Pay and Pension Hike for Chief Minister, Ministers, and MLAs

Governor approves three bills passed by the Assembly

Chief Minister’s monthly salary has been increased from ₹95,000 to ₹1.15 lakh.

In a major pre-Diwali announcement, the Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs, and former legislators of Himachal Pradesh will now receive enhanced salaries, allowances, and pensions. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has approved three bills related to these revisions, which were passed by the Assembly on March 28 this year.

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly had passed the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Members’ Allowances and Pension) Amendment Bill, 2025 during the monsoon session earlier this year. Following the Governor’s assent, the amendments have now been published in the official gazette. Salaries and allowances of the Chief Minister, Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and MLAs were last revised in May 2016.

Although the previous BJP government had also introduced a bill to revise these allowances, it was withdrawn after opposition from certain quarters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the Governor’s approval, three new laws have now come into effect —

1. The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Members’ Allowances and Pension) Amendment Act, 2025
2. The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker (Salaries) Amendment Act, 2025
3. The Himachal Pradesh Ministers (Salaries and Allowances) Amendment Act, 2025

Under the new provisions, legislators’ salaries and allowances will automatically increase every five years, linked to the Cost Inflation Index as defined under the Income Tax Act, 1961. This means that future revisions will no longer require formal amendments to the Act.

As per the approved changes:

• The Chief Minister’s salary has been raised from ₹95,000 to ₹1,15,000 per month.
• The Speaker’s salary goes up from ₹80,000 to ₹95,000.
• The Deputy Speaker will now receive ₹92,000 instead of ₹75,000.
• Cabinet Ministers will get ₹95,000 (up from ₹80,000).
• Ministers of State will earn ₹93,000 (up from ₹78,000).
• Deputy Ministers will now receive ₹80,000 (up from ₹75,000).
• MLAs will get ₹70,000 (up from ₹55,000).
• The pension for former MLAs has been increased from ₹36,000 to ₹50,000 per month.

Allowances for all categories have also been revised upward. MLAs are expected to gain significant financial benefits, with their daily allowance now set at ₹2,500, constituency allowance at ₹1.20 lakh, and office allowance at ₹90,000.

The amendment also provides for a Type-VI government accommodation for former Chief Ministers. Additionally, the Leader of Opposition will now enjoy salary, allowances, and facilities equivalent to those of a Cabinet Minister.

Under the automatic revision clause, legislators’ pay will rise every five years, in line with inflation — eliminating the need for legislative intervention for future increases.