New trainee policy to end Ad-Hoc System

· Candidates to be regularized in two years

· No provision for termination after two years

Shimla July 24: A government spokesperson today clarified that the aim of the new Trainee Policy was to make the functioning of departments more smooth, efficient and effective. He said that previously, the period for regularizing contractual employees depended on ad-hoc decisions and the discretion of the government in power. This duration varied from two to eight years. The objective of the new policy was to end the ad-hoc system and ensure regularization of employees after a two-year period. He also clarified that there was no provision in the new policy to terminate the services of any trainee after two years.

The Spokesperson said that some political leaders were spreading misinformation regarding the policy. He questioned how the Agniveer scheme, which was once a key recruitment source for Himachali youth, has now completely shut its doors. He further asked what plans were being made for those youths who would be retired at the age of 23.

He said that the new policy has been designed keeping in mind the interests of the youth and that most of its provisions were similar to the previous contract policy. In the earlier contract system, employees were also kept on contract for two years and under the new system, selected candidates would serve as trainees for a similar period. He said that a departmental examination would be conducted after the two-year training, for which the Personnel Department would soon issue detailed guidelines. All candidates selected through the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission and the Rajya Chayan Aayog would be regularized after completing the two-year trainee period.

The Spokesperson further said that the old contract policy had several practical shortcomings, which caused various difficulties for employees and led to many legal disputes. To resolve these issues the government issued the new Trainee Policy on 19th July, 2025. Under this policy, newly appointed trainees would undergo two years of practical training during which they would learn the functioning of their respective departments. After the training, they would be better equipped to handle departmental responsibilities with greater skill and efficiency.