Chhattisgarh Cabinet Meeting @ July 8, 2026

Cabinet Meeting

Date: July 8, 2026

At the Cabinet Meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today at Mantralaya (Mahanadi Bhavan), several important decisions were taken, which are as follows:

1. The Cabinet has approved the proposal to replace the existing Tripartite Agreement with a Direct Debit Mandate (DDM) system, in accordance with the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), to secure payments made by the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company to Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) for power procurement.

The new arrangement will ensure uninterrupted electricity supply from NTPC and other CPSUs while aligning payment security mechanisms with prevailing RBI norms. The State Government will not incur any additional financial burden, as the payment mechanism of the distribution company will remain unchanged and the existing Letter of Credit (LC) system will continue to operate whenever required.

2. The Cabinet has also approved important amendments to the Chhattisgarh Police Special Executive Force (Bastar Fighters), Fighter Constable Service (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2026.
3. In another key decision, the Cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Private Universities (Establishment and Operation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The proposed amendments, based on the recommendations of the Regulation Cell of the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, seek to make the provisions governing the establishment of private universities more practical, contemporary and quality-oriented.

The amendment replaces the requirement of an Endowment Fund with a Reserved Fund, thereby ensuring greater financial safeguards for the interests of students. It also mandates that infrastructure, libraries and other academic facilities comply with the standards prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and other competent regulatory bodies. The reform is expected to encourage the establishment of high-quality higher educational institutions in the state.

4. The Cabinet has further approved the draft Chhattisgarh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, providing for the abolition of the Chhattisgarh Commercial Tax Tribunal and making consequential amendments.

Following the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the number of second appeals under the VAT regime has declined significantly, while the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) has already been established in the state. Consequently, the separate Commercial Tax Tribunal is no longer considered necessary. Pending cases before the Tribunal will be transferred to the Board of Revenue, enabling a more streamlined and efficient disposal of appeals.

5. The Cabinet also approved the draft Chhattisgarh Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The amendments aim to simplify GST laws, ease compliance procedures and make the refund process faster and more transparent, particularly for exporters and industries operating under an inverted duty structure. The reforms are expected to strengthen tax administration, enhance taxpayer convenience and contribute to increased state revenue.
6. To promote industrial growth, the Cabinet has approved the draft Chhattisgarh Industrial Investment Promotion (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The proposed amendments are intended to create a more investment-friendly environment, improve investor facilitation and accelerate industrial development. The draft has been prepared after studying industrial policies adopted by other leading states and is expected to make investment procedures more transparent and effective.
7. The Cabinet approved the draft Chhattisgarh Ease of Doing Business (De-regulation and Facilitation) Bill, 2026. With this legislation, Chhattisgarh is set to become the first state in the country to introduce such a law.

The Bill seeks to simplify, digitise and time-bound the processes involved in establishing businesses and industries. Its key provisions include elimination of deemed permission, self-certification, third-party verification, risk-based inspections and duplicate licensing requirements. These measures are expected to reduce procedural bottlenecks, improve the investment climate and generate greater industrial growth and employment.

8. The Cabinet also approved the One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme, 2026 for providing relief in interest and surcharge payable on plots and constructed properties allotted by the Nava Raipur Atal Nagar Development Authority (NRDA).

The scheme will enable eligible allottees to regularise outstanding dues under prescribed conditions and facilitate timely completion of projects. It will also provide an opportunity to those willing to undertake development, while allowing uninterested allottees to surrender allotted land within the stipulated timeframe. The decision is expected to reduce litigation, ensure better utilisation of land and encourage investment and development activities in Nava Raipur.

9. The Cabinet has approved the proposal to place before the Legislative Assembly a resolution adopting the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 in Chhattisgarh.

The amendment introduced by the Government of India seeks to simplify, improve transparency and strengthen compliance with environmental regulations. Minor violations will be decriminalised and dealt with through monetary penalties, while the processes for imposing penalties and filing appeals will be streamlined. The move is expected to simplify environmental regulation, promote compliance and strike a balance between environmental protection and ease of doing business.

10. The Cabinet also approved the draft Chhattisgarh Rent Control (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at encouraging owners to rent out vacant houses and ensuring speedy resolution of tenancy disputes.

The proposed amendments clearly define the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. They also include provisions relating to property managers, rent collection, tenure of the Tribunal Chairperson and court fees. The legislation has been aligned with the Model Tenancy Act, 2021 of the Government of India.

11. In another significant decision, the Cabinet has approved the allotment of the required government land for the construction of a modern 2,000-seat auditorium in Rajnandgaon, providing a major boost to the district’s cultural and public infrastructure.