Chandigarh, March 31:

With the starting of new academic session in all the schools from April 1, the Punjab Government today announced that all government, semi-government and aided schools across the state will be operational from 8am to 2pm.

Sharing this information today, the Director SCERT, Punjab Ms. Amaninder Kaur Brar said that a letter has already been issued in this regard directing all the District Education Officers to ensure compliance of new timing in all the Primary, Middle, High and Senior Secondary Schools in the state.

Chandigarh, March 31:

Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian today assured farmers of smooth and hassle-free arrangements in all Mandis for wheat procurement commencing from Tuesday onwards. The Minister said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government has made extensive arrangements across 1865 mandis and procurement centers throughout Punjab to ensure that farmers face no difficulties during the procurement season.

“Our government is fully committed to providing farmers with a hassle-free procurement experience, said S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, adding that we have established robust systems across all procurement centers with adequate arrangements for electricity, shed and clean drinking water.

He further said that Mann government is dedicated to safeguarding farmers’ interests and ensuring that they receive timely payment for their produce.

The Cabinet Minister urged farmers to complete land mapping through their arhtiyaas before bringing their wheat crop to mandis to avoid procedural delays. “Properly dried wheat will facilitate prompt cleaning and timely procurement, streamlining the entire process,” he added.

S. Khudian said that landowners can verify their land mapping details on the Mandi Board portal “emandikaran-pb.in.”

He further said that to get comprehensive healthcare support, the J-form holder farmers can now register for the Ayushman Health Scheme by contacting their concerned Market Committee. For any queries or additional information regarding the procurement process, farmers can contact their respective Market Committee Secretary or visit the Punjab Mandi Board portal, he added.

Chandigarh, March 30:

Mr. Maninderjit Singh Bedi today assumed charge as the Advocate General of Punjab at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Punjab Government has appointed Mr. Bedi to this prestigious position earlier in the day.

Mr. Bedi was previously serving as the Additional Advocate General of Punjab. A law graduate from Punjabi University, Patiala, Mr. Bedi has also previously held the position of Administrator General and Official Trustee of the Government of Punjab.

Upon taking charge, Mr. Bedi expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann for entrusting him with this important responsibility. He affirmed his commitment to serve the position with dedication, saying that his priority would be to effectively represent the state in legal matters to protect Punjab’s rights and interests.

Ghanauri Kalan (Sangrur), March 29-

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday said that the senior IAS and IPS officers of the state government will act as the mentors of the students of government schools across the state to provide them necessary guidance for excelling in life.  

Addressing the gathering during Parents Teachers Meeting (PTM) organized here at School of Eminence, the Chief Minister said that all the IAS and IPS will officers will be mentoring one government school in the state where they will further strengthen the atmosphere of education through conversation with students and teachers. He said that along with it the officers will prepare the students for competitive exams and ensure training to teachers for upgrading their skills. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these officers will act a catalyst for mustering resources and resource person for development of these schools.

The Chief Minister said that these officers will work as mentors and not as bosses adding that this work will be voluntary service and interested  officers will have to perform it along with their already allocated duties. He said that this act is aimed at transforming the lives of the students by encouraging them to join the coveted services adding that this ambitious program of the state government will give wings to the dreams of the students thereby excelling in every sector of life. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these IAS and IPS officers will provide every support to the students thus enabling them to crack the prestigious exams and join the services. 

The Chief Minister said that it gives him immense pride and satisfaction that exceptionally bright students are studying in these schools. He said that these days girls have outnumbered boys in every other field that had been hitherto considered as fiefdom of the men. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab government has given a major boost to the education sector by allocating 11% of the total Budget expenditure to it, amounting to Rs.18,047 crore in the budget adding that this will help in carving out a new, prosperous and progressive Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that his government has laid due focus on the development of the education sector to impart quality education to the students. He said that Punjab has intelligent students and talented people which together can do everything. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government has been focusing on ensuring that the lives of the common man can be transformed through quality education.

The Chief Minister exuded confidence that the education sector in Punjab is now undergoing a significant transformation which will yield excellent results for government schools, further bolstering the endeavors of the government. He said that the Punjab government is transforming the infrastructure in the government schools and Punjab will surely emerge as a role model across the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government is focusing on fact to ensure that the services of teachers are duly utilized only for the purpose of education rather than any other work.

The Chief Minister said that the convent educated leaders of the previous governments had never bothered to improve the level of education in the state. He said that the sole reason was that they were not bothered about enhancing this level for holistic development of the state but his government has brought this paradigm shift in education. Bhagwant Singh Mann called upon the students to be grass rooters in life instead of parachuters, like the leaders of the traditional parties, to excel in life.

The Chief Minister said that the grass-rooters are those who arise from the ground to conquer the entire world adding that for these hard-workers only the sky is limit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that on the other hand the parachuters come directly from sky and are doomed to fall on ground later or sooner. He said that the focus of the student should be to excel in life for which the state government will provide every necessary help.

The Chief Minister said that it is a historic day as this PTM is taking place in the government schools across the state. He said that lakhs of parents across the state are enquiring about the studies, atmosphere, curriculum and other things being offered to their kids. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it will also provide an opportunity to teachers for explaining the performance of students in the schools.

