The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has developed a new mobile application to facilitate online (e-KYC) verification of beneficiaries under various social security pension schemes.

A department spokesperson said the verification process has been initiated to ensure the seamless transfer of social security pensions directly into beneficiaries’ bank or post office savings accounts.

Beneficiaries have been urged to complete their e-KYC by visiting the nearest Anganwadi centre with the required documents before August 31, 2025.

For assistance or further information regarding the verification process, beneficiaries can contact their nearest Child Development Project Supervisor, Tehsil Welfare Officer or Child Development Project Officer, the spokesperson added.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu marked the 79th Independence Day celebrations at Sarkaghat in Mandi district with a slew of major announcements and inaugurations.

The Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 33 development projects worth Rs. 216 crore across Sarkaghat, Seraj, Drang and Dharampur Assembly constituencies, aiming to bolster infrastructure, education, healthcare and water supply in the region.

Among the major projects inaugurated were Rs 54.91 crore multi-village rural piped water scheme for Baldwara, Bhadrota, and parts of Gopalpur block, Rs 32 crore Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School at Sarkaghat,

Rs 22.82 crore double-lane bridge with footpath over the Beas River at Kothi Pattan, Rs 11.06 crore Community Health Centre building at Marhi, Rs 4.93 crore metalling and tarring of the Naghla Redu Kaner road and Science laboratories at various senior secondary schools, including GSSS Baldwara, Paunta, and Chowk, with costs ranging from Rs 95 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore.

Infrastructure projects also included bridges, roads, panchayat ghars, patwar buildings and community centres across the region, including, Rs 1.33 crore bridge on the Nabahi-Thanda Pani link road, Rs 4.77 crore bridge over Sun Khad from Kandapatan and Rs 2.25 crore bow-string steel truss footbridge over Sun Khad to Purana Dharampur Bazar.

The Chief Minister also laid foundation stones for several new initiatives, including Rs 16.45 crore Rain Water Harvesting structure at Soan Khad, G P Chouri,

Rs 12.91 crore Government ITI at Mohin, Rs 8.83 crore sustainable service delivery water supply schemes under Jal Shakti Sub Division Baldwara, New school buildings, health centres, and roads, including Rs 1.04 crore for GSSS Chandesh and Rs. 6.07 crore for the Chandpur-Dhagwani road.

During the state-level Independence Day function, CM Sukhu also launched ‘Him Bhog’ wheat flour, daliya and turmeric products, made from naturally grown produce.

These products aim to provide consumers with chemical-free food alternatives, promoting health and supporting local organic farming initiatives.

“The projects dedicated today will significantly enhance infrastructure and improve quality of life for the people of Mandi,” said CM Sukhu.

The celebration also recognised individuals and organisations who made significant contributions in their respective fields:

Prerna Sarot Awardees:

Prof Him Chatterjee (Shimla): For reviving Kangra miniature painting and creating the world’s longest public artwork at the Pragati Maidan Tunnel, New Delhi.

Dr Ram Swaroop Shandil (Shimla): For excellence in Indian classical and folk music.
Prof Prem Kumar Khosla (Solan): For pioneering contributions to forestry education as Chancellor of Shoolini University.
Himachal Gaurav Awardees:

Chandrekha Dadhwal (Dharamshala): For her exceptional literary contributions.
Shalini Vats (Kullu): For her work empowering the visually impaired, differently-abled, women and children.

Lal Singh (Chhota Shimla): For leading over 50 projects in sustainability, biodiversity, and renewable energy.
Civil Service Awards 2025:

State Rural Livelihood Mission and the Indian Red Cross Society, Kullu were honoured for their dedicated service and impactful initiatives.

ADM Mandi Dr. Madan Kumar received award in Disaster Management from CM.
Welfare Assistance Under Flagship Schemes:

CM Sukhu distributed financial assistance under various social welfare schemes:
Rs 2 lakh each to five beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Sukh Aashray Yojana as marriage grants.

Rs 1.5 lakh each as first installment for house construction to 11 beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Vidhwa Evam Ekal Nari Awas Yojana.

The 79th Independence Day was celebrated across Himachal Pradesh with enthusiasm. The state-level function was held at Sarkaghat in Mandi district, where Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu unfurled the National Flag, inspected the parade and took the salute from various contingents, including Police, Home Guards, ITBP, NCC, and others, despite heavy rainfall.

