Chandigarh, December 23 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said Jagad Guru Brahmanand Saraswati Ji was a guide for the entire humanity. His entire life was devoted to human service, religion, sacrifice and nation-building. He was a beacon of light whose rays of knowledge continue to guide our thoughts, culture and society even today. Respecting the sentiments of local residents, the Chief Minister officially announced the renaming of village Chuhar Majra as Brahmanand Majra. Along with this, he also announced several major development projects.

The Chief Minister was addressing the state-level ceremony organised by the Haryana Government on the occasion of Jagad Guru Brahmanand Ji’s birth anniversary at village Chuhar Majra in Kaithal district on Tuesday as the Chief Guest. The function was presided over by Haryana Assembly Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan. Also present on the occasion were Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Assembly Dr. Krishan Lal Middha, Cabinet Ministers Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, Sh. Mahipal Dhanda and Rao Narbir Singh, MP Sh. Naveen Jindal, MLA Sh. Satpal Jamba, other MLAs and eminent members of society.

On reaching village Chuhar Majra, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini first offered prayers at the Guru Brahmanand Temple. Addressing the gathering thereafter, he paid tributes to the great saint Swami Brahmanand Ji and said that Guru Brahmanand Ji showed society the path of knowledge, devotion and harmony. Simple living and high thinking were his core values. He was born in 1908 in village Chuhar Majra of Kaithal district, Haryana, in a simple Ror family. From childhood, his deep inclination towards devotion to God, curiosity for spirituality and quest for the Supreme set him apart. He dedicated his entire life, deeds, knowledge and penance to the welfare of humanity.

Swami Ji had deep faith in the Arya Samaj and propagated monotheism and worship of the formless God. He believed that God belongs to everyone and is for everyone, and that service to mankind is true devotion to God. His life was a living example of this truth. At a time when society lacked education, healthcare and other basic facilities and was engulfed by orthodox practices, Guru Brahmanand Ji created awareness through his words, writings and actions. He laid special emphasis on spreading education in rural areas, particularly among women. He believed that ‘gau seva’, education and social reform are the three pillars on which the foundation of a happy and civilised society rests.

The Chief Minister said that the life of Swami Brahmanand Ji inspires us to protect and promote our great Indian culture, civilisation and moral values. In today’s social environment, his ideas have become even more relevant. It is our responsibility to follow the path shown by him and strengthen the bonds of morality, social values and mutual harmony in society. Taking forward his noble works of social reform, education and ‘gau seva’ would be the true tribute to him.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that following the teachings of Guru Brahmanand Ji, the Ror community has adopted the path of human service and has a glorious history of valour. He said that the Haryana Government is implementing the Sant-Mahapurush Samman evam Vichar Prasar Yojana to disseminate the messages of saints and great personalities to the masses so that future generations may draw inspiration and guidance from their lives.

Calling upon the youth, the Chief Minister urged them to imbibe Guru Brahmanand Ji’s teachings in their lives and stay away from social evils like drug addiction. He appealed to them to use technology like mobile phones constructively, not for wasting time, but for spreading positive values and contributing towards strong nation-building. He said that Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has resolved to make India a developed nation by 2047, and the youth will play a crucial role in achieving this goal. The Haryana Government, he added, is continuously working in this direction.

Congratulating the gathering on Guru Brahmanand Ji’s birth anniversary, the Chief Minister announced a series of development initiatives. He announced the renaming of village Chuhar Majra as Brahmanand Majra, a grant of Rs. 21 lakh for construction of a grand welcome gate in the name of Guru Brahmanand on the village link road, construction of a library for children in the village, renaming of the Dhand–Pundri main road as Guru Brahmanand Marg, and a grant of Rs. 51 lakh for development works. He also announced that the process to make village Ahar in Panipat a Sub-Tehsil would be completed as per norms, a chowk in the name of Guru Brahmanand would be constructed, land in Gurugram would be provided for children’s education, and Rs. 11 lakh each would be provided for Anjanthali Gurukul in Karnal and a coaching centre in Sector-32.

