Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai led a cabinet meeting at the Mahanadi Bhawan, where several significant decisions were made. The council of ministers honored the courage and sacrifice of Additional Superintendent of Police Akash Rao Girepunje, who died during an anti-Naxal operation in Sukma district, by approving a compassionate appointment for his wife, Sneha Girepunje, as Deputy Superintendent of Police in the State Police Service. The officer was killed in a bomb blast on June 9, 2025.
The cabinet also approved amendments to the solar energy policy, focusing on reducing dependence on traditional energy and promoting non-conventional energy production. Key decisions include:
* **Policy Extension:** The amended policy will remain in effect until 2030, or until the state government issues a new solar energy policy.
* **Industrial Advantages:** Solar energy projects will now receive priority industry status 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 various industries, electricity duty exemptions, stamp duty exemptions, grants for project reports, land use change fee waivers, reduced fees for land from land banks, land premium exemptions for specific entrepreneur groups, employment grants for disabled individuals, and special packages for large projects.
Additionally, the cabinet approved the appointment of Rita Shandilya, currently a member and executive chairperson of the Public Service Commission, as the chairperson of the Public Service Commission.
The cabinet also decided to increase the honorarium for retired media personnel under the Chhattisgarh Senior Media Personnel Honor Fund from Rs 10,000 per month to Rs 20,000 per month, as announced in the 2025-26 budget.