CHANDIGARH:

  In a landmark moment for Indian healthcare and academic medicine, Prof. Akshay Kumar Saxena, Professor and Head of the Department of Radiodiagnosis at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has been elected as an  Honorary Fellow of the American College of Radiology (ACR).

This prestigious global honor places Prof. Saxena in an extraordinarily elite echelon of Indian medical history.

 Following Dr. Sneh Bhargava—the iconic former Director and head of the legendary radiology department at AIIMS—Prof. Saxena stands as the only other leader from a premier apex medical institute in India to receive this distinction. His induction marks a historic first for PGIMER Chandigarh and North India, cementing the institution’s world-class standards in patient care, research, and diagnostic innovation.

The American College of Radiology, one of the world’s largest and most influential medical imaging societies, confers honorary fellowships exclusively to individuals who have made extraordinary, internationally transformative contributions to the science and practice of radiology.

Recognized by the ACR as an eminent radiologist, Prof. Saxena has been instrumental in providing groundbreaking care to the pediatric population in India, while making exceptional contributions toward the advancement of the practice of radiology both nationally and abroad. His scholarly impact spans more than 175 publications and 23 book chapters.

Furthermore, he has played a foundational role in shaping standard operating protocols at PGIMER Chandigarh and developing crucial imaging guidelines in both India and the USA.

A prominent leader within the global medical community, Prof. Saxena has held several leadership positions in professional radiology societies, serves as the president of the Society for Emergency Radiology in India, and has routinely lent his expertise by delivering lectures and moderating sessions globally.

This international honor further validates India’s rapid stride toward global leadership in specialized medical sciences, proving that PGIMER Chandigarh stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the finest medical centers in the world.

Following Dr. Sneh Bhargava—the iconic former Director and head of the legendary radiology department at AIIMS—Prof. Saxena stands as the only other leader from a premier apex medical institute in India to receive this distinction.

Chandigarh: In a joint media briefing convened at Chandigarh Press Club on Wednesday, Rashtriya Jan Udyog Vayapar Sangathan (RJUVS), Federation of All India Petroleum Traders (FAIPT), Petroleum Pump Dealers Association Punjab (PPDAP), and Petroleum Dealers Welfare Association Haryana (PDWAH) raised serious concerns regarding government digital transaction levies, severely inadequate dealer margins, widespread inter-state fuel smuggling, and the growing operational distress suffocating retail fuel outlets across Northern India.

The conference was jointly addressed by Monty Sehgal, National Spokesperson of FAIPT, Paramjit Singh Doaba, President of PPDAP, Sanjeev Chaudhary, President of PDWA Haryana, and Gulshan Dang, Haryana State President of RJUVS.

Addressing the recently introduced Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges on UPI payments, the Monty Sehgal strongly criticized the naming convention, stating that calling it a discount is a complete misnomer.

The associations emphasized that there is no discount involved in this charge, characterizing it instead as a digital recovery levy imposed by the government. Although the implementation of these charges has been temporarily deferred until Diwali, the intention remains to enforce them. Because petroleum dealers operate under strictly regulated, fixed margins, absorbing these transaction costs is impossible, said Monty Sehgal.

Consequently, we demanded a complete, one-hundred percent exemption from all MDR charges on petroleum products and retail dealers, Monty informed.

The associations highlighted that retail fuel operators across the country are facing an unprecedented financial crisis and heavy debt burden.

“Dealer’ margin, which were revised in 2017 and given only a nominal increase in late November 2024, remain entirely inadequate to meet fixed establishment costs. Over eighty percent of a dealer’s margin goes directly toward reimbursing fixed operational expenses, including staff salaries, electricity bills, rising bank interest on capital investments, and extensive compliance mandates enforced by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).”

The minor margin increase in late 2024 failed to address these inflationary pressures, and low-volume dealers selling less than 100 kilolitres per month received virtually no financial benefit, said Sanjeev Chaudhary.

Moreover we can’t afford to meet proposed MDR charges on digital payments, he asserted.

