CHANDIGARH, January 1:

          With the ongoing decisive war against drugs ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has completed 10 months, Punjab Police has registered 29,351 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested 42,622 drug smugglers leading to the recovery of 1849 kg heroin since March 1, 2025.

          Since the launch of this anti-drug drive, Punjab Police, under the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, has been conducting operations daily simultaneously in all the 28 Police districts of the state. Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Apart from the recovery of 1849 kg haul of heroin, police have also seized 599 kg opium, 272 quintals poppy husk, 51 kg charas, 624 kg ganja, 28 kg ICE, 46 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets, and ₹15.26 crore drug money.

          On Day 306, Punjab Police arrested 49 drug smugglers and recovered 468 grams heroin, 202 intoxicant pills and Rs 2,500 drug money from their possession.

          Over 100 Police teams, comprising over 700 police personnel, under the supervision of 61 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 257 locations across the state leading to the registration of 38 first information reports (FIRs) across the state, he said, while adding that police teams have also checked as many as 271 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

          Meanwhile, the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 21 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

Chandigarh, January 1 — Haryana Environment, Forest and Wildlife Minister, Rao Narbir Singh said that the Haryana Government is committed to the conservation of the Aravali mountain range. With this objective, the state government is effectively implementing the Haryana Aravali Green Wall Project, which focuses on addressing major environmental challenges such as desertification, land degradation, and drought. A detailed action plan has been prepared to implement this project by the year 2030.

Expressing gratitude to the Central Government, he said that Haryana getting the opportunity to host this important event at the IUCN Pavilion is a matter of pride for the state.

He said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, landmark initiatives such as Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ have been launched, which have transformed environmental conservation into a mass movement. These initiatives are inspiring people at the global, national, and local levels to adopt sustainable lifestyles.

Inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision, and under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the Haryana Government has launched innovative initiatives such as Oxy Van, Pran Vayu Devta Yojana, and Van Mitra Yojana to promote community participation. These schemes will prove to be a strong pillar in the direction of Aravali conservation.

The Forest Minister said that a proposal has been prepared to provide annual honorarium to farmers for the conservation of native tree species such as ‘Jati’ and ‘Roheda’ in the southern Haryana regions of Mahendragarh, Rewari, Narnaul, Charkhi Dadri, Badhra, and Loharu, on the lines of the Pran Vayu Devta Yojana. This initiative aims to maintain greenery in the Aravali region and directly involve local communities in conservation efforts.

Aravali is the backbone of Haryana’s environmental balance

Rao Narbir Singh said that the Aravali mountain range holds immense ecological significance for Haryana. It acts as a natural barrier against desertification and is a vital source of biodiversity, water security, and climate balance. The Aravali plays a crucial role in groundwater recharge, improvement of air quality, mitigation of climate change impacts, and supporting livelihoods in arid and semi-arid regions.

He said that the Aravali range is globally recognized as a landscape of cultural and historical significance, symbolizing the deep relationship between humans and nature.

The Forest Minister said that through the Aravali Green Wall Project, Haryana is committed to cooperation with all Aravali states, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi. Projects such as the Gurugram Aravali Biodiversity Park are successful models of ecosystem restoration and have been declared India’s first OECM (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure), validating IUCN’s global guidelines.

He further said that to connect youth with this noble cause and generate local employment opportunities, Van Mitras have been appointed at the village level across the state. Under the Pran Vayu Devta Yojana, trees older than 75 years are being provided an annual pension of Rs. 2,500. To improve air quality in urban areas and prevent desertification, Oxy Vans are also being established.

Rao Narbir Singh said that Haryana welcomes the new definition of the Aravali mountain range given by the Supreme Court. He informed that the state government has prepared a proposal to conserve nearly 90 percent of the Aravali area. The government aims to create green employment, enhance public participation, and strengthen biodiversity conservation and environmentally friendly resource management in the Aravali region.

Chandigarh, January 1 — The Haryana Government has approved a significant series of promotions for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers across multiple batches, effective from January 1, 2026. Orders in this regard were issued by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi.

