Chandigarh, October 26:

Under the directions of Punjab Horticulture Minister Shri Mohinder Bhagat, the Horticulture Department is actively working to promote crop diversification and enhance farmers’ income across the state. The farmer-centric schemes of the Punjab Government are proving to be a boon for cultivators, ensuring every possible support to help them adopt modern farming practices.

Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur informed that taking advantage of the government’s schemes, Harbir Singh, a farmer from village Saraba in Ludhiana district, is earning handsome profits through polyhouse farming and has become an inspiration for other farmers. After obtaining a degree in Electrical Engineering, Harbir Singh chose farming as his profession instead of taking a job, setting new benchmarks by integrating traditional farming with modern technology.

Farmer Harbir Singh shared that he received comprehensive guidance on polyhouse cultivation from the Horticulture Department. He is currently cultivating seedless cucumber, coloured capsicum, melon, and potato under polyhouse, earning an average annual profit of ₹12 to ₹14 lakh.

He further mentioned that in 2014, he shifted from conventional vegetable cultivation and received specialized training from the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, Kartarpur. He said that under the National Horticulture Mission scheme, he availed subsidy support to set up his polyhouse and started growing coloured capsicum and seedless cucumber. He regularly consulted officials of the Horticulture Department to resolve farming-related challenges.

Harbir believes thelat hard work, dedication, understanding problems minutely and consistent guidance from the Horticulture Department officials have been the key factors behind his success.

Chandigarh, October 26, 2025 – Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia, Executive Director of Religions for Peace USA, has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award by Minhaj University, Lahore in recognition of his lifelong commitment to interfaith harmony and the preservation of Sikh heritage.

            The award was presented during the two days 8th International Conference on World Religions where Dr. Hussain Qadri, Chairman and Dr. S.M. Shahzad, Vice-Chancellor of Minhaj University conferred the honour upon Dr. Butalia. Bishop Samuel Robert Azariah, Director of the Christian Study Center, Rawalpindi was also presented with the national lifetime award at the same ceremony.

            The conference brought together global faith leaders and scholars under the theme “Building Resilient Societies: Preventing Extremism at its Roots,”. The deliberations focused on fostering interfaith dialogue and promoting social cohesion in an era marked by rising polarization and intolerance.

            Upon receiving the award Dr. Butalia expressed gratitude of university and conference organisers, describing the recognition as a tribute to the collective efforts of those advancing interfaith cooperation worldwide. He underscored the vital role of dialogue in healing divisions and nurturing mutual respect among diverse communities.

            The event celebrated Dr. Butalia’s enduring influence as a global ambassador of peace and a bridge-builder between cultures and religions, reaffirming his distinguished place in the landscape of interfaith leadership.

Chandigarh, 26 October 2025:

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan attended Bhog and Antim Ardas ceremony of late Y. Puran Kumar IPS at Gurudwara Nada Sahib, Panchkula. He expressed grief over the untimely demise of Y. Puran Kumar IPS. He said society will always remember his work done towards the welfare of the country.

Sandhwan also conveyed the message of AAP National Convenor Sh. Arvind Kejriwal who paid heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and said we are always stood by the family of late Y. Puran Kumar IPS in this hour of sorrow.

Speaker Sandhwan  prayed to 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.God may grant place of abode to him at His feet.

Chandigarh, 26 October:

Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, informed that the Punjab Government has so far released ₹2400.70 crore under the Old Age Pension Scheme during the current financial year.

Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that under this scheme, over 23 lakh beneficiaries have received financial assistance. She further noted that the State Government has allocated a total budget of ₹4100 crore for the scheme in the current financial year to ensure that every senior citizen receives their entitled pension in a timely manner.

Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government values its senior citizens and is fully committed to protecting their respect and dignity. She added that the pension scheme is not merely financial support but a symbol of the government’s responsibility and honour towards the elderly.

The Minister also instructed departmental officials that “Our elders are our pride” and stressed that every eligible beneficiary must receive their pension on time, without any delays or lapses. The government remains committed to ensuring that the benefits of the scheme reach all deserving senior citizens promptly and efficiently.

CHANDIGARH, October 25:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 238th day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 344 locations on Saturday leading to the arrest of 90 drug smugglers after registration of 78 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 34,082 in 238 days.

