Chandigarh, June 9 – Haryana Assembly Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan has initiated extensive preparations to ensure the success of the upcoming National Conference of Urban Local Bodies. In this regard, he held a meeting with senior officials of the state government and Haryana Legislative Assembly at the Legislative Assembly Secretariat on Monday and discussed each arrangement in detail. The conference is proposed to be held in Gurugram in the first week of July.

The Assembly Speaker instructed the officials that it is our shared responsibility to make this conference on a topic of national importance a success. He said this conference is an important step towards Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s dream of ‘One Nation One Legislature’. For this conference, a roadmap is being prepared to increase the participation of urban local bodies in the development of the country. This resolution has also been reiterated in the All India Conference of Presiding Officers held in Patna this year.

The Speaker said it is a matter of good fortune for us that Haryana Legislative Assembly has got the hosting of this first big conference organized to fulfill such a great goal. He told the officials that the success of this conference will not only prove to be a milestone in the direction of strengthening the local urban bodies, but will also set an example of the working system of the legislature and the hospitality of Haryana. Commissioner and Secretary of Urban Local Bodies Department Sh. Vikas Gupta, Additional Director Y. S. Gupta, Director General of Information, Public Relations, Art and Cultural Affairs Department, Sh. K.M. Pandurang, Speaker’s Advisor Ram Narayan Yadav, Secretary of Haryana Legislative Assembly Dr. Satish Kumar and other officials were present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, June 9- Haryana Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda said along with the infrastructural development of government schools, the state government is making every effort to provide good education to students. The result of this is that the Haryana Board of School Education has had excellent results of Class 10th and 12th. A plan has been made to develop the intellectual skills of the students of government schools and prepare them for competitive examinations. IAS, IPS, and HCS officers across all districts will actively contribute to enhancing the academic performance and competitive exam readiness of students by engaging with four government schools for four days each month. Students will also be informed about traffic rules. A letter has been written to the officials in this regard.

The Education Minister was addressing a press conference at his Chandigarh residence today. The Education Minister said Haryana is the first state in the country to implement the National Education Policy 2020. Curriculum is being prepared in accordance with this policy. Its meaningful results will come out in the future.

He said the Super 100 programme has brought a new ray of hope for the poor students. This time, 72 students of government schools of Super 100 have qualified in IIT and JEE Advanced 2025 examination. The positive aspect is that 24 daughters have achieved success in the examination. This is the result of the state government giving the best facilities to the girls in the field of education.

In response to a question, the Education Minister said to promote entrepreneurship, the syllabus from Class 10 to 12 is being prepared accordingly, so that the students can choose their career after completing their studies.

He said the Education Department has taken the initiative that the cooperation of Gram Panchayats will be taken in improving the cleanliness system of government schools in rural areas during the summer vacation. He said during summer vacations, teachers are going door-to-door to increase the number of students in government schools. In response to a question, the Education Minister said interference of any person in his name in the Directorate of Education will not be tolerated, even if he is a close relative.

Chandigarh, June 9 – Less than two months after the launch of air service from Maharaja Agrasen Airport, Hisar to Ayodhya, the air service to Chandigarh has also begun now. The air service was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini today.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister said in the coming days, air services will be expanded in a phased manner and will be started from Hisar to Jaipur, Jammu and Ahmedabad.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said it is a proud day for Haryana because this airport is Haryana’s first airport, which was dedicated to the people of Haryana by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister’s dream is that even the common citizens of the country should be able to use air service and in the last 11 years, this dream has been brought to reality in many ways. The Prime Minister had flagged off the air service from Hisar to Ayodhya on the occasion of Baba Saheb Dr. BR Ambedkar Jayanti. Today, the second air service has started from here, which will connect Shaheed Bhagat Singh Airport, Chandigarh with Hisar.

He said due to this airport, Hisar will also become a hub of industry in the coming time and various types of facilities will be available due to which this area will develop at a fast pace.

The Chief Minister took a dig at the opposition and said the opposition leaders used to say that Maharaja Agrasen Airport was an aerodrome, it was not known whether flights will start from here or not. But the government started air services from Hisar Airport as per its promise and these services will be continuously expanded from here.

