Chandigarh, February 18:

The Punjab Government, under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is working with unwavering commitment and sensitivity to ensure the welfare of marginalised, poor and economically weaker sections of society. This was stated by Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur.

Sharing details, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that under various social security schemes, the Punjab Government has released more than ₹5,748 crore up to January 2026 (during the financial year 2025–26), ensuring direct financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries across the state.

She said that over 35.70 Lakhs  beneficiaries are receiving regular and uninterrupted financial support under these schemes, thereby strengthening the economic security of the poor, senior citizens, women, children and persons with disabilities.

The Cabinet Minister further stated that an amount of ₹3,806.43 crore has been disbursed under the Old Age Pension Scheme, ₹1,099.97 crore for widows and destitute women, ₹385.94 crore for orphaned and dependent children, while ₹456.03 crore has been released as financial assistance to persons with disabilities.

Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasised that social security schemes are not merely financial support mechanisms, but represent hope, dignity and security for lakhs of families. “When a senior citizen receives old age pension, a widow gains financial independence, or a person with disability becomes self-reliant, it reflects the true success of governance,” she said. She added that the government is committed to ensuring that no needy person feels neglected and that government assistance reaches every deserving household with dignity, sensitivity and transparency.

Reiterating the state government’s firm commitment towards the welfare of marginalised and economically weaker sections, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that in line with the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government aims to ensure social security, dignity and financial empowerment for every needy citizen. To achieve this objective, a budget provision of ₹6,175 crore has been earmarked for social security schemes during the financial year 2025–26.

Chandigarh February 18, 2026:

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against  corruption in the state, has apprehended Naib Court Rajinder Singh posted in the court of Sub Divisional Magistrate Kapurthala, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 8000/-.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by a resident of  Nakodar, district Jalandhar.

He said that  the complainant, a labourer by profession, stated that he and his friend Joban were arrested by the police  in a case under Section 128 BNSS (earlier Section 109 Cr.P.C.) and were produced before the court of SDM Kapurthala. Subsequently, the complainant was released on a surety bond and the next date of hearing was fixed for 18.02.2026.

Furthermore he informed that the complainant alleged that Naib Court Rajinder Singh repeatedly harassed him and demanded Rs. 10,000/- to get the case dismissed. Upon the complainant’s request and expression of inability to pay the demanded amount, the accused agreed to accept Rs. 8,000/- as bribe. The entire conversation regarding the demand of bribe was recorded by the complainant.

Unwilling to pay any illegal gratification, the complainant approached the Vigilance Bureau Unit, Jalandhar. After a preliminary enquiry on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused Naib Court Rajinder Singh was arrested red handed while accepting  bribe money of Rs 8000/- from the complainant in presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard, a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Jalandhar and further investigation into this case is under progress.

Chandigarh, February 18:

Major (Dr.) Gurcharan Singh, Retd., today assumed charge as Chairman of the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO) in the presence of Punjab Cabinet Ministers Mohinder Bhagat, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Hardeep Singh Mundian, Tarunpreet Singh Sond and Dr. Balbir Singh.

On the occasion, the Cabinet Ministers congratulated Major (Dr.) Gurcharan Singh and expressed confidence that his vast administrative experience, disciplined background and commitment towards the welfare of ex-servicemen would further strengthen the functioning of the Corporation. They said the Punjab Government remains firmly committed to the welfare and rehabilitation of ex-servicemen and their families, acknowledging their invaluable contribution to the

nation.

Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, National Convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, for reposing faith in him, Major (Dr.) Gurcharan Singh said he would discharge his responsibilities with dedication and sincerity. He affirmed his commitment to further strengthening welfare measures, employment opportunities and support systems for ex-servicemen and their families across the state.

Major (Dr.) Gurcharan Singh, Retd., is a distinguished military veteran with 21 years of service in the Indian Army, specialising in counter-insurgency and jungle warfare. He has held key leadership roles, including Company Commander and Second-in-Command, and gained extensive administrative and operational experience during his service. After retirement, he has remained actively associated with initiatives aimed at social welfare and support for the ex-servicemen community, reflecting his continued commitment to nation-building and public service.

Among the dignitaries present were MLA, Dera Bassi, Kuljit Singh Randhawa; MLA, Mansa, Vijay N. Singla; Chairman, Water Works and Secretary, AAP, S.S. Ahluwalia; Chairman, Punjab Agro, Shivinder Singh Khinda; Halka Incharge, Sanour, Harjot Singh Hadana; Chairman, Planning Board, Prabhjot Kaur; Chairman, Market Committee, Mohali, Gurinder Singh Mittal; Councillor, Chandigarh, Damanpreet Singh Badal; Councillor, Chandigarh, Prem Lata; Councillor, Chandigarh, Anju Katyal; and Councillor, Chandigarh, Hardip Singh, along with Managing Director Major General Harmandeep Singh (Retd.), and other senior officers.Lt Gen Surinder Singh, former Army Commander, Western Command, Lt Gen Gurpartap Singh (Retd.), and a large number of Army officers from the Tricity were also present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, February 18, 2026:

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed grief over the demise of  renowned Faridkot based Punjabi Poet Navrahi Ghugyanvi. His unwavering dedication towards poetry will always inspire us and remain in our heart.

