 Summary of this article
- Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has taken a 50 per cent cut, with ministers, MLAs and senior officials also facing reductions.
- Bureaucrats and officials have voiced unease, saying they are paying for political mismanagement.
- The Opposition says the move signals a looming financial emergency and deepening debt crisis.
In the fund-starved state, the Himachal Pradesh government has imposed a 30 per cent pay cut on the salaries of top bureaucrats, senior IPS officers, and other All India and state services officers to tide over financial difficulties.
However, there is growing unease among bureaucrats and senior government officials, many of whom are questioning why they are being asked to bear the burden of what they see as a collective failure of the political leadership to manage the state’s affairs effectively.
Nevertheless, this first-ever move — not yet tested or tried by any state government facing an alarming debt burden and fiscal stress — may trigger a countrywide debate on the governance model, especially where governments change every five years.
From this month onwards, those in the ranks of secretaries, heads of departments, Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Superintendent of Police, police officers up to the level of SPs, Chief Conservator of Forests, Conservator of Forests, and other forest officers up to the District Forest Officer level will face a reduction in pay of up to 20 per cent.
[url=]Related Content[/url]
 Yogi Adityanath Pens Open Letter to UP Citizens Amid Scorching Heatwave
 In A Historic First, CM Sukhu Reduces Budget, Takes 50% Pay Cut, Trims Ministers’ Salaries By 20–30%
 Outlook Explainer: Why Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu Stripped Cabinet Ranks Of Advisors, Political Appointees
 BJP Moves Breach of Privilege Notice Against Himachal CM Over Loan Claims
[url=]Related Content[/url]
Yogi Adityanath Pens Open Letter to UP Citizens Amid Scorching Heatwave
In A Historic First, CM Sukhu Reduces Budget, Takes 50% Pay Cut, Trims Ministers’ Salaries By 20–30%
Outlook Explainer: Why Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu Stripped Cabinet Ranks Of Advisors, Political Appointees
BJP Moves Breach of Privilege Notice Against Himachal CM Over Loan Claims
The move imposes effective salary cuts of 20 to 50 per cent on bureaucrats, IPS and IFS officers, Cabinet ministers, and the Chief Minister, as announced in the 2026–27 Budget by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.
He said the state was facing severe financial strain after the Centre stopped Revenue Deficit Grants (RDG) worth Rs 10,000 crore and GST compensation of Rs 13,000 crore.
“Some tough decisions need to be made, and I expect everyone to support the government’s efforts to pull the state out of the crisis and make it self-reliant by 2027,” said Sukhu.
He has already announced a voluntary 50 per cent cut in his own salary, 30 per cent for the Deputy Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, and 20 per cent for MLAs.
You'll Have to Pay More To Travel To Himachal Pradesh This Summer
BY Ashwani Sharma |
