A meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, was held at Mantralaya on Tuesday. The Cabinet approved various schemes and projects worth more than approximately Rs 24,500 crore to accelerate overall development and public welfare in the state. Taking a historic decision towards empowering youth, the Cabinet has decided to provide 20 percent horizontal reservation to Agniveers in uniformed services such as police constable, Special Armed Force, jail guard, forest guard and excise constable.
With the objective of strengthening education and health services, Rs 5,329.17 crore has been approved for payment of honorarium to more than 76,000 guest teachers for the next five years, Rs 348 crore 7 lakh for providing uniform amount to school students, and Rs 3,245 crore 80 lakh for health centres and drug control. Under infrastructure expansion, approval has been given for construction of the four-lane Damoh-Katni road at a cost of Rs 4,470 crore 30 lakh, Rs 3,580 crore 22 lakh for the Rural Development Fund, and continuation of irrigation projects in Datia, Neemuch and Sagar, along with the Kanh Diversion Project in Ujjain in view of Simhastha 2028. These decisions will accelerate employment, infrastructure and social welfare in the state.
Agniveers to Get 20 Percent Reservation in Posts of Police Constable, Special Armed Force, Jail Guard, Forest Guard and Excise Constable
In accordance with the intention of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav to empower youth, the Cabinet has taken a historic decision to provide 20 percent reservation to Agniveers in uniformed services of the state. According to the decision of the Council of Ministers, in recruitment for Constable (General Duty) under the Home Department, 10 percent reservation will be given to Home Guards, 5 percent to ex-servicemen and 20 percent to Agniveers. Similarly, in the Special Armed Force under the Home Department, 10 percent reservation will be given to Home Guards, 5 percent to ex-servicemen and 20 percent to Agniveers. In the Jail Department, 15 percent reservation will be given to Home Guards, 5 percent to ex-servicemen and 20 percent to Agniveers for the post of Jail Guard. In the Forest Department, 15 percent reservation will be given to Home Guards, 5 percent to ex-servicemen and 20 percent to Agniveers for the post of Forest Guard. In the Commercial Tax Department, 10 percent reservation will be given to Home Guards, 5 percent to ex-servicemen and 20 percent to Agniveers for the post of Excise Constable. The reservation will be horizontal.
Approval of Rs 348 Crore 7 Lakh for Providing Uniform Amount to Students of Government Schools from Classes 1 to 8
The Cabinet has approved Rs 348 crore 7 lakh in session 2026-27 for providing the uniform amount through DBT into the accounts of students and parents of boys and girls studying in Classes 1 to 8 in government schools.
Approval of Rs 5,329 Crore 17 Lakh for Payment of Honorarium to Guest Teachers
The Cabinet has approved Rs 5,329 crore 17 lakh for continuation of the scheme for payment of honorarium to guest teachers for the next five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31. In government primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools of the state, teaching arrangements are made through guest teachers against vacant posts among the sanctioned posts as per subject requirements. More than 76,000 guest teachers are currently working in the state.
Revised Administrative Approval of Rs 372 Crore 12 Lakh for Construction of 605-Bed District Hospital in Singrauli
The Cabinet has given revised administrative approval of Rs 372 crore 12 lakh for expansion of District Hospital Singrauli from 450 beds to 605 beds by adding 155 beds, along with internal and external development works, biomedical equipment, hospital furniture and other works.
It is noteworthy that in 2024, administrative approval of Rs 188 crore 72 lakh was granted for construction of an integrated building comprising a 400-bed hospital building and a 50-bed critical care hospital block on the premises of District Hospital Singrauli. Due to the increase in the area of the district hospital and expansion from a 450-bed to a 605-bed hospital building, along with other works, and the consequent increase in cost, revised administrative approval of Rs 372 crore 12 lakh has been issued.
Approval of Rs 4,470 Crore 30 Lakh for Construction of Damoh-Katni Road
The Cabinet has given administrative approval of Rs 4,470 crore 30 lakh, including GST, for construction of the 105.10-kilometre Damoh-Katni road as a four-lane road with paved shoulders under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), based on the Model Concession Agreement prepared for the project.
