Reported by Sandeep Sharma
Guwahati: The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, on Tuesday approved a series of major policy decisions aimed at boosting economic growth, strengthening governance, expanding employment opportunities and improving public service delivery across the state.
Among the key decisions was the approval for promulgation of the Arunachal Pradesh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Ordinance, 2026, a reform measure intended to simplify procedures for entrepreneurs and encourage investment in the state.
The ordinance, which will subsequently be placed before the Legislative Assembly for enactment, seeks to reduce regulatory burdens by allowing eligible MSMEs to commence operations through a self-declaration mechanism, subject to applicable laws and regulations. The government expects the move to improve the ease of doing business, support first-generation entrepreneurs, attract investment, create employment and accelerate industrial growth.
The Cabinet also reviewed the progress of the flagship “Shikshit Bharat to Shikshit Arunachal” Mission, under which the state has undertaken extensive education sector reforms. During Phase-I (2023–2026), the government invested Rs 3,612.50 crore towards strengthening school infrastructure, improving teacher deployment, promoting digital education and enhancing learning outcomes. With a proposed investment of Rs 1,500 crore under Phase-II, the total investment under the mission is expected to exceed Rs 5,100 crore by 2029.
The Cabinet noted that the number of schools has been rationalised from 2,890 to 1,885, enabling better deployment of teachers and resources through 538 host schools. It also highlighted the enactment of the Arunachal Pradesh Transfer and Posting Act, 2026, and the introduction of a digital Teacher Registry Portal, resulting in more than 2,600 merit-based teacher transfers.
Significant gains were reported in educational outcomes, with the CBSE Class X pass percentage increasing by 21.7 per cent and the Class XII pass percentage rising by 22.8 per cent. Arunachal Pradesh also secured the 17th position in the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 and recorded improvements in the Performance Grading Index and NITI Aayog Sustainable Development Goal rankings.
The Cabinet was informed that infrastructure development under the mission includes the construction and upgradation of 50 Golden Jubilee Schools, 90 PM Shri Schools, over 120 hostels, 152 science laboratories, 159 libraries, more than 400 sanitation facilities, 300 PM Poshan kitchens and 180 staff quarters, particularly in remote and border areas. The state has also recruited 150 Special Education Teachers and distributed 75,100 textbooks in 10 tribal languages while strengthening Bhoti language education.
In another major decision, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Arunachal Pradesh Land Settlement and Records Rules (APLSR), 2012, aimed at simplifying land-use conversion procedures. Under the revised provisions, agricultural land within notified Master Plan areas will automatically be deemed converted to the land use specified in the Master Plan, eliminating the need for separate permissions. The Record of Rights format has also been modernised to improve transparency and facilitate digital integration.
The Cabinet was apprised of the implementation framework of the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive State Rural Road Development Programme (CM-CSRRDP), a flagship initiative announced in the state budget. The programme aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to all unconnected habitations with populations below 250 by 2029.
A total of 1,129 habitations covering approximately 6,567 km of road network are proposed to be connected through phased investments of Rs 2,000 crore over the next three financial years. The initiative is expected to improve access to education, healthcare, markets, government services, livelihood opportunities and tourism while promoting balanced regional development.
The Cabinet also approved the Arunachal Pradesh Cooperation Policy, 2026, aligned with the National Cooperation Policy, 2025. The policy seeks to revitalise cooperative institutions, strengthen digital governance systems, improve market access for agriculture and allied sectors, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic development.
Providing relief to job aspirants, the Cabinet approved a one-year extension of the one-time upper age relaxation for candidates who had applied for Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission recruitment examinations advertised in 2022 but became ineligible due to delays in conducting the examinations.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) Rules, 2018. The changes follow amendments to the APSSB Act, 2018, allowing serving officers of organised services with at least 20 years of regular service and holding Super Time Scale (Level-14 in the Pay Matrix), as well as retired officers of equivalent status, to be appointed as Chairman of the APSSB. The tenure of retired officers appointed to the post will be five years or until attaining the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
In the education sector, the Cabinet approved relaxation of recruitment rules for the regularisation of contractual services of erstwhile RMSA Trained Graduate Teachers against 74 existing resultant vacancies under the promotion quota of Secondary Education through a Departmental Promotion Committee. The corresponding contractual RMSA posts will be treated as dying posts upon regularisation.
As part of governance reforms, the Cabinet approved extension of the tenure of the Arunachal Pradesh Administrative Reforms Commission by six months, from August 28, 2026, to February 27, 2027. It also approved the inclusion of Divisional Commissioners as ex-officio members of the Commission, upgraded the Member Secretary post to the rank of Joint Secretary and above, and amended recruitment rules for the post of Junior Analyst under the Department of Administrative Reforms and Training. The Cabinet also took on record the preliminary report submitted by the Administrative Reforms Commission.
Among other decisions, the Cabinet approved amendments to recruitment rules for the post of Aviation Officer under the Department of Civil Aviation, providing for 100 per cent direct recruitment through the APPSC. Amendments to recruitment rules for various posts under the Department of Horticulture were also approved to strengthen manpower and improve service delivery.
The Cabinet further approved the establishment of the Aalo West Division of the Public Works Department through the redesignation of the existing Executive Engineer (HQ) establishment under the Aalo Civil Circle. The move is expected to improve project monitoring, technical supervision and execution of development works in the 30-Aalo West Assembly Constituency without additional financial burden on the state exchequer.
In view of the implementation of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 by the Government of India, the Cabinet approved amendments to relevant state laws and rules to ensure conformity with the prevailing national labour law framework.