Category Archives: Haryana

Chandigarh, Haryana

From Skills to Market: Initiative to Connect Women Entrepreneurs with National and International Markets

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Chandigarh, August 21: A women entrepreneurship programme under the banner of ‘Desi Craving’ was organised on Friday at Himachal Bhawan, Sector 28, Chandigarh. Around 50 women entrepreneurs and women associated with Self-Help Groups from various districts of Haryana participated in the event, showcasing their products and sharing their inspiring success stories. Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan was the chief guest.

Congratulating the organisers of ‘Desi Craving’, Harvinder Kalyan said there was a need to equip women working at the district level and in villages and towns across the state with modern skills in entrepreneurship, packaging, marketing and sales. He said women should be trained in a manner that enables them to take their products to national as well as international markets on their own.

He said women in rural areas possess immense talent and create high-quality products, but often lack access to proper packaging, branding, marketing and market-related knowledge. Such initiatives, he said, can play an important role in empowering women, making them self-reliant and connecting their products with larger markets.

Senior Chandigarh BJP leader Sanjay Tandon was also present on the occasion. He personally visited almost every woman entrepreneur at the venue, interacted with them and enquired about their products. He also discussed the quality of the products, the process of making them and their marketing and sales.

Tandon was so impressed by the products and the talent of the participating women that he called his wife and daughter-in-law on the spot and invited them to visit the venue so that they could personally see the products and learn about the work being done by the women entrepreneurs.

Women entrepreneurs who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of food processing and food products were felicitated during the programme. The top three participants were also provided financial incentives. The participants were given information about product marketing, increasing sales and availing benefits under various government schemes.

Desi Craving founder Ruchita Bansal and NITI Aayog’s Anna Rai said the programme was organised under the patronage of Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan and Women and Child Development Minister Shruti Choudhary, with the guidance of NITI Aayog.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Speaker Harvinder Kalyan Reviews Preparations for Monsoon Session

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Chandigarh, August 20

Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan on Thursday reviewed the preparations for the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha at a meeting with senior officers of the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat. He reviewed various arrangements related to the session in detail and issued necessary directions to the officials.

The Speaker said that all preparations should be undertaken with utmost seriousness and responsibility, keeping in view the dignity of the House and the smooth conduct of its proceedings. He directed all branches of the Secretariat to discharge their respective responsibilities in a time-bound manner and ensure that all arrangements are fully in place before the commencement of the session.

“Small improvements lead to big changes,” Kalyan said, stressing that every officer and employee should have clarity about their respective responsibilities. “Our endeavour should be to make every session better than the previous one. We must live up to the expectations placed on us in our capacity as the custodians of the House,” he said.

The Speaker directed the officials to review all arrangements well in advance to ensure that members, media personnel and visitors do not face any inconvenience during the session. He laid particular emphasis on close coordination among different branches and departments and directed officials to identify potential requirements beforehand and ensure their timely resolution.

He also stressed that Vidhan Sabha employees should maintain courteous and dignified conduct while dealing with members and visitors.

Kalyan said there should be no scope for negligence or shortcomings at any level in the preparations for the session. All officers should accord priority to their respective responsibilities so that the proceedings of the House are conducted smoothly and uninterruptedly as per the scheduled programme.

The Haryana Government has announced that the Monsoon Session of the Vidhan Sabha will commence on August 27. In view of the session, preparations have been intensified at various levels in the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.

Vidhan Sabha Secretary Dr. Virendra Kumar Dahiya, Advisor to the Speaker Ram Narayan Yadav and several other senior officers were present at the meeting.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

82% of Indians Have Damaged Their Smartphone. Only 1 in 15 Protects It.

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Chandigarh:

OneAssist, India’s highest-rated InsurTech platform, today unveiled findings from its latest consumer insights report, The Great Indian Smartphone Protection Crisis commissioned in collaboration with Hansa Research, a full-service global market research agency. The report examines smartphone usage, accidental damage and protection adoption across India.

