Beyond rank revocation, a 20% slash in salaries and allowances for these positions will persist until late 2026. Instructions have been dispatched to administrative secretaries for swift execution, reflecting the government’s resolve to curb expenditures.

At the same juncture, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chaired a key conclave of college principals in Shimla, vowing no budget cuts for education or health despite economic headwinds. ‘Education tops our agenda,’ he affirmed, detailing expansions like specialized colleges in science, commerce, and arts.

Notably, Rs 20 crore has been sanctioned for a new science college on 50 bighas in Hamirpur, with more such institutions planned statewide. To address faculty shortages, processes to fill 800 professor positions are advancing rapidly.

Innovative curricula, skill-oriented language courses, and a novel ranking framework for colleges aim to prepare students for future challenges. Sukhu praised health sector upgrades, including state-of-the-art MRI and robotic surgeries in medical colleges.

Addressing the OPS row, the CM noted the center’s denial of Rs 1,600 crore aid, insisting the scheme fulfills a moral duty to secure retirees’ futures, not a populist stunt.