The Council of Ministers approves the draft of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026

• Approval was given to several other matters as well.

Raipur: Several important decisions were taken at the Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday March 10, 2026 in the Assembly’s chamber chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.

1. The Council of Ministers approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026. The purpose of this bill is to effectively prohibit the use of force, inducement, fraudulent tactics and means, undue influence, or misrepresentation for conversion from one religion to another in the state of Chhattisgarh.
2. The Council of Ministers approved the withdrawal of 13 cases from the Hon’ble Court recommended by the sub-committee of the Council of Ministers constituted to withdraw cases related to purely political movements.
3. The Council of Ministers agreed to the proposal to determine the rates of grants for plants and projects based on non-conventional energy sources. CREDA has proposed a state grant of ₹1.5 lakh for solar high mast plants for the years 2024-25 and 2025-26, and 30 per cent of the tender rate or ₹1.5 lakh, whichever is lower, for the years 2026-27 and subsequent years. Similarly, for domestic biogas plants with a minimum capacity of 2 to 6 cubic meters, ₹9,000 per plant has been proposed for the years 2024-25 and 2025-26, and ₹9,000 per plant for all capacities for the years 2026-27 and subsequent years.
4. The Cabinet meeting approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026. This will eliminate the cess fee levied on registration. It is noteworthy that in 2023, a cess at the rate of 12 percent was imposed on the transfer of property funded by the Rajiv Gandhi Mitra Club Scheme, in addition to the stamp duty. Currently, the Rajiv Gandhi Mitra Club Scheme is not operational, so it was decided to waive the additional cess on registration.
5. The Council of Ministers approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
6. The Council of Ministers approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Housing Board Act, 1972 (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
7. The Council of Ministers approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Employees Selection Board Bill, 2026. It is noteworthy that the Chhattisgarh Employees Selection Board will be constituted to conduct examinations and select candidates for technical and non-technical Class III and IV positions in various state government offices.
8. The Council of Ministers approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh (Prevention of Unfair Means in Public Recruitment and Professional Examinations) Bill, 2026. This bill aims to ensure greater transparency, fairness, and credibility in the public examination system.
9. The Council of Ministers approved the draft of the 2026 Amendment Bill to Sections 40, 50, and 59 of the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959.
10. The Council of Ministers decided to allot 5 acres of Rajgami Estate land to the District Cricket Association, Rajnandgaon. A state-of-the-art sports ground and cricket academy will be constructed on this land.