The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Monday approved the restoration of Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) for super-specialist faculty members possessing recognised DM, M.Ch. and DNB qualifications serving under the Department of Medical Education and Research.
At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Cabinet also approved an increase in the stipend of postgraduate (PG) students serving under the Department of Medical Education.
Under the revised rates, first-year students will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000, up from Rs 40,000; second-year students will receive Rs 60,000, instead of Rs 45,000; and third-year students will receive Rs 65,000, in place of Rs 50,000.
The Council of Ministers also approved the establishment of a Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, along with the creation and filling of two posts of Assistant Professor.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Post Graduate/Super-Speciality (PG/SS) Policy of the Department of Medical Education. Under the revised policy, General Duty Officers (GDOs) and direct candidates who, after obtaining their postgraduate degree, opt to serve as Senior Residents at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS), Chamiyana, or in the speciality of Radiodiagnosis at state medical colleges in Tanda, Hamirpur, Mandi, Chamba and Nahan, excluding IGMC, Shimla, will be exempt from the mandatory field posting requirement.
The period of service rendered at AIMSS, Chamiyana, and in the Radiodiagnosis speciality at the other state medical colleges, excluding IGMC, Shimla, will be treated as field posting under the policy. This provision will remain in force for six years.
An official spokesperson said the Cabinet also decided to enhance the cash prize for teachers awarded under the Teacher Award Policy. Now, National Award-winning teachers will get Rs 1.5 lakh as cash prize instead of Rs 60,000, while State Award-winning teachers will receive Rs 1 lakh instead of Rs 40,000.
It was also decided that award-winning teachers would not be granted an extension in service. It also decided to enhance the monthly honorarium of Nambardars by Rs 500, from Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000.
It decided to enhance the monthly honorarium of ASHA workers by Rs 1,000, from Rs 5,800 to Rs 6,800, with effect from April 1, 2026.
The spokesperson said the Cabinet also approved the introduction of B.Sc. Medical Technology (Radiotherapy Technologist) and Bachelor of Radiation Therapy Technology courses, with an annual intake of 30 seats each, at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda.
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