Chandigarh, Jan 21:

1. Election Commission of India’s (ECI) 3-day conference International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 began at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today.

2. In a specially organized Reception Ceremony, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners (ECs) Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, welcomed nearly 60 international delegates.

3. The conference got underway with a grand Inaugural Session which was attended by nearly 1,000 persons including delegates from 42 Election Management Bodies (EMBs), Ambassadors/High Commissioners of 27 countries, experts from over 70 national institutions and senior officers of the ECI and 36 Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from across India.

4. Welcoming the participants, CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar, said that the work of EMBs has evolved significantly over the past decades. India, as the world’s largest democracy, conducts elections on an unprecedented scale, encompassing 28 states and 8 union territories, with a population of 1.5 billion.

5. Describing the faith placed by citizens in the EMBs as precious, EC Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu said that at the heart of every election is a citizen, believing that their choice will be respected and it is the collective responsibility of EMBs to protect it.

6. Speaking at the inaugural session, EC Dr. Vivek Joshi said that IICDEM-2026 brings together EMBs, researchers, students and practitioners who view elections from different angles and contribute to their respective institutions.

7. Speaking on the theme of IICDEM-2026, DG IIIDEM, Shri Rakesh Verma said that the theme for India’s chairship, democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world reflects a broad and multi-dimensional understanding of what democracy must deliver in the 21st century.

8. The participants viewed glimpses from the upcoming docuseries, “India Decides” produced in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery. Managing Director, Warner Bros. Discovery, Shri Arjun Nohwar in his speech said that the docuseries, through compelling visuals, portrays the general elections through the working of an institution that carries one of the most complex mandates anywhere in the world.

चंडीगढ़, 21 जनवरी, 2026- हरियाणा के माननीय राज्यपाल प्रो. असीम कुमार घोष ने बुधवार को लोक भवन में गुरु नानक खालसा कॉलेज, यमुना नगर के प्रिंसिपल डॉ. अरविंदर सिंह भल्ला द्वारा लिखी गई पुस्तक ‘श्री गुरु तेग बहादुर के श्लोक-अनंत वास्तविकता की प्राप्ति की ओर एक यात्रा‘ का विमोचन किया।

माननीय राज्यपाल प्रो. असीम कुमार घोष ने पुस्तक की बौद्धिक और अकादमिक दृष्टिकोण से सराहना करते हुए कहा कि श्री गुरु तेग बहादुर साहिब की 350वीं शहादत वर्षगांठ को ध्यान में रखते हुए, श्री गुरु तेग बहादुर जी के श्लोकों पर आधारित यह किताब निस्संदेह उनके अद्वितीय दर्शन और उनके पवित्र छंदों के गहरे अर्थों को समझने की दिशा में एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम है।

माननीय राज्यपाल प्रो. असीम कुमार घोष ने यह भी कहा कि डॉ. भल्ला ने यह पुस्तक विद्वतापूर्ण समर्पण और गहरी समझ के साथ लिखी है। उन्होंने कहा कि लेखक ने श्री गुरु तेग बहादुर जी के श्लोकों की समकालीन संदर्भों से जोड़ते हुए अच्छी तरह से व्याख्या की है, जिससे यह पुस्तक शिक्षाविदों और आम पाठकों दोनों के लिए समान रूप से मूल्यवान बन गई है।

अपनी पुस्तक के बारे में बताते हुए, डॉ. अरविंदर सिंह भल्ला ने कहा कि इस काम का मुख्य उद्देश्य श्री गुरु तेग बहादुर साहिब के श्लोकों की दार्शनिक और बौद्धिक व्याख्या के माध्यम से मनुष्यों को आध्यात्मिक उत्थान, आंतरिक चेतना और अनंत की प्राप्ति की ओर मार्गदर्शन करना है।

CHANDIGARH, January 20:

 With the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government waging ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ to make Punjab a gangster free state, Punjab Police teams on Tuesday conducted raids at identified and mapped locations of foreign based gangsters on Day 1 of ‘Operation Prahaar’.

 Declaring a decisive war against gangsters, Punjab Director General Punjab (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said, “A 72 hour long massive crackdown under ‘Operation Prahaar’ is already underway across the state.”

 Explaining the scale of the operation, the DGP said, “As part of Operation Prahaar, more than 2,000 police teams comprising around 12,000 personnel have conducted raids at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of 60 foreign based gangsters across Punjab.”

