The cabinet, led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, held a meeting at the Mahanadi Bhawan today, resulting in several key decisions. The council of ministers honored the sacrifice and bravery of Additional Superintendent of Police Akash Rao Girepunje, who was martyred during an anti-Naxal operation in Sukma district, by approving the appointment of his wife, Sneha Girepunje, as Deputy Superintendent of Police in the State Police Service. Akash Rao Girepunje was a victim of a bomb blast on June 9, 2025.
In a move to reduce reliance on conventional energy sources and encourage the production of energy from non-conventional sources, the cabinet also approved necessary amendments to the state’s solar energy policy. Other decisions taken included:
* **Policy Extension:** The revised policy will now be in effect until 2030, or until a new solar energy policy is introduced by the state government.
* **Industrial Advantages:** Solar energy projects will now be designated as priority industries under the state’s industrial policy.
* Investors will benefit from a range of incentives, including interest subsidies, capital cost subsidies (for micro industries), GST reimbursement (for small, medium, and large industries), electricity duty waivers, stamp duty exemptions, project report preparation grants, land use conversion fee waivers, fee concessions for land acquisition from the land bank, land premium exemptions for entrepreneurs from Scheduled Castes/Tribes, individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and the third gender community, employment grants for the disabled, and special packages for mega and ultra-mega projects.
* The cabinet also approved the appointment of Rita Shandilya, currently serving as a member and acting chairperson of the Public Service Commission, as the chairperson of the Public Service Commission.
* A significant decision was made to raise the monthly honorarium for retired media personnel under the Chhattisgarh Senior Media Personnel Honorarium Fund from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. This increase was previously announced in the 2025-26 budget.