Chandigarh, January 1 — Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao stated that the manufacture, sale and distribution of all oral formulations for human use containing more than 100 mg of Nimesulide in Immediate Release dosage form have been banned with immediate effect in Haryana. The primary objective of this decision is to protect people from potential adverse effects and to ensure that only safe and approved medicines are used in the state. She clearly stated that the government will not compromise in any manner when it comes to public health.

The Health Minister said that this decision has been taken entirely keeping in view the interest and safety of the people. Medicines are meant to provide relief to patients, not to endanger their health. When scientific evidence points towards risks associated with a medicine and safer alternatives are available, it becomes the government’s duty to take firm decisions in public interest.

She further informed that the Health Department has issued strict instructions to drug manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors, chemists, and medical stores to comply with this ban. Regular inspections and monitoring mechanisms have also been put in place, and strict action will be taken against violators.

The Health Minister also appealed to doctors and healthcare professionals to prescribe safe alternative medicines strictly in accordance with prescribed medical guidelines and to provide correct information to patients.

State Drugs Controller Sh. Lalit Kumar Goyal stated that giving priority to public health, the state has effectively implemented the notification issued by the Government of India, under which the manufacture, sale, and distribution of all oral formulations containing more than 100 mg of Nimesulide in Immediate Release dosage form have been prohibited.

He said that after an in-depth evaluation of scientific evidence and consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, the Government of India concluded that oral medicines containing more than 100 mg of Nimesulide could pose risks to human health, while safer alternatives are available. In line with this, the Haryana Government has implemented the notification without any delay.

By promptly enforcing the Central Government’s notification, the Haryana Government has once again demonstrated its firm commitment to taking science-based decisions and protecting the health of the people.

Chandigarh, January 1 – The Haryana Government is continuously taking concrete steps to honour senior citizens and to benefit from their experience in building society. In this direction, applications have been invited under the State Award For Old Persons Scheme for the year 2025–26 to recognize senior citizens and promote their welfare.

Sharing information in this regard a spokesperson of the Haryana Social Justice, Empowerment, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare and Antyodaya (Seva) Department said that the scheme will provide recognition and encouragement to senior citizens who have done outstanding work in fields such as social service, art, sports, and bravery.

The spokesperson said that under this scheme, awards will be given in various categories including Centenarian Award, Best Mother, Courage and Bravery, Lifetime Achievement, as well as to senior painters, sculptors, musicians, and sportspersons. In addition, awards will also be given for Best Panchayat, Best Voluntary Organisation, Best Old Age Home, and Best Day Care Centre.

Under the award scheme, in the art and sports categories, the first prize will be Rs. 50,000, the second prize Rs. 30,000, and the third prize Rs. 20,000. Similarly, in institutional categories such as Best Panchayat and NGO, the first prize will be Rs. 1,00,000, the second prize Rs. 75,000, and the third prize Rs. 50,000.

The spokesperson further shared that interested individuals or institutions can apply online along with certificates and documents of their achievements on the department’s portal https://award.socialjusticehry-gov.in till 11:59 pm on January 12, 2026. Individuals or institutions that have received this award in the past three years will not be eligible to apply again in the same category.

Chandigarh, Dec 24 –  Union Home and Cooperation Minister Sh Amit Shah today inaugurated the Atal Smriti Blood Donation Camp in Panchkula. Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini was also present on the occasion. The program aimed to provide blood to patients in need and to promote awareness about the importance of blood donation in society.

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Sh Amit Shah encouraged the blood donors and honored them with flowers and fruits, appreciating their noble contribution. He said that blood donation is a selfless act that saves lives. A total of 211 units of blood were collected during the camp.

The blood donation camp was supported by teams of doctors and medical staff from PGI Chandigarh, GMCH Sector-32 Chandigarh, Civil Hospital Panchkula, and Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital, Solan (Himachal Pradesh). All medical teams ensured that the blood donation process was carried out safely and efficiently.

Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Smt. Aarti Singh Rao, Additional Chief Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department Sh Sudhir Rajpal, along with a large number of enthusiastic blood donors were also present on this occasion.

Chandigarh, Dec 24 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini today flagged off a run dedicated to public service, organized by the trainees of Batch No. 93 of the Haryana Police, from Yavanika Park in Sector 5, Panchkula.

Addressing the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the run, organized to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, symbolizes unity, discipline, and the spirit of national service. He informed that later this evening, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah will administer the oath to the largest police passing-out batch in the history of the Indian Police.

The historic batch comprises a total of 5,061 personnel, including 4,191 men and 870 women. With women constituting 20.75 percent of the batch, this achievement marks a significant step forward in the direction of women’s empowerment, he added.