According to the approval, 40 percent of the project construction cost, amounting to Rs 865 crore 15 lakh including GST, will be paid during the construction period through loans being taken by the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation. For the remaining 60 percent of the construction cost, annuity, O&M, interest, pre-construction activities including land acquisition and other works, and supervision charges, a total amount of Rs 3,605 crore 15 lakh will be provided by the government to the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation through the state budget as equity. Approval has also been given for the Corporation to issue shares to the state government against this amount.
Approval of Rs 3,245 Crore 80 Lakh for Public Health Centres, Strengthening Drug Regulatory System and Drug Control
The Cabinet has approved Rs 3,245 crore 80 lakh for continued operation of three schemes under the Public Health and Medical Education Department from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031. As per the decision, Rs 3,113 crore 27 lakh has been approved for the scheme related to construction of buildings of community health centres, sub-health centres and primary health centres in the state. Similarly, Rs 20 crore 90 lakh has been approved for the scheme related to strengthening the Drug Regulatory System and Rs 111 crore 63 lakh for the scheme related to drug control.
Revised Administrative Approval of Rs 953 Crore 69 Lakh for Construction of Chhindwara Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital
The Cabinet has given revised administrative approval of Rs 953 crore 69 lakh for construction of Chhindwara Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital and other buildings, along with all associated services and external development works.
In 2022, administrative approval of Rs 768 crore 22 lakh was issued for construction of Chhindwara Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital and other buildings. At present, due to the increase in GST rates from 12 percent to 18 percent by the government, the resulting difference in amount, a dedicated electricity feeder line and an increase in building permission fees by the Municipal Corporation, revised administrative approval of Rs 953 crore 69 lakh has been given.
Approval of Rs 1,608.02 Crore for Continuation of Maa Ratangarh Multipurpose Irrigation Project in Datia
The Cabinet has approved Rs 1,608.02 crore for continued operation of the Maa Ratangarh Multipurpose Irrigation Project in Datia district from financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31. The main objective of this project is to develop irrigation capacity over 78,484 hectares in Datia district through construction of a dam and a micro-irrigation system.
Approval of Rs 524 Crore 65 Lakh for Continuation of Rampura Manasa Micro Lift Irrigation Project in Neemuch
The Cabinet has approved Rs 524 crore 65 lakh for continued operation of the Rampura Manasa Micro Lift Irrigation Project in Neemuch district from financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31. It is a major irrigation project. Under the project, water is being lifted from the Gandhi Sagar Reservoir to develop irrigation capacity over 65,400 hectares in Neemuch district.
Approval of Rs 358 Crore 22 Lakh for Continued Operation of Kanh Diversion Closed Duct Project in Ujjain
The Cabinet has approved Rs 358 crore 22 lakh for continued operation of the Kanh Diversion Closed Duct Project in Ujjain from financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31. The main objective of this project is to prevent polluted water of the Kanh River from entering the sacred Shipra River in Ujjain. This scheme is under construction in view of the Simhastha Mahaparv to be held in Ujjain in 2028. Under the project, polluted water of the Kanh River is to be diverted through a 30.15-kilometre-long underground tunnel and covered canal and taken to the Gambhir River.
Approval of Rs 1,052 Crore for Continuation of Banda Major Irrigation Project in Sagar
The Cabinet has approved Rs 1,052 crore for continued operation of the proposed Banda Major Irrigation Project on Dhasan River at Uldan village in Banda tehsil of Sagar district from financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31. The main objective of this project is to provide irrigation to 80,000 hectares in Sagar district through construction of a dam and a micro-irrigation system.
Approval for Distribution of Foodgrains at Rs 1 Per Kilogram to Residents of Hostels, Ashrams and Community Welfare Centres under Department of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Welfare
The Cabinet has approved distribution of foodgrains at the rate of Rs 1 per kilogram for meals to residents of hostels, ashrams and community welfare centres under the Department of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Welfare, on the same lines as hostels and ashrams for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students. For this, the state grant on the foodgrains distributed will be debitable under the state government’s grant head for the subsidised foodgrain scheme for students.
