Banbasa, Champawat: The Uttarakhand Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, held a meeting at the NHPC complex in Banbasa on Saturday, marking the first-ever state Cabinet meeting to be conducted in Champawat district.
The meeting, held near the India-Nepal international border, saw the Cabinet take several important decisions concerning land rights, forest clearances, fiscal management, employee conduct rules, local bodies and administrative arrangements.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Cabinet meetings would no longer remain limited to Dehradun and would instead be organized in different districts across Uttarakhand. The initiative, he said, is aimed at bringing governance closer to people, particularly those living in remote and border areas.
Key Decisions Taken by the Dhami Cabinet
PMU Approved for Forest Conservation Processes
The Cabinet approved the establishment of a Project Management Unit (PMU) under the office of the Nodal Officer (Forest Conservation), Uttarakhand. Six posts have also been sanctioned for the unit.
The PMU will facilitate technical scrutiny of forest land transfer proposals, examination of online maps and layouts, and strengthen the functioning of the nodal office.
Bhumidhari Rights for Eligible Landholders
The Cabinet approved proposals to grant Bhumidhari (land ownership) rights to eligible leaseholders and occupants of Class-3 and Class-4 land.
The decision covers eligible leaseholders and occupants in Lalkuan Nagar Panchayat in Nainital district, along with the regularization of Class-4 land in the Doiwala-Rispana Pargana of Dehradun district.
The regularization process will be extended for one year on the basis of 2004 circle rates. After this period, regularization will be undertaken according to the prevailing circle rates.
₹66.29 Crore Released for Pantnagar Airport Expansion
The Cabinet approved the release of the remaining ₹66.2916 crore to the Uttarakhand Trade and Tourism Development Corporation Limited against assets transferred for the expansion of the Greenfield Airport at Pantnagar.
The funds will be used for new construction and other approved works in accordance with the corporation’s action plan.
PAN Verification Made Mandatory in Property Transactions
The Cabinet approved a system for the verification of PAN details submitted by buyers, sellers and other concerned parties during property sale and purchase transactions under the Stamp and Registration Department.
The move is aimed at strengthening verification and transparency in property-related transactions.
Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill Approved
The Cabinet approved the Uttarakhand Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Changes in Forest Department Heads
The Cabinet approved amendments to the arrangements concerning the designation of Heads of Department in the Forest Department.
Under the revised arrangement, the Director of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve will be removed from the list of Heads of Department. The Chief Conservator of Forests (Kumaon), Uttarakhand, Nainital, and the Chief Conservator of Forests (Garhwal), Uttarakhand, Pauri, will be designated as Heads of Department.
Sixth State Finance Commission Report to Be Tabled
The Cabinet approved the tabling of the Sixth State Finance Commission’s report concerning Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies in the upcoming Legislative Assembly session.
The Commission’s recommendations cover the transfer of funds from the state’s net tax revenue to local bodies, along with financial and administrative arrangements for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Provision Approved
The Cabinet approved notification for implementing Section 19(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Under the provision, a District Magistrate may appoint another person as an Assistant Public Prosecutor for a specific case, subject to the prescribed conditions and a 14-day notice to the State Government.
State Employees’ Conduct Rules Amended
The Cabinet approved the Uttarakhand State Employees’ Conduct (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
The amendments seek to update and clarify provisions relating to employees’ movable and immovable property and other valuable assets in line with present circumstances and the All India Services Conduct Rules.
The amendment will also rectify an error in the existing Hindi translation of Rule 15.
Notifications Aligned With Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
In view of the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Cabinet approved necessary amendments to a notification issued in 1965 under the previous criminal law framework.
The amendments will align the notification’s references with the corresponding provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Rules for Reservation in Group ‘C’ Posts
The Cabinet also approved the promulgation of the Uttarakhand Rules, 2026, concerning modifications to the reservation process for Group ‘C’ posts in state services.
Governance Beyond Dehradun
The Banbasa meeting is significant not only for the decisions taken but also for the Uttarakhand government’s stated effort to take the decision-making process beyond the state capital.
By holding the Cabinet meeting in Champawat, close to the international border, the Dhami government has emphasized its focus on remote and border regions and indicated that similar Cabinet meetings could be held in other districts in the future.