Paramjit Singh Doaba said,” Following aggressive outlet expansions advertised in 2018 and 2023, the total number of petrol pumps nationwide has crossed one lakh, causing average monthly sales throughput per pump to plummet from 170 kilolitres down to 130 to 140 kilolitres. In Punjab and Haryana, the crisis is far more severe, with average sales dropping below 100 kilolitres per month, pushing numerous outlets to the brink of financial collapse.”

To ensure the basic survival of retail outlets and maintain consumer service quality, the associations appealed to the Central Government and OMCs to urgently revise dealer margins to seven percent of the billed value, with special priority given to the small dealers with 100 kilolitres of volume sold each month. The leadership urged the government to announce this revised seven percent margin structure before Diwali so that dealers can sustainably continue their operations.

“The operational environment at petrol pumps has deteriorated significantly due to low margins and the falling volumes. Thus we urge the government and OMCs to formulate a supportive proposal that ensures low-volume dealers earn enough to meet basic establishment costs.”

The associations appealed to the state governments of Punjab and Haryana to take immediate action against large-scale fuel smuggling occurring from Union Territory Chandigarh into border districts, driven by lower VAT rates in the capital. This tax differential is inflicting severe financial losses on border petrol pump operators while causing massive revenue leakage for both state exchequers. PPDAP and PDWA Haryana urged both state governments to consider equalizing their oil VAT rates with Chandigarh to eliminate illegal fuel trade, protect dealer livelihoods, and safeguard state revenues.

During the conference, the leaders expressed deep grief and unequivocal condemnation regarding the recent horrific incident where a Sales Officer was tragically killed by a dealer’s kin, while discharging his official duty to seal a petrol pump.

The incident was a failure of the system and we also called for a thorough investigation into the extreme pressure points and underlying conditions that led to the tragedy, said Doaba.

The Vigilance Cell of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, organised a workshop on “Essentials of Public Procurement, GeM Procedures and Rules” today as part of the three-month Preventive Vigilance Campaign (August 17–November 16, 2026), being observed under the guidance of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The campaign’s theme is “Probity for Prosperity” (सत्यनिष्ठा से समृद्धि).

The technical session was conducted by Prof. Rakesh Kapoor, Professor In-charge (EP), PGIMER, who spoke on public procurement, GeM procedures and applicable rules, emphasising awareness of prescribed processes and compliance in institutional decision-making.

In his introductory remarks, Prof. Sunil Dogra, Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), PGIMER, outlined the objectives of the CVC campaign and its relevance to faculty members and officials. He highlighted the importance of preventive vigilance in strengthening transparency, integrity, fairness and accountability, and preventing procedural lapses through greater awareness of rules, proper documentation and responsible use of public funds.

The workshop was attended by Sh. Rattan Lal Thakur, Senior Administrative Officer (Vigilance), PGIMER, along with faculty members, administrative staff and other employees of the Institute. Employees of the PGIMER Satellite Centre, Sangrur, also joined the workshop through online mode. The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from approximately 165 participants, including doctors, nursing staff, paramedical personnel and administrative employees, reflecting the Institute-wide commitment to promoting vigilance awareness, transparency and integrity in official functioning.

The workshop forms part of PGIMER’s continuing efforts to promote ethical conduct, transparent processes and good governance. It reinforced the message that integrity and accountability are shared responsibilities across the Institute.

Chandigarh:

The Sirsa MP, Former Union Cabinet Minister, General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, Congress Incharge of Uttarakhand and Congress Working Committee member Kumari Selja on Monday, while speaking to journalists in New Delhi ahead of the Congress’s proposed march, said the time had come for a decisive fight against alleged vote theft through the purported collusion between the BJP government and the Election Commission. She asserted that the people’s votes were not the property of any government but a right guaranteed by the Constitution. The Congress would firmly oppose any attempt to weaken or take away this right.

Kumari Selja said Congress workers were mobilising in New Delhi on October 12 under the leadership of party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to protect democracy and voting rights. A march from Barakhamba Road Junction to the Supreme Court has been called for 1.30 pm. She said the struggle was not limited to the Congress but concerned the rights of every citizen who had been given the power to vote under the Constitution.