India has risen under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said 11 glorious years of the Central Government have been completed under the leadership of the Prime Minister and every Indian has seen the speed at which the country has progressed in these 11 years. He said India has taken an upward flight in these 11 years. India’s respect has increased in the world and it has become strong and powerful. In these 11 years, more than 150 airports, about 2500 universities and institutions like IIT and IIM have been built in the country. This is Modi’s India – a strong and powerful India. He said the Prime Minister has resolved that India should become a developed nation by the year 2047 and at the same pace, our government is also moving Haryana forward to make it ‘Viksit Haryana’.

Jobs being given without ‘kharchi-parchi’

The Chief Minister said there has been a change in the system under the leadership of the Prime Minister and poor children are getting government jobs on the basis of their hard work. In Haryana too, in the last 11 years, deserving candidates have got jobs on the basis of transparency, whereas earlier, jobs were given on ‘kharchi-parchi’ system. This difference has been seen only under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi.

He said in the last 11 years, work has been done to open a college every 20 kilometers in Haryana, so that girls do not have to go far for higher education. Not only this, 15 medical colleges have been completed in the state and work is underway on the remaining. There were 700 MBBS seats in 2014 but today, the number of MBBS seats has increased to around 2500 and will reach 3500 by the year 2029.

Hisar will establish its identity as a major industrial centre in coming time: Vipul Goel

Civil Aviation Minister Sh. Vipul Goel said about two months ago, air services were formally launched from Maharaja Agrasen Airport, Hisar by the Prime Minister, and taking this forward, the Chief Minister has launched flight service from Hisar to Chandigarh today. He said this service is not limited to just an air journey, but is going to give impetus to the economic and industrial development of the entire region. It will benefit not only Hisar, but also other parts of neighbouring states like Rajasthan and Punjab. He said this flight service will prove to be helpful in strengthening the industries of Hisar and in the coming time, Hisar will establish its identity as a major industrial centre.

Haryana moving on the path of progress at three times the speed: Mohan Lal Kaushik

BJP State President Sh. Mohan Lal Kaushik said under the leadership of the Prime Minister, since 2014, the BJP government has given a new direction to the country through continuous service, good governance and welfare schemes for poor. Under the leadership of Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the state is continuously moving towards development. Today, another important chapter is being added to this development journey. He said just as the BJP government has been formed in Haryana for the third time, the state is moving on the path of progress with the same enthusiasm and three times the speed.

On this occasion, Public Works Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, Minister of State Sh. Rajesh Nagar, MLA Sh. Randhir Panihar, Sh. Vinod Bhayana, Smt. Savitri Jindal, Commissioner and Secretary of Civil Aviation Department Smt. Amneet P Kumar, Advisor to Civil Aviation Department Sh. Narhari Singh Bangar, former Minister Dr. Kamal Gupta, former Minister Sh. Anoop Dhanak and former MLA Sh. Bhavya Bishnoi along with other dignitaries were present.

Chandigarh June 9: The establishment of an Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) for Panchkula city, along with several other development projects, was approved during the 3rd meeting of the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA), held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini. The authority also approved a budget of Rs. 587.94 crore for the financial year 2025-26.

        The Integrated Command and Control Centre is designed to meet the needs of a growing urban population and to enhance urban governance through smart technologies. The Centre will ensure efficient public service delivery, real-time monitoring, and emergency response. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 208.92 crore, and it is expected to be implemented within 9 months.   

        Key components of the ICCC include CCTV surveillance with AI-based video analytics, Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS), Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD), Automatic Traffic Counter and Classification (ATCC), Emergency Call Boxes, Public Address Systems, integration with Dial-112 help line system of the Haryana Police, real-time monitoring of street lighting and solid waste, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) for water treatment and sewage treatment plants, centralized citizen complaint redressal through a call-in interface, as well as cybersecurity and non-intrusive monitoring infrastructure.

