Shimla, Feb. 13 -- Despite fiscal challenges and recommendations from the finance department regarding freezing recruitment, the state cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to create a total 600 posts (150 posts each) of Sanskrit, physical education, music and drawing teachers for the proposed CBSE schools. The cabinet nod comes a week 4 days after finance secretary Devesh Kumar, through the presentation on February 8, talking about the grim fiscal health of the state, had warned that the withdrawal of Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) may force the state government to abolish all sanctioned posts lying vacant for more than two years and withdraw all subsidies and financial support being extended to various sections of society, including social welfare schemes. The finance department also recommended no recruitment and rationalization of present staff may be done along with 30% downsizing/closure of institutions is required. As per the cabinet decision the 600 posts will be filled up through Rajya Chayan Aayog. Additionally, it was decided to merge 31 boy's and girl's schools across the state into co-educational schools.It was decided to fill up eight posts of safai karamchari in the HP High Court Registry. Further, it decided to fill up five posts of Welfare Organizer in the Department of Sainik Welfare. The cabinet approved to create and fill up three posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) in the Revenue Department. The cabinet has accorded approval to the Road Drainage Policy for the Public Works Department to enhance resilience, reduce life-cycle maintenance costs, improve safety and ensure all-weather connectivity across the State. The new drainage policy for road construction, puts thrust on constructing drainage before the road. The Cabinet further approved an SOP for pothole filling and patch repair on bituminous and flexible pavement surfaces across the State. This will ensure that repairs are carried out in compliance with national standards and promote a transparent system. The Cabinet further approved a project for modernizing medical colleges, super-specialty hospitals and Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans with an outlay of Rs 1,617.40 crore. The project aims to strengthen healthcare services within the state. Additionally, the Cabinet decided to procure modern equipment for the Mother and Child Hospital at Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla, Civil Hospitals at Sundernagar and Nurpur, Regional Hospital Una, 50-bedded Critical Care Block at Civil Hospital Bhoranj and District Integrated Public Health Laboratory at Regional Hospital, Bilaspur. The Cabinet approved the establishment of Departments of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion at Dr YS Parmar government Medical College Nahan, along with the creation and filling up of requisite posts. It also approved the implementation of a Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance Programme across all public health institutions in the state. The Cabinet approved the creation and filling up of 190 Junior Engineer (Civil) and 151 posts of Junior Office Assistant (Information Technology) in the Directorate of Recruitment, as separate cadres. It approved filling up 40 posts of Pharmacy Officer in the Health and Family Welfare Department. It was also decided to fill up 150 posts of Assistant Staff Nurse in the Health Department. It also approved filling up 30 posts of Radiographers in the Health Department. Additionally, the cabinet decided to create and fill up 10 posts of Food Safety Officer in the Department of Health Safety and Regulations. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the establishment of drug testing laboratories at Nurpur, Baddi and Una, along with the creation and filling up of 36 posts of various categories. Other decisions include approving Toll Tax Barrier Policy 2026-27 and Excise Policy 2026-27, extending the benefit of 26 weeks of maternity leave to female Home Guard volunteers, and approving the Governor's address to be delivered during the upcoming Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. The Cabinet gave its nod to increase the bed capacity of the Sports Hostel at Luhnu in Bilaspur district from 80 to 100....