 Sharing the outcomes of Day 1 of the operation, Special Director General of Police Law and Order Arpit Shukla said, “As many as 1,314 associates and abettors of foreign based gangsters have been rounded up across the state. Thorough investigations are currently ongoing.”

 Urging citizens to actively support the campaign against organised crime, Punjab Police said that people can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.

Chandigarh, January 19:

The Punjab Government has declared a public holiday in Gurdaspur district on January 20 (Tuesday) on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Shri Bawa Lal Ji.

According to orders issued by the Personnel Department (Personnel–III Branch) in this regard, all government offices, boards/corporations and government educational institutions falling under the jurisdiction of Gurdaspur district will remain closed on that day.

AJNALA (AMRITSAR), 19th January 2026:

Laying the foundation stone of a ₹15 crore Government Degree College in Ajnala, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said that the Congress, Akali Dal and BJP had collectively looted Punjab for decades, hollowing out its institutions and forcing generations of youth to look abroad for opportunities. The Chief Minister said that the new college, which will be named after the revered scholar Baba Ghamchuk Ji, represents the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s resolve to rebuild Rangla Punjab through education, opportunity and public participation.

The Chief Minister said that while the state government will provide every possible facility and institutional support, it is equally important for every Punjabi to contribute according to their capacity so that Punjab can be transformed into a Rangla Punjab where children are not compelled to leave the country in search of a future.

Addressing a gathering, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that infighting is at its peak among these parties as they lack any concrete agenda for the welfare of the people. “The opposition has no vision for Punjab. They are only waiting for their turn to loot the people and the state’s resources. Their dreams will never be fulfilled because the people of Punjab are wise and brave, and they understand the dubious character of such leaders,” he said, adding that Punjabis will never allow these forces to succeed in their nefarious designs.

Urging people to remain cautious of opportunistic and power-hungry politicians, the Chief Minister stated that the sole aim of traditional parties is to exploit Punjab and its people. “The need of the hour is to completely reject these parties so that the efforts of the state government to build Rangla Punjab can yield results,” he said, noting that his government is working tirelessly to accelerate development by opening new Aam Aadmi Clinics, schools, colleges and implementing other people-centric initiatives.

Referring to the project inaugurated on the occasion, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the foundation stone of a co-educational college has been laid in Bikraur, a village located along the international border. “This college will ensure that youth from the border area can pursue higher education close to their homes. An amount of ₹15 crore will be spent on constructing this institution over 15 acres of land,” he said, expressing gratitude to the Bikraur village panchayat and residents for donating land for the project.

The Chief Minister said that youth from around 50 nearby villages will benefit from the college, with over 2,000 students expected to enroll in the coming years. “The institution will offer courses in Arts, Science, Commerce, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Skills, ensuring modern and quality education for students in the border belt,” he said, expressing confidence that the college would play a transformative role in shaping the future of youth, especially girls, from the region.

Stating that young people in the area have aspirations and dreams, the Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to giving wings to these dreams through sustained support. “Our focus is on the welfare of present and future generations so that Punjab moves on the path of progress and prosperity. The well-being of every section of society remains our foremost objective,” he said.

The Chief Minister announced that students belonging to the village that donated land for the college will be provided free education in the upcoming institution. He said that the college will be named after Baba Ghamchuk ji Maharaj as a tribute to the revered religious leader. “Parents must ensure quality education for their children so that they are not compelled to move abroad in search of opportunities,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.

Highlighting the issue of migration, the Chief Minister said that negativity among the youth must be addressed so that reverse migration gains momentum. “Previous governments ignored this challenge and ruined the system, forcing young people to look outside the country. It is a matter of pride that our government has provided regular jobs to more than 63,000 youth purely on the basis of merit,” he said.

Speaking on the concerns of border residents, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the Punjab government is making every effort for their welfare, acknowledging them as true patriots of the nation. He said that in a major relief for farmers in Punjab’s border belt, the Central Government has given in-principle approval to shift the border fence closer to the international boundary. “This will allow unhindered cultivation of thousands of acres of farmland that currently lies beyond the fencing. Farmers were earlier forced to cross the fence under BSF escort to access their own fields along the 532 km India–Pakistan border. After persistent efforts, this long-pending issue has finally seen progress,” he said.