Speaker Sandhwan  deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing away and he prayed to the God to grant peace to the departed soul. Almighty may give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of distress.

Chandigarh February 18,2026:

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that the central government should heed to the advice given by the expert doctors of Apollo Hospital and should be sensitive towards the issues of farmers of India. He added that trade deal with the US will cause huge loss to the farmers of India. He stated that the central government is acting indifferently towards the leading issues of the farmers which is very unfortunate and condemnable.

He said that our government stands shoulder to shoulder with the Indian farmers and we will raise our voice against this trade pact and protest against the anti-farmer policies of the central government.

 Sandhwan highlighted that as per Apollo Hospital doctor advice imported apples are less nutritious than domestic Indian varieties because they lose 40–85% of nutrients, particularly Vitamin C, during long-term storage and transport. They looks shinny but are inferior in quality. In contrast with Kashmiri or Himachali apples which is offering better health benefits at lower costs. Imported apples are less nutritious than the domestic harvest. We end up paying a premium price for an inferior quality imported apples. He expressed hope that the central government would listen to these issues and resolve them soon.

CHANDIGARH, February 18:

          As the decisive ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign launched under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann enters its 29th day, Punjab Police on Wednesday conducted 689 raids at the at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across the state.

          As per the information, the “Gangstran Te Vaar”— a decisive war to make Punjab a gangster-free state was launched by the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on January 20, 2026. Police teams from all the districts in coordination with Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab has been conducting special operations across the state.

          On Day 29, Police teams arrested 196 individuals and recovered one weapons from their possession, taking the total arrests to 9,978 since the launch of the campaign.

 Apart from this, preventive action has been taken against 78 persons, whereas, 232 persons were verified and released after questioning. Police teams have also arrested nine proclaimed offenders (POs) during the operation.

          People can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.

          Meanwhile, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” for 354th day with 110 drug smugglers arrested on Wednesday and recovered 1 kg heroin, 2.7 kg opium, 419 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 2120 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 50,184 in just 354 days. As part of De-addiction, the Punjab Police has convinced 36 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh, February 18:

Punjab Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat on Wednesday said that Punjab is set to witness a major positive change in the horticulture sector with a proposed investment of about Rs 1,300 crore, which will help increase farmers’ income and create new opportunities in value addition and exports.

Addressing a press conference here, the Minister shared the outcomes of his recent visit to Sahyadri Farmers Producer Company Limited in Nashik, Maharashtra. He said Punjab will adopt successful practices from the Maharashtra horticulture model so that farmers in the state can earn better profits through organised farming, processing and better market linkages. An MoU was also signed with Sahyadri to strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Punjab through training and institutional support.

Bhagat said the visit was very useful as the delegation studied how farmers can work together through FPOs to improve production, grading, packaging, processing and exports. He informed that Sahyadri is working with thousands of farmers over more than 30,000 acres and exports fruits and vegetables to 42 countries, which shows how collective efforts can bring prosperity to farmers.

The Minister said the delegation visited modern packhouses, processing units, research farms and training centres, where they interacted directly with farmers and experts. He said Punjab farmers can benefit from scientific crop planning, better quality control and strong market connections, which were key features of the model studied during the visit.

Talking about the MoU, the Minister said it will help in forming strong farmer groups in Punjab, providing training, technology support and guidance so that farmers can benefit from working collectively and get better prices for their produce.

Bhagat reiterated that the Punjab Government is fully committed to promoting crop diversification towards horticulture, increasing value addition and creating sustainable income opportunities for farmers, adding that Punjab has the potential to emerge as a leading horticulture hub in the country.

On this occasion, Commissioner Agriculture Babita Kaler, Director Horticulture Shailender Kaur, Deputy Director Horticulture Harpreet Singh Sethi, Assistant Director Horticulture Rupinder Kaur,  Assistant Director Horticulture Balwinderjit Kaur and other senior officers were present.

CHANDIGARH, February 18:

As over 8.18 lakh students begin their Class 8, 10 and 12 Board examinations across Punjab, the Bhagwant Mann Government has enforced an unprecedented security and monitoring framework to guarantee fairness, discipline and zero tolerance for malpractice.

With 384 flying squads, including special teams conducting surprise inspections, strict imposition of Section 144 within 100 metres of exam centres and the launch of the first-of-its-kind MATQ App for real-time tracking of question papers, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has operationalised a robust, technology-driven system to eliminate leakage risks and ensure transparency.