          The raids have resulted in recovery of 6.1 kg heroin, 1.7 kg opium, 696 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 29,490 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has 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.

          Over 120 Police teams, comprising over 1000 police personnel, under the supervision of 66 gazetted officers have conducted 344 raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 344 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.

          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 41 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, October 25:

          In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar has apprehended an operative of a terror network and recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), weighing around 2.5 kg each, packed with high-grade RDX and equipped with timers for detonation, and one sophisticated .30 bore pistol along with ammunition from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

          The arrested accused has been identified as Manpreet Singh alias Tiddi, a resident of village Kotla Tarkhana in Amritsar. The arrested accused has a criminal history, being previously involved in two criminal cases registered in police stations Sadar Batala and Kalanaur. After spending around one and a half years in Gurdaspur and Amritsar jails, he was released in February 2025 and subsequently resumed his criminal activities.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused was working on the directions of his handlers based in Armenia, United Kingdom (UK) and Germany, who are further receiving instructions from a Pakistan-based mastermind of a banned terrorist organisation. Further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to dismantle the entire network, he said.

          Sharing operational details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said that acting swiftly on a specific intelligence input, the team of SSOC Amritsar arrested suspect Manpreet Singh alias Tiddi and recovered a pistol of 30 bore along with ammunition from his possession. Following his disclosure, two IEDs, packed in metal containers with high-grade RDX and equipped with timers for detonation, are also recovered from the area of village Kotla Tarkhana, he said.

          The AIG said that probe further indicated that around two weeks back, the Pak-based handler facilitated a drone-dropping of the seized consignment in Ajnala Sector, which was retrieved by the arrested person and further concealed by him near a canal close to his village Kotla Tarkhana. His handlers had instructed him to remain on standby and await further orders to hand over the IEDs to another contact for intended use, he added.

          In this regard, a case FIR No. 63 dated 25.10.2025 has been registered under sections 25 of the Arms Act, sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and sections 111 and 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.

Chandigarh, October 25:-* Under the directions of Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, the Facial Authentication Aadhaar Based Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) will be implemented across all wings and divisions of the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh for efficient and transparent attendance management of all officers and officials from 1st November 2025.

This initiative, mandates the use of facial authentication through personal smartphones for attendance marking, ensuring a modern, accurate, and accountable attendance mechanism.

The Commissioner, MCC Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, reviewed the progress and operational readiness of the AEBAS system and issued clear directions for strict and immediate compliance. It was observed that 10,930 employees of MCC are presently active and registered on the Biometric Attendance Portal developed by NIC. All officials who have not yet registered are directed to complete their registration within seven days without fail.

As per the directions of the Commissioner, marking of attendance through NIC’s Facial Authentication using the mobile applications AadhaarBAS or AadhaarFaceRD on personal smartphones, or through Biometric Machines installed at designated locations, is mandatory for all MCC employees, including regular, contractual, outsourced, and field staff. It has been further ordered that salaries of all employees shall be strictly linked to their biometric attendance records with effect from 01.11.2025.

The IT Branch, MCC, has already conducted comprehensive training sessions for all Nodal Officers/Single Points of Contact (SPoCs) from every wing, branch, and division to ensure smooth and uniform implementation. The Commissioner has instructed all Nodal Officers/SPoCs/Supervisors to ensure that every employee under their control marks attendance daily without exception. In cases where any employee faces difficulty in marking attendance, the concerned supervisor shall immediately facilitate the attendance marking using his/her own smartphone or through a nearby biometric machine to avoid discrepancies.

Furthermore, all registered employees have been directed to update their biometric and service details, including their place of posting, by 31.10.2025, to ensure accurate record maintenance on the attendance portal.

The Commissioner, MCC, has emphasized that strict compliance with these directions is mandatory, and any negligence or non-compliance will be viewed seriously. All employees are therefore instructed to cooperate fully to ensure the successful implementation of the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System, which aims to enhance transparency, punctuality, and administrative efficiency within the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh.

Chandigarh, October 25: Haryana’s Minister of Industries and Commerce, Sh. Rao Narbir Singh, said that no country in the world can achieve development without industries. To give a new identity to agrarian Haryana through industrial progress, the state government has prepared a comprehensive industrial roadmap for the next five years. Under this plan, ten new Industrial Model Townships (IMTs) will be developed, two of which will be located around Gurugram.

