Shimla, March 14 -- Despite discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), the Himachal Pradesh chief minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday assured that there will be no cuts in social schemes, salaries or pensions in the upcoming budget.

"The state government's upcoming budget scheduled to be presented on March 21 will be a self-reliance budget aimed at the welfare of all sections of society and will not involve any cuts in social schemes, salaries or pensions despite the reduction in RDG", said CM Sukhu while talking to HT, ahead of a special pre-budget meeting at the state secretariat, in Shimla.

The 16th Finance Commission has recommended discontinuation of the RDG. According to CM, the decision could result in an an...