Haryana announces affordable housing, EV tax relief and MSME policy

The Haryana Cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of decisions covering affordable housing, industrial growth, governance reforms, welfare measures and electric mobility.

The Cabinet, chaired by chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, approved a major reduction in stamp duty and registration charges for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) beneficiaries purchasing eligible dwelling units of up to 60 square metres under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0.

Under the decision, eligible beneficiaries will pay Rs 500 as stamp duty and Rs 500 as registration fee for each conveyance deed.

At present, stamp duty is charged at 5 per cent along with 2 per cent additional duty, while registration fees are levied on a slab basis.

The government said the decision would reduce the financial burden on beneficiaries and support the “Housing for All” mission.

The Cabinet also approved a Bill to establish Kusum International University in Rewari through an amendment to the Haryana Private Universities Act, 2006.

According to the government, the university will expand higher education capacity and contribute towards achieving the National Education Policy 2020 target of a 50 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio.

To strengthen financial accountability, the Cabinet approved the draft Haryana Local Audit Bill, 2026, which proposes a statutory framework for independent audits of local bodies and institutions receiving public funds.

The Bill authorises the Local Audit Department to issue surcharge notices, seek records and submit audit reports to the State Legislature within fixed timelines.

The Cabinet also approved the Haryana Progressive MSME and Export Promotion Policy 2026, which the government described as the state’s most comprehensive policy for micro, small and medium enterprises.

The policy includes 60 initiatives aimed at attracting Rs 55,000 crore in manufacturing investment, generating more than five lakh jobs and doubling Haryana’s exports over the next five years.

It also provides capital and interest subsidies, credit support, export assistance, common infrastructure, technology adoption and sustainability measures.

The Cabinet approved compensation of Rs 7.5 lakh for the legal heirs of people who die due to unnatural causes in police custody, including torture, suicide, quarrels among detainees or negligence by police personnel.

Compensation will not be paid in cases involving natural deaths, illness, escape attempts or natural disasters.

In torture cases, at least half of the compensation amount will be recovered from the salaries of the guilty police officials.

The Cabinet also extended 20 per cent horizontal reservation for Haryana domicile ex-Agniveers in recruitment to the posts of Fire Operator-cum-Driver, Wildlife Guard, Constable in the Indian Reserve Battalion and State Disaster Response Force.

The government said the decision would create employment opportunities while making use of the skills acquired during military service.

The Cabinet approved rules under the Haryana Abadi Deh (Vesting, Recording and Resolving of Ownership Rights) Act, 2025, to create legal ownership records for properties in Lal Dora areas.

The rules provide a transparent mechanism for determining ownership and resolving property disputes.

To improve revenue administration, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Haryana Revenue Patwaris Service Rules.

The mandatory training period for Patwaris has been reduced from 18 months to one year. Trainee Patwaris will now receive a regular salary instead of a stipend, while their pay scale after successful completion of training has also been upgraded.

The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Health Department service rules by creating 22 posts of Senior Radiology Officer and redesignating Radiographers as Radiology Officers.

To encourage women’s ownership of vehicles, the Cabinet approved a one per cent rebate in motor vehicle tax for non-transport vehicles costing up to Rs 20 lakh and registered in the name of women.

To promote electric mobility, the Cabinet approved a 100 per cent exemption from motor vehicle tax on new electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers priced up to Rs 30 lakh.

Electric vehicles priced above Rs 30 lakh will receive a 50 per cent tax exemption, while the existing 20 per cent rebate for CNG vehicles will continue.

The Cabinet also approved the Haryana State Commission for Minorities Bill, 2026, providing for the establishment of a statutory commission to safeguard the rights and welfare of minority communities.

In another decision, the Cabinet relaxed provisions of the compassionate appointment policy to allow three Haryana domicile dependents of martyred Armed Forces and CAPF personnel, who were minors at the time of their parents’ death, to be considered for Group-C government jobs after attaining adulthood.

The Cabinet also gave in-principle approval to a new formula-based property tax assessment system for urban local bodies, replacing the existing 2013 mechanism.

According to the government, the new framework is intended to make property tax assessment more transparent and uniform while providing exemptions for religious institutions, government schools and hospitals, agricultural properties and several other categories.