The Himachal Daily

Resident Pahari

18 February 2026, Wednesday
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Big Picture

Himachal's budget session saw intense debate over the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), leading to a shortened Governor's address and political clashes.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged 'benami' land deals near Gaggal Airport and Gagret.
The state Assembly passed two bills, including one setting a five-year term for mayors, disregarding the Governor's objections.
Bureaucrats are under scrutiny after MLAs complained of their calls being ignored, prompting a warning from the Assembly Speaker.
The IMD has forecast fresh snowfall for higher regions, while the state concurrently faces a 73% rainfall deficit for February.
Major development projects are planned for Kangra, including Asia's longest zipline at Naddi and the state's first trout fish hub in Boh Valley.
Pensioners staged a protest outside the Vidhan Sabha in Shimla, demanding resolution of their grievances.
An iron-folic acid batch is under investigation after failing quality tests when students in Nurpur fell ill.
Festivities are underway with the Tibetan community celebrating the Losar festival in Dharamsala and the international Shivratri fair commencing in Mandi.
In administrative changes, Anurag Sharma has been appointed the new Deputy Commissioner of Kullu as part of a larger transfer of five IAS officers.

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Headlines

Sewa-II power plant generated Rs 3.6K cr revenue since 2010: CM - Daily Excelsior

Anurag Sharma new Kullu DC - Tribune India

Snowfall likely on higher reaches today - Tribune India
Weather update: IMD predicts snowfall in Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal on Feb 18; rainfall in THESE places — details - Mint
Fresh snowfall likely in Himachal Pradesh tomorrow - Tribune India

Baghat bank weighs merger, share sale - Tribune India

Iron-folic acid batch fails test after 5 Nurpur students fall ill - Tribune India

Fire Horse Year ushers in hope as Tibetans in Dharamsala celebrate Losar - Tribune India

Kullu-Keylong bus service resumes after 24 days - Tribune India

Kangra court grants anticipatory bail to assistant prof, 2 students in Dharamsala student’s death case - Tribune India

Shimla utility duct project sparks heated safety debate - Tribune India

Himachal SIT to Probe Benami Land Deals

SIT to probe all shady land deals near airport zones: HP CM Sukhu - Tribune India
SIT to probe ‘benami’ land deals at Gaggal Airport, Gagret: Himachal CM | Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times
Himachal Pradesh CM Forms SIT for Benami Land Deals in Kangra - The News Mill

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‘Benami’ land purchases at Gaggal Airport, Gagret to be investigated by SIT: Sukhu - The Indian Express
‘Benami’ land purchases at Gaggal Airport, Gagret to be investigated by SIT: Himachal CM - ThePrint

Himachal Officials Face Scrutiny Over Unanswered Calls

Himachal Speaker warns of action against officers ignoring calls of MLAs - Tribune India
Himachal bureaucrats under scanner for not picking up calls from legislators - The New Indian Express
Congress MLA Rakesh Kalia warns of protest against ‘unresponsive’ Himachal bureaucrats - The Indian Express
Himachal bureaucrats under scanner after MLAs complain of unanswered calls - Tribune India

Political Dispute Over Himachal's Revenue Grant

Himachal Assembly in session: House erupts over grant cut - Tribune India
Himachal Deputy CM Agnihotri to Meet PM Modi Over Grant Issues - The News Mill
Himachal Deputy CM slams opposition over revenue deficit grant, says Cabinet delegation to meet PM Modi - ANI News

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BJP, Congress in Himachal Assembly trade barbs over Revenue Deficit Grant suspension - ThePrint
Video | Governor-Government Face-Off Marks Stormy Start To Himachal Budget Session - NDTV
Governor Skips Revenue Deficit Grant References in Address, Budget Session Opens Amid Sharp Political Divide - The News Himachal
Himachal Pradesh Budget Session Day 1: Opp, Treasury benches spar over order of business; debate on RDG follows - The Indian Express
Grant row: Himachal govt blaming Centre for its fiscal mismanagement, says Jai Ram - Tribune India
Himachal Governor Cuts Assembly Speech To 2 Minutes, Row Erupts - NDTV

