Guwahati: The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, cleared key measures on hydropower, recruitment, and digital governance on Saturday to strengthen institutional transparency and support inclusive growth across the state.
The session in Anini, Dibang Valley district, focused on addressing administrative challenges and speeding up economic and infrastructure development in the state.
To ensure smooth and consistent recruitment processes, the cabinet approved replacing the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 with a formal Bill.
This allows the appointment of a retired officer as chairperson of the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) alongside serving officers, addressing disruptions caused by frequent transfers.
The cabinet also endorsed recommendations from a one-man inquiry commission to streamline APSSB procedures, aiming for fairer and more efficient recruitment practices to restore public trust.
On the hydropower front, the cabinet approved GST reimbursement for the 1,200 MW Kala II project in Anjaw and the 680 MW Attunli project in Dibang Valley.
With a total investment of approximately Rs 21,700 crore, these projects are expected to generate nearly 458 crore units of free power and about Rs 84 crore in local development funds, while creating significant employment opportunities.
The projects include reserved jobs for local communities: 25% of Group A and B positions, 50% of Group C and D roles, and 25% of skilled and unskilled jobs.
Compensation and rehabilitation packages for project-affected families were also approved, ensuring community participation in long-term hydropower development.
To strengthen technical leadership, a one-time relaxation in recruitment rules was approved for the post of Superintending Engineer (Civil).
The cabinet also cleared the Renovate–Own–Operate–Transfer (ROOT) policy for small hydropower projects, in line with the state’s “Decade of Hydropower Vision (2025–2035)”.
In education, 150 new special education teaching posts were approved, including 75 trained graduate teachers and 75 primary teachers, expanding inclusive education initiatives.
Outdated state provisions under the State Information Commission were repealed to align with amended national RTI rules.
For administrative convenience, the cabinet approved the implementation of the Electronic Inner Line Permit (e-ILP) system.
The regional apple nursery at Dirang, West Kameng, was renamed as the regional temperate horticulture nursery to reflect its broader mandate.
Recruitment rules were also updated for departments such as Indigenous Affairs, Water Resources (Junior Engineers), Agriculture (Statistical Officers), and Disaster Management to align pay structures and streamline promotions.
The cabinet also introduced a new measure under the Arunachal Pradesh Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, making minor offences punishable by fines rather than jail time, a step designed to simplify regulations and make it easier for businesses to operate in the state.