Chandigarh:

The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, today formally inaugurated its New Academic Session 2026 at the NINE Auditorium, marking the beginning of a demanding yet transformative journey for hundreds of young doctors entering one of India’s most prestigious medical institutions. The ceremony witnessed the presence of senior faculty members, administrators, students and staff, reflecting the collective pride and responsibility associated with being part of the PGIMER fraternity.

The occasion was graced by Padma Shri Awardee Shri Ajeet Bajaj, renowned mountaineer, adventurer, motivational speaker and Brand Ambassador of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, as the Chief Guest, along with his daughter Ms. Deeya Bajaj, an accomplished mountaineer, as the Guest of Honour. Together, they hold the rare distinction of being the first Asian father–daughter duo to complete the Seven Summits, including Mount Everest—an achievement that symbolises resilience, discipline, meticulous preparation and teamwork.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Ajeet Bajaj delivered an inspiring address, drawing compelling parallels between extreme adventure and the demanding path of medical education and practice. Motivating the new entrants, he said, “Dream big, work relentlessly, face the storms that will come your way, and never settle for being just a good doctor. Aim to be the best—not just in India, but in the world. If you combine skill with teamwork, ethics and compassion, there is nothing you cannot achieve.”

Sharing insights from decades of high-risk expeditions across the world’s harshest terrains, Shri Bajaj highlighted what he described as a simple yet powerful formula for excellence. “The secret of getting to the top is the acronym TOP—T is for Teamwork, always putting your team before yourself; O is for Outlook, always seeing the glass half full; and P is for Previous Preparation. Whether you are on Mount Everest or in a hospital ward, these three principles decide success or failure,” he said, drawing sustained applause from the audience.

Reflecting on leadership under adversity, Shri Bajaj spoke about legendary polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, emphasising the importance of optimism, adaptability and ethical leadership. He noted that even after Shackleton’s ship sank, he never allowed morale to collapse, led from the front, adapted continuously and ensured that no team member was left behind. “Leadership is not just about courage or strategy—it must be rooted in values, ethics and optimism. Especially in professions like medicine, leadership without values is incomplete,” he observed.

Speaking candidly about his own career choices, Shri Bajaj shared a life lesson on following one’s passion. He remarked that when one is deeply passionate about their work, it ceases to feel like a burden. “When you are passionate about what you do—as all of you are about medicine—you don’t work a single day of your life. Passion gives you energy, resilience and joy, even when the journey is difficult,” he said.

Ms. Deeya Bajaj, Guest of Honour and a role model for young achievers, held the audience’s attention with her reflections on summiting Mount Everest and her strong message on gender equality and empowerment. Emphasising the limitless potential of young women, she said, “If we support our girls, nourish them, and show them that there is absolutely nothing they cannot achieve—and keep reinforcing this through encouragement and action—we are headed towards an absolutely amazing and fantastic future.” Her words resonated strongly with students and faculty alike, reinforcing PGIMER’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

In their joint address, Shri Ajeet Bajaj and Ms. Deeya Bajaj urged students to embrace change, remain adaptable and treat challenges as opportunities for growth. Drawing an analogy between summiting mountains and professional excellence, they emphasised that each individual must identify and pursue their own “Mount Everest” with determination, humility and perseverance.

Earlier, welcoming the new entrants, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, delivered a stirring address that set the tone for the years ahead. Emphasising the institute’s rigorous work culture, he said, “For the new entrants, I have just one message—there are no free lunches in PGIMER. This is the greatest institute in India for medical care and research, and excellence here comes only through sustained hard work.”

Highlighting the immense responsibility borne by medical professionals, Prof. Lal reminded the young doctors, “We are paratroopers in white coats. People look at us for hope, support and mitigation of disease. Always remember the responsibility that comes with wearing this coat.” Encouraging perseverance, he added that the residents would serve as the spearheads of medical care in the region over the coming years and urged them never to quit despite challenges.

Expressing pride in the institution, Prof. Lal remarked, “It pays to be a PGI. A PGI always shines through,” while reiterating PGIMER’s core values of compassion, commitment and patient-centric care. Speaking on women empowerment and societal progress, he noted that empowering daughters is essential for national growth and a positive indicator of social advancement.

The ceremony concluded with Prof. R.K. Ratho, Dean (Academics), PGIMER, officially pinning the badges on the incoming residents, comprising 350 residents from the July 2025 and January 2026 sessions, symbolising their induction into the PGIMER family.