In his address, the Chief Minister expressed concern over frequent natural disasters caused by climate change. He mentioned that while the 2023 disaster caused losses worth Rs 10,000 crore, the state only received Rs 1,500 crore from the Centre, and that too after two years. No Central aid has been received yet for this year’s disasters.

However, the state government has already distributed Rs 360.42 crore and now announced an additional Rs 100 crore for disaster relief. He also launched a Rs 3,000 crore project for disaster mitigation and livelihood support.

Under the special relief package, compensation for fully damaged houses has been increased from Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh, and for partially damaged houses from Rs 12,500 to Rs 1 lakh.

CM Sukhu raised concern about the rising drug problem in the state. He informed that over Rs 42 crore worth of property has been seized from drug mafias under the PIT NDPS Act. Drug testing has been made mandatory in police recruitment.

He announced the formation of the ‘Nasha Mukti Roktham’ and Punarvas Board with experts and NGOs to prevent drug abuse and support rehabilitation.

A new Anti-Chitta Volunteer Scheme has also been introduced to involve youth in awareness and information-sharing activities. Village-level anti-drug committees will be formed and monitored by police.

In the education sector, CM Sukhu said the state now ranks fifth in the country in terms of quality education. He announced that over 9,500 teacher posts will be filled, and 200 CBSE curriculum-based schools will be opened.

Teachers will now retire only at the end of the academic session to ensure academic continuity. He added that a total of 23,191 government jobs have been given in the last two and a half years, including 5,452 teacher posts.

In the coming days, 600 patwari posts, 600 JBT posts, 200 doctor posts, 300 panchayat secretary posts, and more than 1,300 police posts will be filled.

The old HPSSSB was dissolved due to corruption, and a new Rajya Chayan Aayog has been set up to conduct computer-based tests. Reforms have also been made in Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, where final merit will now include both written and interview marks. A new law with a three-year jail term will soon be introduced to prevent cheating in exams.

The CM said that Himachal Pradesh is working to become the first Green Energy State in the country. He announced Rs 61 crore for solar panel subsidy, with 4–5% interest subvention for solar projects.

The electricity generated will be bought by the state electricity board. He also announced that 2,000 permits for e-three wheelers will be issued to unemployed youth.

To support rural economy, the CM said cow’s milk is being procured at Rs 51 per litre and buffalo’s milk at Rs 61 per litre.

Naturally grown crops like maize, wheat, barley and turmeric are being procured at fair prices. Cow dung is being purchased at Rs 300 per quintal. Under the MIS scheme, fruits like apples, oranges, mangoes, galgal, kinnow and malta are being procured at support prices.

The Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana has been launched with Rs 100 crore involving women and youth groups to promote afforestation. For women’s welfare, the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana is providing Rs 1,500 per month to over 2.96 lakh eligible women aged 18 to 59.

In the health sector, CM Sukhu announced that robotic surgery has been started at Chamiyana Hospital in Shimla and will be extended to other medical colleges.

He also announced that Atal Medical and Research University will be shifted from Nerchowk to Sarkaghat. The Civil Hospital at Sarkaghat will be upgraded from 100 to 150 beds, a new bus stand will be built, and land will be provided for parking near Shiv Mandir.

Promoting tourism, the CM said that border tourism has begun, with tourists now able to visit areas near the China border. He urged the Centre to open the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route via Shipki La.

Sukhu congratulated Flight Lieutenant Arshveer Thakur of Jubbal, Shimla, for receiving the Vir Chakra for his bravery in ‘Operation Sindoor’. He remembered Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, and paid tributes to all freedom fighters and martyrs on the occasion.

A colourful cultural programme was presented by various troupes. Home Guards gave a live demonstration of rescue operations. The CM honoured all parade participants and artists. A cheque of Rs 1 lakh was presented by Jagannath of Sarkaghat towards the Chief Minister Relief Fund.

Several dignitaries were present at the event, including MLAs Chander Shekhar, Suresh Kumar, Ranjeet Rana, and Dalip Thakur, former ministers Rangila Ram Rao and Prakash Chaudhary, Member of HP Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission Vijay Pal Singh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, DGP Ashok Tiwari, and senior officers and Congress leaders.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania today said that by holding a longer monsoon session of the 14th Vidhan Sabha — comprising 12 sittings — the norm of holding a minimum of 35 sittings in a year will be met.

