Chandigarh, February 23

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will organise the National Round Table Conference of ECI and State Election Commissioners (SECs) on Tuesday, i.e., February 24, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Round Table Conference is being convened after a gap of 27 years. The last such Conference was held in the year 1999.

An ECI spokesperson said the Round Table Conference will be chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner, Sh. Gyanesh Kumar, in the presence of Election Commissioners, Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.

State Election Commissioners of all States and Union Territories will participate along with their legal and technical experts. Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all 36 States and Union Territories will also attend the Conference.

The primary objective of the Round Table Conference is to foster synergies in the functioning of ECI and SECs with respect to electoral processes and logistics within their respective legal frameworks. The deliberations are expected to provide a platform for constructive exchange of ideas and reinforce the spirit of cooperative federalism in electoral management.

During the day-long conference, discussions will focus around sharing of technology, EVMs and Electoral Rolls, besides strengthening of electoral processes.

Senior officials of the Commission will make presentations on key technological and operational initiatives including the recently launched ECINET digital platform and its transformative potential in streamlining electoral services.

Presentations will also highlight robustness, transparency and safeguards of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Comparative presentation on States/UT-wise eligibility of electors with reference to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 will also be made to facilitate informed deliberations on legal frameworks governing Electoral Roll preparation across jurisdictions.

State Election Commissions are created by law of the respective States under the empowering provisions of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. SECs are vested with the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and Municipal Bodies under Articles 243K and 243ZA respectively.

Chandigarh, February 2– Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister, Sh.Shyam Singh Rana, said that the latest technologies related to animal husbandry will be showcased at the ‘Pashu Mela’ and exhibition to be held in Kurukshetra from February 6 to 8. He said the state government is making continuous efforts to encourage livestock farmers to rear superior breeds and adopt scientific methods of animal rearing so that they can earn higher income at a lower cost.

The Minister said that around 1,500 animals of superior breeds will participate in the 41st State-Level Livestock Exhibition to be held in Kurukshetra. These animals will compete in 53 different categories. To encourage livestock farmers, prize money of around Rs. 50 lakh will be distributed to the owners of the best animals.

Sh. Rana said that nearly 1,00,000 livestock farmers, farmers, entrepreneurs associated with animal husbandry, and scientists from across the state are expected to participate in this large-scale event. Keeping public convenience in mind, a free transport facility of 200 buses per day has been arranged. These special buses will bring livestock farmers and visitors from different parts of the state to the fair and drop them back to their respective villages and towns. Free meals will also be provided to livestock farmers and farmers visiting the exhibition.

Sharing information in this regard a spokesperson of the Animal Husbandry Department said that various government departments will set up stalls during the exhibition to promote their public welfare schemes so that people of the state can avail their benefits. Private sector companies will also display their products and technologies related to animal husbandry. The spokesperson further said that a unique ramp show will also be organised, where animals of superior breeds will walk the ramp and attract visitors.

The spokesperson said that the ‘Pashu Mela’ will be inaugurated on February 6 by Haryana Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana. On the second day, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Sh. Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, will attend the programme as the Chief Guest. On the final day, February 8, Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest and honour the winning livestock farmers of the exhibition.

The spokesperson also said that cultural programmes will be organised for the entertainment of livestock farmers and visitors, in which renowned artists of the state such as Mahavir Guddu and Azad Khanda will give their performances.

CHANDIGARH, February 1:

          As the decisive ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign launched under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann enters its 13th day, Punjab Police on Sunday conducted 767 raids at the at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across the state.

          As per the information, the “Gangstran Te Vaar”— a decisive war to make Punjab a gangster-free state was launched by the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on January 20, 2026. Police teams from all the districts in coordination with Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab has been conducting special operations across the state.

          On Day 13, Police teams arrested 148 individuals and recovered four weapons from their possession, taking the total arrests to 4,061 since the launch of the campaign.

 Apart from this, preventive action has been taken against 178 persons, whereas, 291 persons were verified and released after questioning. Police teams have also arrested 14 proclaimed offenders (POs) during the operation.

          People can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.

          Meanwhile, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” for 337th day with 73 drug smugglers arrested on Sunday and recovered 2.8 kg heroin, 252 grams opium, 386 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 14,730 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 47,355 in just 337 days. As part of De-addiction, the Punjab Police has convinced 30 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

CHANDIGARH, January 25:

          Recognising the outstanding services of the Punjab Police, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (GOI), on the eve of 77th Republic Day announced the names of the Punjab Police officers/officials, to be awarded with President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PMDS) and Medal for Meritorious Service (MMS).

          Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Investigation (Lokpal) Punjab Vibhu Raj, Director Bureau of Investigation (BOI) Punjab LK Yadav and ADGP Jails Arun Pal Singh to be conferred with President’s Medal for Distinguished Service.

