Himachal Pradesh Current Affairs 2026

At a glance

the top events

The most important events of this page, and how many news items each topic holds.

Top events

1. 3 Oct — CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu dedicated 89 projects worth Rs 415.80 crore in Rohru (61 projects, Rs 182.87 crore) and Rampur (28 projects, Rs 232.93 crore) of Shimla district during a visit from 1 to 3 October.
2. 10 Oct — The Himachal Cabinet (10 October, Shimla) doubled the Milk Incentive Scheme assistance from Rs 3 to Rs 6 per litre and told departments to buy milk products from Milkfed.
3. 14 Oct — CM Sukhu inaugurated Himachal's first solar plant with battery storage, a 2 MW plant with 1 MWh storage at Rongtong near Kaza (Spiti, about 3,600 m), built for Rs 4.42 crore to yield about 36 lakh units a year.
4. 21 Oct — The week-long International Kullu Dussehra began on 21 October at Dhalpur Maidan with the Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath; Governor Kavinder Gupta inaugurated it, and it runs till 27 October.
5. 23 Oct — CM Sukhu announced a 5% dearness allowance hike for Himachal Pradesh employees and pensioners (4% for this year plus 1% pending), benefiting about 2.75 lakh people, with Rs 10,000 arrears for Class IV staff on 1 November.
6. 24 Oct — Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda said the Centre approved 320 new PG medical seats in six Himachal Pradesh colleges with about Rs 415 crore under the Rs 15,000 crore scheme to add 10,000 seats in five years.
7. 24 Oct — CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Pangi apple brand for naturally grown apples from Himachal's tribal Pangi region, which was declared the state's first natural farming sub-division.
8. 24 Oct — Himachal's State Board for Wildlife, at its 12th meeting chaired by CM Sukhu, approved forest land for ITBP border outposts in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur and 0.2750 ha in the Rakchham-Chhitkul sanctuary for an Army post near Nagasti.

News by topic

Government & States

11 one-liners

Economy & Banking

6 one-liners

Science, Defence & Environment

3 one-liners

Sports, Days & Culture

4 one-liners

Awards, Appointments & Books

1 one-liners

Government & States

11 one-liners

Policy · laws · schemes · states.

National

• 1 Oct — For Census 2027, the reference date for snow-bound and remote regions, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, is 1 October 2026; the rest of India uses 1 March 2027.
• 2 Oct — Himachal Pradesh planned to launch the Mukhya Mantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana on 2 October 2026 for about 1.80 lakh extremely poor families, with support such as free electricity and Rs 1,500 a month for women.
• 3 Oct — CM Sukhu distributed Rs 5.78 crore to 1,471 registered construction workers and their dependents through the Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
• 10 Oct — The Himachal Cabinet approved engaging 4,090 para-workers in the Jal Shakti Department, recruitment of 500 Assistant Staff Nurses, and a government nursing college at Chamba with 60 B.Sc Nursing seats.
• 10 Oct — The Cabinet also approved posts for 100 additional CBSE-affiliated government schools and the Mukhyamantri Machhuara Sahayata Yojana, a new support scheme for fishermen in Himachal Pradesh.
• 22 Oct — Himachal Pradesh approved the Nutrition Policy, 2026 to tackle malnutrition, anaemia and micronutrient deficiency, with the Composite Testing Laboratory at Kandaghat to be upgraded and four more laboratories planned.
• 23 Oct — CM Sukhu announced a 5% dearness allowance hike for Himachal Pradesh employees and pensioners (4% for this year plus 1% pending), benefiting about 2.75 lakh people, with Rs 10,000 arrears for Class IV staff on 1 November.
• 25 Oct — Himachal DGP Ashok Tiwari told all government and private schools to fix security gaps within 30 days, with CCTV inside campuses, at gates and on approach roads, visitor records, and children taught the 112 helpline.

States & UTs

• 3 Oct — CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu dedicated 89 projects worth Rs 415.80 crore in Rohru (61 projects, Rs 182.87 crore) and Rampur (28 projects, Rs 232.93 crore) of Shimla district during a visit from 1 to 3 October.
• 7 Oct — CM Sukhu inaugurated and laid foundation stones for three Shimla projects worth Rs 108.16 crore, including Ridge stabilisation work (Rs 66.81 crore) and a parking-cum-shopping complex at the Old Bus Stand.
• 25 Oct — The launch of 28 new panoramic coaches on the UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla railway is delayed after the railway safety commissioner's inspection found defects such as weak air-conditioning; the coaches are going back to RCF Kapurthala.

Economy & Banking

6 one-liners

RBI · markets · trade · reports.

