Uttarakhand cabinet clears 4 Badrinath projects; tax rebate for CNG, EV vehicles

Time of India

3 days ago

The
Uttarakhand cabinet
on Wednesday approved 12 proposals, including four related to development projects in Badrinath and a tax exemption for CNG and electric vehicles.
Secretary Shailesh Bagauli said permission was granted for creating Sudarshan Chakra and Sheshnetra Lotus wall artworks at prominent Badrinath locations, including Arrival Plaza and Lakefront. Another decision pertains to the construction and installation of the Tree and River Sculpture at Badrinarayan Chowk.
In a major green push, the cabinet has amended the tax structure for certain categories of eco-friendly vehicles. Under a notification dated Jan 2, 2019, issued under the Uttarakhand Motor Vehicle Taxation Reform Act, 2003, one-time tax rates were specified for vehicles powered by electric batteries, solar energy, or CNG. The cabinet has now decided to extend this exemption to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and strong hybrid electric vehicles under the new Rule 125 "M" of the Central Motor Vehicle (Ninth Amendment) Rules, 2023.
"The purpose of this decision is to encourage vehicle owners to purchase and use these categories of vehicles and to reduce pollution," said Bagauli. The tax exemption will be applicable only once during the financial year 2025–26.
To streamline recruitment processes for Group-C positions outside the purview of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission, the state had earlier established the
Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission
, creating a framework of 64 temporary positions—of which 62 were created, with the remaining two treated as a dying cadre. Given the rising number of requisitions from departments, the cabinet has now approved a restructuring of the commission's framework by creating 15 new positions—one regular and 14 outsourced—on top of the existing 62.
In another administrative decision, the cabinet approved the designation of the head of the Uttarakhand Forensic Science Laboratory Department. With the lab now directly under the control of the Home department, the director of the Forensic Science Laboratory will now be officially recorded as the department head in govt records.
The cabinet also cleared a proposal to restructure the Uttarakhand Human Rights Commission, which was established in 2011 with 47 positions. The structure has not been revised in over a decade, affecting its functioning. To address operational requirements, 12 new positions will be created.
In line with central govt directives, the cabinet approved a proposal to make employees covered under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) eligible for gratuity within the state.
To ensure transparency and uniformity in recruitment processes for uniformed positions, the cabinet has approved the promulgation of the Uttarakhand Uniformed Constable Direct Recruitment Selection Process Rules, 2025, and the Uttarakhand Uniformed Sub-Inspector Direct Recruitment Selection Process Rules, 2025. These rules were formulated in consultation with relevant departments and selection bodies to ensure a standardised selection process for constables and sub-inspectors. Also, changes were made to benefit the dependents of deceased environmental workers under the 1974 rules.
Under the Clean Mobility Transition Policy, 2024, the transport department had planned to deposit funds for various incentives in an escrow account titled the Uttarakhand Clean Mobility Transition Fund. However, banks raised concerns regarding the opening of such accounts. As per a finance department order dated July 5, 2023, budgetary grants must be deposited in Single Nodal Agency (SNA) accounts integrated with IFMS. In view of this, the cabinet has decided to open an SNA account instead of an escrow account for the same fund.