The report highlights a growing disconnect between consumers’ increasing dependence on smartphones and their relatively low adoption of protection plans, despite frequent accidental damage, rising device costs and longer ownership cycles.

As smartphones become central to how Indians work, bank, shop, communicate and entertain themselves, they have also become one of consumers’ most valuable everyday assets. With smartphone prices continuing to rise and consumers holding on to their devices for longer, the financial impact of accidental damage and repairs has become increasingly significant.

Yet, accidental damage remains commonplace. The study found that 82% of consumers have accidentally dropped their smartphone at least once, while 72% have experienced accidental damage. Accidental drops and screen damage emerged among the common causes of damage, reflecting the everyday risks associated with prolonged and frequent smartphone usage. The emotional dimension of damage is equally significant: 35% of Indians panicked immediately after dropping their phone, 24% fought with someone over the incident, and 15% cancelled plans as a direct result of device damage. Among women, the panic response is sharper with 43% reported panic after a drop, compared to 33% of men. Accidental drops and screen damage emerged among the common causes of damage, with the study specifically noting that phones slipping out of pockets or bags account for 36% of all accidental damage incidents, making the most mundane, everyday moment one of the most financially costly, reflecting the everyday risks associated with prolonged and frequent smartphone usage. Despite this widespread exposure, only 36% of consumers report having used a smartphone protection plan at some point during their device ownership journey while current active protection adoption stands at just 6–8%. The gap between lifetime awareness and active coverage is striking, and points to a market where consumers try protection once and do not renew, or abandon it before a claim is ever made.

While awareness of smartphone protection plans is widespread, consumers continue to cite affordability concerns, limited understanding of product benefits and lack of trust in the claims process as key barriers to adoption. The study also reveals the lengths to which Indians go to manage damage on their own: 29% have used rice to treat water-damaged devices, and between 20–32% have used tape or other temporary fixes to hold damaged phones together, improvisations that underscore both the reluctance to seek formal repair and the normalisation of living with damage. The findings point to a significant opportunity for the industry to simplify protection offerings, improve transparency and build greater consumer confidence throughout the ownership journey.

The report also highlights notable behavioural differences across consumer segments. Women emerged as the most dependent and most vulnerable smartphone users: 79% use smartphones for social media (vs 69% of men), 94% have accidentally dropped their device (vs 80% of men), and 79% have suffered accidental damage (vs 71% of men). The emotional cost is also higher as 43% of women panicked after dropping their phone, compared to 33% of men. Damage among women is more likely to be linked to domestic settings, with child- or pet-related incidents occurring at three times the rate reported by men. Meanwhile, consumers aged 26–30 were identified as India’s most connected cohort, demonstrating the highest dependence on smartphones for communication, digital payments, shopping and entertainment.

Beyond new smartphone purchases, the research points to the growing importance of India’s evolving refurbished and pre-owned smartphone ecosystem. As consumers increasingly retain, exchange or purchase pre-owned devices, and ownership cycles continue to lengthen, warranty and protection solutions are becoming increasingly important to building trust and confidence across the broader smartphone lifecycle. The data is clear: 70% of consumers believe protection plans are more important for pre-owned devices than for new ones, and 30% say the availability of a warranty or protection plan would make them consider purchasing a pre-owned device, a significant unlocking factor for the refurbished market. Notably, 54% of non-metro consumers have purchased pre-owned smartphones, versus 30% in metros, pointing to a circular device economy that is already well-established outside India’s major cities.

The findings underscore a significant opportunity for smartphone brands, retailers, financiers and protection providers to bridge the gap between awareness and adoption through simpler, more transparent and accessible protection solutions.

Subrat Pani, Co-founder, OneAssist, said, “The research reflects an interesting consumer contradiction. Smartphones have become indispensable to how people communicate, transact, work and access entertainment, and accidental damage is clearly a common experience. Yet, a large number of consumers continue to navigate device ownership without any form of protection while constantly worrying about damage and breakdown. As devices become more valuable and ownership periods lengthen, consumers are increasingly looking for confidence and peace of mind throughout their ownership journey. This makes it important for the industry to better address their concerns around affordability, simplicity and trust.”

