CHANDIGARH, Jan. 21 -- The Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved a direct subsidy of Rs.68.5 per quintal for sugarcane farmers for the 2025-26 crushing season. The subsidy will be paid directly to growers on behalf of private sugar mills and will be in addition to the state advised price (SAP) of Rs.416 per quintal, which remains the highest in the country. The decision was taken at a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by chief minister Bhagwant Mann. The state offers the highest SAP for sugarcane in the country at Rs.416 per quintal, an increase of Rs.15 from the previous year. The cane crushing season began in December last year. This season sugarcane was sown over one lakh hectares, particularly in Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts of the state. One-third of the total area under the crop falls in the border district of Gurdaspur. Last year, the government fixed the state advice price (SAP) of Rs.401 per quintal and had promised that it would pay the difference between fair and remunerative price (FRP) and SAP to the farmers who had taken their produce for crushing at the six privately owned mills in the state. In another decision relating to urban development, the cabinet approved the formula used for calculation of charges for additional floor area ratio for properties proposed to be put up for auction from January 2026 onwards. It also approved amendments to Para 10.2 of the E-Auction Policy 2025, notified on February 20, 2025, making the revised provisions applicable to all categories of properties to be auctioned by development authorities in future. In another move related to the agriculture sector, and to promote crop diversification, the cabinet approved collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency for introducing Japanese technology to strengthen Punjab's horticulture sector. The collaboration will focus on horticulture development, cold chain infrastructure, water management, and skill development, with the objective of doubling the share of horticulture in the state's economy. As part of the state government's focus on public health and wellness, the cabinet approved the creation of 1,000 additional posts of yoga trainers under the "CM di Yogshala" project. It was stated that a budgetary provision of Rs.35 crore will be made for this initiative during the financial year 2026-27, aimed at promoting a healthy and fit Punjab. The cabinet gave approval for the transfer of civil hospitals at village Badal, Muktsar, Khadoor Sahib, Tarn Taran, community health centre, Jalalabad, and the tertiary care centre in Fazilka district to Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot. The transfer will enable residents of these areas to access improved treatment and diagnostic services, leveraging the university's advanced medical infrastructure and expertise. To accelerate development through optimal utilisation of land resources, the cabinet approved a policy for transfer by sale or exchange of abandoned and active paths (rastas) or water courses (khals) located within all government-licensed projects inside municipal limits. This policy is aimed at unlocking stalled development potential and improving urban planning outcomes. The amendments to the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994, by inserting Rule 6A, were also approved. The amendment stipulates that the cut-off date for determining eligibility criteria shall be the last date for submission of application forms, unless specifically provided otherwise in the relevant service rules....