Prof. Sanjay Jain, Dean (Research), PGIMER, proposed the vote of thanks, urging the new residents to uphold and further PGIMER’s enduring legacy of excellence in patient care, education and research.

Chandigarh, January 5 — In a significant administrative initiative aimed at expediting development works and eliminating execution delays, the Haryana Government has constituted a high-level monitoring committee to closely oversee the progress of development projects across the state. The committee will conduct fortnightly reviews, while comprehensive assessments will also be undertaken at the Chief Minister’s level, preferably once every two months.

According to an order issued by the Chief Secretary Mr Anurag Rastogi, the move reflects the state government’s renewed commitment to strengthening efficiency, accountability, and timely delivery of public infrastructure projects.

The committee comprises Dr. Saket Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister; Sh. Narender Pal Malik, Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister; and Sh. Karan Ahlawadi, Senior Consultant to the Chief Minister. Sh. Rajeev Batish, Chief Engineer (Public Health) and Incharge, will provide technical assistance during the review process, particularly on matters related to the HEWP Portal.

The committee has been entrusted with a wide-ranging mandate covering critical stages of project execution. Its responsibilities include monitoring timelines from administrative approval to award of work, examining delays in architectural approvals, and assessing the time required between project award and commencement, including permissions needed from other departments.

The panel will also review the timely completion of projects, identify reasons behind delays and cost escalation, assess revised timelines following fresh administrative approvals, ensure completion within prescribed or revised schedules, and monitor the maintenance of assets created.

In addition to conducting regular reviews, the committee will submit monthly progress reports to the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, ensuring sustained oversight and enabling corrective action at the highest administrative level.

Chandigarh, January 5 – The Haryana Government has appointed District Revenue Officers as Competent Authorities for Land Acquisition (CALA) and Divisional Commissioners as Arbitrators for land acquisition related to Special Railway Projects in the State, in accordance with the Railways Act, 1989, as amended in 2008.

The information was shared by Financial Commissioner Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, here today.

As per the issued instruction, the District Revenue Officer, Ambala, has been appointed as Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA), while the Divisional Commissioner, Ambala, will act as Arbitrator for land acquisition cases in Ambala district. Similarly, District Revenue Officers of Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal and Kurukshetra have been appointed as CALA in their respective districts, with the concerned Divisional Commissioners designated as Arbitrator.

Chandigarh, January 5 – Haryana Fisheries Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana  highlighted the rapid growth of inland fisheries in the state, stating that Haryana has emerged as one of the country’s leading fish-producing landlocked states, with a total production of 2.04 lakh metric tonnes of fish from 23,850 hectares of water area.

Addressing a national-level fisheries conference at Hyderabad, Rana said that Haryana has produced 166 crore fish seeds, reflecting the strengthening of the state’s fisheries infrastructure and scientific practices. He pointed out that among landlocked states, Punjab ranks first in fish production, while Haryana stands second, despite having no coastline.

The minister stressed that landlocked states like Haryana contribute significantly to India’s fisheries output through pond-based and inland water aquaculture, but receive less financial assistance compared to coastal states, which directly impacts fish farmers and state GDP.

Rana informed the gathering that Haryana has been actively promoting fisheries as an alternative livelihood, with many farmers shifting from traditional agriculture to fish farming due to better returns. He added that fish farming has also helped address the problem of crop residue management, particularly stubble burning, by providing farmers with an additional income source.

To strengthen seed quality, Rana said Haryana has ensured fish seed banks at block level across all districts. He added that genetically improved fish varieties were procured from CIFA, Bhubaneswar, enabling the state to produce high-quality brood stock and improve overall productivity. He urged the Centre to issue national guidelines and schemes for fish seed management to ensure uniform availability of quality seed across states.

Highlighting infrastructure development, the minister said that fish farmers and entrepreneurs have been provided dedicated space at the India International Horticulture Market, Gannaur (Sonipat), on the lines of Delhi’s Ghazipur and Azadpur mandis.

Rana also placed several proposals before the Union government, including the establishment of modern wholesale fish markets in Faridabad, Gurugram, Hisar, Yamunanagar and Panchkula at an estimated cost of ₹300 crore and Setting up of a fish processing unit in Karnal and a shrimp processing plant in Sirsa with an investment of around ₹200 crore. The minister also informed that Haryana also envisions to create a World Class Aquarium House in Panchkula with an estimated investment of ₹1,000 crore.