The findings from The Great Indian Smartphone Protection Crisis come at a pivotal moment for India’s consumer technology landscape. With over 650 million smartphone users, rising device prices, and ownership cycles extending beyond three years, the gap between device value and protection adoption has never carried a higher financial cost for Indian consumers. The report calls on smartphone brands, retailers, insurers and protection providers to collectively address the barriers of affordability, claims complexity and consumer trust and to reimagine protection as an integral part of the device ownership journey, not an afterthought at the point of sale.

About OneAssist

India’s highest rated InsurTech company efficiently delivering Innovative, Technology powered, Assistance & Protection solutions for the things that matter to consumers. Founded in 2011 by Gagan Maini and Subrat Pani, OneAssist protects over 3 crore active consumers with a pan-India service network and a diverse ecosystem of over 3,000 partners spanning e-commerce, Fintech, NBFCs, Modern Trade, General Trade and Enterprise. Backed by Lightspeed ventures and Peak XV partners (formerly Sequioa), OneAssist delivers a bouquet of solutions offering complete peace of mind across personal electronics, Consumer durables, motor, financial protection, furniture and lifestyle. OneAssist is the consumer’s first choice for Assistance and Protection solutions with its range of innovative research backed products, strong tech stack and best in class consumer experience.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

Independence Day, Charak Jayanti Celebrated with Enthusiasm by Doctors in Chandigarh

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Chandigarh: The Tricity Unit of Vishwa Ayurved Parishad organised a joint celebration of Independence Day and Charak Jayanti at Sector 43 in Chandigarh on Saturday. The programme brought doctors together to mark the two occasions with enthusiasm and patriotic spirit. The event was presided over by Tricity President Dr Geeta Joshi, while Unit General Secretary Dr Rajesh Tayal conducted the proceedings and kept the gathering engaged throughout the programme. Prof. (Dr) Satya Dev Pandey, State Senior Vice President, delivered the keynote address. He highlighted the significant contributions of Maharishi Charak to the field of medicine and underlined the relevance of his legacy in the promotion of Ayurveda.

Dr Geeta Joshi said that Charak Jayanti, commemorating the birth anniversary of revered Ayurvedic scholar Acharya Charaka, was also observed highlighting his contribution to Ayurveda and the enduring relevance of the Charaka Samhita. Charak Jayanti is traditionally associated with Nag Panchami, the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravan.

Acharya Charaka is regarded as one of the principal contributors to classical Ayurveda and is associated with the Charaka Samhita, one of the foundational texts of Ayurvedic medicine. The work deals with areas including health, diagnosis, treatment and principles for maintaining well-being. On the occasion, experts use the occasion to underline the importance of preserving India’s traditional knowledge while encouraging research and contemporary understanding of Ayurveda. Celebrations such as Charak Jayanti also help keep the historical and cultural legacy of Ayurvedic learning connected with younger generations.

Dr Geeta Joshi thanked all the doctors for participating in the celebration and expressed gratitude to Aristo Pharma for sponsoring the event. The programme concluded with patriotic songs, creating an atmosphere of national pride and camaraderie among the participants.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

Congress focuses on energising booth-level agents in Haryana after electoral setbacks faced by the Opposition INDIA bloc in Bihar and West Bengal

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By Manoj Kumar

Chandigarh: The appointment of Sanjay Dutt as Haryana Congress in-charge has brought a renewed focus on strengthening the party organisation at the grassroots, with particular emphasis on energising booth-level workers and agents. However, the larger challenge before the party remains the task of addressing internal differences among its senior leaders.

