Chandigarh, October 30

Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said that the state’s education system is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the comprehensive infrastructure upgrades under the Sikhya Kranti program of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led government, and bolstered by initiatives to enhance teacher strength and address long-standing concerns.

Finance Minister Cheema made these remarks on Thursday while engaging in an in-depth discussion with representatives from seven education department unions. The unions included the Special Cadre Adhiyapak Front, Computer Adhiyapak Union, Computer Adhiyapak Sangharsh Committee, Unemployed B. Ed. TET Pass Adhiyapak Union, ETT TET Pass Adhiyapak Union (Sunil Fazilka), and ETT TET Pass Adhiyapak Union (Jai Singh Wala). The Minister had a comprehensive review of their demands and also encouraged the union members to further dedicate themselves to boosting education standards in government schools.

Secretary Education Anindita Mitra apprised the Finance Minister that solutions for most of the unions’ demands were either in the final stage or currently being processed. She provided assurances that other legitimate demands would also be addressed shortly. In response, Finance Minister Cheema directed the Education Department to share the fiscal responsibilities associated with the legitimate demands with the Finance Department so that necessary action could be decided upon without delay.

In a separate engagement, Finance Minister Cheema also held a productive meeting with the All Punjab DST/CTF Contract Workers Union, offering his assurance that their issues would be resolved amicably. During these meetings, Special Secretary (Personnel) Upkar Singh and Special Secretary (Finance) Ajay Arora briefed the Finance Minister on their concerned departmental status of the demands put forth by the respective unions.

Union Members inclusing Veerpal Kaur Sidhana, Manpreet Singh Moga, Paramjit Kaur Pakhowal from Special Cadre Adhiyapak Front; Gurwinder Singh, Rakhi Manan, Harpreet Singh from Computer Adhiyapak Union; Jony Singla, Nardeep Sharma Sunit Sareen from  Computer Adhiyapak Sangharsh Committee, Jaswant Ghubaya, Hardeep Singh, Sandeep Singh from Berojgar B. Ed. TET Pass Adhiyapak Union; Sunil Kumar, Salwinder Singh, Ranjit Singh from ETT TET Pass Adhiyapak Union (Sunil Fazilka); Kamal Thakur, Sohan Singh and Gurmukh Singh ETT TET Pass Adhiyapak Union (Jai Singh Wala), and Sandeep Singh, Kirandeep Singh and Pardeep Singh from All Punjab DST/CTF Contract Workers Union raised their issues during the meeting.

CHANDIGARH, October 30:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 243rd day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 340 locations on Thursday leading to the arrest of 76 drug smugglers after registration of 68 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 34,599 in 243 days.

          The raids have resulted in recovery of 2.3 kg heroin and Rs 1.51 lakhs drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Over 120 Police teams, comprising over 1000 police personnel, under the supervision of 67 gazetted officers have conducted 340 raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 368 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.

          The state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 35 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, October 30:

          Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar has busted a cross-border illegal arms smuggling module with the arrest of its three operatives and recovered nine sophisticated pistols along with magazines from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Davinder Singh, a resident of village Bhangwan in Amritsar Rural, Paramjit Singh alias Pamma and Harmeet Singh alias Meetu, both residents of Bhindi Aulakh in Amritsar Rural.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused were working on the directions of Pak-based smuggler. The recovered arms were meant to be supplied to Sherpreet Singh alias Gulaba, a close aide of notorious gangster Jobanjit Singh alias Billa Manga, to fuel unlawful activities in Punjab, he said.

          Sharing operational details, the DGP said that CI Amritsar had received a specific information about foreign based notorious gangster identified as Jobanjit Singh alias Billa Manga operating a gang in the state through his operatives— Paramjit Singh alias Pamma and Harmeet Singh alias Meetu. The information further revealed that the latter have retrieved a huge consignment of illegal weapons from Indo-Pak border, which was delivered from across the border with the help of drones in the area of village Bhindi Aulakh in Amritsar Rural, and are going to deliver it further to Sherpreet’s accomplice Davinder Singh, he said.