Addressing the ceremony, Haryana Assembly Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan said that Guru Brahmanand Ji considered service as worship and humanity as the highest virtue. He emphasised that great personalities belong to all sections of society. He thanked Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and the Haryana Government for organising the birth anniversary at the state level and announced a grant of Rs. 31 lakh from his side for village development. He further announced that Deputy Speaker Dr. Krishan Lal Middha, Public Health and PWD Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda, Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh and MP Sh. Naveen Jindal have each announced grants of Rs. 21 lakh for development works.

The ceremony was also addressed by Deputy Speaker Dr. Krishan Lal Middha, Cabinet Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda, MP Sh. Naveen Jindal and MLA Sh. Satpal Jamba. Sadhvi Abhilasha expressed gratitude to all at the end of the programme on behalf of the Guru Brahmanand Ashram.

Chandigarh, Dec 23 – Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a vision to establish India as a sports superpower by the 2036 Olympics. He expressed confidence that in the 2036 Olympic Games, players from Haryana will compete with the goal of winning the maximum number of medals and will further strengthen the state’s global identity as a land of brave farmers and world-class wrestlers.

The Chief Minister was speaking on Tuesday at the closing ceremony of the MP Sports Mahotsav 2025 held at the Dronacharya Stadium, located in the sacred land of Dharmakshetra–Kurukshetra.

Earlier, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Member of Parliament Naveen Jindal, and former Minister of State Subhash Sudha felicitated the winners of MP Sports Mahotsav 2025 with cash awards and prizes. On this occasion, shooter Gurjot Singh and para-athlete Dilbag Singh Hisar were honored with special awards. The Chief Minister congratulated MP Naveen Jindal and his entire team for the successful organization and said that nearly 1.10 lakh players showcased their talent across various sports during the Mahotsav.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini further stated that a comprehensive sports calendar has been prepared to organize sporting competitions throughout the year in the state. Under this calendar, events such as Khel Mahakumbh, state-level Akhara Dangal, boxing, volleyball, athletics, badminton, swimming, basketball, handball, and other competitions are regularly conducted. He added that a clear vision for sports development in Haryana was formulated 11 years ago, with the objective of connecting every child with sports, developing playgrounds in every village, and providing opportunities to every youth with a passion for sports. The ultimate goal of this vision is to make Haryana not only the sports capital of India, but also of the world.

Chief Minister said that today Haryana is known as the nursery of sports, with its athletes bringing immense pride to the nation at the international level. Whether it is the Olympic Games, Asian Games, or Commonwealth Games, players from Haryana have consistently hoisted the Tricolour high across every platform. He said that the Sansad Sports Festival serves as an important platform to nurture and promote sporting talent, and several initiatives have been taken by the state government to bring such talent to the forefront.

The Chief Minister said that sports nurseries have been established across the state to groom players from an early age, where they are provided with financial assistance along with professional training. At present, 1,472 sports nurseries are functioning in Haryana, training 37,225 players. Under this scheme, players in the 8 to 14 age group receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500, while those aged 15 to 19 years are given Rs 2,000 per month.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini further stated that to ensure secure employment opportunities for outstanding athletes, the Haryana Excellent Players Service Rules, 2021 were implemented. Under these rules, 550 new posts were created in the Sports Department, and government jobs have been provided to 231 players so far. Reservation has also been made for sportspersons in direct recruitment for posts ranging from Class I to Class IV. He added that medal-winning athletes are awarded cash prizes of up to Rs 6 crore. So far, cash awards amounting to Rs 683.15 crore have been distributed to 16,418 players. In addition, honorariums are being provided to 298 outstanding players. Scholarships are also awarded to students who participate and win medals in state, national, and international sports competitions. Since 2014, scholarships worth Rs 70 crore have been provided to more than 24,000 students.