          Similarly, an IPS Officer DIG Security Raj Bhawan Jasdev Singh Sidhu and five PPS officers including AIG SSG Randeep Singh Mann, DSP AGTF Rajan Parminder Singh, DSP Vigilance Bureau Navdeep Singh, ACP PBI Amritsar Sapinder Kaur and DSP SPU Harinderdeep Singh are among 15 officers/officials who have been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service. The remaining officials include Inspector Sukhjit Singh, Inspector Harish Kumar, Lady Inspector Manjit Kaur, Inspector Talwinder Singh, Inspector Rajinder Kumar, Inspector Pritpal Singh, Lady Sub-Inspector (SI) Dharamjit Kaur, SI Bhupinder Singh and ASI Swaranjit Kaur.

          Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, while congratulating the awardees, expressed gratitude to the Central Government and State Government for recognising the services of these officers and boosting the morale of the entire Punjab Police force. He said that such recognition plays a significant role in encouraging the Police force to work with more dedication and devotion, which is pivotal in a border state having manifold security challenges.

CHANDIGARH, January 25:

          On the recommendations of the Punjab Government, the Governor of Punjab on Sunday announced the names of the Punjab Police officers/officials, to be awarded the Chief Minister’s Rakshak Padak award and Chief Minister’s Medal for Outstanding Devotion to Duty on the occasion of Republic Day-2026.

          The Governor of Punjab announced the names of one PPS officer DSP Sunam Udham Singh Wala Harvinder Singh and four police officials including Inspector Nirmal Singh, Head Constable Sukhmanpreet Singh, ASI Balbir Chand and Senior Constable Dharampal Singh for Chief Minister’s Rakshak Padak award.

          Similarly, four PPS officers including AIG SPU Baljit Singh, SP Headquarters Faridkot Manvinderbir Singh, DSP Investigation Daljit Singh and SP Davinder Kumar are among 19 officers/officials who have been selected for the Chief Minister’s Medal for Outstanding Devotion to Duty. The remaining officials include Inspector Mandeep Singh, Inspector Rushika, Inspector Prabhjot Kaur, Inspector Kulwant Singh, Inspector Sumit Mor, Inspector Pushvinder Singh, SI Gurpal Singh, SI Bhupinder Singh, ASI Gurjant Singh, ASI Gurvir Singh, ASI Gurpreet Singh, ASI Kuljit Singh, HC Mandeep Singh, HC Sukhwinder Singh and Senior Constable Anu Bala.

          Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav congratulated the awardees and thanked the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Singh Mann for recognizing the services of the Punjab Police officers/officials. He said that such recognitions play a significant role in encouraging the Police force to work with more dedication and devotion.

Chandigarh, January 21, 2026:

The Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), Panjab University, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the District Bureau of Employment and Enterprises (DBEE), Mohali, organised its second annual Placement Camp cum Workshop for distance learners ranging from Class XII to postgraduate programmes.

Several reputed organisations with pan-India presence actively participated in the recruitment and shortlisting process. These included Xeam Ventures, Bhaskar Jyoti, Satvik Solar, Murari Services, Quess Corp, Adecco, Teleconference, Terracie Technology Ltd., Genius HR Tech, Paytm, GoOne Communication, Aditya Birla Capital, Digital Call System Pvt. Ltd., and Aerial Telecom System.

The placement camp witnessed an encouraging response, with 545 students registering for the drive. Fourteen companies participated, offering students valuable exposure to industry expectations, career pathways, and placement opportunities. As a significant outcome of the event, 101 candidates were shortlisted.

Senior university functionaries, including Prof. Y P Verma Registrar, Prof Meenakshi Goyal Director Research and Prof Meena Sharma Director, Central Placement Cell, visited and interacted with the participating companies and students. They encouraged learners to focus on perseverance, continuous skill acquisition, and informed career planning.

The programme was inaugurated by Prof. Harsh Gandhar, Director, CDOE, who welcomed the students and participating companies and introduced the invited dignitaries. In her address, she highlighted the changing dynamics of the job market, the growing importance of upskilling and reskilling, and the need for distance learners to complement academic knowledge with practical competencies.

The primary objectives of the programme were to enable students to become self-reliant in financing their further education, bridge the gap between academia and industry, and equip learners with market-relevant skills. The workshop sessions were conducted by Mr. Amit Setia, Vice President, Xeam Ventures, along with DBEE officers Ms. Sukhaman Kaur and Ms. Sukhman Bath, who served as resource persons. The sessions focused on employability-oriented training, including CV preparation, interview readiness, and familiarisation with contemporary workplace expectations.

The successful organisation of the event was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the CDOE faculty led by convener Dr Ravinder reinforcing Panjab University’s commitment to enhancing employability and career readiness among distance learners.

Chandigarh/Panchkula.

