Chhattisgarh cabinet decisions, start-ups get a boost, liquor from govt shops in plastic bottles under new excise policy

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh cabinet on Wednesday approved the Excise Policy for 2026–27, introducing key changes in liquor retail packaging and regulatory powers, while also clearing big-ticket moves to deepen higher education, start-up incubation and public health diagnostics in the state.The decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai at the CM House in Civil Lines.In a boost to Chhattisgarh’s start-up culture, the state govt will sign an MoU with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) to establish four new entrepreneurship centres in Nava Raipur, an initiative aimed at strengthening the state’s IT/ITeS sector and the technology start-up ecosystem. This is likely to support 133 domain-specific start-ups over the next three to five years.This was approved by the state cabinet on Wednesday which also cleared the 2026-27 excise policy and big-ticket moves to deepen higher education and public health diagnostics in the state.STPI operates 68 centres across India, with 60 located in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. In partnership with Chhattisgarh’s electronics and IT department, the centres will focus on artificial intelligence, MedTech (including innovations based on herbal medicine and forest produce), smart city, and smart agriculture.An electronics system design and development (ESDD) centre will also be set up through STPI to help students, entrepreneurs, researchers and industry develop electronic product prototypes. Officials said the ESDD centre will provide support to 30-40 hardware start-ups and MSMEs every year.New Excise Policy ApprovedLiquor sold through govt outlets in Chhattisgarh will now come in plastic bottles instead of glass. This was one of the decisions taken by the state cabinet on Wednesday which cleared the Chhattisgarh Excise Policy for 2026-27.Officials said liquor companies will be directed to package products in plastic bottles, citing the need to reduce losses caused by breakage and damage at retail points.Officials said the policy lays down norms for bar operations, ‘ahatas’ and liquor shop functioning.According to govt officials, stakeholder consultations were held in Oct 2025, chaired by secretary-cum-excise commissioner, where inputs were sought on issues including countervailing duty, handling charges, import-export fees, bottling fees, licence fees and foreign liquor warehousing.Based on these deliberations, the cabinet empowered the department to proceed with implementation.The cabinet also cleared changes in the powers of the excise commissioner. The authority to issue composite licences, earlier decided at govt level, will now rest with the excise commissioner, as part of the policy overhaul.40 acres for NMIMS campus in Nava RaipurThe cabinet approved allotment of around 40 acres in Sector-18, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, on a one-time 90-year lease to Mumbai-based Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM) for setting up a campus of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS). This institute will aim to provide modern and high-quality education in the state. Officials said SVKM, founded in 1934, runs more than 30 educational institutions and caters to over one lakh students annually, from pre-primary to doctoral programs.Diagnostics upgrade across district hospitals, CHCs and PHCsIn the healthcare sector, the cabinet cleared decisions to improve quality diagnostic facilities in govt health institutions. The plan focuses on strengthening existing resources and ensuring effective lab operations at district hospitals, community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs), while increasing the number of tests in line with prescribed standards, officials said.