 PMDA approves beautification and rejuvenation of two ‘Jal Dhara’ streams in Panchkula city

        In the meeting, the Authority also approved the beautification and rejuvenation of two ‘Jal Dhara’ flowing through Panchkula city. These include the Jal Dhara from MDC to Rajiv-Indira Colony and Singh Nallah Chow from Sector-1 to Industrial Area, Phase-1. The Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA) will undertake the work at a cost of Rs. 95.42 crore.

The administrative approval for the development of a world-class Shooting Range Sports Complex at Sector-32, Panchkula, at a cost of Rs. 173.48 crore was also given in the meeting. It was informed that the Detailed Project Report has been submitted by the consulting agency, and the work is expected to be completed within 24 months from the date of work allotment.

Chief Minister emphasizes beautification of parks and strengthening of the road infrastructure

        While reviewing the projects being implemented by the PMDA, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for beautification of all parks and strengthening of the road infrastructure in Panchkula.

 He directed that parks should be well maintained and their beautification carried out to enhance the overall beauty of the city. He said that a variety of flowers be planted in the roundabouts to further enhance their appeal.

PMDA developing model road from Majri Chowk, Sector-1 to Railway Station

The Chief Minister directed that all road repair work under the jurisdiction of PMDA be completed well before June 15, 2025. He also instructed that a model road be developed in Panchkula, featuring an attractive roundabout near the District Court complex.

 On this, he was informed that PMDA is developing a model road from Majri Chowk, Sector-1 to the Railway Station, which will include facilities such as a cycle track, footpaths, greenery, and more.

        Chief Executive Officer of the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority, Sh. K.M. Pandurang, who was also present at the meeting, briefed the Chief Minister on the actions taken regarding decisions made during the previous meeting, as well as updates on upcoming projects.

 Construction of five new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) underway

        Sh. Pandurang informed that PMDA has taken over 48 kilometers of dividing roads across all 58 sector dividing roads , three Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 72 MLD, and four Water Treatment Plants with a total capacity of 114 MLD. Additionally, 11 parks and 19 green belts have also been taken over.

 He further stated that the construction of five new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) is currently underway. He further informed that beautification work of all major parks is in progress . The participation of private sector has been ensured to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the Cactus Garden, Asia’s largest of its kind. Additionally, a curator has also been appointed to oversee its upkeep and development.

MLA Kalka Smt Shakti Rani Sharma, Mayor Sh Kulbhushan Goyal, Chief Secretary Sh Anurag Rastogi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sh Arun Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary  Town and Country Planning and Urban Estates Department Sh A.K Singh,  Commissioner and Secretary Cooperation Department Smt Ashima Brar, Chief Administrator, Haryana Shaheri Vikas Pradhikaran, Panchkula Sh Chander Shekhar Khare and other senior officers of PMDA were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh June 9: While giving major push to the infrastructure development projects in Sonipat Metropolitan Area, the Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA) which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh Nayab Singh Sain here today approved a budget of Rs 349.8 crores for the Financial Year 2025-26.

        Haryana Cooperation Minister, Dr Arvind Sharma, MP Sonipat Sh Satpal Brahamchari, MLAs Sh Nikhil Madaan, Sh Devender Kadyan and Smt Krishan Gahlawat and Mayor Sh Rajiv Jain were also present in the meeting.

        While chairing the 2nd meeting of the Authority, the Chief Minister directed that the new building for the Municipal Corporation, Sonipat, be constructed at the earliest. He emphasized that to ensure citizens do not have to visit multiple offices for their work; the office of the Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority should be relocated to the Municipal Corporation building once it is completed.

The Chief Minister directed that new schemes and projects be planned with consideration of the area’s projected population, ensuring maximum benefits for the people from the development works. He directed that officers must ensure contractors complete development works within the stipulated time frame, and strict action should be taken against those who fail to do so.

Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) to be established under Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority

 In the meeting, the Authority approved the establishment and monitoring of an Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) under the aegis of the Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority.

 The ICCC will serve as a central nerve centre for managing urban infrastructure and services in a growing city like Sonipat. Key components of the ICCC include a city-wide surveillance system, ICT infrastructure for smart parks and smart roads, an adaptive traffic control system, traffic enforcement systems, variable messaging signs, smart street lighting, an emergency response system, and a public address system.