The government has promoted Sh. Shyamal Misra, IAS officer of 1996 batch, in the Chief Secretary’s Grade (Level 17 in the Pay Matrix).

In addition, four IAS officers from the 2001 batch have been promoted to the Higher Administrative Grade (Level 15 in the Pay Matrix). The officers promoted within the state cadre are Sh. Vijay Singh Dahiya and Smt. Amneet P. Kumar. The government has also granted proforma promotion in the Higher Administrative Grade to two officers currently on central deputation: Sh. Vikas Gupta and Sh. Pankaj Yadav.

The government has also promoted five officers from the 2010 batch to the Super Time Scale, categorized as Level 14 in the Pay Matrix. The promoted officers include Sh. Prabhjot Singh, Sh. Rajnarayan Kaushik, Sh. Jitender Kumar, and Smt. Hema Sharma. Dr. Garima Mittal, also of the 2010 batch, has been granted a proforma promotion to the Super Time Scale.

Further, eight officers from the 2013 batch have been granted the Selection Grade at Level 13 in the Pay Matrix. The list includes Sh. Parth Gupta, Sh. Ajay Kumar, Sh. Pradeep Dahiya, Smt. Sangeeta Tetarwal, Smt. Mandeep Kaur, Smt. Pratima Chaudhary, and Sh. Virender Kumar Dahiya. Sh. Nishant Kumar Yadav, currently on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration, received a proforma promotion in this grade.

The government has also promoted nine officers from the 2017 batch to the Junior Administrative Grade of IAS at Level 12 in the Pay Matrix. The promoted officers are Sh. Vishram Kumar Meena, Sh. Swapnil Ravindra Patil, Sh. Sahil Gupta, Dr. Vaishali Sharma, Sh. Mahabir Prasad, Sh. Mahender Pal, Sh. Satpal Sharma, Sh. Amar Deep Singh, and Sh. Sushil Kumar.

In addition, seven IAS officers of the 2022 batch have been promoted to the Senior Time Scale, (Level 11 in the Pay Matrix), effective from January 1, 2026. The seven promoted IAS officers are Sh. Ankit Kumar Chouksey, Smt. Anjali Shrotriya, Sh. Arpit Sangal, Ms. Jyoti, Dr. Rahul, Sh. Shashvat Sangwan, and Sh. Utsav Anand.

Chandigarh, January 1 — Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the state government has launched a campaign to make Haryana a leading state in the country in development. In the New Year, this campaign will be given fresh momentum. The state government will work with focused attention on three core objectives based on the principles of Antyodaya.

The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing a press conference on Thursday. Cooperation Minister Dr. Arvind Sharma was also present.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the government’s first objective is women empowerment. Under this, providing financial assistance to all eligible women through the Pandit Deendayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana is a top priority of the government. So far, an amount of Rs. 250 crore has been disbursed in two installments to 8 lakh women under this scheme. He appealed to women across the state who are eligible under the scheme to register on the portal and avail its benefits.

The Chief Minister said that the second objective of the state government is to provide maximum employment opportunities to the youth. The government has prepared a driven roadmap for 2026. Under this roadmap, Haryana AI Mission Centres will be established in Gurugram and Panchkula, where youth will be trained in future technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and advanced robotics. The government is actively working in this direction. He also informed that an advertisement for the recruitment of 5,500 constables in the Police Department has been issued today.

He said that the third objective of the state government is to promote nature-friendly farming. Under this initiative, farmers will be encouraged to grow alternative crops in place of paddy. A target has been set to bring one lakh acres of land under natural farming through this scheme.

The Chief Minister further said that the accelerated completion of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor within this year is also a key objective of the government. This project will establish new dimensions of better connectivity, reduce traffic pressure around Delhi and the NCR region, and give a boost to industrial development. He added that the government will similarly expedite several new projects in the New Year.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said with the aim of ensuring balanced development of the region and improving basic civic amenities, the government has granted Municipal Committee status to Kunjpura (Karnal), Matlauda (Panipat) and Shahzadpur (Ambala).