Target to raise women’s participation in Haryana Police to 25 percent

He said that in 2014, women’s participation in the Haryana Police stood at just 3 percent, which has now increased to over 10 percent. The state government has set an ambitious target to raise this figure to 25 percent in the coming years.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini further stated that the Haryana Police has played a commendable role in the extensive campaign against drug abuse across the state. The newly trained personnel will serve as brand ambassadors for this campaign, spreading awareness and strengthening societal resolve against drugs.

He said that the run marks the successful completion of 39 weeks of rigorous training and signifies the transition from training to the practical application of policing values and the ‘Karma Yogi’ philosophy imbibed by the personnel. In this run, 4,252 recruits from rural backgrounds and 809 from urban backgrounds are marching together, sending a strong message of social unity and harmony across Haryana.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that another notable feature of this batch is its strong educational background, with nearly 85 percent of the personnel being graduates and postgraduates. Of these, 2,390 recruits, more than 50 percent, are under the age of 26, and will infuse fresh energy, a modern outlook, and enhanced efficiency into the Haryana Police.

He said that the run was not merely a physical activity, but a reflection of the self-confidence, discipline, and resilience developed through training programs such as yoga, physical conditioning, and self-defense. He further said that the recruits set a remarkable example of social responsibility by voluntarily donating 1,356 units of blood on April 9, 2025.

Kalka MLA Smt. Shakti Rani Sharma, former Assembly Speaker Sh Gian Chand Gupta, District President Sh Ajay Mittal, Director General of Police Sh O.P. Singh, Director of Haryana Police Academy Madhuban Dr. A.S. Chawla, Deputy Commissioner Sh Satpal Sharma, Inspector General of Police Sh Pankaj Nain, BJP State Vice President Smt. Banto Kataria, Sh Om Prakash Devinagar, Sh Deepak Sharma, and several other dignitaries were present on this occasion.

Chandigarh, December 23 — The Haryana Government has directed all departments to ensure that complete replies to RTI applications by State Public Information Officers (SPIOs) and orders passed by First Appellate Authorities are mandatorily uploaded on the RTI online portal along with all supporting documents. If any document or file is large in size, it should be appropriately compressed in accordance with the prescribed file size limits.

The Chief Secretary, Sh. Anurag Rastogi, has issued a letter in this regard to all Administrative Secretaries of the state, Heads of Departments, Chief Administrators/Managing Directors of Boards and Corporations, the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Registrars of Universities, Divisional Commissioners, and Deputy Commissioners.

It has come to the notice of the Government that in many cases, while entering replies on the RTI online portal, the concerned officers merely record brief remarks such as “reply attached” or “reply has been given,” without uploading the relevant documents. This results in the non-availability of necessary information, particularly at the stage of second appeal, as the RTI online portal has been integrated by NIC with the portal of the Central Information Commission (CIC).

Chandigarh, December 23 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said the state government has accorded priority to promoting environment and tourism. Projects such as the Saraswati Wetland Reservoir and Saraswati Jungle Safari will not only help conserve natural heritage but will also create new opportunities for tourism.

The Chief Minister was addressing citizens at his residence, Sant Kabir Kutir today. He said the government has abolished the colonial-era abiana (irrigation tax). Paperless registration of land and property has been started in the state, and the registry process has now become completely digital. He said in its third term, the state government is working with threefold energy for public welfare. Therefore, everyone should together resolve to make Haryana the most developed state in the country.

The Chief Minister extended a heartfelt welcome and greetings to all citizens. He said together, the development chariot of Ladwa will be taken forward without interruption. The government’s objective is to make the Ladwa constituency a leading region of the state in terms of development. The aim is not merely to erect brick-and-mortar structures, but to uplift even the last person standing in the queue.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that establishing North India’s first National Institute of Design at Umri at a cost of Rs. 108 crore for education and skill development is a matter of pride. In addition, a Government Polytechnic building has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 14.51 crore, and an ITI has been constructed at Behlolpur at a cost of Rs. 8.33 crore. These institutions will play a key role in shaping the future of the youth.

The Chief Minister said that a Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas Memorial is being constructed in village Umri at a cost of about Rs. 25 crore, which will inspire future generations with the values of social harmony and equality. To strengthen agriculture and the rural economy, approval has been given for the construction of three permanent bridges on the Rakshi River and an RCC track project costing Rs. 3.12 crore. These projects will not only ease transportation but also improve irrigation facilities, thereby increasing farmers’ income.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that a budget of several crores of rupees has been approved for the beautification of Ladwa city, and the PWD has renovated 23 roads with a total length of 46 kilometers. A Sub-Division Office being constructed in Ladwa at a cost of Rs. 31 crore will accelerate administrative work. He added that to strengthen power supply, a Rs. 5 crore power sub-station at Kanipla has been set up, and transport services for the general public have also been started.