3 MLD STP at DCRUST, Murthal to be upgraded to 7.5 MLD capacity

Recognizing the rapid growth of the town in the food sector and industries, the Authority approved the upgradation of the 3 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology (DCRUST), Murthal, to a 7.5 MLD capacity plant based on SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactor) technology, at an estimated cost of Rs. 15.75 crore.

Additionally, approval was granted for a project costing Rs. 35.50 crore for the construction of a 10 MLD Ranney well and a rising main from Village Bega, near the Yamuna River, to Gannaur town. This project aims to enhance the drinking water supply for Gannaur and the surrounding areas.

New theme-based Waste to Wonder Park to be developed behind the stadium in Sector-4

With the aim of providing a refreshing environment for children to play, families to bond, and elders to relax, a new theme-based Waste to Wonder Park will be constructed behind the stadium in Sector-4, Sonipat.

To be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 26.38 crore, the park is expected to attract a large number of visitors, offering a significant economic boost through increased footfall and public engagement. The park will feature recreations of world-famous landmarks from various continents, created using waste and scrap materials transformed into artistic installations.

Road dividing Sectors 29/7, 28/6, and 4/5 in Urban Estate to be widened for improved traffic flow

To ease traffic congestion in Sonipat city, particularly on Bahalgarh Road, the Authority approved the widening of the road dividing Sectors 29/7, 28/6, and 4/5 at an estimated cost of Rs. 26.86 crore. The project will involve expanding the existing 7-meter-wide carriageway to a 14-meter-wide dual carriageway, along with the construction of a 2-meter-wide cycle track and a 2-meter-wide footpath on both sides of the road to accommodate increasing traffic demands.

Additionally, the Authority approved the implementation of a stormwater drainage project in Kundli Town, with an estimated cost of Rs. 28.15 crore. The stormwater will be directed to Drain No. 6 for proper disposal. Approval was also granted for the construction of a Dussehra Ground in Sector-17, near Village Rewali.

The Authority also approved providing storm water disposal and construction of drains at Kharkhoda Town at a cost of Rs 42.37 crore and augmentation of water supply by installation of 2 new ranney wells, rising main upto existing MBS and other connecting infrastructure for Sonipat Town at a cost of Rs 47.54 crore.

CEO, Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority Smt A.Mona Sreenivas briefed the Chief Minister on the actions taken regarding decisions made during the previous meeting, as well as on upcoming projects.

Among those present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Sh Anurage Rastogi, Principal Advisor, Urban Development Sh DS Dhesi, Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family Welfare Sh Sudhir Rajpal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sh Arun Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Town and Country Planning and Urban Estates Department Sh A.K Singh, Commissioner and Secretary Urban Local Bodies Department Sh Vikas Gupta, Chief Executive Officer PMDA Sh KM Pandurang, Chief Administrator, Haryana Shaheri Vikas Pradhikaran, Panchkula Sh Chander Shekhar Khare, Director, Town and Country Planning, Sh Amit Khatri, OSD to Chief Minister Sh B.B Bharti, Additional CEO Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority Smt Veena Hooda and other senior officers.

Chandigarh, June 9:

Ushering in a new era of trust, transparency, and transformation, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday will launch FastTrack Punjab Portal which will ensure all the approvals to the investors within 45 days of application. 

“These reforms are not the end rather they are the beginning of a movement, a movement where ease of doing business becomes a culture, not a slogan”, said the Chief Minister.

Divulging more details, the Chief Minister said that Punjab has always been a land of courage, enterprise, and resilience and now, it stands ready to lead India’s industrial resurgence with the same spirit. He said that this is a bold declaration to every investor that Punjab is open for business on their terms, with full commitment. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that FastTrack Punjab Portal represents more than a technological upgrade adding that it is the backbone of a re-imagined industrial governance model.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is replacing discretion with discipline, delay with digital, and confusion with clarity. He said that from getting approvals in a maximum of 45 days to eliminating red tape, Punjab’s system is no longer reactive; it is proactive, precise, and professional. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that whether the industrialist was a startup founder, a global conglomerate, or a first-time entrepreneur, Punjab welcomes him not just with incentives, but with integrity and intention.