Addressing the gathering, Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains highlighted the strides made by the Punjab government in the education sector, saying that the state has emerged as a frontrunner at the national level. “This upcoming project will transform the destiny of youth in this border district. It is a historic day made possible by the far-sighted vision of the Chief Minister and the state government,” he said.

Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia described the initiative as a path-breaking step towards empowering youth in border areas. “It is unfortunate that there was no college within a 70 km radius in Ajnala. Today, a long-pending demand of the people has been fulfilled. We believe in delivering on every promise, and this college reflects that commitment,” he said.

The event was attended by Cabinet Ministers Harjot Singh Bains and Harbhajan Singh ETO, senior AAP leader and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia, MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, and other party leaders and local representatives.

*Bhagwant Mann Govt’s Transformational Step for Border Youth*

The establishment of the Government Degree and Vocational Training College at Bikraur stands as a decisive and far-sighted intervention by the Bhagwant Singh Mann government to correct decades of neglect in the Ajnala border belt, where students were forced to travel nearly 40 kilometres to Amritsar for higher education, often at the cost of dropping out, especially girls and first-generation learners.

By fulfilling a long-standing public commitment and translating it into concrete action on the ground, the state government has ensured that more than 50 surrounding villages will gain direct access to quality higher education and skill-based learning on a 15-acre campus, integrating degree programmes with employment-oriented courses such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Skills.

Designed as a modern, inclusive and student-centric institution with universal accessibility, vocational facilities and sports infrastructure, the college is poised to become a catalyst for social inclusion, gender equity and youth empowerment in Punjab’s sensitive border region, firmly underscoring the Mann government’s governance model of equity, access and opportunity for all.

Chandigarh, January 19

The Central Information Commissioner, Vinod Kumar Tiwari, IFS (Retd.), today visited the Punjab State Information Commission Headquarters in Chandigarh.

During his visit, he held a detailed and productive meeting with Chief Information Commissioner, Punjab, Sh. Inderpal Singh Dhanna, and State Information Commissioners of Punjab – Dr. Bhupinder Singh Batth, Harpreet Sandhu along with Additional Chief Secretary Mr. D.K. Tiwari.

The meeting focused on the effective implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, with special emphasis on institutional reforms, transparency, accountability, and strengthening mechanisms for efficient information delivery.

Mr. V.K. Tiwari appreciated the work of the Punjab State Information Commission and said that Punjab has made commendable progress in implementing the RTI Act

During the meeting, Chief Information Commissioner of Punjab, Sh. Inderpal Singh Dhanna, highlighted the state commission’s commitment to ensuring efficient and timely delivery of information to citizens. He said that Punjab State Information Commission is committed to time-bound and effective delivery of information.

During the meeting, Mr. V.K. Tiwari also shared insights from his experience as a Central Information Commissioner, highlighting best practices, current challenges, and practical ways to improve case disposal and strengthen the overall RTI framework

The interaction served as an enriching platform for exchanging ideas on boosting the efficiency of the Punjab State Information Commission. Chief Information Commissioner Sh. Dhanna, along with State Information Commissioners and Additional Chief Secretary Sh. D.K. Tiwari presented a token of appreciation to Mr. VK Tiwari, acknowledging his valuable perspectives and describing the discussion as highly constructive and beneficial.

Mr Harpreet Sandhu, expressed gratitude to the Central Information Commissioner of India, Vinod Kumar Tiwari, for his meaningful insights on RTI transparency during his visit to the Punjab State Information Commission.

Chandigarh, January 19:

Anindita Mitra today assumed charge as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab. Prior to this appointment, she was serving as the Administrative Secretary, Department of School Education, Higher Education and Languages, Government of Punjab. A 2007-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, Mitra brings with her wide administrative experience and institutional knowledge of public governance.

After assuming charge as CEO, Punjab, Anindita Mitra said that she is honoured to have been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the constitutional and democratic institution in the State of Punjab. She noted that over the past seventy years, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has consistently strengthened the framework for conducting free, fair, and transparent elections, while continuously improving the accuracy and inclusiveness of electoral rolls.

She further stated that the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, will work with firm commitment to uphold democratic values and ensure voter-centric ease across all stages of the electoral process; from voter registration to polling day. Mitra emphasised that the office will continue to prioritise accessibility and transparency while ensuring strict adherence to the highest standards and guidelines prescribed by the Election Commission of India.

She also highlighted that technology will continue to be a key enabler in enhancing transparency, improving voter services, and ensuring efficient election management and operations across the State.