Prof. Vivek Lal,(Director) PGIMER Honoured 13 officers/officials on their superannuation today by giving speech & presenting mementos to them; Prof. Ashok Kumar, Acting Medical Superintendent,, Prof. Paramjit Singh, Head, Deptt. of Radiodiagnosis & Prof. Incharge, Clinical Photography; Prof. S. P. Singh, Head, Deptt. of Oral Health Sciences Centre; Prof. Nandita Kakkar, Head, Deptt. of Histopathology; Prof. Sagrika Haldar, Deptt. of Exp. Medicine & Biotechnology; Prof. Balvinder Mohan, Deptt. of Medical Microbiology; Ameena Singh, Law Officer;  Dr. R. Gautham Ram, Officer Incharge (Pharmacy); .Dr. Mahesh Devnani, Officer Incharge (Sanitation); Jaspal Kaur, Chief Nursing Officer were also present on the occasion.

 Ravinder Singh, IA&AS, Financial Advisor-distributed the retirement financial payment letters

 Brij Lal, Sr. Technical Officer,Clinical Photography; Brij Mohan Dhawan, Technical Assistant (Lab), Exp. Medicine & Biotechnology; Smt. Devinder Seedhar, Technical Assistant (Lab),Deptt. of Med. Microbiology; Anita Rani, Asstt. Administrative Officer,Accounts Branch; Rajinder Kaur, Sr. Nursing Officer, PET Centre & Nuclear Medicine; Mariyam, Sr. Nursing Officer,Emergency Ward-5; Yash Pal Singh, Legal Assistant, Legal Cell; Sudesh Paul, Pharmacist, Gr.I; Jagdeep pathania, Stenographer, Deptt. of Oral Health Sciences; Jetha Singh, Senior Laboratory Assistant, Histopathology Deptt.; Ajmer Singh, Hospital Attendant,  Transfusion Medicine Deptt.; Jagtar Singh, Hospital Attendant, Gr. II,Married Doctor Hostel; Janeshwar, Sanitary Attendant, Gr.I.,Old Doctor Hostel retired from PGIMER after devoting 29 to 40 years of their lives to PGI.

Chandigarh, December 27:

As 2025 concludes, Punjab’s government school education system stands radically transformed, having delivered tangible, transformative results that set a national benchmark for academic excellence. Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, classrooms have been reimagined as crucibles where confidence, innovation and resilience are forged, reshaping the future of the state’s youth.

 Punjab’s Education Minister, S. Harjot Singh Bains, highlighted this year’s landmark achievements, stating that the government’s resolve to empower students is matched by its commitment to holistic and future-ready education. “Our initiatives have driven a paradigm shift. Sustaining our top National Achievement Survey (NAS) rank proves improved learning outcomes at the grassroots are now our unwavering standard,” he said.

The most resounding testament to this transformation came from competitive exam results that broke all ceilings. A record 265 government school students cleared JEE Mains, 45 conquered JEE Advanced and 847 cleared NEET, proving these schools are now premier launchpads for the country’s top professional avenues.

Punjab carved a unique national identity by introducing “Entrepreneurship” as a main subject for Class XI in the 2025-26 academic session, igniting an entrepreneurial spirit. Student-led micro-enterprises began sprouting in schools, shifting mindsets from job-seeking to job creation, he added.

In a decisive move for student well-being, S. Bains said that a pioneering drug prevention curriculum was rolled out for Classes XI & XII in all government schools. Reaching over eight lakh students, it empowers them with peer leadership and psychological resilience, creating a student-led barrier against substance abuse and transforming schools into fortresses of well-being.

S. Bains said that the school education system saw a massive infusion of world-class teaching methods, with 234 Principals and Education Administrators trained in Singapore, 216 primary teachers trained at Finland’s University of Turku, and 199 Headmasters received training at IIM Ahmedabad. The revolutionary “School Mentorship Program” pairs students with top bureaucrats, making aspirational careers personal and achievable.

To ensure equitable career planning for all students, the Education Minister said, Punjab Government has recently launched a first-of-its-kind initiative to integrate artificial intelligence-driven career guidance into its public school system. Under the pilot phase, 25 AI-Enabled Career Guidance Labs have been inaugurated in Government and Punjab School Education Board (PSEB)-affiliated schools.

The “English Edge” program matured into an institution, transforming hesitant murmurs into the clear, confident discourse of 3 lakh students in Grades 9-12 across 500 schools, unlocking global gateways for young minds, he added.

S. Harjot Singh Bains further informed that 118 Govt Schools are being transformed into ‘Schools of Eminence’. Strengthening the human resource backbone, 12,316 qualified employees were regularised, 13,765 new teachers recruited, and 1,908 Campus Managers & 1,316 Security Guards hired for government schools.