          He said that acting swiftly, police teams intercepted the above mentioned accused persons near Gurdwara Baba Mohri Ji at Chogawan in Amritsar Rural, and recovered the contrabands from their possession.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav further said that Sherpreet Singh alias Gulaba is a habitual offender and seven different criminal cases have already been registered against him regarding possession of illegal arms, involvement in theft, looting and other criminal activities. Further investigation is underway to expose the full nexus, including the backward and forward linkages of the network, he added.

          A case FIR No. 65 dated 30-10-2025 has been registered under sections 25 and 25(1-A) of the Arms Act and section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar.

Chandigarh, 30 October 2025:

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub section 1 of section 7 of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and all other powers enabling him in this behalf, the Governor of Punjab has appointed Dr. Vandana Arora  as non-official scientist of the Expert Group in place of Prof. Rajesh Gill, for evaluating the Social Impact Assesment reports.

Patiala, October 30:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and National Convener of AAP Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday launched projects worth Rs 75 crore to give facelift to historic Sri Kali Mata Temple.

Addressing the gathering, the National Convener of AAP said that it is the privilege of the state government to initiate these projects of immense public importance. He bemoaned that none of the previous state governments had ever bothered to start these works of immense public significance. Arvind Kejriwal said that fortunately the state government has been bestowed this opportunity by Mata Rani and the work will be collected within a year.

The National Convener of AAP said that the Sri Kali Mata Mandir is one of the most revered and historic temples in northern India. He said that this temple stands as a testimony to Punjab’s rich spiritual heritage and royal patronage.Arvind Kejriwal said that  the main shrine dedicated to Goddess Kali, the temple complex also includes an ancient temple of Shri Raj Rajeshwari Ji, another divine form of Shakti.

The National Convener of AAP said that these two centers of devotion make the complex spiritually significant as well as architecturally unique, blending centuries-old traditions with elements of modern infrastructure. He said that the temple’s importance is evident from the fact that nearly 10,000 devotees visit daily, around 40,000 every Saturday, and the number rises to nearly one lakh during the Navratri festival. Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government has started several Projects worth Rs 73.52 crore to give a facelift at Shri Kali Mata Temple.

The National Convener of AAP said that the Work is underway to ensure clean water for the temple pond will come from the Bhakra Canal and an amount of Rs 1.15 crore has been approved for this project. Likewise he said that temple’s existing sewage system and rainwater drainage network are being upgraded and replaced at a cost Rs 49.06 lakh. Arvind Kejriwal said that Aam Aadmi Clinic is being set up within the temple complex at a cost of Rs 25 lakh which will provide medical assistance not only to local residents but also to visiting devotees.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that enhance the spiritual and aesthetic charm of the temple, a light and sound show will be organized near the pond, modeled after the arrangements at major pilgrimage sites. He said that the project will cost ₹6.78 crore, and tenders for the work have been issued. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that a lift is being installed in the newly constructed building at a cost of Rs 15.11 lakh.

The Chief Minister said that new passageway is being constructed near the pond to provide convenience to devotees. He said that temple’s new building, corridor, boundary wall, entry gate, and pond projects collectively have also been started. Bhagwant Singh  Mann Daily Langar Seva (community meal) will be started, following Sikh and Hindu traditions, especially for devotees coming from distant or economically weaker backgrounds.

·The Chief Minister said that the temple pond will undergo complete renovation, including desilting, waterproofing, stonework along the edges, and pathway construction.

He said that this project will help preserve the temple’s sanctity and enhance its grandeur while maintaining its heritage architecture. Bhagwant Singh mann said that a proposal has been made to reopen and renovate the rear gate, often used during peak traffic times.

·Additionally, the Chief Minister said that all temple entrances will be redesigned in harmony with traditional architecture. He said that during weekends and Navratri, when large crowds gather, a systematic queue management system with barricaded lanes and signboards will be introduced to ensure orderly and respectful movement of devotees. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in consultation with urban planning and heritage experts, a comprehensive master plan is being prepared covering future construction, heritage conservation, pilgrimage facilities, sanitation, parking, and traffic management.