Soon, products of women self-help groups to be available on Shimla MC web portal - Tribune India

Pensioners stage protest outside Vidhan Sabha in Shimla - Tribune India
Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Protest Near Assembly in Shimla - The News Mill
Himachal Pradesh: Pensioners protest during budget session, warn of Legislative Assembly gherao - ANI News

Project to boost income of fruit growers in Kangra to cover five more horticulture blocks - Tribune India

Kangra to get Asia’s longest 4.3 km zipline at Naddi - MSN

Political Dispute Over Revenue Deficit Grant in Himachal

Himachal assembly sees heated exchange over RDG halt | Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times
Day 2 of Himachal Budget Session: Why are you not outraged at RDG withdrawal: Dy CM to LoP - The Indian Express
HP budget session: War of words between govt, Oppn over RDG discontinuation | Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times

Kullu MLA Sagar Thakur to be inducted as minister: Himachal CM - ThePrint

Key Bureaucratic Changes in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal transfers 5 IAS officers, assigns additional charges - Tribune India
Himachal Pradesh Transfers Five IAS Officers to New Roles - The News Mill
Himachal Pradesh government transfers five IAS officers, issues fresh posting orders - ANI News

Women’s body demands rollback of extra bus pass fee for private school students of Himachal - ThePrint

15 teachers’ unions to protest TET condition for promotions at Anandpur Sahib on Feb 22 - The Indian Express

2 injured in firing incident after clash in Himachal’s Nalagarh industrial area - Tribune India
Three injured in cylinder explosion at sweet shop in Himachal’s Hamirpur - ThePrint

Shimla MC to construct new horse stand on The Ridge - Tribune India

Seriously hurt in mishap, Nepalese couple dies on way to hospital - Tribune India

Edupace student Nishchay scores 99.6 percentile in JEE, highest ever in Una - Tribune India

Education Board to resolve pensioners’ grievances today - Tribune India

Four get hurt while putting out fire at house in Kotkhai - Tribune India
Four injured as house catches fire in Shimla’s Kotkhai - Tribune India

Folk, Sufi beats dazzle crowd on Day 1 - Tribune India

Indian Army invites applications for Agniveer recruitment in Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur districts - Tribune India

Himachal’s first trout hub to be set up in Kangra’s Boh Valley - ThePrint

Farmer killed in accident in Himachal’s Bilaspur - ThePrint

Supreme Court Pulls Up Himachal Govt, Serves Show-cause Notice on Issue of Encroachments - HimbuMail

Himachal Pradesh High Court Records 89.99% Case Clearance Rate In 2025, Declares 12 Working Saturdays To... - Live Law

Himachal Assembly Passes Bills Over Governor's Objections

Himachal Pradesh Assembly passes 2 bills unchanged, disregards governor's objections - Times of India
Budget session: Himachal assembly passes RERA amendment bill without changes | Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times
Himachal Assembly clears 5-year term for Mayor, Dy Mayor - Tribune India

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Legislative assembly re-passes 2 controversial bills despite guv’s objections - Times of India
Himachal Assembly passes two bills unchanged, disregards governor’s objections - ThePrint

7-day International Shivratri Fair opened in Himachal’s Mandi - Daily Excelsior
Over 200 deities converge at Mandi for Mahashivratri - Tribune India

Persistent dry spell leaves HP with 73% rain deficit this February | Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times

Nalagarh blast: Court orders production of 2 BKI operatives - Tribune India

Himachal industry rebuts ‘low GST gain’ narrative - Tribune India

Condition of running with 25-kg weight for ‘Pashu Mitras’ recruitment withheld - Tribune India

Kangra to get 12 new gram panchayats, objections invited - Tribune India

Himachal Assembly unites in tribute to Kumarsain stalwart - Tribune India

HPUs Asst Prof booked for submitting forged documents - Tribune India

Illegal mining in Jawali’s Dehar khud with big machines causes soil erosion - Tribune India

HP Guv skips cut in grant, ends 50-page address in 3 minutes - Tribune India
50-page speech in 2 mins: HP guv skips RDG cut portion in House address - Times of India