With the next Assembly election still some distance away, the Congress is seeking to use the intervening period to rebuild its organisational network, reconnect with workers and strengthen its presence at the booth level. The strategy assumes greater significance following the electoral setbacks suffered by the Opposition INDIA bloc in Bihar and West Bengal, where organisational weaknesses and leadership coordination have emerged as important political concerns.

The Haryana Congress appears keen to ensure that it does not enter the next electoral battle relying primarily on prominent leaders and their individual support bases. Instead, the party wants an active cadre capable of maintaining regular contact with voters and taking the Congress’s political message to the grassroots.

Yet, the effectiveness of this strategy will ultimately depend on whether the party can address the factionalism that became particularly visible during the 2024 Haryana Assembly election. Differences among senior leaders and competing political camps had often overshadowed the broader campaign, raising questions about coordination and collective leadership.

Dutt’s appointment therefore comes at a crucial juncture. His responsibility extends beyond rebuilding the organisation. He will also have to establish greater coordination among the party’s senior leaders and ensure that different factions work towards a common political objective.

A strong booth-level organisation can give the Congress a significant advantage, but only if workers receive a consistent political message from the leadership. Any disconnect between senior leaders could once again leave the grassroots cadre confused about the party’s priorities and electoral strategy.

The experience of neighbouring Punjab also offers a warning. Internal differences, competing leadership ambitions and disagreements over political strategy can become increasingly difficult to manage as an election approaches. For the Haryana Congress, preventing such differences from reaching a critical stage will be essential if the party wants to convert its organisational efforts into electoral gains.

The current grassroots drive could help restore confidence among workers who felt marginalised or inactive during previous election cycles. But organisational expansion alone may not be enough. Differences over leadership roles, political strategy and, eventually, ticket distribution could test the unity of the party as the election draws closer.

Dutt’s success will therefore be judged on two fronts: how effectively he rebuilds the Congress organisation from the booth level and, more importantly, whether he can bring the party’s competing leadership camps onto a common platform.

For the Haryana Congress, the challenge is no longer merely to build a larger cadre. It is to ensure that the cadre sees a united leadership, a clear political strategy and a common electoral goal.

The coming months will indicate whether Sanjay Dutt can achieve that balance or whether internal differences once again overshadow the Congress’s efforts to rebuild its organisation in Haryana.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

Leadership Challenge Returns to Centre Stage for Congress in Haryana and Punjab

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By Manoj Kumar

Chandigarh: The Congress’s renewed emphasis on strengthening its grassroots organisation in Haryana comes at a time when the party faces a more fundamental challenge—resolving competing leadership ambitions within its state units.

During the last Haryana Assembly election, the party’s leadership question was widely seen as a major source of tension, with three prominent camps associated with former Haryana Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Sirsa MP and former Union Minister Kumari Selja and Rajya Sabha Memmber Randeep Singh Surjewala representing different strands of the state leadership. The differences over leadership and political space became particularly significant during the election campaign.

The departure of senior leader Kiran Choudhry from the Congress also underlined the seriousness of the leadership tensions within the state unit. Her exit, followed by her move to the BJP, was another setback for the party at a time when it was preparing for the Assembly election.

The Congress now has an opportunity to learn from that experience. With Sanjay Dutt taking charge as the Haryana in-charge, the party’s organisational rebuilding exercise will have to go hand in hand with efforts to create greater cohesion among its senior leaders.

The issue is not merely about deciding who will lead the party. It is also about ensuring that different leadership groups do not operate as separate political centres when an election approaches. A disciplined and energetic booth-level cadre can be effective only when it receives a clear and unified political message from the state leadership.

The developments in Punjab make the issue even more relevant for the Congress high command. Differences involving senior leaders, including former Chief Minister and Current Member of Parliament Charanjit Singh Channi and Member of Parliament and Punjab State president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, have kept the question of leadership and political direction in focus as the party prepares for the next Assembly election.

For the Congress, the concern is whether it is repeating in Punjab the same mistake that hurt its prospects in Haryana—allowing leadership differences to remain unresolved until the electoral battle is already underway.