The Chief Minister said that to prevent overcrowding and ensure smooth distribution of Prasad, a token system similar to that at Mata Vaishno Devi Temple will be introduced. He said that this will ensure organized, fair, and dignified distribution of offerings adding that for the comfort of elderly devotees, women with children, and persons with disabilities, especially under varying weather conditions, the Sangat Hall will be upgraded into a fully air-conditioned hall.Bhagwant Singh Maan said that it is the government’s duty to preserve the state’s cultural heritage so that younger generations remain connected to their glorious past.

The Chief Minister said that a hall has been constructed within the temple premises for the accommodation of visiting pilgrims, and parking space has been created for 300 vehicles. He said that the state government is fully committed to developing this divine center of faith into an architectural marvel of Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that the state government will leave no stone unturned for this noble task.

On this occasion Member Rajya Sabha Rajinder Gupta, Cabinet Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, AAP’s Senior Leader Manish Sisodia and others were present.

Chandigarh:  Gopashtami festival was celebrated with pomp and grandeur at Maat Pitaah Godham Mahatirth located on Banur-Ambala Road, Mohali. On this occasion, devotees expressed their faith by lighting more than 2000 desi ghee lamps. Hundreds of devotees from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Delhi participated in the festival worship Gomata.

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria was chief guest on the occasion. National Award-winning Bollywood actor and producer Vijay Tandon, Senior Vice President of the All-India Agrawal Sammelan (Haryana), Jagmohan Garg, were present as special guests. Social worker Satyabhagwan Singla, President of Sanatan Dharma Baikunth Dham Pradeep Goyal, and Founder of Planet Ayurveda, Dr. Vikram Chauhan were special guests during the occasion.

In the program, Akhil Bhartiya Gao Katha Vachak Shri Chandrakant and bhajan singer Shri Hit Sharan Siddharth Bhaiya ji mesmerized the devotees with their kathas and bhajans.

In the World Record Book (London), the temple has been given the status of being the only temple in the world devoted to parents, which does not have the idol of any deity. Devotees can remember and worship his or her parents in the temple.

Chandigarh, October 29: President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu was accorded a warm welcome by Haryana’s Energy, Transport & Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vijon behalf of the State Government upon her arrival at the Ambala Air Force Station today.

Following a brief interaction with Minister Anil Vij, The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu took a sortie in a Rafale aircraft at Air Force Station, Ambala (Haryana) today. She is the first President of India to have taken sortie in two fighter aircrafts of the Indian Air Force. Earlier, she took a sortie in Sukhoi 30 MKI in 2023.

Air Force Station, Ambala is the first Air Force Station where Rafale aircrafts arrived from Dassault Aviation Facility, France.

The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for approximately 30 minutes covering about 200 kilometers before returning to the Air Force Station. The aircraft was flown by Group Captain Amit Gehani, Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron. The aircraft flew at a height of about 15000 ft  above sea level and at a speed of about 700 kilometers per hour.

Later in the visitor’s book, the President expressed her feelings by writing a brief note in which she said “I am delighted to visit Air Force Station Ambala for my maiden flight on Rafale aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The sortie on Rafale is an unforgettable experience for me. This first flight on the potent Rafale aircraft has instilled in me a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team of Air Force Station, Ambala for organising this sortie successfully.”

On this occasion, the President was briefed in detail about the technical features, operational capabilities, and the strategic significance of the Rafale aircraft in strengthening India’s defence preparedness.

During the event, Energy Minister Sh. Anil Vij and other distinguished guests posed for a group photograph with the President.

On this occasion, the senior officers of the Indian Air Force, Ambala Divisional Commissioner Sh. Sanjeev Verma, IG Ambala Range Sh. Pankaj Nain, Deputy Commissioner Sh. Ajay Singh Tomar, Superintendent of Police Sh. Ajit Singh Sekhawat, and other administrative officials were present.

