CM calls on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
- Urges to hike import duty on Apple and enhance borrowing limit for Himachal
SHIMLA, 23.05.25-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at New Delhi last evening and held discussions about various budgetary and financial issues concerning the state which require attention of the Union Government.
The Chief Minister also discussed about the issue of import of apples from Turkey. He also requested for a universal hike in import duty on apples in order to protect the interests of apple growers of the country including Himachal Pradesh.
Shri Sukhu requested the Finance Minister to raise the borrowing limit of Himachal and other special category states by at least two percent. He also briefed about various initiatives taken by the state government to improve the fiscal management in the state and about the steps taken to augment financial resources despite several financial constraints.
Principal Advisor to Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena and Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar were present in the meeting.
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CM offers tributes to the martyrs awarded Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra
SHIMLA, 23.05.25-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed deep pride and showered respect for the two brave sons of the state who were posthumously honoured with the prestigious Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra by the President Droupadi Murmu at New Delhi on Thursday evening. He said this honour was a reflection of the courage, sacrifice, and unbreakable spirit of the people of Himachal Pradesh.
Gunner Nayak Dilwar Khan (28) from Gharwasda village in Una district and Havildar Rohit Kumar Negi (23) from Taranda village of Kinnaur district were posthumously awarded for their supreme sacrifices in line of duty.
The Chief Minister said that the entire state stands united and offers tribute to the martyrs. He said that Himachal has always been known as Veer Bhoomi and it is evident from the annals of the history that the soldiers from Himachal Pradesh has always in the front line protecting the boundaries of the Nation from the enemies. The bravery and dedication of our martyrs inspire not just the youth of our state but the entire nation, he said. Such recognition at the National level was a proud moment for every Himachali, he remarked.
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-Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri offered his salutations to the brave hearts, Gunner Nayak Dilwar Khan and Havildar Rohit Kumar Negi from Himachal Pradesh, who laid down their lives for the Nation
SHIMLA-23rd May, 2025-Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri offered his salutations to the brave hearts, Gunner Nayak Dilwar Khan and Havildar Rohit Kumar Negi from Himachal Pradesh, who laid down their lives for the Nation who were posthumously honoured with Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra by the President of India Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi yesterday evening.
He said that the State was proud of their valour. Gunner Nayak Dilwar Khan (28) from Gharwasda village in Una district was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra for his bravery in fighting terrorists in Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir, on 23 July, 2024. He said that Havildar Rohit Kumar Negi from Taranda village in Kinnaur district was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra after he lost his life in an avalanche while on duty in Kashmir on 8 October, 2023 and his body recovered after nine months.
He said that the state was proud of these brave sons and stands in solidarity with their families. Their legacy would continue to inspire generations to come.
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ECI rolls out 18 new reforms to strengthen electoral process in Himachal
SHIMLA, 23.05.25-Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Himachal Pradesh, Ms. Nandita Gupta today here informed that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken a significant step for ensuring free, fair and transparent elections by introducing 18 new initiatives over the past three months. These reforms aim to enhance the overall electoral experience and encourage wider participation among stakeholders in the state.
The CEO said that for the benefit of electors, several citizen-centric steps have been introduced. The maximum number of voters at a polling station has now been limited to 1200 to ensure smoother polling. Additional polling booths would be established in high-rise buildings and densely populated colonies to improve accessibility. To streamline electoral roll updation, data from the Registrar General of India (RGI) concerning deaths would now be obtained and verified directly before being reflected in the rolls. Moreover, voter information slips were being redesigned to prominently display the voter’s serial and part number, making them more user-friendly.
Nandita Gupta said that in terms of procedural reforms, the Election Commission has launched a new integrated digital platform ECINET. This dashboard aims to consolidate all electoral services under a single application, replacing more than 40 existing apps and websites. A long-standing issue related to duplicate EPIC numbers has also been resolved through a new mechanism that ensures the uniqueness of voter identity numbers.
She said that the political parties have also been actively engaged under the new initiatives. Pan-India all-party meetings were organized at various levels CEO, DEO and ERO levels.
On the legal front, 28 stakeholders involved in the electoral process—from electors and political parties to candidates and election officials have been identified based on the Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and related ECI instructions. Tailored training presentations are now being prepared for each stakeholder group to ensure greater legal compliance and understanding, said the CEO.
She further stated that the Commission has also introduced key reforms to support election staff. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) would now receive standardized photo identity cards. More than 3,000 booth level supervisors have already been trained at IIIDEM, New Delhi, with plans to train over 1 lakh more in the coming years. Orientation programmes have also been conducted for State and Mobile Nodal Officers (SMNOs & MNOs) from the CEO offices of all 36 States and Union Territories.
The CEO said that at the institutional level, the ECI has implemented biometric attendance systems and operationalised the E-Office platform for improved administrative efficiency. Regular meetings with Chief Electoral Officers were also being held to monitor the implementation of these reforms and ensure their effective rollout across the country.
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CM strongly pleads for increase in the allocation of funds from Centre
SHIMLA, 23.05.25-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Chairman, Finance Commission Dr Arvind Panagariya at New Delhi on Friday. The officers of the State Government made a presentation to the Commission in the presence of the Chief Minister and submitted an additional memorandum on behalf of the State.
The Chief Minister strongly pleaded for an increase in the allocation of funds to the State. He also advocated that the hill states of the country with geographical challenges should get their due.
The State asked for green bonus for the ecological and environmental services being rendered by the State to the nation by preserving its eco-system.
The Chief Minister said that State has suffered losses due to reduction in Goods and Service Tax and urged for duly compensating for the loss in GST.
He said that Revenue Deficit Grant for Himachal Pradesh should be increased and not tapered.
Dr. Panagariya assured that the Commission will consider the submissions of the State.
Principal Advisor to CM Ram Subhag Singh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar, Secretary to CM Rakesh Kanwar and senior officer of state government accompanied the Chief Minister.