ITANAGAR, Nov 14: The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, on Saturday approved a series of major decisions covering school infrastructure, employment opportunities for sportspersons, public service delivery, ease of doing business, drinking water management and administrative reforms.
One of the key decisions was the approval of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementing Mission Shikshit Arunachal by 2029, with an indicative financial outlay of Rs 1,500 crore for 2026-27 to 2028-29.
The mission aims to strengthen essential educational infrastructure, including classrooms, school buildings, hostels and teachers’ quarters, through integrated planning with individual schools as the basic unit.
The first phase of the mission saw more than 800 schools upgraded with an investment of Rs 3,612 crore, including over 120 hostels, 152 science laboratories and 159 libraries.
The second phase will focus on saturation coverage of essential infrastructure through district-based project identification, prioritisation, execution and monitoring. Digital tracking, geo-tagging, financial audits and third-party verification will be incorporated to ensure transparency and accountability.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet approved the Chief Minister's Sports Talent Appointment and Recognition Scheme (CM-STARS), providing for direct government employment to medal-winning athletes at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games and Commonwealth Games.
The scheme will be implemented through amendments to the Arunachal Pradesh Sports Policy, 2017. It is intended to provide career security to accomplished athletes, encourage sporting excellence and enable experienced sportspersons to contribute as players, coaches and sports administrators.
To improve public service delivery, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Arunachal Pradesh (Methods and Procedures of Delivery of Services) Rules, 2017, under the Arunachal Pradesh Right to Public Services Act, 2016.
The revised rules provide for online filing and automated processing of appeals, automatic escalation of appeals in cases of delayed service delivery, direct financial accountability of defaulting public servants and immediate compensation to affected citizens. Citizens will also be able to claim compensatory costs for delays in service delivery and disposal of appeals.
The Cabinet also approved rationalisation of dual licensing requirements for 28 categories of establishments operating within municipal areas as part of its Ease of Doing Business reforms. Under the proposal, establishments holding valid statutory licences, registrations or authorisations issued by competent Central or State Government authorities will no longer require a separate municipal trade licence.
However, the exemption will not extend to other applicable municipal requirements relating to building permissions, fire safety, sanitation, solid waste management, environmental protection and public health. The reform aims to eliminate overlapping procedures, reduce compliance burdens and facilitate business activities across the state.
The Cabinet further approved the revised Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Policy for Rural and Urban Water Supply Systems to ensure the long-term sustainability and efficient management of drinking water infrastructure.
The revised policy incorporates all 19 key points communicated by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, with emphasis on institutional strengthening, financial sustainability and community participation. Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) will have an important role in managing the in-village components of rural water supply schemes.
Arunachal Pradesh had earlier become the first state in the Northeast and the tenth in the country to achieve 100 per cent Har Ghar Jal saturation under the Jal Jeevan Mission. More than Rs 4,500 crore has been spent on expanding and strengthening drinking water infrastructure in the state during 2016-26.
In another decision, the Cabinet approved the Arunachal Pradesh Airport Development Authority Land Disposal Rules, 2026, under the Arunachal Pradesh Airport Area Development Authority Act, 2026.
The rules provide a framework for transparent and sustainable disposal and management of land vested in the authority. They retain public ownership through a leasehold-based system while introducing revenue-sharing leases, digital land disposal mechanisms and structured rehabilitation measures.
The framework is expected to facilitate the planned development of Hollongi Aero-City and attract investment in commercial, residential, institutional, logistics and hospitality sectors, besides generating employment opportunities.
The Cabinet also approved a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Geology and Mining and the Arunachal Pradesh Space Application Centre (APSAC), Itanagar, to strengthen the use of geospatial and space-based technologies in the mineral sector.
The collaboration will facilitate mineral resource mapping through remote sensing and GIS, development of a digital spatial database, satellite imagery and drone-based surveys, and monitoring of mining activities. It will also provide technical support and capacity-building opportunities for departmental personnel.
The Cabinet further approved enhancement of timber royalty rates to ensure fair valuation of the state's forest resources and increase revenue generation.
To strengthen administrative and technical capacity, it approved the creation of posts in the Lokayukta, Election Department, Rural Works Department, Rural Development Department and the departments of Sericulture, Fisheries, and Geology and Mining.
Recruitment Rules for various posts in the departments of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Dairy Development, Public Health Engineering and Water Supply, Youth Affairs, Printing and Stationery, Civil Aviation, Home and Rural Works were also approved.
The decisions are aimed at strengthening public infrastructure, improving governance and service delivery, promoting investment and creating an enabling environment for the state's overall development.