Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a temporary deferment of salaries for ministers, MLAs, and senior officials due to a severe financial crunch in the state. The decision was presented during the 2026–27 budget and comes after the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant, which has added pressure on state finances.
Under the measure, 50 percent of the Chief Minister’s salary, 30 percent of the salaries of the Deputy Chief Minister and cabinet ministers, and 20 percent of MLAs’ salaries will be deferred for the next six months. Similar deferments have been extended to political appointees and senior bureaucrats, including top administrative and police officials. Group A and B officers will also see a small portion of their salaries delayed.
Sukhu clarified that this is not a permanent cut but a temporary step, assuring that all deferred amounts will be returned once the state’s financial condition stabilises. He emphasised that the move is aimed at managing immediate fiscal stress without imposing long-term losses on officials.
Importantly, lower-level employees have been protected. Group C and Group D staff have been exempted from the deferment and will continue to receive their full salaries, indicating an attempt to shield economically vulnerable sections.
Despite the financial strain, the budget includes several welfare measures. Salaries of non-regularised medical officers have been increased, and pay for paramedical staff has been standardised. Daily wage workers will receive a small increase, while Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and other support staff will see higher monthly honorariums.
The government has also raised funding under MLA priority schemes, suggesting that while austerity measures are being applied at the top levels, developmental and welfare spending remains a priority.
Overall, the move reflects a balancing approach—cutting or delaying payments at higher levels to manage fiscal stress while maintaining support for frontline workers and welfare schemes.