The party cannot afford to postpone the question indefinitely. Leadership clarity does not necessarily mean announcing a chief ministerial face years before an election; it means establishing a mechanism through which competing leaders agree to work within a common strategy and accept collective decision-making.

The Congress has shown that such political coordination is possible. In Karnataka, the party managed to navigate competing leadership claims and maintain a working arrangement between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar after the 2023 Assembly election. While differences did not disappear, the party leadership succeeded in preventing them from becoming an immediate organisational crisis.

That experience offers a possible lesson for Haryana and Punjab. The Congress does not necessarily need to eliminate differences among ambitious leaders—political parties naturally contain competing aspirations. What it needs is a system capable of managing those differences before they damage the organisation.

For Haryana, Sanjay Dutt’s task is therefore larger than simply building a booth-level cadre. He will have to persuade the different leadership camps that organisational strengthening and electoral preparation cannot succeed if the party remains divided at the top.

Punjab presents a similar challenge. If the Congress wants to regain political space, it will have to demonstrate to its workers and voters that its senior leaders can put collective electoral strategy above individual leadership ambitions.

The lesson from Haryana’s previous Assembly election should be clear: a strong cadre cannot compensate indefinitely for a divided leadership.

With elections still some distance away, the Congress has time to address the problem. But that window may narrow rapidly once candidate selection and campaign politics begin. The party’s central leadership will therefore have to act early—before internal leadership competition again becomes the defining story of its state units.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Speaker Urges Youth to Draw Inspiration from Shaheed Udham Singh’s Sacrifice for Nation Building

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Chandigarh, July 31

Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan on Friday called upon the youth to accord the nation the same priority as they give to themselves and their families, asserting that the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 can be realised only through the active participation and commitment of the younger generation.

He was addressing a Youth Dialogue on Women Empowerment organised at the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Udham Singh. The programme, organised jointly by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and the Delhi-based voluntary organisation Rajdhani Yuva Sansad, witnessed the participation of nearly 90 young delegates from more than 14 states. The event aimed to promote democratic values, nation-building and women’s empowerment among youth.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Kalyan said that just as individuals plan for the welfare and future of themselves and their families, they must also think seriously about the progress and development of the nation. He said every citizen has a responsibility towards the country’s future and that the dream of a developed India would become a reality only when young people dedicate their energy, talent and abilities to national service.

The Speaker also acquainted the participants with the history of the Capitol Complex and the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, while highlighting the vital role of the legislature in India’s parliamentary democracy. He recalled that after Independence, Shimla served as the joint capital of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, and that Chandigarh was later designated as the capital of Punjab and Haryana. He noted that the first sitting of the Assembly in the historic Capitol Complex building was held on March 6, 1961, adding that the Assembly has since witnessed many landmark decisions, visionary policies and historic deliberations.

Paying tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh, Mr. Kalyan described his unparalleled courage, patriotism and supreme sacrifice as a timeless source of inspiration for the youth. He urged young citizens to draw inspiration from the lives of such great revolutionaries and fulfil their responsibilities towards the nation with sincerity and dedication.

Speaking on women empowerment, the Speaker said that Indian civilisation has traditionally accorded the highest respect to women. Although certain social distortions emerged during the long period of foreign rule, sustained efforts after Independence have significantly strengthened women’s education, dignity, rights and equal opportunities. He emphasised that the goal of a developed India cannot be achieved without the active participation and leadership of women.

Mr. Kalyan also urged the youth to remain equally conscious of their civic duties as they are of their rights. He said the true strength of any nation lies in its aware, disciplined and responsible citizens. Democracy flourishes and the nation progresses when citizens sincerely discharge their duties, he added.

Highlighting the role of elected representatives, he said the real strength of democracy rests with the people. The more aware, accountable and sensitive their elected representatives are, the stronger democratic institutions become. Describing the Vidhan Sabha as the highest democratic forum of the state, he said it is the place where the government is held accountable for every rupee of taxpayers’ money, and that effective conduct of the House in accordance with parliamentary rules and traditions forms the foundation of good governance.