Addressing a press conference here today, the Speaker said 15 sittings have already been held in the budget session earlier this year and 12 will be held in the monsoon session, which will take the total tally to 27.

“The total number of sittings in this 14th Vidhan Sabha in the last two-and-a-half years will touch 85 after the monsoon session.

Our endeavour is to ensure that this time we are able to meet the 35 sittings norm after the completion of the winter session later this year,” he said.

He said an all-party meeting had been convened at 12 noon on August 18, the opening day of the monsoon session.

He said Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Leader of Opposition, Deputy Chief Whip of the Congress and Chief Whip of the Opposition will attend the meeting to ensure the smooth conduct of the session.

“I hope the members, cutting across party lines will extend their full cooperation to ensure the smooth conduct and optimum utilisation of the 12 sittings during the session,” he said.

He revealed that till now a total of 830 questions, including 679 starred and 151 unstarred had been received from legislators.

Apart from this, 10 notices under Rule 62, six under Rule 101, 12 under Rule 130 had been received, which had been forwarded to the government, he added.

There will be two Private Members Days, where MLA’s can raise issues concerning their Assembly constituencies, he added.

Sharing details of the nature of queries and notices for debate moved by the MLAs, he said majority of the questions pertained to relief and restoration work following disaster-related damages.

Besides this, the queries are mostly on the vacancy position in health, education and other departments and the condition of roads and bridges damaged during monsoon.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today exhorted the youth to not only stay away from drugs but also support efforts to make Himachal a drug-free state by sharing information about drug traffickers with the police.

Sukhu, while speaking on the occasion of International Youth Day here, said that the government was committed to rehabilitating drug victims.

He said that the government was creating employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth, besides encouraging start-ups. “To promote tourism, the government will invest Rs 3,000 crore in the coming years.

At present, about 8,000 homestays are operational in the state and tourism activities have begun along the China border,” he added.

Sukhu said that reforms in the education sector had elevated Himachal Pradesh’s ranking from 21st to fifth in the country.

“Ten Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools will become operational from next academic session. They will be equipped with swimming pools and nutritious meals and will provide quality education.

Teacher recruitment is underway and advertisements have been issued for 600 JBT posts,” he added.

He said that 6,000 orphaned children had been declared ‘Children of the State’ and financial support for higher education under Dr YS Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojana, which offers loans up to Rs 20 lakh at just 1 per cent interest rate, was also being disbursed.

Sukhu launched an HIV awareness campaign, scheduled to run from August 12 to October 12, 2025.

The campaign would cover 6,000 villages and more than 1,500 educational institutions of the state. He also launched the second phase of the car-bin distribution drive and handed over bins to 50 taxi drivers in Shimla.

The stalemate over the selection of the Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni in Solan district, and CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, has brought the state government and the Raj Bhawan in direct confrontation.

The state government today withdrew an advertisement issued by the Selection Committee for filling the two vacancies of Vice-Chancellors on the plea that the Draft Bill pending with the Governor would be placed before the Vidhan Sabha again.

The action of the state government, taken against the backdrop that the matter was discussed at length at the Cabinet meeting held on July 27, has halted the selection process for the two posts initiated by the Raj Bhawan.

The notification issued by the Secretary (Agriculture) today stated that any action by the Governor’s secretariat after the withdrawal of the advertisement would be null and void.

The Himachal Assembly had passed the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Bill, 2023, (Bill No 14 of 2023) on September 21, 2023, and sent it to the Raj Bhawan for the Governor’s assent.

The Governor had returned the Draft Bill with observation that an amendment should be made to the Bill for the constitution of a Selection Committee by inserting the Model Act for Higher Agricultural Educational Institutions in India (Revised 2023).

The monsoon session of the Assembly is commencing on September 18 and the Bill is likely to be passed again and sent for the Governor’s assent.

The stage is now set for a showdown. Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar had written a letter to the Governor’s secretariat on July 26 to halt the process for the selection of two Vice-Chancellors.

