that rationalization of operational expenditure, improved power purchase planning and adoption of data-driven decision-making would further augment the Board’s financial sustainability, ensuring uninterrupted and quality power supply across Himachal Pradesh.

"Vyavastha Parivartan is about making institutions self-reliant and accountable. By integrating advanced technology like Business Intelligence (BI) and AI-ready platforms into our state operations, the present Government is building a foundation for a modern, prosperous and self-sufficient Himachal Pradesh by 2027," the Chief Minister reiterated.

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Chief Minister flags-off ‘Children of the State Tour’ under Mukhyamantri Sukh-Aashray Yojana

With a vision to ensure holistic development of the children residing in Child Care Institutions, the State Government has organized a special educational and exposure programme titled “Children of the State Tour” for them. The tour was flagged-off today by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, reflecting the State Government’s commitment towards nurturing and empowering vulnerable children.

Interacting warmly with the children, the Chief Minister encouraged them to make earn experiences this unique journey. He urged them to explore, learn and enjoy the exposure, stating that the tour would provide valuable opportunities to gain knowledge, understand diverse cultures and develop a broader perspective of the country.

A total of 52 children from various Child Care Institutions (CCIs) across the State are participating in the tour, which will continue till 15th January 2026. During this period, the children will visit several major cities and important historical, cultural and educational places across the country.

The Chief Minister said that under the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Aashray Yojana, the State Government was committed not only to providing care and protection to these children, but also to creating opportunities that help them build a secure and dignified future. The objective of the tour is to acquaint the children with national integration, India’s rich cultural heritage, modern infrastructure and exposure visits to leading educational institutions, thereby ensuring their overall development.

As per the itinerary, the children will travel to Chandigarh, Delhi, Agra and Goa, and return to Shimla using various modes of transport including Volvo buses, air and rail travel, as well as hop-on hop-off tourist buses.

The children will be taken to prominent landmarks in Delhi as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Raj Ghat, Shakti Sthal, Veer Bhoomi, Humayun’s Tomb, the National Zoological Park, National Science Museum, North Block, South Block, Indian Council of World Affairs, Triveni Kala Sangam and the National Museum of Natural History. In Agra, they will visit the iconic Taj Mahal.

During the Goa leg of the tour, the children will visit famous beaches, churches and temples, enjoy a pleasure cruise and also be taken to the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services to enhance their scientific and environmental awareness.

The Chief Minister highlighted that such educational and exposure tours play a crucial role in building self-confidence, curiosity, national awareness and social consciousness among children. He directed the concerned officers to ensure that there is no lapse in the safety, comfort and well-being of the children throughout the tour.

After assuming office, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the Balika Ashram at Tutikandi in Shimla and pledged to take complete responsibility for the care and welfare of destitute children, women and senior citizens in the State. Himachal Pradesh became the first State in the country to enact a dedicated law for these vulnerable sections. Since 28 February 2023, under the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Aashray Yojana, around 4,000 orphaned children have been adopted as “Children of the State.” These children are being provided comprehensive support including education, healthcare, housing, pocket money, career counseling, national and international exposure visits, along with a provision of Rs 2 lakh to support them in starting their own ventures.

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Chief Minister flags-off ‘Children of the State Tour’ under Mukhyamantri Sukh-Aashray Yojana

With a vision to ensure holistic development of the children residing in Child Care Institutions, the State Government has organized a special educational and exposure programme titled “Children of the State Tour” for them. The tour was flagged-off today by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, reflecting the State Government’s commitment towards nurturing and empowering vulnerable children.

Interacting warmly with the children, the Chief Minister encouraged them to make earn experiences this unique journey. He urged them to explore, learn and enjoy the exposure, stating that the tour would provide valuable opportunities to gain knowledge, understand diverse cultures and develop a broader perspective of the country.

A total of 52 children from various Child Care Institutions (CCIs) across the State are participating in the tour, which will continue till 15th January 2026. During this period, the children will visit several major cities and important historical, cultural and educational places across the country.

The Chief Minister said that under the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Aashray Yojana, the State Government was committed not only to providing care and protection to these children, but also to creating opportunities that help them build a secure and dignified future. The objective of the tour is to acquaint the children with national integration, India’s rich cultural heritage, modern infrastructure and exposure visits to leading educational institutions, thereby ensuring their overall development.

As per the itinerary, the children will travel to Chandigarh, Delhi, Agra and Goa, and return to Shimla using various modes of transport including Volvo buses, air and rail travel, as well as hop-on hop-off tourist buses.

The children will be taken to prominent landmarks in Delhi as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Raj Ghat, Shakti Sthal, Veer Bhoomi, Humayun’s Tomb, the National Zoological Park, National Science Museum, North Block, South Block, Indian Council of World Affairs, Triveni Kala Sangam and the National Museum of Natural History. In Agra, they will visit the iconic Taj Mahal.

