Dehradun: The Uttarakhand cabinet convened on Thursday and approved several major policy changes, ranging from education reforms to tourism boosts and financial relief for workers and animal owners.
Sanskrit Education Reforms
The government approved the Uttarakhand Sanskrit Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2026. This updates the previous 2023 rules and changes how Sanskrit schools are recognized, how their curriculum is decided, and how examinations are conducted.
Tourism Boost with International Himalayan Car Rally
To boost state tourism, the government gave the nod to host an International Himalayan Car Rally, aiming to draw over 120 entries, including 25 international drivers, 25 from the Asia Cross Country Rally, 20 classic cars, and 50 from the Indian National Rally Championship. The Cabinet also permitted selecting the event organizer through a direct, single-source process.
Financial Relief for Equine Animal Owners
The state government will provide financial relief to the owners of horses and mules (equine animals) working the tough Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Hemkund Sahib routes. The government will pay 20% of the insurance premium, while the owners pay the remaining 80%. This will cover about 15,000 registered animals for the 2026 yatra. With each animal valued at ₹70,000, the total premium pool is estimated at ₹5.25 crore.
Bitumen Price Adjustment for Roadworks
Due to the war in the Middle East, crude oil and petroleum prices have spiked, causing the cost of bitumen (used for tarring roads) to jump by over 30% in India. To support contractors, the Cabinet approved temporary price adjustments for bituminous roadworks completed between May 1, 2026, and June 30, 2026.
Equal Pay for Equal Work Deadline Extended
The Cabinet extended the cut-off date for implementing the “equal pay for equal work” policy for Uttarakhand Purv Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited (UPNL) contract workers. Moving the deadline from November 12, 2018, to August 15, 2024, ensures that a much larger number of employees will now qualify for the pay increase.
Cattle Breeding Pilot Project
The government approved a new scientific pilot project to improve cattle (bovine) breeds in the state. The project will use embryo transplantation to breed purebred cattle, with the goal of significantly increasing milk production.
Emergency Health Funds
The Cabinet approved emergency funds for the state health department to clear pending hospital bills under the State Government Health Scheme (Golden Card), keeping the healthcare network running smoothly.
