Raipur, March 10: The Chhattisgarh cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, aimed at curbing illegal religious conversions across the state. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at the Vidhan Sabha, where several other key legislative and welfare proposals were also cleared.
The proposed anti-conversion legislation seeks to prohibit religious conversions carried out through force, inducement, fraudulent means, undue influence, or misrepresentation. Officials stated that the Bill aims to provide a robust legal framework to address grievances related to forced changes of faith.
In a significant move to provide relief to the common man, the Council of Ministers approved the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026. This amendment will scrap the 12 per cent additional cess previously charged on property registrations. The cess, which was introduced in 2023 to fund the now-defunct Rajiv Gandhi Mitra Club Scheme, will no longer be levied alongside stamp duty.
The cabinet also green-lit the establishment of the Chhattisgarh Employees Selection Board. The proposed board will be responsible for conducting recruitment examinations for technical and non-technical Class III and Class IV posts across various state government departments. To ensure the integrity of these tests, the cabinet further approved the Chhattisgarh (Prevention of Unfair Means in Public Recruitment and Professional Examinations) Bill, 2026, targeting paper leaks and cheating.
Boosting the renewable energy sector, the state government fixed grant rates for non-conventional energy projects. Under the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) proposal, a state grant of ₹1.5 lakh has been approved for solar high mast plants for the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26. Domestic biogas plants will receive a subsidy of ₹9,000 per unit.
Other major decisions included the withdrawal of 13 court cases related to purely political movements, following recommendations from a cabinet sub-committee. The cabinet also approved the allotment of five acres of Rajgami Estate land in Rajnandgaon to the District Cricket Association for the development of a modern sports ground and cricket academy.
Furthermore, drafts for amendments to the Chhattisgarh Town and Country Planning Act, the Chhattisgarh Housing Board Act, and the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959, were also granted approval.