The Chief Minister said that every reform be it a unified regulator , unified portal, deemed approval, In-Principle approval, or robust monitoring protocols has been designed to earn their trust and support their journey. He said that the officers of the state government are no longer just regulators but they will act as facilitators adding that escalation mechanisms ensure that when there is silence, there is action and no investor will ever feel unheard or stuck. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that compliance has been made intelligent, powered by self-declaration, enabled by digital scrutiny, and backed by legal certainty.

The Chief Minister said that the state government firmly understands that industries don’t thrive on paperwork rather they thrive on roads, power, people, and vision. That’s why, he said that the state government is investing in industrial parks, unlocking land potential, enabling lease-to-freehold policy, and creating new avenues to monetize industrial assets. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a Rs 200 crore infrastructure fund has been established to ensure that last-mile gaps within Industrial Focal Points do not derail the expansions of industrialists.

The Chief Minister said that after parleys with industrialists policy Incentive disbursal is now expedited, monitored, and mission-driven. He said that the state government has already disbursed more in this quarter than in the past two years combined, adding that this is the new Punjab where promises are kept, not just made. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in near future, Punjab will not be a follower—it will be a front-runner and a state where industry is empowered by policy, enabled by infrastructure, and supported by a responsive government.

Chandigarh, June 9:

 In view of the ongoing paddy sowing season, Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Monday held a high-level meeting with senior officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) to review power supply arrangements for farmers across the state.

During the meeting, the Minister was informed that the state has adopted a phased schedule for paddyh sowing, including Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR). As per the government’s directive, DSR was permitted from May 15 to May 31, 2025, followed by phased transplantation across districts.

Sowing activities were initiated on June 1 in border and canal-irrigated districts such as Faridkot, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Fazilka. From June 5, the activity extended to Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Fatehgarh Sahib, and Hoshiarpur. The remaining districts—Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar—began sowing operations from today, June 9.

PSPCL officials apprised the Minister that comprehensive measures have been undertaken to ensure uninterrupted power supply during this crucial agricultural period. A daily 8-hour power supply to areas under DSR has already been in effect since May 15, while other districts are receiving assured supply as per the sowing schedule. Additionally, uninterrupted power continues to be provided to residential and industrial sectors.

Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to the welfare of farmers under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO stated, “The government is fully dedicated to ensuring smooth and sufficient power availability during the paddy sowing season. Every necessary step has been taken to support our farmers in during this paddy season.”

He emphasized that the proactive planning and coordination between PSPCL and PSTCL exemplify the government’s efficient and farmer-friendly approach towards agricultural needs.

The meeting was attended by PSPCL CMD Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Director Generation Er. Harjit Singh, Director Finance CA SK Beri, Director Distribution Er. Inderpal Singh, and Director Technical Er. Sanjeev Kumar Sood.

Chandigarh, June 9:

Punjab’s crop diversification efforts got a major fillip with cotton cultivation witnessing around 20% surge, taking the area under cotton from 2.49 lakh acres last year to 2.98 lakh acres this year, an increase of over 49,000 acres, informed S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab.

While chairing a meeting to review the ongoing Kharif season and departmental projects here at Kisan Bhawan on Monday evening, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated that Fazilka district leads in cotton cultivation with 60,121 hectares, followed by Mansa (27,621 hectares), Bathinda (17,080 hectares), and Sri Muktsar Sahib (13,240 hectares).

The Agriculture Minister said that the Punjab government would provide a 33% subsidy on cotton seeds to growers, with over 49,000 farmers have already registered online. He directed Chief Agriculture Officers to ensure all cotton growers complete online registration by June 15.

The Agriculture Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian expressed satisfaction over the enthusiastic response of the state’s farmers towards Kharif maize cultivation, with over 54,000 acres already sown in just nine days since sowing commenced on June 1 across the state.

The Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government will give incentive of Rs. 17,500 per hectare to farmers for shifting from paddy to Kharif maize under a pilot project covering six districts- Bathinda, Sangrur, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Kapurthala. The project aims to bring 12,000 hectares under Kharif maize, promoting agricultural diversification and groundwater conservation. To facilitate this transition, the state government has appointed 200 Kisan Mitras to guide and encourage farmers.

The state’s agricultural sector is showing positive trends, with these numbers reflecting the combined efforts of farmers and the state government’s initiatives to promote crop diversification and boost agricultural productivity.

The Agriculture Minister also reviewed the status of Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR), fertilisers availability, and other projects, while directing district agriculture chiefs to ensure quality agricultural inputs to farmers as safeguarding the farmers’ interests remains the top priority of the Punjab Government.

The Administrative Secretary Agriculture Dr. Basant Garg, Special Secretary Ms Baldeep Kaur, Agriculture Commissioner Ms. Babita, Director Mr. Jaswant Singh and other senior officials of the department were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh 9 June 2025:

 Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker  S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan met Dr. Tejinder Pal Singh, Chairman Council of Homeopathic System of Medicine Punjab and Padam Shri Bhai Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale Ji a great personality among Sikh Panth at Ludhiana and received their valuable suggestions which is a part of the campaign launched to get suggestions from various religious, social and political personalities pertaining to commemorate 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

Bhai Sahib gave important suggestions for this event and he prayed to Guru Sahib to shower His choicest  blessings so that this centenary can be observed with true spirit and in a grand manner.

Chandigarh: The 4th Postgraduate International Vaccinology Course (PGIVAC 2025) began today at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, with the participation of nearly 70 professionals from across India. The inauguration ceremony featured an esteemed lineup of dignitaries. Dr. Arun K. Aggarwal, Head of the Department, delivered the Welcome Address. *Dr. Rajeev Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India,* delivered the Distinguished Address emphasising the importance of innovation, regulation, and India’s leadership in vaccine research; Dr Bhupinder Tripathi Director, Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Delivery, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, delivered a Special Address on importance of Advancing Vaccinology for a Healthier Tomorrow: Leadership, Equity, and Innovation in Public Health and Dr Rupinder Bakshi a representative from the Punjab Medical Council spoke on credit hours.

The Keynote Address was delivered by *Chief Guest Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, Government of India*, who highlighted the critical role of immunisation in India’s public health strategy. *Dr. Madhu Gupta, Course Director,* delivered the Vote of Thanks, marking a successful start to the academic event. The first module of the course focused on the Introduction and History of Vaccine Development, with Dr. Rajesh Kumar, former Dean and HOD, and Dr. Madhu Gupta, jointly presenting an insightful session on the historical evolution of vaccines. This was chaired by Dr. Jayaprakash Muliyil, renowned epidemiologist and former Principal of CMC Vellore. A case study on Smallpox eradication was followed by a session on the National Vaccine Policy in India, delivered by Dr. Nirmal K. Ganguly, Former Director General of ICMR. Dr. Jayaprakash Muliyil also presented on the impact of vaccination on disease epidemiology and strategies to control vaccine-preventable diseases. The post-lunch session opened with Dr. Ananda Bandyopadhyay from the Gates Foundation presenting on the role of vaccines in solving public health challenges, particularly lessons from polio eradication. This was followed by sessions on Measles and Rubella control by Dr. Shivani Gupta of WHO, and managing outbreaks with vaccines by Dr. Kapil Goel of PGIMER. Dr. Prasad Kulkarni of the Serum Institute of India spoke on the pivotal role of the vaccine industry in development efforts. The day concluded with a Special Legacy Lecture by Dr. Stanley A. Plotkin, Professor Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania and a global authority in vaccinology, who reflected on the public health importance of vaccines and lessons for the future. The session was chaired by Dr. Ananda Bandyopadhyay. Dr. Madhu Gupta wrapped up the day with a summary and session feedback. PGIVAC 2025 continues through the week with high-level sessions from national and international experts, aiming to strengthen India’s capacity in vaccine science, research, and public health policy.