During the Youth Dialogue, participants shared their views on women empowerment, democratic values, civic responsibilities and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, besides gaining insights into various aspects of parliamentary functioning.

Based on their presentations, Manasvi secured the first position, followed by Tanik in second place, Osheen Sharma in third, and Bhumika Tyagi in fourth.

The programme was attended by Advocate Isha Kapoor, Co-founder of Rajdhani Yuva Sansad, Advocate Jai Saini, Co-founder of the organisation, and senior officers of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Crop Insurance Scheme Proved to be a Deception for Farmers: Hooda

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Chandigarh: Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday said that the crop insurance scheme has proven to be nothing more than a deception for farmers.
“Grand claims were made when the scheme was launched, yet today, the number of beneficiaries has dropped to less than half of the original figure. This time, the government itself failed to provide farmers with adequate time to register for the Kharif season. The notification, usually issued between June 20 and June 25, was released on July 24; consequently, 11.20 lakh farmers were given barely a week to complete their registration,” he said.
“It appears that not only the farmers but the government itself has become disillusioned with this scheme. The way the scheme has operated so far makes it clear that farmers have derived no benefit whatsoever; instead, thousands of crores of rupees were siphoned off from them to fill the coffers of private companies,” he added.
“As a result, the number of beneficiaries under this scheme, which stood at approximately 24 lakh in 2018-19, has dwindled to just 11 lakh by 2024-25. There are also concerns that the limited timeframe, server outages, and bureaucratic formalities will consume so much time that many farmers will be unable to even submit their applications,” he pointed out.
Hooda has demanded an extension of the application deadline. He urged the government to prioritize the interests of farmers rather than benefiting private companies and to provide immediate compensation when needed.
He called for the immediate disbursement of all outstanding compensation. Furthermore, he demanded that the BJP government explain why the compensation amount under this scheme is decreasing annually while the premium amount continues to rise.
Ramnath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, stated that ₹2,518.66 crore was paid out under crop insurance in Haryana during 2022-23, a figure that dropped to just ₹265.23 crore in 2023-24. In contrast, during 2023-24, the insurance company received a total of ₹648.1 crore—comprising ₹154.9 crore from farmers, ₹246.6 crore from the Central Government, and an equivalent share from the State, resulting in a net profit of ₹382.9 crore for the company.
Similarly, in 2024-25, this payout amount decreased further to ₹262.6 crore. However, considering the premiums collected—₹280.3 crore from farmers, ₹388.2 crore from the Central Government, and an equal share of ₹388.2 crore from the State (based on a 50% contribution)—the insurance company received a total of ₹1,056.7 crore. Yet, farmers received only ₹262.6 crore, meaning the insurance company made a net profit of ₹794.1 crore.
This makes it evident that insurance companies are exploiting both the farmers and the public exchequer under the guise of this scheme. The PM Fasal Bima Yojana has impoverished farmers while enriching insurance companies.
Insurance companies deduct premiums from Haryana’s farmers on schedule, but when it comes to paying compensation, neither the timeline nor the payout amount is fixed. Furthermore, farmers have no representation on the committees responsible for assessing crop loss. The government and insurance companies act arbitrarily in settling claims, and it is the farmers who ultimately bear the brunt of this.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana CM Launches Upgraded ‘Track and Trace’ System and Online Excise Services

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Chandigarh, July 11- Haryana Chief Minister,  Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday launched the upgraded ‘Track and Trace’ system and eight online excise services, taking yet another major step towards the digital transformation of the State’s excise administration. The new initiatives are aimed at strengthening transparency through technology-driven governance, enhancing regulatory oversight, safeguarding government revenue and promoting ease of doing business.

The Chief Minister launched these services while reviewing the Haryana Vision-2047 roadmap of the Excise and Taxation Department. He  also assessed the progress of sankalps  and the progress made by the department in executing the projects and works of Chief Minister’s announcements.