“The Legislative Assembly is reconsidering the Amendment Bill, 2023, therefore, the continuation of the selection process for the two posts of Vice-Chancellor is not only illegal but also against the spirit of the Constitution and the values of democracy,” he said.

In response to the letter, the Governor’s secretariat stated that as the post of Vice-Chancellor at the Palampur agriculture university was lying vacant since 2023 and at the Nauni horticulture university since May 2025, the Selection Committee was constituted strictly as per the provisions of the HP Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986, (Act No. 4 of 1987) and the advertisement was issued to get desirous candidates. The Raj Bhawan’s response also stated that the process was legal and justifiable, as per the rules.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the two universities, had constituted the Selection Committee to fill the two posts of Vice-Chancellor.

“The advertisement notices issued on July 21 have been withdrawn and any action by the Governor’s secretariat based on these notifications will be treated as null and void,” read the notification issued by the Secretary (Agriculture).

On May 15 and June 21, the Governor’s secretariat had constituted the Selection Committee and issued an advertisement on July 21, inviting applications for filing the two posts of Vice-Chancellor.

The latest notification termed the issuance of the advertisement for the selection of the Vice-Chancellors of Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni in Solan district and CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, as illegal and against the spirit of the Constitution.

Limited powers under law

The legal opinion contained in Monday’s notification mentions that the Chancellor has limited powers under Section 8 and 23 of the HP Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986

The Act does not empower the Governor’s secretariat to issue an advertisement and interfere in the working of a university

The state government has also not empowered the Governor’s Secretary, who is a government servant, to issue such an advertisement

It is the Registrar of the university or the Secretary (Administrative) who should issue the advertisement

A Bishop Cotton School (BCS) alumnus was arrested for allegedly kidnapping three school students from his alma mater for an extortion bid, police said on Monday.

According to police, the accused, Sumit Sood (45), was familiar with the school’s environment and planned the kidnapping for financial gains. The boys were rescued from a house in Chaithla village, Kotkhai, on Sunday, a day after they went missing during a day out.

Speaking to the media alongside school authorities on Monday, local Congress MLA and former BCS student Harish Janartha said Sumit introduced himself as an old student and offered the children a lift near the Vigilance office in Khalini, close to the school.

He then drove them towards upper Shimla, instead of heading towards Mall Road. “Sumit was aware that the school caters to children from affluent families and also knew the school’s outing schedules,” Janartha said.

“It seems the children were not specifically targeted, and the accused, whose financial condition is poor, picked them at random,” Janartha said.

Janartha also stated that the kidnapping appeared planned, noting that weapons, ropes, and other items were recovered from the accused’s house.

“The accused threatened the children with a gun, and the threatening call to the parents was made from an international number (California),” he added.

A local youth, Raunak from Kotkhai, played a key role in cracking the case. Raunak, who works in Chol, met two constables, Pawan and Hitesh, who showed him CCTV footage of the vehicle used in the crime.

“After seeing the footage, I was 95 per cent sure the vehicle belonged to Sumit Sood. I called him, but he didn’t answer. We then visited his house, checked the vehicle, and confirmed it was the same as in the footage,” Raunak said.

Sumit was subsequently arrested. Punjab’s Education Minister, whose nephew was one of the missing children, was also in Kotkhai with the police.

Raunak was later honoured by the Himachal Pradesh Education Minister Rohit Thakur, the local MLA from the Jubbal-Kotkhai assembly segment.

Raunak had mentioned that it was difficult to believe Sumit was involved in such a crime, given his good behaviour, education, and background, and that he had no known involvement with drugs.

The strength of students at BCS is between 350 and 400, and several concerned calls were received following the incident.

Janartha reassured the public, saying, “There is no cause for concern. Things are under control, and we will ensure such incidents do not occur in the future.” School authorities informed that this was the first such incident in the institution’s history.

They are now in the process of drafting new protocols for student outings, including night outs, term leaves, and holiday departures. A decision has been made to ensure that even senior students will not be allowed to leave the town without adult supervision.

“Himachal Pradesh is considered one of the safest places, but this incident has made us realise the need to review and revise our student management protocols, especially for off-campus activities,” they added.

The government has proposed a grant of Rs 10.75 crore for the current financial year for the development and improvement of roads, streetlights, sewerage, sanitation, parks and parking facilities in newly formed and upgraded urban local bodies.

