Himachal CM Sukhu inaugurates ₹9 crore Secretariat blocks, announces 320 new PG medical seats
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated new ₹9 crore Secretariat blocks in Shimla and announced a near-doubling of PG medical seats — from 277 to 597 — across six government medical colleges, calling it a historic addition that will keep more specialist doctors within the state.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated Blocks 1 and 2 of Phase IV of the Armsdale Building at the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat on 18 October 2026 , built at a cost of ₹9 crore .
PG medical seats across 6 government medical colleges have been increased from 277 to 597 , adding 320 seats .
Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla , recorded the largest absolute rise — from 139 to 230 seats .
YS Parmar Government Medical College, Nahan , saw the sharpest proportional jump — from 3 to 35 seats .
Health equipment aged 15–20 years is being replaced with modern machinery at par with AIIMS standards.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday, 18 October 2026, inaugurated Blocks 1 and 2 of Phase IV of the Armsdale Building at the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat in Shimla, constructed at a cost of ₹9 crore. The inauguration marked a significant expansion of the state's administrative infrastructure, with offices set to be shifted to the new premises shortly.
Secretariat Expansion
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sukhu said infrastructure expansion must go hand-in-hand with overall development. The newly inaugurated blocks add considerable space to the Secretariat complex, easing operational pressures on existing facilities. The government indicated that the relocation of offices to the new blocks would be completed in the near term.
Historic Rise in PG Medical Seats
Responding to a media query at the event, Chief Minister Sukhu announced that postgraduate (PG) medical seats across the state's six government medical colleges had been increased from 277 to 597 — a net addition of 320 seats, which he described as a historic expansion. The increase is aimed at widening access to specialised medical education for young doctors within the state and boosting the availability of specialist doctors in government hospitals.
College-Wise Seat Additions
The seat additions span all six government medical colleges. Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, saw its PG seats rise from 139 to 230, an increase of 91 seats. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, went from 99 to 156, adding 57 seats. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College, Mandi, grew from 24 to 79, an addition of 55 seats. YS Parmar Government Medical College, Nahan, recorded the sharpest proportional jump — from 3 to 35 seats. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba, rose from 4 to 32, while Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur, went from 8 to 65 seats.
Healthcare Modernisation Push
Chief Minister Sukhu also said the state government was replacing health equipment that was 15 to 20 years old with modern machinery. He added that healthcare institutions across Himachal Pradesh were being equipped with machines at par with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The government's stated objective is to strengthen government medical colleges, expand PG medical education opportunities, and improve the availability of specialised healthcare across the hill state.
With both the infrastructure and healthcare announcements in place, the Sukhu government now faces the execution challenge of staffing the expanded PG seats and operationalising the new Secretariat blocks on schedule.
Point of View
And a jump from 277 to 597 seats addresses a structural gap. The real test will be whether the expanded seats translate into doctors who stay in state government postings rather than migrate to private practice in metros. The Secretariat inauguration, while administratively useful, is largely routine; the healthcare push is where the Sukhu government's credibility will be measured over the next few years.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu inaugurate on 18 October 2026?
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated Blocks 1 and 2 of Phase IV of the Armsdale Building at the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat in Shimla, constructed at a cost of ₹9 crore. Offices are expected to be shifted to the new premises shortly.
How many new PG medical seats have been added in Himachal Pradesh?
Himachal Pradesh has added 320 new postgraduate medical seats, increasing the total across its six government medical colleges from 277 to 597. The state government described this as a historic expansion.
Which medical colleges benefited from the PG seat increase?
All six government medical colleges benefited: Indira Gandhi Medical College (Shimla), Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (Tanda), Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College (Mandi), YS Parmar Government Medical College (Nahan), Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College (Chamba), and Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College (Hamirpur).
Why is Himachal Pradesh expanding PG medical seats?
The state government aims to give young doctors greater opportunities to pursue specialised medical education within Himachal Pradesh, reducing out-of-state migration and increasing the availability of trained specialist doctors in government hospitals.
What healthcare modernisation steps has the Sukhu government announced?
The government is replacing health equipment that is 15 to 20 years old with modern machinery, and has said healthcare institutions will be equipped at par with AIIMS. The broader goal is to strengthen all six government medical colleges and expand specialised healthcare access across the state.