He further said that the state government is also providing sports equipment to players through the Haryana Sports Equipment Provision Scheme. Under this scheme, sports equipment has been distributed to 15,634 players across the state.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that Haryana’s daughters, Unnati Hooda, Anmol Kharb, Devika Sihag, and Ridhikaur Thur, have brought pride to the state by winning the gold medal at the 78th Inter-State Inter-Zonal Badminton Championship 2025 held in Vijayawada. The Chief Minister congratulated the players and their coaches for this outstanding achievement. He said that both the men’s and women’s badminton teams from Haryana reached the finals of the 78th Inter-State Inter-Zonal Badminton Championship 2025. In the final match, the Haryana women’s badminton team secured the gold medal by defeating the Andhra Pradesh team. Meanwhile, the final match of the men’s badminton championship will be played between Haryana and Andhra Pradesh.

New era of sports begins in MP Sports Festival Kurukshetra: Naveen Jindal

Expressing his gratitude to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, MP Naveen Jindal said that MP Sports Mahotsav 2025 is not merely a closing ceremony, but marks the beginning of a new era of sports in Kurukshetra. He shared his vision of ensuring the availability of sports equipment and trained coaches in every village of Kurukshetra. To achieve this goal, sports stadiums will be developed within the next one year, and gym equipment will be provided in every village over the next two years.

While administering a pledge to the players, he said that an increasing number of youth from the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency should actively participate in sports and commit themselves to staying away from social evils such as drug addiction. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the Sansad Khel Mahotsav with the objective of empowering youth to excel in sports, thereby nurturing national and international-level players in every village. He further stated that a record 1.10 lakh players from the nine Assembly segments of the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency contributed to making the Sansad Sports Mahotsav 2025 a historic success.

Chandigarh, December 23 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini today reviewed the final preparations for various events scheduled for Union Home and Cooperation Minister Sh Amit Shah’s visit to Panchkula on December 24. The Chief Minister directed the concerned officials to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place.

Notably, on the eve of the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna, late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sh Amit Shah will participate in several events in Panchkula. During the visit, he will inaugurate and inspect multiple important public welfare and nation-building initiatives.

Statue Unveiling and Exhibition at Atal Park

Shri Amit Shah will inaugurate the statue of Bharat Ratna, former Prime Minister Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at Atal Park in MDC Sector-1. He will also visit an exhibition based on the life and thoughts of Atal ji and inaugurate a large blood donation camp, encouraging donors by presenting badges.

Police Passing Out Parade at Tau Devi Lal Sports Stadium

The Union Home Minister will attend the Police Passing Out Parade at Tau Devi Lal Sports Stadium, Sector-3. He will take the salute of over 5,000 newly recruited police personnel and address them, inspiring them to serve the nation with dedication.

Mega Cooperative Conference at Indradhanush Auditorium

As per the scheduled program, Shri Amit Shah will be the chief guest at the Mega Cooperative Conference at Indradhanush Auditorium, Sector-5. Here, he will address representatives from the cooperative sector and share his vision for strengthening cooperative movements in the country. After this, Shri Amit Shah will address the newly appointed police personnel during the passing out parade at Tau Devi Lal Sports Stadium, Sector-3.

In the evening, the Union Home Minister will attend the program at Atal Park, MDC Sector-1, where he will unveil the statue of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, view the exhibition, and inaugurate the blood donation camp.

Sahibzaadon Ko Naman’ program on the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas

Later, Sh Amit Shah will participate as chief guest in the ‘Sahibzaadon Ko Naman’ program on the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas at Indradhanush Auditorium, Sector-5. The program includes an exhibition on the life and sacrifices of Veer Sahibzadas, a sand art show, release of a coffee table book, and a vision document.

All necessary arrangements have been completed by the district administration and concerned departments to ensure that the programs are conducted smoothly, safely, and with full dignity.

Chandigarh, 23 December 2025:

Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power & NRI Affairs, Government of Punjab, Sh. Sanjeev Arora, on Tuesday highlighted the significant industrial contribution and future expansion plans of HPCL–Mittal Energy Ltd. (HMEL), reaffirming the State Government’s commitment under the visionary leadership of National Convenor Sh. Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Punjab S. Bhagwant Singh Mann to support large-scale investments and strengthen Punjab’s industrial ecosystem.

