Uttarakhand: The Dhami cabinet took 11 important decisions, including reducing VAT on natural gas and making decisions regarding the Atal Ayushman Yojana and Golden Card

A total of 11 proposals were approved in the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. These included two important proposals related to the Medical and Medical Education Department, which the cabinet approved. Decisions were also made regarding the Atal Ayushman Yojana and the Golden Card scheme operating in the state.

11 proposals approved in the cabinet meeting: Under this, the Atal Ayushman Yojana will be operated in insurance mode and the Golden Card scheme in hybrid mode. The state government has also decided to reduce the VAT rate on natural gas from 20 percent to five percent. After the cabinet meeting, Principal Secretary of the Housing Department, R. Meenakshi Sundaram, briefed the media about the important decisions.

These important proposals were approved in the cabinet meeting:

• The VAT rate on natural gas has been reduced from 20 percent to 5 percent to promote green energy.

• Apples from the Dharali disaster-affected areas will be purchased by the Horticulture Department. Royal Delicious apples will be purchased at a rate of Rs 51 per kg and Red Delicious apples at a rate of Rs 45 per kg.

• The monthly pension amount for elderly artists and writers in Uttarakhand, under the Culture Department, has been increased from Rs 3000 to Rs 6000.

• Under the Ease of Doing Business initiative in the Housing Department, as per the directions given by the Government of India, low-risk buildings can now be self-certified and approved by empanelled architects. This proposal had been passed with a deviation, and the cabinet has now given its consent.

• Amendments have been made to the rules to reduce the compliance burden and promote ease of doing business. Under this, the ground coverage for MSME units and industrial units has been increased.

Furthermore, the structure of the Fiber Development Council has been amended. Technical staff will now be hired through outsourcing instead of being permanent employees. A decision has also been taken to include the work-charge service period of Irrigation and PWD work-charge employees for pension calculation. Decisions regarding health schemes: The Uttarakhand Medical Education Service Amendment Rules, 2025 have been approved. Decisions have also been made regarding the Atal Ayushman Yojana, Ayushman Yojana, and Golden Card scheme. The Atal Ayushman Yojana will be operated on an insurance model. The Golden Card scheme will be operated in a hybrid mode. For claims below ₹5 lakh, the insurance model will be used. For claims above ₹5 lakh, the trust model will be used. The contribution made by employees to the trust will increase by approximately ₹250 to ₹450.

Uttarakhand Medical Education Service Amendment Rules:

• Approval granted for the promulgation of the Uttarakhand Medical Education Service Amendment Rules, 2025
• The age limit for the appointment of Associate Professors has been increased from 50 to 62 years.
• Four posts have been created at Swami Ram Cancer Hospital.
• The matter of equal pay for equal work at Srinagar Medical College has been referred to a sub-committee.
• Specialist clinical doctors working in remote and extremely remote areas will be given a 50 percent additional allowance.