With regard to the Municipal Corporation elections to be held in Ambala, Panchkula and Sonipat in the year 2026, the Indian National Congress has intensified its preparations. There is tremendous enthusiasm among Congress workers across the state, and the organization is fully prepared to enter the electoral arena with strength and discipline.
Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Rao Narendra Singh informed that the Congress will contest the Municipal Corporation elections with full vigor, and a solid and practical strategy is being worked out to ensure victory. In this sequence, with the objective of conducting the entire election process in a well-organized, effective and result-oriented manner, the party has constituted special district-level election committees.
Rao Narendra Singh said that the constituted committees will play an important role in organizational coordination, election preparations, campaigning, public outreach and successfully completing all election-related formalities. He expressed confidence that on the strength of public issues, a clear development agenda and a strong organizational structure, the Congress will hoist the flag of victory in the Municipal Corporation elections.
The state Congress leadership made it clear that the party will further strengthen grassroots-level public contact and will go among the people by making the problems of every section of society key election issues. He said that the people are troubled by the oppressive attitude of the BJP in the state and will not tolerate it any longer. Congress is the only alternative that stands firmly on the ideology of public welfare, socialism, equality and inclusive development.
Rao Narendra Singh said that all Congress leaders and workers will fight this election unitedly and in a disciplined manner, ensuring victory.
Members of the District-Level Election Committees are as follows:
Panchkula Municipal Corporation Election Committee:
Rao Narendra Singh, State President
Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Leader of Opposition
Varun Chaudhary, Member of Parliament
Chandramohan, MLA
Sanjay Chauhan, District President
Ambala Municipal Corporation Election Committee:
Rao Narendra Singh, State President
Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Leader of Opposition
Varun Chaudhary, Member of Parliament
Nirmal Singh, MLA
Chetan Chauhan,AICC Secretary,
Pawan Aggarwal, District President (Urban)
Parvinder Pal Singh, District President (Cantt.)
Dushyant Chauhan, District President (Rural)
Sonipat Municipal Corporation Election Committee:
Rao Narendra Singh, State President
Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Leader of Opposition
Satpal Brahmachari, Member of Parliament
Sanjeev Kumar Dahiya, District President (Rural)
Kamal Diwan, District President (Urban)
Surender Pawar, Former MLA
Jaivir Singh Balmiki, Former MLA
Jai Bhagwan Antil
The Pradesh Congress expressed confidence that all appointed members will discharge their responsibilities with full dedication, commitment and sincerity. Haryana Congress will contest this Municipal Corporation election battle in unity and, with the blessings of the people, will hoist the flag of victory.

Chandigarh, January 4 – Minister of State for Sports, Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the Haryana Government is continuously working to provide quality and accessible health services across the state. The objective of the government is to ensure quality medical treatment for every citizen. Schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, Chirayu Haryana Yojana, and the modernisation of government hospitals have greatly benefited the poor and middle-class families. Facilities have been expanded from primary health centres to district hospitals and medical college hospitals. With modern equipment, specialist doctors, free medicines, and diagnostic services, people are receiving better health security.

Sh. Gaurav Gautam was addressing the gathering after inaugurating a government dispensary at the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) Camp at Palwal district today.

The Sports Minister shared details of the health services to be provided at the dispensary, including regular OPD services, primary treatment, availability of medicines, and vaccination facilities. He said that qualified medical staff has been deployed at the dispensary to ensure timely and proper treatment for patients.

Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that the government’s priority is to provide accessible, affordable, and quality health services to the common citizen. With the start of this dispensary, elderly people, women, and children of the area will benefit the most, and they will not have to travel far for minor health issues. He expressed hope that the dispensary will play an important role in improving the health of local residents and that more facilities will be added here in the future.

Chandigarh, January 2;

          The State level Republic Day Celebration would be held at Patiala where the Governor of Punjab Mr. Gulab Chand Kataria would unfurl the National Flag and take the salute from march past on January 26th 2026. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann would unfurl the flag at Hoshiarpur. Mr. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha would unfurl the flag at Sangrur where as Mr. Jai Kishan Rauri, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha would unfurl the flag at Barnala.

Disclosing the Schedule of all Cabinet Ministers, a spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema would unfurl the flag at Bathinda, Mr. Aman Arora at Pathankot, Dr. Baljit Kaur at Ferozepur, Mr. Sanjeev Arora at Faridkot, Dr. Balbir Singh at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Mr. Hardeep Singh Mundian at Amritsar, Mr. Lal Chand at Malerkotla, Mr. Laljit Singh Bhullar at Sri Muktsar Sahib, Mr. Harjot Singh Bains at Fazilka, Mr. Harbhajan Singh at Ludhiana, Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal at Jalandhar, Mr.Tarunpreet Singh Sond at Roopnagar, Dr. Ravjot Singh at Mansa, Mr. Gurmeet Singh Khudian at Tarn Taran and Mr. Mohinder Singh Bhagat would Unfurl the flag at S.A.S. Nagar