Shri Prabh Das, Managing Director & CEO, HMEL said that we are going to invest in a refinery and petrochemical complex in Bhatinda. We produce fuels like petrol, diesel, LPG, ATF, along with polymers including polyethylene and polypropylene. We got full support from people of Punjab as well as the government during construction and operations of this massive complex. So far, neither construction or operations have been affected even for a day during the last so many years. This is mainly due to proactive policies and ease of doing business of the Punjab government. We are fortunate to have a farsighted leader, Shri Sanjeev Arora, who is dynamic, reform centric, development oriented and outcome focused. He said that under Sanjeev Arora dynamic leadership, Punjab’s industrial growth will create new opportunities for entrepreneurs, industries, and youth of the state.

Sh. Sanjeev Arora said that HMEL stands as a landmark public–private partnership between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)—a Navratna and Fortune 500 PSU—and Mittal Energy Investment Pte. Ltd., Singapore (Lakshmi N. Mittal Group), and has emerged as one of Punjab’s most significant industrial success stories. He assured them that they will get full government support for expanding their plant in Punjab.

He noted that HMEL’s refinery and integrated petrochemical complex, spread over about 2,000 acres at village Phulokheri, tehsil Talwandi Sabo, district Bathinda, commenced refinery operations in 2011, while the addition of the petrochemical facility in 2023 has substantially enhanced value addition and downstream industrial activity in the State.

The Minister highlighted that HMEL currently has an annual turnover of approximately Rs. 90,000 crore and contributes around Rs. 2,100 crore annually to the State exchequer in the shape of taxes, underlining its critical role in Punjab’s economy. The project provides employment to nearly 10,000 persons, both directly and indirectly, making it one of the largest industrial employers in Punjab.

He further pointed out that HMEL produces substantial quantities of LPG, petrol and diesel, playing a crucial role in meeting the fuel requirements of North India. In addition, HMEL is the second-largest producer of polymers in India, catering to nearly 14 per cent of the country’s total polymer demand.

Referring to recent developments, Sh. Sanjeev Arora said that through its 100 percent subsidiary HMEL Organics Pvt. Ltd. (HOPL), a Bio-Ethanol Plant was commissioned in 2024 adjoining the existing refinery. Building on this, HOPL has proposed a forward integration project in fine chemicals, involving a phased investment of over Rs. 2,600 crore.

The proposed expansion is expected to generate around 500 additional direct and indirect employment opportunities, result in an additional annual turnover of about Rs. 2,400 crore, and has strong export potential, further positioning Punjab as a hub for petrochemicals and value-added manufacturing.

Reiterating the Government’s pro-industry approach, Sh. Sanjeev Arora stated that the Government of Punjab remains fully committed to facilitating such large-scale investments through progressive policies, time-bound approvals, and an investor-centric ecosystem, ensuring sustained industrial growth and employment generation in the State.

Shri Prabh Das, Managing Director & CEO, HMEL; Shri Sanjeev Malhotra, Vice President, HMEL; Shri Vishav Bandhu, Chief State Coordinator, HMEL; Ms. Seema Bansal, Vice Chairperson, Punjab Development Commission; and Shri  Amit Dhaka, IAS, CEO, Punjab Invest were present during the press conference.

Chandigarh, December 23

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday announced that the state has achieved a significant fiscal milestone in the financial year 2025-26, driven by a 16.03% surge in GST collections amounting to Rs 17,860.09 crore and a robust Excise revenue collection of Rs 7,401 crore up to November 2025. Attributing this success to a harmonious framework of innovation and vigilance, the Finance Minister highlighted that the Excise and Taxation department has not only surpassed previous benchmarks but also successfully implemented the One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme-2025 and advanced data analytics to dismantle tax evasion.

