The Himachal Pradesh government will launch the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgaar Start-up Yojana Phase-IV to create self-employment among unemployed youth while strengthening public transport and promoting environmentally sustainable mobility across the state. The scheme is designed to enable eligible individuals to establish bus operations with reduced financial burden. The chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, described the programme as reflecting the state government's commitment to empowering youth.

Under the scheme, the government will grant a 50 per cent capital subsidy for the purchase of electric buses and a 30 per cent capital subsidy for diesel buses for operations on 1,000 routes. Beneficiaries will also receive a monthly operational incentive of Rs 65,000 for electric buses and Rs 50,000 for diesel buses for a period of five years. Passenger buses with a minimum seating capacity of 32 passengers will be eligible for support.

Applicants must be bonafide residents of Himachal Pradesh, aged between 25 and 50 years, and hold a valid heavy driving licence with at least three years' experience. They are expected to operate the vehicle personally and preference will be given to candidates registered with employment exchanges in the state. The selection process will primarily consider annual family income to prioritise economically weaker applicants.

To ensure efficient and transparent service delivery, all buses will be fitted with global positioning system (GPS)-based vehicle tracking systems and operations will be monitored regularly. Women passengers travelling on buses under the scheme will receive a 50 per cent concession in fare and school students up to Class 12 will be eligible for concessional travel through a special pass system. The authorities will oversee compliance with safety and service standards throughout operations.

Officials said the initiative aims to expand connectivity in rural and urban areas while encouraging cleaner mobility through support for electric vehicles. The scheme is expected to reduce entry barriers for young entrepreneurs and to provide predictable income support during the initial years of operation. Administrative guidelines and application procedures will be published by the state government in due course.