Team News Riveting
Raipur, March 10
The Chhattisgarh government will enact law to curb religion conversion in the state.
The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026. The proposed legislation seeks to effectively curb religious conversions carried out through force, inducement, fraudulent means, undue influence, or misrepresentation.
The decision was taken at the Cabinet Meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai today at his office at Vidhan Sabha premises.
The Cabinet also approved the withdrawal of 13 politically motivated cases from courts, as recommended by a Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to examine matters related purely to political movements and protests.
It approved a proposal to determine subsidy rates for plants and projects based on non-conventional energy sources. Under the proposal, the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) will provide a state subsidy of Rs 1.50 lakh for Solar Highmast installations during the years 2024–25 and 2025–26. For the year 2026–27 and subsequent years, a subsidy equivalent to 30 percent of the tender rate or Rs 1.50 lakh, whichever is lower, has been proposed.
Similarly, for domestic biogas plants with capacities ranging from 2 to 6 cubic metres, a subsidy of Rs 9,000 per plant has been proposed for the years 2024–25 and 2025–26. From 2026–27 onwards, a subsidy of Rs 9,000 per plant will continue for all capacities.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to the draft of the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which provides for the abolition of cess charges levied on property registration. It may be recalled that in 2023, an additional cess of 12 percent was imposed over and above the applicable stamp duty on property transfers to finance the Rajiv Gandhi Mitan Club Scheme. As the scheme is no longer operational, the Cabinet has decided to abolish the additional cess on registration.
It approved the draft of Chhattisgarh Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2026 besides the draft of the Chhattisgarh Housing Board Act, 1972 (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Staff Selection Board Bill, 2026. The proposed Board will be constituted to conduct examinations and select candidates for technical and non-technical posts in the third and fourth categories across various offices of the State Government.
The draft of the Chhattisgarh Public Recruitment and Professional Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2026 was also approved by the cabinet. The proposed legislation aims to ensure greater transparency, fairness, and credibility in the public examination system.
The Cabinet has approved the draft amendment Bill, 2026, proposing changes to Sections 40, 50, and 59 of the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959.
It also have its nod to the allotment of five acres of government land to the District Cricket Association, Rajnandgaon. A modern cricket ground and cricket academy will be developed on the allotted land to promote sports infrastructure in the district.