Reviewing the sectoral performance, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections grew by Rs 2,467.30 crore over the corresponding period of the previous year, reflecting the state’s focus on economic recovery and improved taxpayer compliance. He said that even after the GST 2.0 rate rationalisation in September 2025, which reduced taxes on essential items from 12% to 5%, the department’s targeted initiatives kept cash tax collections steady. Simultaneously, the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Central Sales Tax (CST) collections reached Rs 5,451.76 crore, marking a 3.35% increase compared to the prior year.

“The Excise Commissionerate has also displayed exceptional performance under the Excise Policy 2025-26, which set an ambitious annual collection target of Rs 11,020 crore. By November 2025, the department has already registered an 8.64% increase in excise revenue over the same period last year”, said the Finance Minister while adding that this follows the record-breaking performance of the previous financial year 2024-25, where revenue grew by 16.36% to reach Rs 10,723 crore. The Finance Minister also emphasized that enforcement remains a priority, with 3,860 FIRs lodged and 3,795 arrests made this year to curb liquor smuggling and illicit distillation.

The Finance further added that another major highlight of the year was the success of the One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme-2025, which has disposed of 3,574 cases as of December 18, 2025, yielding Rs 52 crore in total recoveries while providing tax waivers to the trading community. He said that the Taxation department also leveraged its indigenous Tax Intelligence Unit (TIU) and big data analytics to recover Rs 344.06 crore in taxes and penalties through tool-generated insights. Furthermore, the persistent monitoring of GSTR-3B non-filers resulted in Rs 2,185.96 crore in cash deposits.

The Finance Minister also lauded the State Intelligence & Preventive Units (SIPUs) for their escalated enforcement regime, which saw penalty impositions rise to Rs 618.53 crore. 

Chandigarh, December 23:

The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, remains firmly committed to making women in the state self-reliant and empowered. Taking a significant step in this direction, the Punjab Government has so far provided financial assistance amounting to over Rs 895 crore to widowed and dependent women. This was stated by the Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Punjab, Dr. Baljit Kaur.

Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that during the current financial year, regular financial assistance is being extended to as many as 6,75,857 eligible beneficiary women across the state. This support has been playing a crucial role in providing economic stability to lakhs of families.

The Cabinet Minister emphasized that the scheme is not limited merely to financial assistance, but is a strong initiative aimed at ensuring social security, self-respect and economic empowerment of widowed and dependent women, enabling them to secure a better future for themselves and their families.

Dr. Baljit Kaur further informed that to ensure uninterrupted financial assistance to widowed and dependent women, the Punjab Government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 1,170 crore under this scheme. The benefits are being delivered to eligible beneficiaries through a transparent and simplified process.

CHANDIGARH/FATEHGARH SAHIB, December 23:

          Ahead of Shaheedi Sabha, Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla on Tuesday visited Fatehgarh Sahib and reviewed the security arrangements at the spot to ensure that the event would be conducted in a smooth and secure manner in the district.

          The three-day annual Shaheedi Sabha to pay homage to the martyrdom of Chotey Sahibzadas— Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the youngest sons of the 10th Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh, will be held at Fatehgarh Sahib from December 25 to December 27, 2025.

          Notably, the entire area has been systematically divided into six sectors and a force of over 3400 police personnel, under the supervision of six SP rank officers and 24 DSP rank officers, have been deployed to ensure the safety, orderly movement, and comfort of the lakhs of devotees expected to visit from across the globe.

          Special DGP Arpit Shukla, accompanied by DIG Ropar Range Nanak Singh and SSP Fatehgarh Sahib Shubham Aggarwal, briefed all the SP and DSP rank officers and police force deployed to ensure foolproof security arrangements of the Shaheedi Sabha. He directed them to adopt the utmost humble approach towards the sangat and work with full dedication and determination to make this event successful.

          Reviewing all the security arrangements, he said that many new initiatives have been implemented by the Fatehgarh Sahib police to ensure peaceful and smooth conduct of the Shaheedi Sabha this year so that the pilgrims would not face any kind of hassle in paying obeisance.

          The Special DGP said that a total of 22 parking slots have been earmarked and Shuttle bus service between the parking area and Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib will be available for the convenience of the devotees. For seamless traffic management and minimal inconvenience to the devotees, police has tied up with the Google for real-time geo-tagging of the parkings and sign boards have been installed to guide the devotees, he said.