Kumari Selja alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls could adversely affect the voting rights of poor people, Dalits, backward classes and minorities. She said the Election Commission had a constitutional responsibility to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. The names of all eligible voters must remain on electoral rolls, and no citizen should be deprived of the right to vote. She said Rahul Gandhi had consistently raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the electoral process and vote theft. Questions raised by the Congress, she added, should be answered transparently.

Kumari Selja further alleged that attempts were being made to suppress democratic dissent through police action and arrests. Expressing disagreement and questioning the government, she said, were constitutional rights of every citizen. She asserted that the country would be governed by the values and principles of the Constitution framed under the leadership of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, not by the arbitrary wishes of any government.

Kumari Selja called upon citizens to remain aware and united in protecting democratic rights. She said the Congress would continue its struggle to safeguard the impartiality of democratic institutions, transparency in elections and the people’s right to vote, adding that there would be no compromise on the protection of the Constitution and democracy.

Chandigarh, October 10, 2026: EDUTHON 6.0 brought more than 1,200 school leaders, educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, educationists and industry representatives to Hyatt Regency, Chandigarh, to discuss “AI and the Future of School Education”. Presented by TRINITi and powered by Chitkara University, the sixth edition built on a platform that has grown from 70 school leaders at its first gathering into a national forum recognised by the India Book of Records.
A fireside conversation between Shantanu Deshpande, Founder of Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae, and Ankur Malhotra, Founder Director of TRINITi, was among the key sessions. Deshpande also launched the Anandi Fellowship, an initiative aimed at identifying, mentoring and funding young business talent in India.
Speaking at the event, Ankur Malhotra, Founder Director of TRINITi, said, “Education cannot afford to simply react to every new technology that comes along. Our responsibility is to understand what is changing and ensure that in the process of becoming future-ready, we do not lose sight of what makes education meaningful in the first place.”

Participants included Dr. Madhu Chitkara, President and Co-Founder of Chitkara University; Shreya Yashwanth Rao, Architect, Femina Miss India Runner-up 2018 and Founder of Simplify.Ed; Poonam Singh Jamwal, Chief Business Officer at Extramarks Education; Dr. Niyati Chitkara, Vice President of School Education at Chitkara Educational Trust; Harpreet Grover, Founder of The Curious Parent, widely known as the Parenting Guru; and Samriti Sharma, former Middle School Vice Principal at Future Bilingual School for Girls, Kuwait.

School associations were represented by Dr. Jagjit Singh Dhuri, President of the Joint Association of Colleges and Federation of Private Schools and Associations of Punjab; Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma, President of the National Independent Schools Alliance; Anubhavv Arora, Executive Chairman of the Confederation for Equality in Early Childhood Care and Education; and Ashish Sharma, President of the Independent Schools Association, Chandigarh.
Since its inception, EDUTHON has grown from a gathering of 70 school leaders into a national platform, bringing together more than 1,200 participants at its sixth edition. As artificial intelligence reshapes teaching and learning, the platform provides a space for school leaders, educators and industry voices to consider how technology can serve education while keeping human judgement, meaningful engagement and the role of educators at the centre. Its growth reflects the increasing reach of a forum dedicated to conversations about the future of school education.

Chandigarh, October 10, 2026: Senior BJP leader Sanjay Tandon on Saturday participated in the ‘Seva Ke Rang, Rashtra Ke Sang’ rangoli programmes organised in Chandigarh under the ongoing ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic milestone of completing 25 years in public life as the head of a government. The rangoli events were organised by BJP District Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay at Shivalik Garden, Manimajra, and BJP District Shyama Prasad Mukherjee at Mata Chintpurni Temple, Sector 32.

Through colourful rangoli designs, the programmes conveyed messages of service, dedication and nation-building. Speaking on the occasion, Tandon said, “The completion of 25 years of Narendra Modi ji’s public life as the head of a government is a significant milestone. His journey reflects a steadfast commitment to public service, dedication to the nation and the vision of building a stronger and more developed India.” 