The Municipal Corporations of Hamirpur, Una and Baddi will receive Rs 1 crore each, while Nadaun, Baijnath-Paprola and Sunni Municipal Councils will get Rs 25 lakh each. As many as 14 new Nagar Panchayats will receive Rs 50 lakh each.

According to a government spokesperson, the government has provided a three-year exemption from property tax to ease the transition of rural areas into the urban fold.

The spokesperson said that the government was set to roll out an expanded form of the Mukhya Mantri Laghu Dukandar Kalyan Yojana. This scheme would provide a one-time settlement of up to Rs 1 lakh through banks for distressed vendors and shopkeepers with an annual turnover below Rs 10 lakh and the state government would bear the interest cost.

Another key initiative of the government’s development strategy for urban areas is the digital transformation of governance. ‘One State One Portal Citizen Seva’ platform aims to provide seamless and transparent online services to citizens across all ULBs.

The spokesperson said that the government was also planning to set up Municipal Common Services Centres at the district level.

A comprehensive proposal worth Rs 49.98 crore had been submitted to the Central Government to set up these centres, which would offer advanced urban planning solutions and improve sanitation and waste management.

Proposals had been sent to the Centre to support creative city re-development projects and innovative financing models.

The Himachal Pradesh government is working on a three-tier policy to check haphazard construction near the banks of rivers and nullahs, as well as flash floods and landslide-prone areas, Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani said on Saturday.

Safety norms and strict regulations would be brought to regulate the construction of houses in rural areas, the minister said.

Construction of buildings, bridges and other structures would require certification by a safety council, and their designs are as per norms set by the public works department, he told PTI Videos.

So far, about 112 people have died in rain-related incidents in the current monsoon season as cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides wreaked havoc, with losses of over Rs 1,900 crore to the state.

Two years back, 540 people died during the monsoon and losses were estimated to be over Rs 10,000 crore.

Dharmani asserted that climate change due to carbon emission was also a major cause of such disasters and added that carbon emission was quite less in the state as compared to other states, and hence should be compensated for taking steps to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change.

He said the powers of the Director, Town Planning Act have been delegated to commissioners and executive officers in urban local body areas.

In Special Area Development Authority (SADA), deputy commissioners and SDMs would have the responsibility, while panchayat secretaries would have the power in rural areas for enforcing regulations and compliance, the minister said.

Construction on plots bigger than 1,000 sqm area are already covered under the Town Planning Act, he said.

Dharmani said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu wants to make Himachal a “green state” by March 2026.

He said earthquake threats were a major cause of worry as Himachal Pradesh falls in a seismic zone and most of the private buildings don’t have quake-resistant features, adding that retrofittings are required for the safety of such buildings.

Himachal Pradesh falls in seismic zones IV and V and is highly vulnerable to earthquakes.

Cooperation of people was necessary for enforcing the safety norms for checking haphazard, unplanned and unsafe constructions and minimising the impact of climate change and natural disasters, he added.

Two brothers from Shillai village in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district have drawn national and international attention after marrying the same woman, citing an age-old tradition known as ‘Jodidar Pratha’.

Pradeep and Kapil Negi, residents of Thindo village in the Shillai region, married Sunita from the nearby village of Kunhat in a ceremony conducted between July 12 and 14.

The marriage was performed with the consent of both families and according to local rituals and customs.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the marriage made headlines, the brothers explained that their union is part of Jodidar Pratha, a long-standing cultural tradition in parts of Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand.

The practice involves multiple brothers marrying a single woman and has historically served to prevent the division of family property.

“This tradition has been followed for centuries and continues in our region and in places like Jaunsar-Bawar,” said Pradeep Negi, who works with the state’s Jal Shakti Department.

“In many such weddings, both brothers exchange garlands with the bride. It is a part of our culture.”

Kapil Negi, who works as a chef abroad, emphasised that the marriage was entirely consensual.

“This was not forced. All three of us agreed to this, and both our families supported the decision,” he said.

Despite criticism and backlash on social media, the brothers remain unphased. “Some people are abusing us online, but that doesn’t bother me,” Pradeep said.

“We’re proud of our culture. People who don’t understand our traditions should not judge. We chose this path out of love and to stay together.”

The couple clarified that the intention behind the marriage was not to seek attention or publicity.