          He said that six help desks, which include a police desk, medical aid and fire, have also been set to assist devotees. Apart from this, an integrated control room has also been established, he added.

          Special DGP Arpit Shukla said that six drones and 300 Closed Circuit Television (CCTv) Cameras are being used to monitor traffic and parking arrangements, besides, keeping vigil around anti-social elements.

          Meanwhile, in an initiative to enhance the road safety and prevent road accidents due to the fog, police teams will also paste reflector stickers on tractor-trolleys.

Chandigarh/Amritsar, December 23:

The Government ITI at Baba Bakala Sahib would be named after Shaheed Baba Jivan Singh Ji (Bhai Jaita Ji) by the Punjab Government. This was announced by the Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO at Baba Bakala Sahib who was present as Chief Guest on the occasion of the State level function in memory of Bhai Jaita Ji.

The Cabinet Minister while addressing the Sangat said that it is for the first time in the history of Punjab that a State Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has held the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session at Sri Anandpur Sahib on the 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. It is a matter of great pride that the State Government has constructed a memorial of Bhai Jaita Ji at a cost of Rs. 21 Crore.

The Minister further revealed that Bhai Jaita Ji is the only Sikh whose two names were given by Guru Sahiban themselves. First name Bhai Jaita was given by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji and after partaking of Amrit, the second name Jivan Singh was given by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji. Throwing light on the life of Bhai Jaita Ji, S. ETO said that Bhai Jaita Ji when Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji was martyred in 1675 Bhai Jaita Ji took the ‘Revered Sis’ to Sri Kiratpur Sahib. Then, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji embraced Bhai Jaita Ji and called him ‘Rangreta Guru Ka Beta.’

Divulging more, the Minister said that the Punjab Government is making the young generation aware about the immense sacrifices made by the Guru Sahiban. Hence, many functions were held dedicated to the 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji by the State Government.

Earlier, S. Harbhajan Singh ETO paid obeisance at Gurudwara Sahib of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.

On the occasion, the constityency MLA Dalbir Singh Tong felicitated S. ETO with a portrait of Bhai Jaita Ji. While addressing the Sangat, Mr. Tong profusely thanked the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for commemorating Bhai Jaita Ji by holding a State level function at Baba Bakala Sahib. Describing the sacrifice made by Bhai Jaita Ji as unparalleled in the annals of history, Mr. Tong revealed that Bhai Jaita Ji mastered many languages such as Persian, Urdu and Sanskrit and was a great poet also.

Afterwards, MLA Dalbir Singh Tong too was honoured by the Deputy Commissioner.

Among others present on the occasion included the Chairman SC Land Corporation Ravinder Hans, Deputy Commissioner Dalvinderjit Singh, ADC Amandeep Kaur, SDM Amanpreet Singh, Chairman Ramgrhia Welfare Satnam Sokhi, Surinder Kaur, Sunaina Randhawa, Satnam Singh Matharu and Commandant Jaskaran Singh.

CHANDIGARH, December 23: –

Celebrating the success of Kharif Maize Pilot Project, the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, today felicitated progressive maize growers, who switched from water guzzling paddy  crop to Maize cultivation.

Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian handed over appreciation certificates to maize growers and encouraged them to sensitise other farmers to adopt this crop.

He said that the Kharif Maize Pilot Project, aimed at promoting crop diversification, curbing groundwater depletion, improving soil health and boosting farmer income, has shown positive results. The government is mulling the expansion of the program for the next season, encouraging more farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy to maize cultivation.

While nothing that maize cultivation offers a sustainable alternative, requiring far less water and fewer irrigation cycles than paddy, He shared that the expansion strategy is being drawn up in consultation with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and industry stakeholders, aiming to position Punjab as a national leader in maize production.

The Agriculture Minister said that this pilot targeted districts of Bathinda, Sangrur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Pathankot to scientifically demonstrate maize as a profitable and sustainable alternative of paddy. Over 3,708 progressive farmers participated in the pilot and successfully brought 11,326 acres under maize cultivation.

