The Jharkhand state cabinet has given its nod for several significant decisions during its Wednesday meeting, including the schedule for the upcoming winter session of the legislative assembly and declaring a native catfish species as the official state fish.
Winter Session and Key Approvals
Under the approved proposal, the winter session of the Jharkhand assembly will convene on December 5 and conclude on December 11. The proposal will now be forwarded to Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar for his final approval.
Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel, while briefing media representatives after the meeting, revealed that the ministerial council cleared a total of 18 proposals during Wednesday's session.
Mangur Declared State Fish
In a significant move for biodiversity conservation, the cabinet approved declaring the indigenous species of Mangur (Calius bactracus), a type of catfish, as the official state fish of Jharkhand.
"Based on the recommendations of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the native Mangur has now been declared the state fish for Jharkhand, as is the case in other states," Dadel stated during the media briefing.
Police Recruitment Norms Revised
The cabinet also approved important changes to the recruitment process for constables in the India Reserve Battalion. The physical efficiency test has been modified with new requirements:
- Male candidates must complete a 1,600-meter run in six minutes
- Female candidates must complete the same distance in ten minutes
This replaces the previous norms that mandated an eight-kilometer race for men and a four-kilometer race for women. Additionally, the cabinet approved amendments to the Jharkhand State Police Radio Wireless Sub Inspector Cadre Appointment Rules of 2016.
Educational and Infrastructure Development
In a boost to educational infrastructure, the 12-member cabinet approved the establishment of science and mathematics laboratories (STEM labs) at every CM School of Excellence across various districts. Each laboratory is expected to cost approximately Rs 20 lakh.
The cabinet also cleared a proposal for setting up a four-star hotel in Deoghar under a public-private partnership model, with an estimated project cost of Rs 113 crore.
Other significant decisions included:
- Lease settlement for 30 years for 147.05 acres in Chandwa block of Latehar district for the proposed Chakla Coal Project
- Approval of Rs 37.27 crore from the state contingency fund by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- Regularization of services for non-teaching staff appointed on contract basis under the World Bank funded Polytechnic Education Strengthening Project
These comprehensive decisions reflect the state government's focus on legislative processes, environmental conservation, administrative reforms, and infrastructure development across multiple sectors.