He added, “The ‘Seva Ke Rang, Rashtra Ke Sang’ initiative beautifully expresses the spirit of service and national commitment through the art of rangoli. Such creative initiatives bring people together and inspire them to contribute to nation-building.” Appreciating the efforts of the organisers, Tandon expressed his gratitude to the office-bearers and workers of both district units, as well as everyone who contributed to creating the rangoli designs. He said their hard work, creativity and dedication made the programmes meaningful and impactful. Reiterating the message of the campaign, Tandon said that service, dedication and collective participation were essential to the nation’s progress. “Seva Ke Rang, Rashtra Ke Sang” was the central message of the programmes, highlighting the connection between public service and the collective resolve to build a stronger nation.

Chandigarh:

— In Munsiwala village, Sangrur, Manjeet Kaur’s family once depended entirely on her husband’s factory income of ₹12,000–13,000 a month.

Today, they run two businesses. Her husband operates a kulcha cart earning ₹400–500 a day, while Manjeet runs a beauty parlour of her own, earning another ₹300–400 a day. Together, their household income has nearly doubled.

Her journey reflects the larger ambition of PEHEL, led by the Punjab Development Commission (PDC) and being implemented through the Department of Rural Development: helping women move beyond access to credit and become successful entrepreneurs with the plan to create 1.5 lakh+ women entrepreneurs in next 5 years.

“PEHEL was created to help women translate access to credit into economic opportunity. The results show what becomes possible when finance is combined with the right business choice, structured support and technology.”

– Seema Bansal, Vice-Chairperson, Punjab Development Commission

“Credit opens the door. The real breakthrough is helping every woman know what to build before the money arrives — and supporting her as that business grows.”

– Vinod Raghuwanshi, Co-Founder, Leap 300

Working with Leap 300, PEHEL has added a 300-day technology-enabled entrepreneurship journey around Punjab’s existing SHG credit system — helping women identify the right business, prepare before funds arrive, launch quickly, and continue growing with support from Sakhis, digital learning and AI-powered Vyapar Mitra.

PEHEL’s deployment of Leap 300 Technology has had immediate results. Loans facilitated per month per block have increased from around 4 to 25, while business launch time has fallen from roughly three months to 12 days. So far, 237 women across 50 villages have received ₹1.1 crore in credit, with 100% repayment to date. The share of first-time entrepreneurs has risen from 15% to 45%, and women have started 51 different types of businesses.

The enterprises span tailoring, beauty services, tuition centres, electronics, food businesses, repair services and more. Participation in post-launch support remains above 90%.

The programme is now expanding from four blocks in Sangrur toward nine blocks across Sangrur and Rupnagar, with a longer-term pathway to reach approximately 1 lakh women across Punjab over four years through the state’s existing SHG, credit and frontline infrastructure.

A rigorous evaluation of the model is also planned across the full 300-day journey, covering income, business and household outcomes.

Punjab’s emerging model is simple: don’t stop at giving women credit. Give them what it takes to build a business with it.

About Punjab Development Commission / PEHEL

The Punjab Development Commission leads PEHEL, a credit-led livelihood initiative designed to expand entrepreneurship opportunities for women across Punjab’s Self-Help Group ecosystem.

About Leap 300

Leap 300 is a technology enabled microenterprise programme that helps vulnerable households build sustainable businesses over a structured 300 day journey. Its model combines initial capital, entrepreneurship skilling and AI powered personalized support.Across its broader programme, Leap 300 has recorded a 91 percent graduation rate and an average income increase of around 150 percent. Learn more at leap300.org.

Chandigarh:

Promoting mental well-being, creative expression and vocational empowerment, the Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Chandigarh Skill Development Mission (CSDM), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi (CLKA), organised an Inclusive Pottery Workshop-cum-Competition at DDTC, PGIMER, under “SAMARTH – Shaping Clay, Nurturing Minds,” a Collaborative Mental Health Awareness and Skill Development Initiative.
Launched jointly by the Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, and CSDM, SAMARTH symbolises inner strength, resilience, confidence and empowerment. The initiative aims to integrate mental health awareness with skill development, vocational rehabilitation and employment opportunities, fostering an inclusive environment where individuals can recognise and develop their potential.
The workshop brought together 30 participants, including 10 from PGIMER and 20 students from CSDM-associated institutions—CCET, Sector 26; Government Polytechnic for Women, Sector 10; GITI, Sector 28; and GITIW, Sector 11. Through hands-on pottery and clay modelling, participants explored creative expression, developed practical skills and engaged in activities promoting concentration, social interaction and confidence. The programme also featured a competition and prize distribution, with certificates of participation for all participants.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Subho Chakrabarti, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, said, “Mental health care must extend beyond symptom management to helping individuals rebuild confidence, discover their strengths and participate meaningfully in society. Through SAMARTH, we aim to create an inclusive ecosystem that brings together mental health awareness, creative expression, skill development and employment opportunities. Activities such as pottery encourage self-expression, focused engagement and social connection, while vocational partnerships can help translate individual abilities into meaningful opportunities for greater independence, dignity and social inclusion.”
The workshop highlighted the potential of creative activities in supporting psychosocial well-being. Working with clay encourages concentration, sensory engagement, patience and creative exploration. In a supportive group setting, such activities may also promote self-confidence and social connection, complementing appropriate mental health care and rehabilitation.
The workshop was conducted by eminent senior city sculptor Tulsi Ram, along with young sculptors Chandini and Sahil, with support from Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi.
A distinctive feature of SAMARTH is its two-way collaborative learning approach. While mental health professionals from PGIMER have sensitised students to mental health awareness and stress management, faculty members, resident doctors and professional staff of the Department of Psychiatry have been oriented by CSDM on Chandigarh’s skill development ecosystem, the Skill India Mission, vocational rehabilitation pathways and employment opportunities for patients and caregivers. NSDC has also conducted orientation sessions on national skilling initiatives, future skills, certification frameworks and formal skill development programmes.
Since April 2026, PGIMER and CSDM have conducted collaborative programmes at CCET, Sector 26; Government Polytechnic, Sector 10; GITI, Sector 11; and GITI, Sector 28. The sessions covered mental health awareness, stress management, youth mental health, substance-use prevention, responsible behaviour and online and offline opportunities. Other activities included vocational guidance, individual skill and employability counselling for patients, and awareness of rehabilitation-linked opportunities. Three job fairs were also organised to facilitate employment opportunities.
The collaboration further seeks to facilitate tailored vocational training, with appropriate accommodations wherever required, and explore “Train and Place” and “Place and Train” models involving workplace support and industry partnerships.
Under the proposed “From Uncertainty to Direction” framework, individuals may be guided towards suitable training and employment through the National Career Service, job fairs, the Skill India Digital Hub, SWAYAM and vocational institutions, including GITI, Sector 28-C; GITI for Women, Sector 11; and Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Sector 38-C, Chandigarh.
Through SAMARTH, PGIMER and its partners aim to strengthen the link between mental health care, skill development, social inclusion and sustainable livelihood opportunities, enabling persons with mental health conditions to pursue greater independence and dignity.

Chandigarh:

The five-day Transdisciplinary Workshop on Participatory Action Research (PAR), held from 5 to 9 October 2026 at Hotel Parkview, Sector 24B, Chandigarh, concluded yesterday, bringing together researchers, public health practitioners and experts to promote community-led, participatory and action-oriented approaches to public health research.

Organised by the Health Equity Action Learnings (HEAL) Foundation, with academic support from the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh, and the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Bengaluru, the workshop was funded by the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

The workshop featured expert sessions, practical exercises, case studies and a community field visit, covering participatory research methods, community engagement, research ethics, power dynamics and translating community perspectives into policy and practice. Case studies from PRAXIS and Ekjut, Jharkhand, highlighted people-led research with marginalised communities and participatory approaches to improving maternal and newborn health.

The workshop brought together faculty and facilitators Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Dr. Manmeet Kaur, Dr. PVM Lakshmi, Dr. Tanya Seshadri, Dr. Tom Thomas, Dr. Dheeraj, Dr. Prasanta Tripathy, Dr. Sachin Barbde, Dr. Vikas Kumar and Dr. Vineeth Rajagopal , representing expertise across public health, participatory research and community-based interventions. Dr. Ashoo Grover, Scientist G and Head, Division of Delivery Research, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, led a session on research proposal development and funding opportunities on the concluding day.

The workshop concluded with group discussions, participant reflections and a closing ceremony. It emphasised the importance of equitable partnerships among communities, researchers and health systems to generate evidence that informs policies, strengthens programmes and drives meaningful public health action.