Chandigarh, October 29- To ensure that cotton-growing farmers in Haryana receive the full Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, the government has developed a mobile application named Kapas Kisan.The app has been designed to help farmers conveniently sell their cotton after verifying the crop details submitted on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB) portal.

Sharing more details in this regard an official  spokesperson said that the Kapas Kisan mobile application has been developed by the Government of India’s enterprise, Cotton Corporation of India Limited (CCI), for the sale of cotton under the MSP scheme during the year 2025–26. The app is available for download on both Google Play Store and Apple iOS.

The spokesperson  further informed that all cotton-producing farmers in Haryana are requested to download the Kapas Kisan app and log in using the OTP sent to their mobile number registered on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora” (MFMB) portal.

After logging in, farmers should verify the details of their cotton-sown land shown in the app with the MFMB-verified land records. Upon successful verification, farmers can book a slot at the nearest CCI purchase center to sell their cotton under the MSP scheme and avail the benefits accordingly.

The spokesperson further said that the  cotton farmers to bring properly dried cotton with a moisture content not exceeding 12 percent to ensure they receive the full MSP for their produce. The CCI has also assured farmers that it will procure cotton of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) grade at the declared Minimum Support Price.

Chandigarh, October 29 – The Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation has provided financial assistance of Rs. 328.17 lakh to 428 beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Castes under various schemes during the current financial year 2025–26, up to September 2025. This amount includes a subsidy of Rs. 32.03 lakh.

Sharing information in this regard a spokesperson of the Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation said that the Corporation provides loans to individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes under different categories to help them start their own business or self-employment ventures. These categories include the agricultural and allied sectors, industrial sector, trade and business sector, and self-employment sector. Financial assistance is also being provided under schemes implemented with the support of the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC).

The spokesperson said that under the agricultural and allied sector, loans amounting to Rs. 176.05 lakh have been provided to 214 beneficiaries for activities such as dairy farming, sheep rearing, and pig rearing. Out of this, Rs. 164 lakh has been issued as bank loans and Rs. 12.05 lakh as subsidy. Similarly, under the industrial sector, Rs. 152.12 lakh has been provided to 214 beneficiaries, including Rs. 116.93 lakh as bank loans, Rs. 19.98 lakh as subsidy, and Rs. 15.21 lakh as margin money.

The spokesperson said that the Corporation provides loans or benefits only to identified Scheduled Caste families whose verified annual family income (as per PPP data) does not exceed Rs. 3,00,000 in rural and urban areas. With the cooperation of various banks, income-generating loans are provided for activities such as dairy farming, sheep rearing, animal-driven carts, grocery shops, leather goods manufacturing, beauty parlours, tent houses, bangle shops, tea stalls, welding shops, and band parties, among others. Only those beneficiaries who meet the prescribed income criteria are eligible to avail benefits under schemes supported by the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), the spokesperson added.

Chandigarh, October 29- Haryana is fast emerging as one of India’s most dynamic and business-friendly states. Far from being just a land of highways and harvest, it is rapidly transforming into a hub of entrepreneurship, innovation, and industrial growth. Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, through a series of reform-driven measures and direct oversight, is spearheading this transformation that promises to redefine the State’s economic landscape.

The Cluster Plug and Play Scheme is revolutionizing how industries start and scale in Haryana. Entrepreneurs no longer need to wait for years to get land, utilities, or approvals. Instead, they can walk into ready-to-use, pre-equipped factory spaces and begin production immediately.

So far, 64 projects have been approved, with grant-in-aid totaling ₹318.49 crore. The scheme, now extended till December 31, 2025, offers 50% of project cost (up to ₹5 crore) as government assistance to develop flatted factory complexes over a minimum of five acres. The State has even allowed a 10% cost flexibility to ensure ease in execution.

Chairing a meeting here today, Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi emphasized that this model provides an “instant launchpad” for industries, especially MSMEs, by cutting down gestation periods and offering all basic infrastructure upfront — power, water, connectivity, and compliance under one roof.