During the Goa leg of the tour, the children will visit famous beaches, churches and temples, enjoy a pleasure cruise and also be taken to the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services to enhance their scientific and environmental awareness.

The Chief Minister highlighted that such educational and exposure tours play a crucial role in building self-confidence, curiosity, national awareness and social consciousness among children. He directed the concerned officers to ensure that there is no lapse in the safety, comfort and well-being of the children throughout the tour.

After assuming office, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the Balika Ashram at Tutikandi in Shimla and pledged to take complete responsibility for the care and welfare of destitute children, women and senior citizens in the State. Himachal Pradesh became the first State in the country to enact a dedicated law for these vulnerable sections. Since 28 February 2023, under the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Aashray Yojana, around 4,000 orphaned children have been adopted as “Children of the State.” These children are being provided comprehensive support including education, healthcare, housing, pocket money, career counseling, national and international exposure visits, along with a provision of Rs 2 lakh to support them in starting their own ventures.

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State Integrates Artificial Intelligence with Him Parivar Portal: Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Himachal emerges as India’s No. One State in leveraging Information Technology for effective and accessible public services: Chief Minister

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that Himachal Pradesh has emerged as the number one state in the country in the effective use of information technology to make public services accessible, transparent and time-bound. He said that even in the remotest and tribal areas of the state, most government services are now available to citizens at the click of a mouse, marking a historic achievement in the direction of good governance.

The Chief Minister was addressing the General House meeting of the Society for Promotion of IT and e-Governance in Himachal Pradesh (SITEG) on Monday evening. He conducted a detailed review of various IT-based applications and software developed by the department and directed officers to make these systems more citizen-friendly, secure and effective.

Reviewing the ‘Him Upasthiti’ application, developed to ensure attendance of employees working in various departments of the state government, the Chief Minister directed to further enhance its efficiency, transparency and reliability. He also directed that registration of all state government employees on the ‘Him Access Portal’ be made mandatory and instructed that all employees must complete their registration within one month.

Launching the Asset Mapping Application, the Chief Minister said that this initiative would provide comprehensive and updated information related to citizens’ properties, which would significantly support infrastructure development, effective policy formulation and improved resource management.

Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu further informed that an Artificial Intelligence-based document verification and validation system is being integrated into the Him Seva Portal to ensure faster and more efficient delivery of revenue services. This system will function as a first-level scrutiny mechanism, empowering revenue officers while simultaneously offering citizens smoother and more transparent services.

At present, revenue service's involve manual verification of a large volume of applications, which places an excessive workload on officers. Minor errors in documents—such as unclear photographs or incorrect formats—often lead to rejection of applications. As a result, officers spend substantial time on preliminary checks, and citizens are compelled to make repeated visits to government offices.

The AI-based system will automatically scan documents at the time of upload and instantly identify whether they are clear, correctly formatted, and complete with all required details such as signatures. It will also cross-verify personal information entered in the application—such as name, date of birth and Aadhaar number—with the uploaded documents and flag any discrepancies. In case of deficiencies, applicants will receive immediate feedback before submission, enabling them to rectify errors in real time.

This initiative will significantly enhance the applicant experience by eliminating unnecessary rejections. At the same time, it will relieve revenue officers from routine administrative scrutiny, allowing them to focus on substantive verification of eligibility and facts. Consequently, application disposal will be faster, and applications reaching officers will be largely ready for approval.

The Chief Minister also directed that comprehensive mapping under the Him Parivar Portal be ensured down to the panchayat level, with inclusion of socio-economic data and integration with all welfare schemes of the state government. He added that land-related data would also be incorporated into the portal to ensure transparent and targeted delivery of benefits to eligible beneficiaries.

Highlighting the future roadmap, the Chief Minister said that the state government is gradually integrating Artificial Intelligence and block chain technology into e-governance, keeping future requirements in mind. He said that AI-based systems would improve service quality, enhance the accuracy of decision-making and expedite grievance redressal, while block chain technology would bring transformative improvements in data security, transparency and record management.

He reiterated that the government’s objective is to build a smart, digital and future-ready Himachal Pradesh, where governance is more accountable, efficient and citizen-centric.

The Chief Minister also directed an increase in the number of Lok Mitra Kendras in the state, describing them as the backbone of public service delivery in rural and remote areas. He emphasized the need for time-bound resolution of issues faced by Lok Mitra Kendra operators to ensure better and uninterrupted services for the public.

Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor (DTG & Innovation) Gokul Butail informed that Himachal Pradesh has received special recognition for its visionary digital governance initiative, the “Him Parivar Project,” at Deloitte’s flagship government conference ‘Aarohan 2025’. He said that the state has strategically leveraged digital technologies to establish a future-oriented, transparent and citizen-focused governance framework.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor (DTG & Innovation) Gokul Butail, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Shyam Bhagat Negi, Secretaries of various departments and other senior officers.

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