CHANDIGARH/FAZILKA, December 27:

          In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a drug free state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Fazilka in a joint operation with Border Security Force (BSF), has apprehended one drug smuggler and recovered 5.11 kg heroin from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

          The arrested accused has been identified as Baljit Singh, a resident of village Dhandi Qadim in Jalalabad, Fazilka.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has indicated that the recovered heroin consignment was sourced from Pakistan and delivered via drone by Pak-based Smuggler.

          The contraband was meant to be distributed further across the state, said the DGP, while adding that further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages of the network.

          Sharing operational details, AIG SSOC Fazilka Gursewak Singh  said that acting upon a specific tip-off, the police team of SSOC Fazilka along with BSF launched a special secret operation in the Jalalabad area. During the operation, the suspected individual was apprehended from the area of Village Dhandi Qadim in Fazilka. During his personal search, 5.11 kg of Heroin was recovered from his possession, he added.

          In this regard, a case FIR No. 21 dated 27-12-2025 has been registered under section 21-C of the NDPS Act at Police Station SSOC Fazilka.

CHANDIGARH, 27th December 2025:

In a decisive push against Punjab’s entrenched drug and organised crime networks, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday said the state is decisively turning the tide, citing the arrest of 85,418 drug smugglers over the last three and a half years, an unprecedented 88 percent conviction rate under the NDPS (Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances)  Act, and the apprehension of 916 gangsters since January 1, 2025.

Reviewing the performance of the Police department, the Chief Minister noted that sustained enforcement, tighter investigations and zero political interference are translating into outcomes on the ground, marking a clear shift from rhetoric to results in Punjab’s long fight against the drug menace.

During the meeting on Saturday, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that ever since his government assumed the charge of office 63,053 cases have been registered against the drug smugglers. “In 2025 since the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ was launched 30,144 FIRs have been registered and 40,302 smugglers have been arrested by the Police. This first of its kind drive against the menace was launched on March 1, 2025 and has been successful in checking the drugs to a considerable extent,” he noted.

The Chief Minister said that a multi pronged strategy largely based on three principles of enforcement, de-addiction and prevention was formulated to combat the drugs the results of which have been very fruitful. “As per this drive a major crackdown was launched against drug suppliers and the smuggling network was dismantled. Likewise, in the last 3.5 years 5119.94 kg of heroin, 3,458.53 kg opium, 5.82 kg cocaine, 82.04 kg Ice and 4.98 crore capsules along with 52.46 crore drug money has been recovered,” he added.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state has accorded the highest priority to the fight against drugs since 2022, adopting a comprehensive, sustained and outcome-oriented approach combining enforcement, financial disruption, technology-enabled policing, conviction certainty, public participation, and humane rehabilitation. “The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Punjab Police, has been at the forefront of implementing this strategy, resulting in measurable and sustained impact across all key indicators,” stated the Chief Minister.

He pointed out that enforcement efforts progressively shifted from isolated seizures to targeted action against commercial quantity cases, repeat offenders, and organized trafficking networks, ensuring disruption of the drug supply chain at higher levels.

The Chief Minister said that one of the most significant deterrent outcomes has been achieved through financial investigations as over 1,400 proposals for freezing of illegally acquired properties were confirmed. Likewise, properties worth more than ₹2,730 crore were frozen/confirmed during 2022-2025. “This has sent a clear message that proceeds of drug crime will not be allowed to sustain narcotics networks in Punjab,” he asserted.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that strong investigation quality and legal follow-up resulted in over 25,000 NDPS cases being decided by courts, with more than 21,600 convictions. “Overall conviction rate stands at approximately 84%, improving steadily over the years and reaching around 88% in 2025, reflecting robust case preparation, forensic support, and prosecution. The technological capacity has been significantly strengthened through PAIS-based analytics, technical cells, digital forensics and intelligence integration,” he emphasized..

The Chief Minister said that ‘SAFE Punjab’ WhatsApp Chatbot emerged as a flagship citizen-participation initiative, generating nearly 30,000 actionable tips, over 11,000 FIRs, and approximately 14,000 arrests, with a conversion rate of about 38%, indicating high public trust and effective response mechanisms. “The Punjab government has significantly enhanced its capability to counter drone-based narcotics smuggling, resulting in the recovery of hundreds of drones in recent years, with a sharp increase in interceptions during 2025,” he added.

Citing the action against the gangsters, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that from January 1 till December 17, the Punjab Police has arrested 916 gangsters, neutralized 13, busted 389 modules, recovered 594 weapons along with 229 weapons.

Chandigarh, December 27 – Haryana’s Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Sh. Krishan Kumar Bedi said that Baba Bhuman Shah Maharaj is a source of inspiration for all of us. His life was always devoted to the service of the needy. We should draw inspiration from his life and actively contribute to social service.