The Chief Minister said that this was a paradigm shift as such PTMs were a regular practice earlier in private schools but were missing in government schools. He said that this is one of the best practices of education being adopted here for the well being of the students. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has embarked on an era of education revolution in Punjab and no stone is being left unturned for it.

Later on interacting with the media persons, the Chief Minister said that the state government has taken several path breaking initiatives in every sphere for the well being of the common man. He said that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened across the state where more than three crore patients have got free treatment. Likewise, he said that the state government has given government jobs to more than 52,000 youth completely on the basis of merit.

The Chief Minister also said that in order to avoid complications to the farmers in selling their paddy harvest due to high moisture content in October, the state government has decided to advance the paddy cultivation season from June 1. He said that zone wise cultivation of the paddy crop will be done in the state for which necessary planning and arrangements are being made by the Punjab government. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is duty bound to check the sale of spurious seeds and no one involved in this heinous crime will be spared.

Earlier, in his address, former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia lauded the state government for making revolutionary changes in the education system of Punjab. He said that the Education Model of Bhagwant Singh Mann has done wonders as students from cities are now making a beeline to get admission in government schools situated in the villages. Manish Sisodia said that the situation was entirely different when they were visiting the state before the 2022 assembly polls and now in the last three miraculous changes are being witnessed in the state.

The AAP leader said that great work has been done in the last three years as compared to the last 75 years adding that Rangla Punjab can be carved out only through education. Manish Sisodia said that he had personally visited government schools in more than 50 towns, cities and villages of the state before 2022, which were in shambles. However, he said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that today the schools of the state have got a complete facelift, which symbolizes the education revolution in the state.

The former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister said that the previous regimes had ruined government schools as the leaders wanted the private schools of their loved ones to bloom. But, he said that now the focus is on strengthening and improving the government schools across the state which is really laudable as it is ensuring imparting quality education to the state. Manish Sisodia said that the state government is ensuring that quality education is being imparted to every student of the government school thereby ensuring their holistic development.

Chandigarh, March 29:

In an environment friendly step to give further impetus to Buddha Nullah cleaning drive, Punjab Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HPCL Renewable & Green Energy Limited (HPRGE)— a wholly owned company of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited for setting up a Compressed Biogas (CBG) project in Ludhiana.

The MoU was signed by CEO Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) Ms. Neelima and CEO (HPRGE) Mr.Mohit Dhawan     in the presence of Mr. Aman Arora, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources, Punjab.

Highlighting the significance of this collaboration, Mr. Aman Arora informed that the project will focus on the sustainable management of surplus cattle dung from the Haibowal Dairy Complex in Ludhiana. He further mentioned that the project will process approximately 300 tons of cattle dung daily, producing 6,400 kg of CBG per day. HPCL will then distribute the CBG through their existing CNG outlets for vehicle fuel.

The project is expected to be completed within two years, Mr. Aman Arora said while emphasising that it’s a crucial component of the Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation Project as the project will address the current issue of dung being discharged into Buddha Nullah through the sewerage system.

Principal Secretary for New & Renewable Energy Sources, Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sinha, stated that the project, valued at over Rs. 35 crore, will be implemented under the State NRSE Policy, 2012, on a Build Own & Operate (BOO) basis. He also assured the HPRGE representatives every possible support  including necessary approvals from government side to set up this project.

Director PEDA Mr. MP Singh and other senior officials of the department were also present on the occasion.

CHANDIGARH, March 29:

          In a relentless pursuit to eradicate the drug menace from Punjab as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police on Thursday conducted another massive Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) at identified drug Hotspots— the points of sale of drugs and psychotropic substances— across the state as part of the Yudh Nashian Virudh 2.0, marking the 29th day of the intensified anti-drug campaign.

          The CASO was conducted simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, and Spl DGP/ADGP/IGP/DIG rank officers from Punjab Police Headquarters, Chandigarh were deputed in each Police district to personally supervise the operation.

          During the daylong operation, police teams have conducted raids at 428 drug hotspots across the state leading to arrest of 217 persons after registration of 157  first information reports (FIRs). Police teams have also recovered 7.7 kg heroin, 500 kg Ganja, 10992 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 2.17 lakh 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.

          Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who joined Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohali Deepak Pareek to personally oversee the operation in drug hotspots, said that the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign launched on March 1, 2025, has resulted in arrest of 4484 drug smugglers after registration of 2669 first information reports (FIRs) across the state and led to recovery of 169.5 kg heroin, 88 kg opium, 20.5 quintals poppy husk, 8.64 lakh intoxicant tablets/capsules, 1 kg ICE and Rs 5.83 crores drug money from the possession of drug smugglers.

          He said that DGP Punjab has already directed all the the CPs/SSPs to identify and catalogue the main drug suppliers/peddlers in their respective districts. “This is a sustained war—no leniency, no compromise. We will continue striking at the roots of this menace until Punjab is completely drug-free,” reiterated the Special DGP.

          Other officers who went to the field includes Special DGP Railways Shashi Prabha Dwivedi, Special DGP PSPCL Dr Jitendra Jain, ADGP Anita Punj, ADGP Technical Support Services (TSS) Ram Singh, ADGP Provisioning G Nageswara Rao, ADGP Internal Security Shive Kumar Verma and ADGP State Armed Forces MF Farooqui.

          Meanwhile, the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state.