The State’s ambition goes beyond cities. Under the Programme to Accelerate Development for MSME Advancement (PADMA), Haryana plans to establish Mini Industrial Parks in all 143 blocks of the State — bringing enterprise to the doorsteps of rural youth.

Each park will house at least ten plug-and-play sheds equipped with shared facilities. So far, 16 applications have been received, 7 projects have secured final approval, and 3 more are in-principle cleared. To support this expansion, a new Umbrella Policy is being framed to provide enhanced incentives to Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns, encouraging decentralized industrial growth beyond Gurugram and Faridabad.

Sh. Rastogi noted that the PADMA initiative is “the rural industrial revolution of Haryana,” ensuring balanced development and job creation in smaller towns and villages.

Commissioner & Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal informed that the state government has eliminated 1,113 compliances across 14 Acts and decriminalized 37 minor provisions, making it easier for entrepreneurs to focus on innovation instead of paperwork.

The simplification includes 842 business-related and 271 citizen-related compliances, with a target to reach 1,500 by December 2025. A Deregulation Committee was set up on August 27, 2025, to adopt international best practices in administrative reform.

Backing these reforms, the Haryana Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025 aims to replace imprisonment clauses with monetary penalties, institutionalizing a culture of trust between government and business.

To ensure integrated planning, every infrastructure project above ₹100 crore now undergoes evaluation by the Network Planning Group and the Empowered Group of Secretaries under the PM GatiShakti framework.

As of October 2025, 55 departments have been trained to use this unified platform for mapping inter-departmental dependencies in power, transport, and logistics projects. The goal is to plan 10 major projects through PM GatiShakti by the end of 2025 — ensuring faster execution and better coordination across departments.

When it comes to women’s safety, Haryana has become a national benchmark. The State operates 33 all-women police stations, 200 Women Help Desks, and the dedicated Durga Shakti Rapid Action Force in every district.

The Durga Shakti App, integrated with Dial 112, provides real-time emergency response. The moment an SOS is triggered, GPS-linked PCR vans are alerted, ensuring swift action. Haryana’s 24×7 command control system has become a model for other states to emulate.

The Government has established a dedicated GIFT Cell (Global Interface for Trade Facilitation) in Panchkula, funded with ₹13.59 crore under the RAMP scheme. Staffed with eight trade experts, the cell assists MSMEs in export readiness, quality certifications, and global outreach.

Officers stationed in Ambala, Faridabad, and Gurugram are helping enterprises participate in international trade fairs and connect with global buyers. The initiative is helping Haryana’s small businesses scale beyond India’s borders.

The Invest Haryana Portal (investharyana.in) has become the single window for all business-related services. Entrepreneurs can now apply for 43 incentives, licenses, and NOCs online.

The State’s digital transformation extends to its youth. HARTRON has set up 86 Advanced Skill Centres, of which 62 are operational, offering training in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, IoT, Cloud Computing, and Big Data Analytics.

Each year, 25,000 youth are expected to benefit, with a 75% fee waiver for EWS candidates. Additionally, 108 ITIs have been registered as training partners under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, where 4,715 solar technicians have already completed their practical training.

Haryana’s startup revolution is in full swing. With 8,800 DPIIT-registered startups, the State ranks seventh in India, and remarkably, 45% of these are women-led.

The Haryana Startup Policy 2022 has introduced 10 new fiscal support schemes for incubators, while 12 innovation centres are being established — including three by HSIIDC in Sohna, Manesar, and Kharkhoda.

Under the Vehicle Scrappage Policy, 2024, Haryana is incentivizing recycling facilities as legitimate industries. The policy provides grants up to ₹20 crore, 100% stamp duty refund in D-category blocks, and venture capital support for green technology startups.

Additional Chief Secretary, Transport, Sh. Raja Sekhar Vundru, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Sh. Vineet Garg, Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes & Backward Classes and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department, Smt. G Anupama, Additional Chief Secretary, Town & Country Planning, Sh. AK Singh, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.