Sh. Krishan Kumar Bedi today participated in the 278th Mahaparinirvan Day at the main shrine of Baba Bhuman Shah Ji, Sangar Sada, in Sirsa, where he paid obeisance and prayed for peace and prosperity for the country and the state. On this occasion, he also sought blessings from Gaddinashin Baba Brahmdas Maharaj.

Sh. Krishan Kumar Bedi said that it is the responsibility of every citizen to firmly oppose the social evils prevailing in society and the country, and to contribute towards the service of the nation. He especially described Shaheed Udham Singh as an ideal and a source of inspiration for the youth, whose entire life was dedicated to the service of the nation.

He said that he felt fortunate to be part of the programme organised on the occasion of the 278th Mahaparinirvan Day. The lives of great personalities and brave martyrs are a source of inspiration for all of us. Their courage and dedication give us the strength to do something for society and the nation. He added that we should firmly oppose social evils prevalent in society and the country and contribute towards national service.

Chandigarh, December 27 – Haryana’s Industry and Commerce, Forest and Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Saturday laid the foundation stone for various development works being carried out by the Municipal Corporation Gurugram in the Malibu Town area.

The works inaugurated include construction of an underground water tank in Malibu Town, installation of interlocking tiles in Starwood and GS Block, Malibu Town Ward-11, and development and beautification of Central Park (WW-82) and Starwood Park.

Rao Narbir Singh said that all proposed development works in the area will be completed in a phased and time-bound manner. The government is working in this direction with complete seriousness and commitment.

He assured that all essential works pointed out by the citizens will be completed at the earliest on priority. Continuous development works are being undertaken to strengthen basic amenities in the area.

Describing Malibu Town as the greenest sector of Gurugram, he said that environmental protection is among the top priorities of the government. He added that with collective efforts, it is possible to build a better, cleaner and developed Gurugram, which will ensure a safe and bright future for coming generations.

Rao Narbir Singh also said that awareness is the key to creating a positive environment. During the programme, he appealed for public participation in environmental protection and informed that a polythene-free pilot project has been started in Gurugram. Its objective is to make citizens aware of the harmful effects of polythene and, with public cooperation, make Haryana polythene-free.

He stated that polythene is the main reason for choking 90 percent of sewer lines in the state, which not only causes pollution but also leads to serious health problems. The minister made it clear that this campaign will be successful only when the general public adopts it as a mass movement.

On this occasion, Badshahpur SDM Sanjeev Singla, Ward No. 11 Councillor Kuldeep Yadav, Federation RWA Chairman Vijayanath, Sector-47 President Virender Tyagi, Starwood Malibu Town President D.V. Mishra, MTRWA Vice President Manita Jain and senior resident Madhu were present.

Minister Pays obeisance at Gurdwara on the Prakash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Haryana’s Industry and Commerce, Forest and Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sh. Guru Singh Sabha, Sector-22, on the occasion of the 359th sacred Prakash Purab of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and prayed for the happiness and prosperity of the state and the country. On this occasion, he extended heartfelt greetings to the people of the state on the Prakash Purab.

He said that the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji was dedicated to courage, sacrifice and the protection of humanity, and that his ideals continue to inspire society towards service and altruism even today. He added that whenever any major natural disaster has occurred in the country or abroad, the Sikh community has always played a leading role, serving humanity with complete dedication.

He said that through gurdwaras, food is provided to everyone without any discrimination, where no person returns hungry. He added that the great tradition of langar also began here, which is a living example of equality and service. Sharing his experiences, he said that in his entire life he has never seen a Sikh brother begging on the road or extending a hand before anyone, because the Sikh community follows the values of self-respect, hard work and service, and always remains at the forefront in supporting others.

During the programme, President of Gurdwara Sh. Guru Singh Sabha, Sector-22, Harvinder Singh Nanda, Vice President Tarandeep Singh, Joint Secretary Gurmeet Singh and Secretary N.S. Kaba were present.

Chandigarh, December 27 – In an important initiative towards making sports culture a mass movement by connecting youth with life values such as discipline, team spirit and leadership, the grand inauguration of the Sansad Khel Mahotsav was held today in Gurugram. Union Minister and local Member of Parliament Sh. Rao Inderjit Singh inaugurated the three-day sports festival at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector-38, Gurugram.

On the arrival of the Union Minister at the venue, DC Gurugram Sh. Ajay Kumar welcomed him. The inauguration ceremony witnessed the gracious presence of Pataudi MLA Smt. Bimla Chaudhary, Gurugram MLA Sh. Mukesh Sharma, Bawal MLA Dr. Krishan Kumar and Kosli MLA Sh. Anil Yadav, along with other distinguished guests.