The minister further revealed that five acres of land have been transferred in village Sultanpur, Gurugram, for setting up a regional centre of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), which will benefit Haryana and neighbouring states.

Seeking greater policy support, Rana urged the Union Fisheries Ministry to give special focus to landlocked states in the 2026–27 financial year and to consider holding a special national conference in Haryana to address their specific challenges.

He also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini for providing enhanced budgetary support to fisheries in Haryana, and thanked Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh for his continued cooperation.

Chandigarh, January 5 – A significant meeting of the High-Powered Purchase Committee (HPPC) and High-Powered Works Purchase Committee (HPWPC) was held today at Haryana Niwas under the chairmanship of Haryana CM Sh. Nayab Singh Saini. During the meetings, detailed deliberations were held on proposals related to major infrastructure and development projects of various state departments, and several important decisions regarding procurement of works and services were taken.

A total of 5 tenders with an estimated cost of around Rs 133.47 crore were considered in the HPPC meeting. Of these, re-tendering was ordered in one project. For the remaining tenders, with an estimated cost of about Rs 123.13 crore, detailed negotiations were conducted with the bidders. After negotiations, the final agreed value of these works was fixed at approximately Rs 105.04 crore. Through this transparent and effective negotiation process, the state government ensured savings of nearly Rs 18.09 crore, reflecting strong financial management and efficient use of public resources.
Similarly, a total of 11 tenders with an estimated cost of around Rs 491.53 crore were considered in the HPWPC meeting. Of these, three tenders were approved to be deferred/re-tendered. For the remaining tenders, with an estimated cost of about Rs 412.19 crore, detailed negotiations were conducted with the bidders. After negotiations, the final agreed value of these works was fixed at approximately Rs 389.66 crore, ensuring savings of nearly Rs 22.53 crore. Thus, total savings of nearly Rs 40.62 crore were achieved in both the meetings.

Energy Minister Sh. Anil Vij, Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda, Tourism Minister Dr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, Public Works Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Smt. Shruti Choudhry were present during the meeting.

The Committee approved the proposal for the supply and installation of online UPS systems and battery banks under the buyback of old UPS and batteries for State, District and Block Network Management Centres under the Haryana State Wide Area Network (HSWAN) Augmentation Project, aimed at enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the state’s digital and network infrastructure.
Further, the Committee also cleared the proposal of the Public Health Engineering Department for arranging an annual rate contract for the supply of ISI-marked Sodium Hypochlorite Solution, which is a critical chemical used for water disinfection.
Other key decisions included the creation and construction of 220 KV, 132 KV, and 66 KV transmission lines across the Ambala, Hisar, Bhiwani, Faridabad, Palwal, Rewari, Rohtak, and Panchkula regions.
In a major move for the Nuh district, the committee approved the construction of a new 100-bedded District Hospital on the old CHC campus, ensuring better healthcare access for the local population.
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure completion of all approved projects with complete transparency and high quality, within the prescribed timelines.

Chandigarh:

The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh is actively and continuously monitoring all notified vending zones across the city to ensure the availability of essential civic amenities for street vendors, reaffirming its commitment to their welfare, convenience, and dignified working conditions.

As part of this ongoing initiative, the Engineering Wing (B&R), MCC has identified nine locations where mobile toilet facilities are urgently required. Necessary steps are being taken to install these facilities at the earliest. In addition, 27 vending sites have been identified where water tankers are needed, and arrangements are being finalized to ensure regular and adequate water supply at these locations in the near future.

It is noteworthy that vending zones in Sectors 7-C (Site-C), 10-D, 19-C, 21-C, 22-D, 28-C (Site-B), 29-C, 33-D, 49-D, 50-C, 53-B, Maloya-1, Rehab Colony Maloya-A, IT Park, and Manimajra (MHC) are already fully equipped with essential civic amenities, including drinking water arrangements and toilet facilities. These provisions ensure a safe, hygienic, and orderly environment for street vendors and the general public alike.

Through these proactive measures, MCC continues to strengthen its efforts towards inclusive urban development, public health, and cleanliness, while also promoting regulated and organized street vending across the city.

The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh reiterates that the welfare of street vendors remains a top priority, and sustained efforts will continue to further upgrade infrastructure and civic facilities in all vending zones to enhance their quality of life and working conditions.