As part of the initiative, the Haryana Government has introduced an upgraded QR code-based ‘Track and Trace’ system for liquor. Under the system, every movement of each bottle of liquor, from distilleries and bottling units to wholesale distribution and retail sale  will be closely monitored and uniquely identified. The mechanism will enable better tracking of inventory movement, ensure compliance with excise laws, curb the circulation of illicit liquor and promote fair and transparent trade.

The upgraded system will also enable the Excise Department to undertake real-time monitoring of the entire supply chain, strengthen enforcement against tax evasion and smuggling, support data-driven decision-making and safeguard State revenue. The technology-driven initiative launched by the Chief Minister reflects the Government’s commitment to leveraging digital governance for transparent administration, effective regulation and sustained growth in excise revenue.

Further advancing the digitisation of excise regulatory processes, the Chief Minister also launched eight new online excise services, significantly expanding the scope of paperless and online delivery of licences and regulatory approvals.

One of the key additions is the online grant of temporary liquor-serving licences (L-12A-C). The service will enable applicants to obtain temporary licences online for serving liquor at social and public functions such as events, concerts, exhibitions and similar occasions. The online system is expected to simplify the licensing process, reduce the compliance burden and further enhance ease of doing business for applicants.

In addition, online services have been introduced for the annual registration of marriage palaces and banquet halls, denatured spirit outlet licences (L-17), industrial and medicinal spirit possession permits (L-42A to L-42D) and permissions for extension of operating hours of retail liquor vends.

Each of these services has been developed on a fully digital and paperless workflow, enabling applicants to submit applications online, track the status of their applications and obtain approvals through the portal within a stipulated time frame of seven working days.

With automated processing minimising human intervention at every stage, the entire process will become faster, more transparent and more convenient for banquet hall operators, industrial and medicinal spirit users, denatured spirit dealers and retail licence holders.

The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the Excise and Taxation Department to modernise excise administration through technology and directed officials to ensure the effective implementation of these new systems across the State.

CM Urges Taxpayers to Avail Benefits Under One-Time Settlement Scheme (OTS-2026)

During the programme, the Chief Minister urged taxpayers to apply under the One-Time Settlement Scheme-2026 (OTS-2026), launched from June 1, 2026, for dues pertaining to pre-GST tax laws, including the Value Added Tax (VAT), Central Sales Tax (CST) and the Haryana General Sales Tax Act, and avail themselves of the tax relief provided under the scheme.

Under OTS-2026, 100 per cent waiver of penalty and interest has been granted to all taxpayers. In addition, substantial concessions in the tax payable have been provided across different slabs. The Government has also introduced a document-linked relief mechanism, under which taxpayers can secure a reduction in tax demand upon verification of statutory forms, which can now be submitted by taxpayers under the scheme.

The application process under OTS-2026 has been made extremely simple through an online portal available on the website of the Excise and Taxation Department, enabling taxpayers to avail the benefits of the scheme with ease.

The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to Haryana’s GST taxpayers, noting that the State has consistently recorded impressive growth in State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) collections over the past several years.

He said Haryana registered a 32 per cent increase in SGST collections during the first quarter of 2026-27, the highest among all States in the country. He further pointed out that Haryana had also recorded the highest SGST growth rate in the country at 22 per cent during 2025-26.

Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sh.  Rajesh Khullar,  Principal Secretary, Department of Future, Smt. Amneet P. Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Excise and Taxation Department, Smt. Ashima Brar,  Managing Director, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited, Dr. Aditya Dahiya, Commissioner, Excise and Taxation Department, Sh. Vinay Pratap Singh and other senior officers also remained present on this occasion.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

Fortis Hospital Mohali and Intuitive sign MoU to establish India’s first Total Program Observation site in a non-metro city

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Chandigarh | July 09, 2026: Fortis Mohali and Intuitive, a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish India’s first Total Program Observation (TPO) site in a non-metro city. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Abhijit Singh , Head – Strategic Business Unit (SBU), Fortis Mohali; Dr. Bishnu Panigrahi , Group Head – Medical Strategy and Operations, Fortis Healthcare; Glenn Vavoso , Senior Vice President and President, Intuitive Asia Pacific; and Rohitt Mahajan , Vice President and General Manager, Intuitive India.