The Chief Minister said that to deliver health services to people’s doorsteps, the foundation stone of a Primary Health Centre (PHC) has been laid in village Dig at a cost of Rs. 6.38 crore. Proposals for the construction of new PHCs at Barot and Biholi have also been approved. He said the establishment of a veterinary polyclinic at Biholi and a Gaushala hospital at Mathana’s Gaunsh Gham reflects the government’s commitment towards livestock conservation.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that a sports stadium constructed at village Dhanaura Jatan at a cost of Rs. 2.74 crore will provide youth with a global platform to hone their sporting talents. A sewage treatment plant has also been set up in Ladwa at a cost of Rs. 26 crore. To provide clean drinking water to 65 villages in the area, pipelines have been laid at a cost of Rs. 11.51 crore. To ensure smooth traffic movement, the Saharanpur–Kurukshetra road has been widened to four lanes at a cost of Rs. 10.20 crore.

The Chief Minister said remarkable work carried out in Ladwa over the past 11 years in the fields of infrastructure, social harmony, irrigation, health, animal husbandry, sports, environmental conservation and urban amenities had never been done before. He said that Rs. 807 crore has been spent so far on the development of the Ladwa Assembly constituency, whereas only Rs. 310 crore was spent during the Congress rule of ten years.

He further said during the last 11 years, farmers have been provided Rs. 15,448 crore as compensation for crop damage and under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

CHANDIGARH, December 23:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 297th day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 321 locations on Tuesday leading to the arrest of 97 drug smugglers after registration of 74 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 41,449 in 297 days.

          The raids have resulted in recovery of 12.8 kg heroin, 3667 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 30,080 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 62 gazetted officers have conducted 321 raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 315 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 45 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

CHANDIGARH, 22nd December 2025:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday asked the newly appointed Vice Chairperson of the Punjab Economic Policy and Planning Board, Gulzar Inder Singh Chahal, to make continuous efforts for the progress and prosperity of the state so that the welfare of the people can be ensured to the maximum extent.

The Vice Chairperson of the board called on CM Bhagwant Singh Mann here today during which the CM asked him that the Economic Policy and Planning Board assists the state government in formulating development strategies, preparing plans for the progress of various sectors, and designing appropriate policies. “The Punjab government is already working to create employment opportunities for the youth and to frame welfare schemes for the common people adding that the Board should continue to play a key role in it,” he added.

On this occasion, the Vice Chairperson profusely thanked the Chief Minister for entrusting him with the new responsibility.

SANGRUR, 22nd December:

Continuing his campaign to interact with the people at grassroots level to give fillip to the development of the villages, the Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said that the move is aimed at ensuring world class civic amenities to the villages at par with the cities.

Interacting with the people, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, amidst huge round of applause from the masses, said that the holistic growth of villages was the need of hour to give further impetus to all round development of the state. “The state government is already making all out efforts for ensuring public welfare and giving impetus to development of villages. This gigantic task could not be possible without active support and cooperation of the general public,” he added.

Striking an emotional chord with the people, the Chief Minister said that the people and their elected representatives should regularly monitor the ongoing development works in the state adding that this will help in quality execution of work. He exhorted people to make sure that concerted efforts of the state government for giving fillip to the development of villages are successful with their assistance and guidance. “The majority of the population of the state live in villages so the state government was committed to ensure unprecedented development in them,” he noted.

The Chief Minister asserted, “The Punjab government is committed to provide facilities at par with cities to facilitate people and no stone was being left unturned for this noble cause. The sole aim of holding such events was to prepare a road map for giving further impetus to ongoing development of the state and especially in the villages.”

Laying thrust on the comprehensive development of rural areas, he said that the state government has already sanctioned a number of projects for accomplishing this task adding he solicited the support of the general public in strengthening rural infrastructure to further accelerate the pace of development.

Later on interacting with the media persons, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has no dearth of funds for the development of Punjab adding that all the issues like garbage heaps, street light, sewage problems or others will be resolved soon. “In the last four years unprecedented development has taken place across the state as the Punjab government has never complained about any fund shortage. Contrary to the previous regimes which had landed the state in debt trap his government has been repaying the debts,” he affirmed.

Citing the examples, he said that the state government has bailed out the electricity board, repaid the loans of the sugar mills, Markfed and others. “The Punjab government has been managing many old debts so that past liabilities are cleared, without halting any new development projects. The government has created more than 58,000 jobs, new buildings of the schools have been built, 43,000 kilometres of roads are being constructed as the state government has managed the expenditure with financial prudence,” he pointed out.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has been making strenuous efforts for raising the standard of life in Punjab adding that earlier no one had ever heard that the students from state are becoming pilots. However, he said that now the state government has bought seven planes for imparting this world class training to the students so that they can get into high-level jobs now. “Dreaming is everyone’s right and not just that of the rich class due to which this government is providing benefits to ordinary people, not just to the wealthy,” he asserted.