Economy & Banking

• Himachal Pradesh's HPMC paid Rs 35.68 crore to 16,877 apple growers under the Market Intervention Scheme; Rs 17.53 crore of this was paid in cash.
• Himachal Pradesh raised the Market Intervention Scheme price for apples by Re 1 to Rs 13 per kg, and CM Sukhu announced a higher milk support price from 1 December.
• 10 Oct — The Himachal Cabinet (10 October, Shimla) doubled the Milk Incentive Scheme assistance from Rs 3 to Rs 6 per litre and told departments to buy milk products from Milkfed.
• 14 Oct — CM Sukhu inaugurated Himachal's first solar plant with battery storage, a 2 MW plant with 1 MWh storage at Rongtong near Kaza (Spiti, about 3,600 m), built for Rs 4.42 crore to yield about 36 lakh units a year.
• 21 Oct — CM Sukhu flagged off the Shimla-Rampur-Reckong Peo helicopter service from Sanjauli heliport; it flies on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays under Viability Gap Funding, with Hamirpur, Chamba and Palampur to follow in 3-4 months.
• 24 Oct — CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Pangi apple brand for naturally grown apples from Himachal's tribal Pangi region, which was declared the state's first natural farming sub-division.

Science, Defence & Environment

3 one-liners

Space · tech · forces · ecology.

Science & Technology

• 24 Oct — Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda said the Centre approved 320 new PG medical seats in six Himachal Pradesh colleges with about Rs 415 crore under the Rs 15,000 crore scheme to add 10,000 seats in five years.

Defence & Security

• 18 Aug — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off 'Aparajita - Parang La 2026', an all-girls NCC high-altitude trek of about 250 km from Spiti Valley to Changthang over the 5,578 m Parang La pass.

Environment & Ecology

• 24 Oct — Himachal's State Board for Wildlife, at its 12th meeting chaired by CM Sukhu, approved forest land for ITBP border outposts in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur and 0.2750 ha in the Rakchham-Chhitkul sanctuary for an Army post near Nagasti.

Sports, Days & Culture

4 one-liners

Results · important days · heritage.

Sports

• 5 Oct — Cricketer Renuka Thakur of Himachal Pradesh, who was part of the women's cricket team that won Asian Games gold, was also named for a Rs 1 crore reward by the state government.

Art, Culture & Tourism

• 14 Oct — Governor Kavinder Gupta opened the Shimla theatre festival Mukhautasur on 14 October and urged protection of forests, rivers and mountains along with local dialects, folk traditions and festivals.
• 21 Oct — The week-long International Kullu Dussehra began on 21 October at Dhalpur Maidan with the Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath; Governor Kavinder Gupta inaugurated it, and it runs till 27 October.
• 24 Oct — CM Sukhu virtually inaugurated water sports at the Kol Dam reservoir at Aehan in Mandi, with speedboats and a mini cruise boat; the activities will extend over about 35 km up to Tattapani.

Awards, Appointments & Books

1 one-liners

Honours · new posts · books · obituaries.

Awards & Honours

Quick quiz

test yourself

Practice questions on this period. Tap an option to check your answer.

Fill in the blank: one-liner flashcards

CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu dedicated _____ in Rohru (61 projects, Rs 182.87 crore) and Rampur (28 projects, Rs 232.93 crore) of Shimla district during a visit from 1 to 3 October.

89 projects worth Rs 415.80 crore

The _____ (10 October, Shimla) doubled the Milk Incentive Scheme assistance from Rs 3 to Rs 6 per litre and told departments to buy milk products from Milkfed.

Himachal Cabinet

CM Sukhu inaugurated Himachal's first _____, a 2 MW plant with 1 MWh storage at Rongtong near Kaza (Spiti, about 3,600 m), built for Rs 4.42 crore to yield about 36 lakh units a year.

solar plant with battery storage

The week-long _____ began on 21 October at Dhalpur Maidan with the Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath; Governor Kavinder Gupta inaugurated it, and it runs till 27 October.

International Kullu Dussehra

CM Sukhu announced a _____ hike for Himachal Pradesh employees and pensioners (4% for this year plus 1% pending), benefiting about 2.75 lakh people, with Rs 10,000 arrears for Class IV staff on 1 November.

5% dearness allowance

Union Health Minister _____ said the Centre approved 320 new PG medical seats in six Himachal Pradesh colleges with about Rs 415 crore under the Rs 15,000 crore scheme to add 10,000 seats in five years.

J. P. Nadda

CM _____ launched the Pangi apple brand for naturally grown apples from Himachal's tribal Pangi region, which was declared the state's first natural farming sub-division.

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Himachal's State Board for Wildlife, at its _____ chaired by CM Sukhu, approved forest land for ITBP border outposts in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur and 0.2750 ha in the Rakchham-Chhitkul sanctuary for an Army post near Nagasti.

