Jharkhand Cabinet Greenlights Tourist Tax Rules and Major Policy Decisions
The cabinet of Jharkhand, under the leadership of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, convened on Thursday and gave its formal approval to a series of significant proposals, including the introduction of the 'Jharkhand City Tourist Tax Rules, 2025'. This new regulatory framework mandates that tourists pay a specified percentage of tax based on their accommodation category during stays in hotels across the state.
Details of the New Tourist Tax Structure
Cabinet Coordination Department Secretary Vandana Dadel provided a comprehensive breakdown of the tax segments. "Indian tourists staying in non-GST hotels will be required to pay a 2% tax on their total invoice. For hotels with GST rates below 18%, the tax will be 2.5%, while those with GST above 18% will levy a 5% tax," she explained. The rates for foreign tourists are set at double these amounts: 4%, 5%, and 10% respectively, depending on the hotel's GST category.
Following the cabinet's endorsement, the rules will now proceed to the state assembly for legislative passage. Subsequently, they must be forwarded to the Governor for assent. Once approved by Raj Bhavan, the regulations will officially come into effect, impacting tourism revenue and hospitality operations statewide.
Expansion of Educational Scholarships and Infrastructure Initiatives
In another pivotal decision, the cabinet approved an amendment to the Manki Munda Scholarship Scheme. Previously limited to girls pursuing technical education at colleges affiliated with Jharkhand Technical University, the scheme will now be extended to include technical colleges under other state universities. "The beneficiary must be a resident of Jharkhand," Dadel emphasized, highlighting the focus on supporting local students in higher education.
The cabinet also sanctioned an estimated fund of Rs 22.3 lakh crore for establishing an Institute of Driving Training and Research in the East Singhbhum district. The funding distribution involves the Central Government contributing Rs 17 crore, Tata Motors Ltd providing Rs 1.82 crore, and the state government covering the remaining costs.
Additional Approvals and Policy Reforms
- Hostel Relocation: Approval was granted to change the site for a proposed 528-bed hostel for Scheduled Tribe girl students from the Women's College (Science Block) in Ranchi to a location near Kalyan Bhavan in Morhabadi.
- Reservation Roster Rules: The cabinet approved Reservation Roster Rules for appointments and promotions of officers, teachers, and non-teaching staff in state government universities and their constituent colleges.
- Child Care Leave Policy: A new policy on leave salary during child care leave was endorsed, providing 100% salary for the first year and 80% for the second year.
- Centres of Excellence: Four Centres of Excellence (CoEs) will be established at BIT Sindri, Dhanbad, in the 2025-26 financial year, operated by the BIT Sindri Innovation and Incubation Centre Foundation, with an approved fund of Rs 38.58 crore.
- Railway Station Renaming: The cabinet approved changing the name of the 'Daltonganj' railway station in Palamu district to "Medininagar."
- Grievance Redressal Rules: Formation of the Jharkhand Government Servant Grievance Redressal Rules, 2026, to ensure time-bound, transparent, and accountable disposal of service-related grievances and terminal benefits for state government employees.
- District Libraries: An amount of Rs 276.49 crore was approved for constructing 800-seater district libraries in 23 districts.
- Medical Facilities: The cabinet paved the way for providing medical facilities to ministers, MLAs (both serving and former), and their kin, similar to those available to IAS/IPS cadres.
In total, the cabinet reviewed and approved 40 proposals during Thursday's meeting, reflecting a broad agenda aimed at enhancing tourism, education, infrastructure, and governance in Jharkhand.
