Chhattisgarh Cabinet Approves Freedom of Religion Bill, Key Policy Decisions

Raipur, March 2026 : Several important decisions were taken in the Cabinet meeting held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at his chamber in the Assembly building.

1. The Council of Ministers approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026. The objective of this bill is to effectively prevent conversion from one religion to another through force, inducement, fraudulent methods or means, undue influence, or misrepresentation in the state of Chhattisgarh.
2. The Cabinet approved the withdrawal of 13 cases recommended by the Cabinet sub-committee formed to examine cases related purely to political movements. These cases will be withdrawn from the respective courts.
3. The Cabinet agreed to the proposal for fixing grant rates for plants and projects based on non-conventional energy sources. Under this, CREDA has proposed a state subsidy of ₹1.50 lakh for Solar Highmast plants for the years 2024–25 and 2025–26. For 2026–27 and subsequent years, the subsidy will be 30 percent of the tender rate or ₹1.50 lakh, whichever is lower.
   Similarly, for domestic biogas plants with a capacity of 2 to 6 cubic metres, a subsidy of ₹9,000 per plant has been proposed for 2024–25 and 2025–26, and ₹9,000 per plant for all capacities for 2026–27 and subsequent years.
4. The Cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will abolish the cess charged on property registration. It may be noted that in 2023, an additional 12 percent cess over the stamp duty was imposed on property transfers to finance the Rajiv Gandhi Mitan Club Scheme. Since the scheme is currently not operational, the decision has been taken to abolish the additional cess on registration.
5. The Cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
6. The Cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Housing Board Act, 1972 (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
7. The Cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Staff Selection Board Bill, 2026. It may be noted that the Chhattisgarh Staff Selection Board will be constituted to conduct examinations and select candidates for technical and non-technical Class III and Class IV posts in various government offices of the state.
8. The Cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh (Prevention of Unfair Means in Public Recruitment and Professional Examinations) Bill, 2026. The objective of this bill is to ensure greater transparency, fairness, and credibility in the public examination system.
9. The Cabinet approved the draft amendment bill for Sections 40, 50, and 59 of the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959.
10. The Cabinet decided to allot 5 acres of government land to the District Cricket Association, Rajnandgaon. A modern sports ground and cricket academy will be constructed on this land.