12th meeting

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off _____, an all-girls NCC high-altitude trek of about 250 km from Spiti Valley to Changthang over the 5,578 m Parang La pass.

'Aparajita - Parang La 2026'

Himachal Pradesh's HPMC paid _____ to 16,877 apple growers under the Market Intervention Scheme; Rs 17.53 crore of this was paid in cash.

Rs 35.68 crore

MCQs

1. Which Himachal Pradesh region was declared the state's first natural farming sub-division and got its own apple brand?

   1. Lahaul
   2. Pangi
   3. Kinnaur
   4. Spiti
   Show answer

   Answer: Pangi — CM Sukhu launched the Pangi apple brand for naturally grown apples from the tribal Pangi region.

2. How much central grant is expected for the 320 new PG medical seats approved for six Himachal Pradesh colleges?

   1. Rs 150 crore
   2. Rs 215 crore
   3. Rs 315 crore
   4. Rs 415 crore
   Show answer

   Answer: Rs 415 crore — Union Health Minister Nadda said about Rs 415 crore will be provided under the Rs 15,000 crore scheme for 10,000 seats.

3. The Himachal Pradesh State Board for Wildlife approved forest land for border outposts of which force in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur?

   1. BSF
   2. CRPF
   3. ITBP
   4. SSB
   Show answer

   Answer: ITBP — The board approved land for ITBP battalions at Lalung, Dhar Chokula-Kaza and Nithal Thach.

4. What reward did Himachal Pradesh announce for each of the three state kabaddi players in India's Asian Games gold-winning team?

   1. Rs 25 lakh
   2. Rs 50 lakh
   3. Rs 1 crore
   4. Rs 2 crore
   Show answer

   Answer: Rs 1 crore — Pushpa Rana, Jyoti Thakur and Bhawna Thakur were promised at least Rs 1 crore each plus government jobs.

5. The International Kullu Dussehra 2026 began with the Rath Yatra of which deity?

   1. Lord Raghunath
   2. Goddess Hidimba
   3. Lord Shiva
   4. Lord Hanuman
   Show answer

   Answer: Lord Raghunath — The festival opens with the Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath and runs from 21 to 27 October.

6. By how much did Himachal Pradesh raise the dearness allowance for employees and pensioners in October 2026 (total)?

   1. 3%
   2. 5%
   3. 6%
   4. 7%
   Show answer

   Answer: 5% — The 5% rise is 4% for the current year plus 1% of pending DA, benefiting about 2.75 lakh people.

7. Himachal Pradesh was named among the best-performing larger states in which campaign?

   1. Poshan Abhiyaan
   2. Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0
   3. Swachh Survekshan
   4. Fit India Movement
   Show answer

   Answer: Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 — The award will be presented in New Delhi on 28 October 2026.

8. Himachal Pradesh's first solar plant with battery storage was inaugurated at:

   1. Rongtong near Kaza
   2. Sumdo
   3. Keylong
   4. Tabo
   Show answer

   Answer: Rongtong near Kaza — The 2 MW plant with 1 MWh storage is at Rongtong, Spiti, about 3,600 m above sea level.

9. Where is the Kullu Dussehra held?

   1. Ridge Maidan, Shimla
   2. Gandhi Ground, Kullu
   3. Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu
   4. Chaugan, Mandi
   Show answer

   Answer: Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu — The seven-day festival is held at Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu, and was inaugurated by Governor Kavinder Gupta.

10. Which laboratory is to be upgraded under Himachal Pradesh's Nutrition Policy, 2026?

    1. Composite Testing Laboratory, Kandaghat
    2. Regional Laboratory, Baddi
    3. State Laboratory, Nahan
    4. Food Laboratory, Solan
    Show answer

    Answer: Composite Testing Laboratory, Kandaghat — The policy envisages upgrading the Composite Testing Laboratory at Kandaghat and setting up four more laboratories.

11. What is the capacity of the solar plant with battery storage inaugurated in Spiti Valley in October 2026?

    1. 1 MW with 1 MWh
    2. 2 MW with 1 MWh
    3. 5 MW with 2 MWh
    4. 10 MW with 5 MWh
    Show answer

    Answer: 2 MW with 1 MWh — The plant has 2 MW solar capacity and 1 MWh battery storage and cost Rs 4.42 crore.

12. The Himachal Cabinet doubled the Milk Incentive Scheme assistance from Rs 3 per litre to:

    1. Rs 4
    2. Rs 5
    3. Rs 8
    4. Rs 6
    Show answer

    Answer: Rs 6 — The assistance rose to Rs 6 per litre at the Cabinet meeting held in Shimla on 10 October 2026.