The initiative marks a strategic move to reverse a decades-long trend. Once a maize heartland with over 5.5 lakh hectares under cultivation in the 1970s, Punjab saw its maize area shrink to about one lakh hectares due to the rising dominance of water-intensive paddy, he added.

Hailing the progressive farmers as architects of change, S. Khudian said that. “Today, we are not just celebrating a successful harvest. We are sowing the seed of a new, sustainable Punjab. Our farmers have proven that with the right support, we can secure our precious water, soil and economic prosperity. Their courage is the foundation upon which we will rebuild a diversified agricultural economy.”

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian informed that the Kharif Maize Pilot Project is supported by a robust five-pillar system. This includes on-ground handholding by 200 trained “Kisan Mitras” who provide continuous agronomic support, direct financial incentives of Rs 17,500 per hectare to offset transition costs and a mechanisation subsidy of 50% on advanced machinery like pneumatic planters. Additionally, PAU experts offer scientific backing with end-to-end technical guidance, while market assurance was provided via MARKFED  ensuring remunerative prices for farmers.

The Agriculture Minister also interacted with maize growers to listen their experience and difficulties they faced. Sansar Singh and Gurpal Singh, maize farmers from Pathankot district, shared their success story. They achieved record yields of 25-26 quintals per acre and sold their crop at Rs2,700 per quintal, exceeding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,400/quintal.

Secretary Agriculture Mr. Arshdeep Singh Thind said, “The pilot has given us a proven blueprint. Our goal is now to empower thousands more farmers with this opportunity, ensuring Punjab’s agriculture is productive, prosperous, and preserved for future generations.”

Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ramvir, Vice Chancellor PAU Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, PDC member Mr. Showkat Roy, Director Agriculture Mr. Jaswant Singh and other senior officials of the Agriculture department, Punjab Agro, Markfed and Punseed were also present in the meeting.

CHANDIGARH, 23rd December 2025:

 In order to provide quality treatment and diagnostic facilities to the people in the Medical Colleges, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has ordered immediate release of funds worth ₹68.98 crore to give a facelift to premier Medical Colleges of the state. Chairing a review meeting of the Medical Education and Research Department here today, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Augmenting the facilities in these Medical colleges of the state was the need of the hour to ensure quality treatment and diagnostic facilities to the people. To equip these Medical colleges with hi-end and world class machinery is imperative so that they can serve the patients in a better manner.” The Chief Minister asked the Medical Education department to immediately issue ₹68.98 crore to the four medical colleges in the state to upgrade the facilities. He further said that ₹26.53 crore should be promptly issued to Government Medical College Amritsar, ₹28.51 crore to Government Medical College Patiala, ₹9.43 crore to Dr BR Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences SAS Nagar (Mohali) and ₹4.51 crore to PGI Satellite Centre, Ferozepur. “These funds should be duly utilised for development works in the Medical Colleges along with procuring latest machinery and equipment in the larger public interest,” noted the Chief Minister. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated the firm commitment of his government to emerge the state as a hub of ‘Medical Education’ across the globe adding that this will give further boost to treatment and diagnostic facilities. The Chief Minister batted that these works in the medical colleges should be completed in a time bound and prompt manner so that better health facilities are made available to the people at affordable rates. “Punjab has a glorious legacy of producing world class Doctors across the globe and even today a large number of students pursue the medical education to become qualified doctors. The Punjab government is duty bound to provide quality medical education in these medical colleges so that students pursuing medical education are immensely benefited,” he asserted. The Chief Minister said that the sole aim of giving facelift to these medical colleges is to ensure that people are able to get quality health services in these colleges and hospitals. “This will go a long way in ensuring the well being of the common people by ensuring quality medical facilities in these premier colleges. The Punjab government is committed to this noble cause and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause,” he affirmed. On the occasion Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Additional Chief Secretary Alok Shekhar, Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr Ravi Bhagat and others were also present.