In a fervent appeal to the newly elected Zila Parishad and Block Samiti Members, the Chief Minister said that the elections last for only 10–15 days but once elected, these elected representatives belong to everyone. “The members represent everyone and even those who didn’t vote for them, so it is their bounden duty to serve the people with missionary zeal. Work must be done for the well being of all, so that Punjab can progress and become frontrunner in every arena,” he affirmed.

Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against the menace of corruption due to which several reforms have been initiated. Citing the example of property registrations, he said, “The process is very easy nowadays as people don’t have to visit the offices for mutation or deed verification as online facilities are available. People have to just visit the sub-registrar office only for a quick photo and within 15–20 minutes, their registration is done.”

The Chief Minister said that several services have been shifted to online which has considerably reduced corruption adding that RTO offices across the state have gone faceless due to which people can renew or upgrade their licenses online. “Due to patronization by previous regimes, the curse of corruption was deep-rooted, but the state government has been making concerted efforts to uproot it. Nothing ends overnight, but the state government is trying vehemently to make Punjab corruption free,” he added.

When asked to comment on the centre government’s recent move to change the name of MGNREGA, the Chief Minister said that the change in nomenclature will hardly make any difference. “Name changes don’t feed the poor but the daily wage laborers only care that they get work, so that they can feed their families. Hardly any change was witnessed when Allahabad was renamed to Prayagraj or when a station named Sarai Kale Khan became Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar,” he noted.

The Chief Minister said that it was a sorry state of affairs that even cleanliness didn’t improve in these cities after the changing of names. All of us should be thankful that the country’s name hasn’t been changed yet by those at the helms of the affairs. Taking a jibe over Congress, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the leaders of the Grand Old party of the country are stuck on debating names, while we focus on real work.

Slamming the Union government for not releasing the legitimate share of the state in funds, the Chief Minister said that the centre government has illegitimately halted funds thereby putting unnecessary load on states. “This is unwarranted and undesirable as it is against the basic spirit of federalism in the country. The Punjab government is committed to safeguard the interests of Punjab and Punjabis and will vehemently oppose the step motherly treatment by the centre,” he asserted.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will soon launch the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna that will open doors of quality healthcare for 65 lakh families in state by allowing them to avail cashless treatment up to ₹10 lakh in both government and private hospitals across Punjab. “Likewise, the Punjab government will roll several more people-oriented schemes in the next budget session for the well being of the public. The Punjab government is committed for the welfare of every section of society and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause,” he affirmed.

Assailing the Shiromani Akali Dal for misleading the people through slanderous campaigns through AI technology, the Chief Minister said that due to their fad for this new technology that they have forgotten their real work. “While AAP is spreading its wings across the country, the Akali Dal has been decimated in a few belts of the state with just two or three seats. Due to its people friendly and development oriented policies AAP has got the support from every section of society,” concluded CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Chandigarh, December 21:

Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government continues its sustained drive towards building a Rangla Punjab and ensuring all-round development of the state. In line with this vision, the Public Works Department has been consistently working to provide a robust and reliable road network for the people of Punjab.

Sharing details, Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO said that during this financial year, against proposed upgradation  of 840 kms of plan roads at an estimated cost of Rs.663 crore, 501.76 kms have already been completed. An amount of Rs.334.31 crore has been spent under this scheme so far. He informed that construction of 31 bridges was planned during 2025-26 with a financial provision of Rs.155 crore. Of these, work on 29 bridges is currently in progress, while construction of two bridges has been completed. An expenditure of Rs.30.99 crore has been incurred under this scheme.

The Cabinet Minister further said that financial year 2025-26 has proved to be a year of growth for the department. He informed that under the NABARD scheme during 2025-26, construction of 125 kms of roads and 10 bridges had been planned with an outlay of Rs.192 crore. Under this scheme, works of 52 kms of roads and 8 bridges have already been completed.

He further said that construction of 641 kms of roads has been planned during 2025-26 under PMGSY with an allocation of Rs.600 crore, out of which 273.96 kms have already been completed and Rs.243 crore has been spent. Similarly, under National Highways projects, construction of 70 kms of roads has been planned at a cost of Rs. 430 crore, of which 32.39 kms have been completed. An amount of Rs.351.46 crore has already been spent under this head, he added.

PWD has embarked on a drive for Special Repairs/Modernization of 10262 Link roads at a cost of Rs. 1543 Crore. The works have already been started in respective market committees. Additionally widening, modernization & new connectivity of 7767 Km Link Roads at an estimated cost of Rs. 2920 Crore has been taken in hand. Bids for the works have been invited and works are likely to start shortly.

 Keeping in view the importance of Plan Roads such as State Highways/MDRs/ODRs a special program  for upgradation of 2834 Km of Plan Roads at an estimated cost of Rs 2363 Crore has been devised. Bids for all these works will be allotted shortly.