Approval of Rs 2 Crore 41 Lakh for Directorate of Handloom with Creation of 12 New Posts for New District Handloom Offices in Mauganj, Chhindwara, Maihar and Tikamgarh
The Cabinet has approved Rs 2 crore 41 lakh for the Directorate of Handloom, along with creation of three new posts each, a total of 12 new posts, for new district handloom offices in Mauganj, Chhindwara, Maihar and Tikamgarh districts. The Cottage and Village Industries Department has been authorised to take necessary action to include the approved posts in the relevant departmental recruitment rules.
Approval of Rs 3,580.22 Crore for Continuation of Scheme for Transfer of Cess on Transfer of Land to Rural Development Fund
The Cabinet has approved Rs 3,580.22 crore for continued operation from financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31 of the scheme for transfer of cess on transfer of land to the Rural Development Fund under the Madhya Pradesh Cess Act, 1982. Purchase and sale of land and properties and their registration in rural and urban areas is a continuous statutory process, through which cess revenue is continuously received. This amount is used for implementation of basic infrastructure development projects in rural areas through the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions, mainly Janpad and District Panchayats.
Approval of Rs 1,342 Crore 48 Lakh for 14 Schemes of Law Department
The Cabinet has approved Rs 1,342 crore 48 lakh for continuation of 14 major schemes of the Law and Legislative Affairs Department during the 16th Finance Commission period from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031. This amount will be spent on strengthening judicial infrastructure and administrative arrangements.
According to the approval, Rs 372 crore will primarily be spent on construction of High Court buildings and residential complexes, Rs 357 crore 77 lakh for the Advocate General’s Office and Rs 200 crore for the State Judicial Academy building. In addition, financial approval has also been given for advocate welfare, ADR centres, Lok Adalats and strengthening of departmental IT and library facilities.
Approval of Rs 622 Crore 37 Lakh for Continuation of Scheme Related to Service of Court Process
The Cabinet has approved Rs 622 crore 37 lakh for continuation, for the 16th Finance Commission period from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031, of the scheme related to service of court process under the Registrar, Madhya Pradesh High Court, Law and Legislative Affairs Department. Under this scheme, salaries are drawn for government employees, known as process servers, posted in all subordinate courts of the state, including District and Sessions Courts, Civil Courts and others, who ensure service of court documents. Payment of their salaries, allowances and travel bills is also made under the scheme.
Approval of New Rates of Transit Fee for Transportation of Forest Produce and Minerals
The Cabinet has approved new rates of transit fee and No Objection Certificate (NOC) fee for transportation of forest produce produced in the state, excluding mineral forest produce, minor forest produce and bamboo, as well as forest produce imported from other states. In addition, a per-tonne fee has also been fixed for transportation of mineral forest produce.
According to the approval, a fee of Rs 200 has been fixed for transportation of general forest produce up to a quantity of one cubic metre. In case the quantity exceeds one cubic metre, Rs 200 will be payable for the first cubic metre and an additional Rs 100 for every additional cubic metre. If the additional quantity is less than half (1/2) cubic metre, it will be considered zero, while if the quantity is more than half a cubic metre and less than one cubic metre, it will be counted as a full one cubic metre.
The Cabinet has also approved per-tonne fee rates for transportation of mineral forest produce. Accordingly, a fee of Rs 81 per tonne has been fixed for transportation of first-category minerals such as limestone, dolomite, fire clay, manganese ore, copper ore, rock phosphate, pyrophyllite, diaspore, ochre, bauxite, iron ore, calcite, coal, quartz, silica sand, shale, slate and soapstone. A fee of Rs 52 per tonne will be payable for transportation of flagstone, granite, marble and clay stone included in the second category.
Other Decisions
The Cabinet has permitted the state government to pay Rs 691 crore 1 lakh from the amount made available under the state scheme for pending liabilities of construction works approved under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Construction Of Court Buildings”, where the amount exceeds the maximum expenditure limit fixed by the Government of India.