Backed by 6,792 examination centres and the deployment of over 5,600 officials on ground, the state’s education machinery is working in mission mode to conduct smooth, credible and secure examinations, reflecting the government’s clear commitment to transparent and accountable governance in education.

Extending his best wishes to students, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “Examinations are a celebration of knowledge. I urge all students to appear in exams fearlessly, with full confidence and honesty. Your hard work today will illuminate your tomorrow and steer Punjab towards progress.”

Highlighting the scale of preparations, the Education Minister stated, “With over 8.18 lakh students appearing in the Board exams across the state, the Punjab School Education Board has set up 6,792 examination centres, including 2,307 for Class 8, 2,367 for Class 10 and 2,118 for Class 12 across Punjab. To ensure smooth conduct at the ground level, 2,469 Superintendents and 3,193 Deputy Superintendents have been deployed.” He added, “To curb malpractices and cheating in exams, 384 flying squads, including 111 special teams, will conduct surprise inspections.”

Emphasising the government’s push for transparency and accountability, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “Ushering in a new era of accountability and discipline in education, the state government has introduced the MATQ App, a first-of-its-kind tech initiative, for real-time tracking of question papers, ensuring foolproof security and zero leakage risk.” He further stated, “To further sterilise the examination environment, Section 144 has been strictly imposed within a 100-metre radius of all examination centres, prohibiting the gathering of unauthorised individuals.”

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the Education Minister asserted, “The Bhagwant Mann Government’s vision for transparent education is taking shape. Exams are being conducted smoothly across Punjab, with a strong focus on quality and fairness.”

Chandigarh, February 18:

Punjab Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO today conducted a comprehensive review of ongoing road infrastructure works across the state at a high-level meeting held at Punjab Bhavan, Chandigarh.

Taking stock of the head-wise progress of projects being undertaken by the Public Works Department (PWD), the Minister emphasized the need for timely completion of all works well before the onset of the rainy season. He directed officials to draw up weekly targets for expediting bituminous works and ensure their early completion.

The Minister instructed that these weekly targets be monitored daily by the respective Chief Engineers and reviewed periodically at his level to ensure accountability and efficiency. He stressed that the people of Punjab must be provided with durable and high-quality road infrastructure without delay.

Reiterating the firm commitment of the Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to provide better and world-class road infrastructure to commuters and travelers, Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO stated that strengthening and modernizing the state’s road network remains a top priority of the government. He added that improved connectivity will facilitate safer and smoother travel while accelerating economic growth and regional development.

Categorically directing officers to make all-out efforts to achieve both financial and physical targets within the stipulated timeframe, the Minister made it clear that no compromise on quality would be tolerated. He warned that strict action would be initiated against any official or contractor found negligent in executing road construction works.

Issuing further directions, the Minister instructed that paving activities be commenced immediately, as environmental conditions are currently conducive for pre-mix and carpeting works. He also announced that routine surprise inspections would be conducted to ensure adherence to prescribed engineering standards and to maintain transparency in execution.

Underscoring his personal commitment to quality infrastructure, PWD minister stated that he would personally inspect construction works at various road sites across the state to ensure transparency, accountability and timely completion of projects.

To streamline financial procedures and prevent last-minute rush at treasuries, the Cabinet Minister directed that all contractor bills be submitted in time..

The meeting was attended by  Administrative Secretary Ravi Bhagat, Engineer-in-Chief Gagandeep Singh, Chief Engineer Anil Gupta and other senior officers of the PWD.

CHANDIGARH/TARN TARAN, February 18:

          With Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann personally taking stock of the investigation into the murder of Harbarinder Singh, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav has directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ferozepur Range Snehdeep Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran Surendra Lamba to personally supervise the probe and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice at the earliest.

          As per the information, victim Harbarinder Singh was shot by two unidentified assailants during a marriage function, which was taking place at Sidhu Farm under the jurisdiction of Police Station Sarhali. He succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital. Another individual present at the scene attempted to chase the attackers and sustained a gunshot injury to his leg during the crossfire and currently undergoing treatment.

          Fixing the accountibility of the incident, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patti Jagbir Singh and Station House Officer (SHO) Sarhali Gurvinder Singh have been placed under suspension on account of the absence of sufficient preventive policing measures.

          The DGP reaffirmed the Punjab government’s firm commitment to maintaining law and order in the state.

          SSP Surendra Lamba further informed that based on the investigation conducted so far, there does not appear to be any angle related to threat or extortion etc. As per preliminary inquiries, the possibility of a personal enmity or revenge angle appears to be strong, he said.

          The SSP confirmed that the case is being investigated from all possible angles in a scientific and technical manner. Four separate teams have been constituted for CCTV analysis under the supervision of different officers, he said, while adding that additionally, one team, along with the FSL team, is examining the crime scene.

          “A thorough investigation will be conducted, and we will ensure exemplary punishment for the culprits,” the SSP added.