Dehradun (Uttarakhand), March 4: The Uttarakhand Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has approved the implementation of the Central Government’s Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for officers and employees in the state. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting held on Monday. The UPS, introduced by the Central Government under the National Pension System (NPS), aims to offer an assured payout to employees after retirement. The scheme will be operational from April 1, 2025.
In the same cabinet meeting, the state government also approved the new Excise Policy for 2025. The policy includes the closure of liquor licenses near religious places to maintain their sanctity. Additionally, more control will be exercised over liquor sales, with sub-shops and metro liquor sales systems being abolished. The policy also ensures that any shop charging above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) will have its license canceled, and the MRP will now apply to departmental stores to safeguard consumer interests.
The state’s excise revenue has seen a notable increase in the past two years. A revenue target of Rs 5,060 crore has been set for the financial year 2025-26. For the financial year 2023-24, the state earned Rs 4,038.69 crore, surpassing the target of Rs 4,000 crore. For the current financial year, the state has already earned around Rs 4,000 crore, with a target of Rs 4,439 crore.
In another important announcement, Chief Minister Dhami revealed that the state government will provide financial assistance to 45 writers this year, reflecting its commitment to preserving literature and culture. “This is not just financial assistance, but a symbol of our commitment towards the preservation of literature and culture,” CM Dhami said. Additionally, 21 new Sahitya awards, including the prestigious Uttarakhand Sahitya Bhushan, were announced to honor the contribution of writers to the state’s cultural heritage.