SHIMLA, March 17: Himachal Pradesh administration has revoked the ‘Cabinet rank’ status typically accorded to political advisors and chairpersons of state-run commissions. The order, which takes effect immediately, aims to streamline administrative protocol and reduce the burden on the state exchequer amid a deepening fiscal crisis.
The new policy mandates a 20 percent deferment of monthly emoluments for the affected functionaries until late September 2026. This decision follows recommendations from the 16th Finance Commission to phase out the Revenue Deficit Grant, a move the Chief Minister declared has forced the state to reassess its spending priorities.
“The manner in which the annual Revenue Deficit Grant for Himachal has been discontinued, there is a need to push reforms,” Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu affirmed. He asserted that the withdrawal of these status symbols is a clear signal that the political class will share the burden of the state’s economic challenges.
Government officials stated that the savings from these measures would be redirected toward welfare schemes and infrastructure projects. The Chief Minister declared that despite the financial stress, no cuts would be made to social security pensions or government employee salaries. He maintained that the administration’s goal is to transition Himachal into a self-sufficient state that does not rely heavily on central grants.
