Meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai approves major governance, economic and social welfare measures including a committee for Uniform Civil Code and incentives for women property ownership.
TFP Raipur, April 15, 2026: The Government of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday took several significant policy decisions aimed at strengthening governance, promoting social equity and accelerating economic development in the state during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at Mantralaya (Mahanadi Bhawan) in Raipur.
One of the most notable decisions of the meeting was the approval for the constitution of a high-level committee to prepare a draft framework for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Chhattisgarh. The committee will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, and the Chief Minister has been authorised to nominate its members. The move is aligned with the objective of ensuring legal uniformity and simplifying judicial processes related to personal laws. Currently, matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, maintenance and family disputes are governed by different personal laws across religious communities. The proposed framework draws inspiration from Article 44 of the Constitution of India, which envisions a uniform civil code for citizens across the country.
The committee will conduct wide-ranging consultations with citizens, social organisations and legal experts before preparing the draft. Feedback may also be sought through a dedicated web portal to ensure broader public participation. Once finalised, the draft will be placed before the Cabinet and later introduced in the State Assembly following due legislative procedures.
In a major step towards women’s empowerment and financial inclusion, the Cabinet approved a 50 percent reduction in registration fees for properties registered in the name of women. Although the decision is expected to result in a revenue loss of nearly ₹153 crore for the state exchequer, the government believes the move will significantly encourage women to acquire property and strengthen their economic independence.
The Cabinet also approved a concession in stamp duty for serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and their widows. Under the new provision, a 25 percent reduction in stamp duty will be granted for the purchase of property—either land or building—valued up to ₹25 lakh within the state. The benefit can be availed once in a lifetime. The decision has been taken in recognition of the unique challenges faced by military personnel who often relocate due to the nature of their service and later seek to establish permanent residences.
To boost industrial growth and attract greater private investment, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Chhattisgarh Industrial Land and Building Management Rules, 2015. The revised rules clarify eligibility for the service sector in land allotment and introduce rational limits for land allocation. They also provide statutory provisions for approach roads to land bank plots and include non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and financial institutions to facilitate easier credit access for industries. The amendments also streamline provisions relating to changes in company shareholding and introduce clearer guidelines for projects under the Public–Private Partnership model. These measures are expected to improve the ease of doing business and enhance industrial infrastructure development in the state.
In another important decision, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Chhattisgarh Minor Mineral (Ordinary Sand) Excavation and Business Rules, 2025. The revised rules allow sand mines to be reserved for public sector undertakings of the Central or State governments, including Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation Limited. The government expects the measure to curb monopolistic practices, ensure a consistent supply of sand and improve accessibility, particularly in remote areas.
The Cabinet also approved a comprehensive reform of the Chhattisgarh Minor Mineral Rules, 2015 aimed at increasing transparency and strengthening regulatory control in the mining sector. The amendments include stricter provisions against inactive or non-operational mines, including higher mandatory lease rates after 30 years and the possibility of declaring such mines lapsed. Penalties for illegal extraction, transport and storage of minerals have also been strengthened, with fines ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹5 lakh. Additional provisions relating to bail in illegal transport cases and a uniform system for royalty clearance certificates have also been introduced. The reforms also incorporate measures to ensure better environmental compliance, improved post-contract land access and provisions for lease amalgamation to ensure systematic and sustainable mineral exploitation.
In the livestock and rural livelihood sector, the Cabinet approved amendments to a pilot project involving the distribution of milch animals. The scheme will now extend benefits to beneficiaries from all social categories, including Scheduled Tribes. The government also approved modifications to relevant clauses of the memorandum of understanding signed with the National Dairy Development Board to strengthen the implementation of the programme. The initiative aims to generate self-employment opportunities, enhance rural incomes and support inclusive socio-economic development.
To ensure the timely availability of vaccines for livestock and prevent the spread of infectious animal diseases, the Cabinet authorised procurement of vaccines from Indian Immunologicals Limited, Hyderabad, a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board. The decision was taken in view of delays caused by limited participation in tender processes and the absence of rate contracts on the Government e-Marketplace portal. Vaccines required up to January 2027 during the financial year 2026–27 will be procured through the agency to help control diseases, reduce livestock mortality and improve farmers’ income security.
In a major financial decision, the Cabinet approved the recovery of excess pension payments amounting to ₹10,536 crore made by the state government in previous years under provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. The excess amount arose due to accounting discrepancies by banks and was later verified through a joint reconciliation process between the concerned authorities. Of the total amount, ₹2,000 crore has already been paid by the Government of Madhya Pradesh during the financial year 2025–26, while the remaining ₹8,536 crore will be paid in six annual instalments. The state Finance Department has been authorised to take necessary action to ensure recovery of the balance amount.
Apart from these policy decisions, the Cabinet also reviewed the arrangements for fertiliser supply ahead of the upcoming Kharif agricultural season and assessed the availability of LPG across the state to ensure uninterrupted distribution to consumers. The meeting highlighted the government’s focus on strengthening administrative reforms, improving public services and promoting sustainable economic growth across Chhattisgarh.