The collaboration reflects a shared vision to support the next phase of robotic-assisted surgery in India, with a focus on programme maturity, structured training, patient safety and multidisciplinary readiness. The TPO site at Fortis Hospital Mohali will create a peer-to-peer learning platform for healthcare professionals to observe how an established robotic programme is built, governed and sustained in a real-world Indian healthcare setting.

Fortis Hospital Mohali has developed a multidisciplinary robotic-assisted surgery programme across specialties including gynaecology, gastrointestinal oncology, urology and head and neck surgery. The hospital has completed more than 3,600 robotic-assisted procedures, supported by 18 robotic surgeons and two da Vinci surgical systems. Serving patients across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and neighbouring regions, Fortis Hospital Mohali offers a valuable non-metro reference point for institutions looking to strengthen robotic-assisted surgery programmes in similar healthcare settings.

Through the TPO site, visiting surgeons, care teams, hospital administrators and executive leaders will have the opportunity to engage in structured peer-to-peer learning with an established robotic-assisted surgery programme. Beyond clinical observation, participants will gain exposure to the broader elements that support programme maturity, including surgeon training pathways, multidisciplinary team coordination, operating room workflows, patient safety processes, programme governance, executive alignment, financial planning and long-term service development.

Sharing a global perspective, Glenn Vavoso, Senior Vice President and President, Intuitive Asia Pacific, said, “Across the world, we are seeing healthcare systems increasingly focused on building robotic-assisted surgery programmes that are sustainable, scalable and integrated into broader models of clinical excellence. Total Program Observation sites support this by enabling healthcare teams to observe established programmes and apply relevant learnings within their own institutions. Fortis Hospital Mohali’s inclusion in this global network is a testament to India’s growing leadership in robotic-assisted surgery and its commitment to advancing high-quality, minimally invasive care through collaboration, education and peer learning.”

Commenting on India’s evolving robotic-assisted surgery landscape, Rohitt Mahajan, Vice President and General Manager, Intuitive India, said, “Robotic-assisted surgery in India is entering a new phase of growth, where success will be defined not just by technology adoption, but by building sustainable, high-quality surgical programmes. Fortis Hospital Mohali’s recognition as India’s first Total Program Observation site in a non-metro city reflects the growing maturity of the ecosystem and the important role experienced institutions can play in advancing best practices, strengthening capabilities and expanding access to minimally invasive care across the country.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Abhijit Singh, Head – Strategic Business Unit (SBU), Fortis Mohali, said, “Robotic-assisted surgery continues to expand across India, healthcare institutions are increasingly looking to understand how to build sustainable programmes around the technology. Total Program Observation supports this need by enabling structured peer-to-peer learning across clinical, operational and leadership functions. It also reflects a shared commitment to strengthening training, sharing best practices in programme governance and safety processes, and helping hospitals build the capabilities required to deliver advanced minimally invasive care with greater consistency.”

This collaboration is expected to strengthen India’s robotic-assisted surgery ecosystem by creating a practical learning platform for hospitals seeking to build or enhance their own programmes, particularly beyond major metropolitan centres.

About Intuitive India:

Intuitive Surgical India Pvt Ltd, the subsidiary of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISRG), is a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS). Intuitive India brings more than two decades of leadership in advanced robotics, including the da Vinci surgical system. A growing community of passionate and committed Indian surgeons are adopting the solutions in indication areas including gynaecology, urology, general surgery, and surgical oncology, among others. Today, India has over 2000 robotic-assisted trained surgeons and over 250 da Vinci systems installed across major private and government hospitals.