Youth are strengthening the foundation of a Viksit Bharat through sports: Rao Inderjit Singh

Addressing the inaugural function, Union Minister Sh. Rao Inderjit Singh said that healthy, capable and energetic youth alone can lay a strong foundation for a Viksit Bharat. He said that events like the Sansad Khel Mahotsav provide a golden platform to identify local sports talent and prepare them for future national and international competitions. He emphasized that discipline is extremely important in sports, as it enables a player to achieve goals even in challenging situations.

He said that Haryana contributes nearly 40 percent to India’s international sports achievements, which is a matter of pride for the entire state. Haryana’s players are not only bringing glory to the country but are also enhancing India’s prestige abroad. He said that even if all participants do not become winners, sportsmanship, hard work and discipline are the biggest victories. He added that Gurugram once had a distinct identity in the field of sports, and through collective efforts, every possible support will be extended to promote sports talent in Gurugram and South Haryana.

Sports culture has got new momentum under Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives

He said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, sports in the country have received a new direction and recognition. Initiatives like the Khelo India campaign, the Fit India Movement and encouragement for traditional and indigenous sports have conveyed the clear message that healthy youth are the foundation of a Developed India.

Players display stamina in 1500-metre race; Union Minister honours winners

In the 1500-metre race organised under the Mahotsav, players showcased impressive performance. Amit from Rewari secured first position, while Avneesh and Aadesh from Gurugram secured third and second positions respectively. The Union Minister honoured the winners with cash prizes and medals and wished them a bright future.

Sports competitions to be held at these venues

Under the Sansad Khel Mahotsav, competitions will be organised across three districts. Athletics and Boxing will be held at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Gurugram; Kabaddi (NS) and Football at Rao Tula Ram Stadium, Rewari; Football at Ahir College, Rewari; Volleyball, Judo, Gymnastics and Hockey at Nehru Stadium, Civil Lines, Gurugram; and Wrestling at DAV Police Lines, Nuh.

On the inaugural occasion, DC Sh. Ajay Kumar, DCP (East) Dr. Gaurav Rajpurohit, ACP Sh. Amit Bhatia and other dignitaries were present.

2,898 players to showcase talent in 10 sports disciplines; Mahotsav to conclude on December 29

Under the Sansad Khel Mahotsav, a total of 2,898 players from Gurugram, Rewari and Nuh districts will participate in 10 sports disciplines namely Athletics, Kabaddi (NS), Football, Volleyball, Hockey, Wrestling, Boxing, Archery, Judo and Gymnastics. The Sansad Khel Mahotsav will conclude on December 29 at Tau Devi Lal Stadium.

Chandigarh:

In a significant public outreach initiative, PGIMER, Chandigarh organized activities on the occasion of *“Veer Baal Diwas“* at the Advanced Paediatric Centre (APC), PGIMER, on 26 December 2025. The celebrations were organized for children admitted to APC as well as those visiting the hospital.

A range of child-friendly and inclusive activities were conducted including drawing and colouring and poetry recitation competitions, which witnessed enthusiastic participation from children aged 6 to 12 years.

The event was held in the esteemed presence of *Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, Prof. Ashok Kumar, Acting Medical Superintendent, Prof. Praveen Kumar, HoD, Pediatrics, and Dr. Mahesh Devnani, Joint Medical Superintendent*. Speaking on the occasion *Prof. Lal remembered the martyrdom of Sahibzadas and reminded that India is a nation built on sacrifice and courage.* He emphasized that their bravery inspires society to uphold strong cultural and moral values, and highlighted the role of parents in guiding children by instilling good values and character. Dr Ashok Kumar thanked all the participants for their enthusiastic participation.  

The drawing competition saw participation from 75 children aged 6 to 12 years, including children visiting the APC outpatient department, admitted patients, and children of PGIMER staff. The poetry recitation competition witnessed enthusiastic participation from 50 children, who demonstrated remarkable confidence, effective oratory skills, and deep sensitivity while presenting poems on various themes.

The Drawing and Colouring Competition winners were Vihaan (11 years), Naman (11 years), and Aavya (9 years), who secured the first, second, and third prizes respectively. The Poetry Competition, which saw an exceptionally high standard of participation, recognized seven outstanding winners who displayed remarkable depth and expression beyond their years. The winners were Nairiti (8 years), Jamisha (10 years), Sunidhi (11 years), Hiyan (6 years), Aprityam Roy (11 years), Jancy Nyol (9 years), and Khavya Sharma (10 years). The competitions were expertly judged by Prof. Jayshree M., Dr. Aastha Takkar, and Dr. Narinder Kumar, who praised all participants for their creativity, skill, and passion.

The celebration of Veer Baal Diwas concluded as a resounding success, marked by smiling faces, excitement, and renewed confidence among the children, values they will carry forward as the Veer Baal of India.