He further announced that on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a Global Investment Summit will be organized in Gurugram, inviting investors from across the world to set up industries in Haryana.

The Minister said that Gurugram has now evolved into a true Global City, reflecting not just a miniature India but a miniature world. The aim, he said, is to make it a model city for industrial growth and environmental balance. Under the “Green Gurugram Campaign,” large industrial companies will be encouraged to contribute through their CSR funds to achieve this vision.

Sh. Rao Narbir Singh informed that the Forest Department has prepared a plan to develop all nurseries in Gurugram and Sohna as model hi-tech nurseries. These nurseries will grow plants that can be transplanted across the city after one or two years. He added that Haryana will study modern nursery models in South India and replicate similar advanced facilities in the state.

Boost for New Enterprises — Rs 5064 Crore Sanctioned Under PMEGP

The Minister stated that the government is committed to implementing the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) more proactively to provide financial assistance to new enterprises in the form of loans. In the financial year 2024–25, more than 761 cases have been approved, and a total loan amount of approximately Rs 5064.40 crore has been sanctioned through banks.

Agriculture and Industry — Twin Pillars of Development

Sh. Rao Narbir Singh said that Haryana has been a pioneer of the Green Revolution, and now the time has come for it to become a symbol of the Industrial Revolution. He emphasized that agriculture and industry are complementary sectors, and both are being advanced simultaneously.

Under the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, more than 1300 applications have been approved, which will not only promote food processing industries but also create new employment opportunities in rural areas.

Chandigarh, October 25: Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said the government is committed to purchasing every grain of farmers’ crops. Both the Central and State Governments, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, are continuously working in the interest of farmers.

At present, procurement of paddy and bajra crops is underway in the state. However, those attempting to defraud the government under the pretext of procurement will not be spared under any circumstances.

High-Level Review Meeting to Ensure Transparency in Procurement

The Chief Minister held a high-level review meeting today at the Civil Secretariat to ensure transparency and smooth operations in paddy and bajra procurement. Officers from all concerned departments attended the meeting, with all Deputy Commissioners and Police Superintendents joining online. The meeting reviewed arrangements related to procurement, the condition of mandis, farmers’ complaints, and the e-procurement system. The Chief Minister clearly stated that the State Government will not compromise on the interests of farmers.

FIR to Be Filed Against Officials in Case of Irregularities

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini instructed that in cases where irregularities were found in e-procurement portal entries and H-Register auctions at the New Grain Mandi, Kanina, and Grain Mandi, Kosli, and where employees or officers have already been suspended, FIRs should also be registered against them.

52.18 Lakh Metric Tons of Crop Procured So Far

The Chief Minister emphasized that Haryana Government is determined to protect farmers’ earnings and purchase every grain of their produce. Officials reported that paddy procurement started on October 22, and in most mandis, it is proceeding smoothly. So far, procurement from 2.66 lakh farmers has resulted in approximately 52.18 lakh metric tons of paddy being purchased. Around Rs 10,204.98 crore has been transferred to farmers’ accounts. Procurement of bajra includes 291.10 metric tons by state agencies and 3.99 lakh metric tons by private traders.

Officials also reported some complaints regarding paddy coming from other states and irregularities in gate pass scanning, to which the government has taken a strict stance. Physical verification is being conducted for rice mills in Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, and Kaithal where paddy has been allocated for milling.

Strict Instructions for Mandis

The Chief Minister directed that technical staff availability in mandis be ensured so that gate pass scanning and physical verification are not hindered. He clarified that gate passes should only be scanned within the designated mandi area. In mandis where gate pass scanning has been misused, responsible employees and officers must be identified and detailed reports submitted. Along with strict administrative action, FIRs will also be registered in such cases. To prevent illegal entry of paddy from other states, all border districts have been instructed to implement strict police checkpoints.

District Officials to Conduct Inspections

The Chief Minister instructed district administration officers to regularly visit mandis and interact with farmers. Rice mills allocated paddy should be physically verified periodically. Any negligence or corruption at any level will be met with immediate strict action.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Chief Principal Secretary to CM Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, Principal Secretary to CM Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, DGP Sh. O.P. Singh, Additional Principal Secretary to CM Dr. Saket Kumar, Director, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department Sh. Anshaj Singh, and other senior officials.