On this occasion, Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary of the Social Justice, Empowerment, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department, Smt. G. Anupama, Director of Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Sh. Parth Gupta, Additional Director (Administration) Smt. Varsha Khangwal, and Media Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Praveen Attrey were present.

Chandigarh, January 1 – The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here today, approved significant amendments to the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana (DDLLY), 2025 with the objective of strengthening women’s financial empowerment and promoting long-term savings.

Under the proposed amendments, the monthly benefit under the scheme will remain Rs 2,100 per eligible woman. However, from the second month onwards, the assistance will be released in two parts — Rs 1,100 will be credited directly to the beneficiary’s savings bank account, while Rs 1,000 will be deposited in a Government-operated Recurring Deposit (RD) or Fixed Deposit (FD) account. The accumulated amount, along with interest, will be paid to the beneficiary on maturity. The tenure of the RD/FD will be decided by the Government and will not exceed five years.

The amendments also propose integration of social development-linked eligibility criteria. In addition to income-based eligibility, mothers whose children studying in Government schools have demonstrated academic excellence by securing more than 80 percent marks in Class 10 or 12 board examinations, or have achieved grade-level competency under the NIPUN Bharat Mission in Classes 1 to 4, will be considered eligible. Similarly, mothers who have successfully rehabilitated their children from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) or Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), as verified by the Women and Child Development Department, will also be covered under the scheme. Existing criteria related to age and domicile will continue unchanged.

The income limit for this additional criteria is extended upto Rs. 1.8 lac as per FIDR. Aligning objectives of Viksit Bharat to socio economic development & family size, mothers who have more than 3 children will not be eligible under this category.

To enhance transparency and community participation, the proposed amendments include validation of beneficiaries through local self-governance institutions. After initial verification by CRID, the list of beneficiaries will be shared with concerned Gram Sabhas in rural areas and Area Sabhas or Ward Committees in urban areas for community-level validation. In cases where any beneficiary is found ineligible or non-genuine during validation, the financial assistance will be discontinued.

Notably, the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana was launched on September 25, 2025, to enhance the social security of women in the State. Within two months of its launch, around 10 lakh women registered under the scheme, reflecting its wide acceptance. The proposed amendments aim to further evolve the scheme from a cash assistance programme into a holistic, outcome-oriented initiative aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Chandigarh, January 1- With the objective of preventing misuse of exchange deeds for unauthorized land transactions in notified urban areas,  the government proposes to amend section 7A of Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975 (hereinafter called the principal Act), by inserting ‘exchange deeds’ under this section.

The State Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here today approved  the said amendment by issuance of the ‘Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas (Haryana Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’.

The amendment seeks to ensure that exchange deeds, which are increasingly being used as indirect sale instruments, are brought under the regulatory framework of the Act.

Chandigarh, January 1 – The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here today, approved the proposal to provide a Government job on compassionate grounds to Smt. Santosh Kumari, wife of Late Sh. Sandeep Kumar Lather, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of Haryana Police, as a special and as one-time measure.

The Cabinet approved appointment to Smt. Santosh Kumari on the post of PGT Mathematics (Group-B) in the Campus School, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak.

Chandigarh, January 1 – The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here today, gave a major relief to employees of the State Transport Department as it decided to extend the benefits of qualifying service and the Old Pension Scheme to 347 drivers who were appointed on a contractual basis in the year 2002.

The decision aims to remove long-standing pay anomalies and ensure parity among similarly placed employees. These drivers were initially appointed on contract in 2002 and were subsequently regularised in 2006 under the Haryana Transport Department (Group-C) Haryana Roadways Service Rules, 1995, as amended from time to time. However, since the mutual settlement in January  2014 between the Government and employees’ unions applied only to those appointed on or after January 1, 2003, the drivers appointed in 2002 were excluded from its benefits, resulting in a situation where junior drivers were drawing higher pay and pensionary benefits than their seniors.

With this decision, the drivers recruited in 2002 will be treated as regular from their initial date of appointment. It also ensures the grant of benefits such as ACP by counting service from the initial appointment date, coverage under the Old Pension Scheme and Family Pension Scheme, 1964, opening of General Provident Fund accounts.