March 11, 2026 : In one of the most significant cabinet meetings in recent years, the Chhattisgarh government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai approved a package of ten major legislative and policy proposals on March 10, 2026. The meeting was held at the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly premises in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar during the ongoing Budget Session.
The decisions span multiple sectors including religious freedom, public examination integrity, property taxation, renewable energy, recruitment reforms, and sports infrastructure. Among all the proposals, the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantrya Vidheyak, 2026, commonly referred to as the anti-conversion bill, has drawn the most national attention.
Anti-Conversion Bill Approved
The Cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantrya Vidheyak, 2026, which seeks to prevent religious conversions carried out through force, coercion, allurement, undue influence or fraudulent means. The bill is expected to be introduced in the current Budget Session of the Assembly.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma and Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary stated that the proposed law aims to protect freedom of religion and ensure that conversions take place only through free will. They emphasised that the legislation is not directed against any religion but against unlawful conversion practices.
Several Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha already have similar laws. However, critics argue that vague terms such as “allurement” and “undue influence” could potentially be misused and may lead to scrutiny of consensual interfaith marriages.
Strict Law to Prevent Exam Cheating
The Cabinet also approved the Chhattisgarh Public Recruitment and Professional Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2026. The proposed legislation aims to curb paper leaks, impersonation, digital cheating and organised exam fraud networks.
The move comes after several high-profile examination scams across the country in recent years that affected millions of job aspirants. The state government said the law will introduce strict penalties and criminal prosecution against individuals involved in examination malpractice.
Creation of Staff Selection Board
To streamline government recruitment, the Cabinet approved the Chhattisgarh Employees Selection Board Bill, 2026. The new statutory board will conduct examinations and recruit candidates for Class III and Class IV government posts.
The initiative aims to bring transparency, uniform recruitment procedures and a structured examination calendar for job aspirants across the state.
Property Registration Cess Abolished
In a significant relief for property buyers, the Cabinet cleared the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which abolishes the 12 percent cess imposed on property registrations in 2023.
The cess had been introduced to fund the Rajiv Gandhi Mitan Club Scheme, which is currently not operational. With its removal, the cost of property registration in the state is expected to decrease significantly.
Biogas Subsidy to Promote Renewable Energy
The government approved subsidies for domestic biogas plants under renewable energy initiatives. A subsidy of ₹9,000 per unit will be provided for plants ranging from two to six cubic metres for the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26, and the same subsidy will apply for all capacities from 2026–27 onwards.
The measure is aimed at encouraging rural households to adopt biogas as an alternative energy source and reduce dependence on LPG.
Withdrawal of Political Cases
The Cabinet approved the withdrawal of 13 cases related to political movements, based on recommendations made by a committee constituted to review such matters. The government stated that the decision was taken to provide relief to individuals involved in political activities.
Amendments in Key State Laws
Several legislative amendments were also approved, including changes to the Chhattisgarh Town and Village Investment Act, the Chhattisgarh Housing Board Act, 1972, and Sections 40, 50 and 59 of the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959. These amendments are aimed at improving urban planning, housing administration and land management in the state.
Land Allotted for Cricket Academy
The Cabinet also approved the allotment of five acres of Rajgami Estate land in Rajnandgaon to the District Cricket Association for the establishment of a modern sports ground and cricket academy. The initiative is expected to strengthen sports infrastructure and provide better training facilities for young athletes in the region.
A Major Legislative Push
The wide range of decisions taken in a single cabinet session highlights the state government’s effort to push multiple governance reforms simultaneously. While measures like property cess removal and exam reforms have received broad support, the proposed anti-conversion law is likely to remain the most debated policy decision when it is introduced in the Assembly.
