CLASSROOM TO BOARDROOM: PSEB SET TO LAUNCH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM FOR CLASS 12TH
• Over 5.60 lakh students to get Entrepreneurship edge in Punjab’s schools, says Harjot Singh Bains
Chandigarh, November 27:In a significant initiative aimed at inspiring young minds towards innovation and self-employment, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has finalised the Entrepreneurship curriculum for Class 12th, completing a two-year educational pathway designed to foster innovation, self-reliance and job creation among students, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of Education, Punjab.
Building on the success of the Business Blaster program launched for Class 11 in 2022-23, S. Harjot Singh Bains lauded the PSEB’s efforts. He stated that the PSEB has demonstrated exceptional commitment by introducing Entrepreneurship as a compulsory subject across 3,692 senior secondary schools and equipping 10,382 teachers and 231 master trainers through 104 training programs.
With the Class 12th curriculum and textbooks ready ahead of schedule, around 5.60 lakh students will pursue Entrepreneurship without interruption in the 2026-27 academic year, S. Bains said while adding that the comprehensive curriculum would equip the students to transform ideas into viable ventures, covering startup challenges, legal procedures, finance, budgeting and more, preparing Punjab's youth to be job providers and economic drivers of tomorrow.
This initiative fulfils a key promise of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government to equip students in government and recognised schools with the mindset and practical skills for self-employment, startups and entrepreneurship.
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Punjab Government Releases ₹22.66 Crore Under Ashirwad Scheme — Dr. Baljit Kaur
*Financial Assistance Provided to 4,443 Beneficiaries Across 15 Districts*
*₹51,000 Per Beneficiary Transferred Directly Through DBT*
Chandigarh, November 27:Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur announced that under the Ashirwad Scheme the Punjab Government has released ₹22.66 crore in the current financial year 2025–26 to provide financial assistance to 4,443 beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes across the State.
Sharing further details, the Minister said that eligible applications were received via the Ashirwad Portal from 15 districts — Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Pathankot, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Sangrur and Malerkotla. To cover these approved applications, an amount of ₹22.66 crore has been sanctioned and released.
Dr. Baljit Kaur added that assistance has been extended to 1,297 beneficiaries in Amritsar, 18 in Barnala, 138 in Bathinda, 748 in Ferozepur, 394 in Gurdaspur, 105 in Hoshiarpur, 470 in Jalandhar, 309 in Mansa, 239 in Sri Muktsar Sahib, 52 in Patiala, 347 in Pathankot, 38 in Rupnagar, 17 in SAS Nagar, 122 in Sangrur and 149 in Malerkotla (total 4,443).
The Minister further stated that under the Ashirwad Scheme the Punjab Government provides ₹51,000 for the marriage of girls from low-income families. To be eligible, applicants must be permanent residents of Punjab, meet the Below Poverty Line (BPL) criteria and belong to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes or Economically Weaker Sections. A maximum of two eligible daughters per family may receive the benefit under this scheme.
Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that the assistance amount is transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to ensure transparency and timely disbursement.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, she said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S.Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously working to uplift weaker and marginalised sections of society and ensure dignity, equality and economic empowerment for all.
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PUNJAB GOVERNMENT RELEASES RS 213 CRORE FOR DEVELOPMENT UNDER 'RANGLA PUNJAB SCHEME': HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA
*SAYS, RS 585 CRORE ALLOCATED UNDER 'RANGLA PUNJAB SCHEME', RS. 5 CRORE WILL BE ALLOCATED TO EACH CONSTITUENCY*
Chandigarh, November 27-Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday announced that an amount of Rs 213 crore has been released for development across various parts of the state, marking the first instalment from the total budget of Rs 585 crore allocated under the 'Rangla Punjab Scheme'.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the 'Rangla Punjab Scheme' was introduced in this year's budget under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, specifically earmarking Rs 5 crore for development works in every Assembly constituency.
The Finance Minister informed that committees comprising MLAs and officials were formed to ensure the proper utilisation of the funds. “Based on the proposals submitted by these committees, the first instalment of Rs 213 crore has been released to various Panchayats”, he added.
The Finance Minister emphasised that these committees will continuously recommend the development works under the 'Rangla Punjab Scheme,' and the required funds will be made available accordingly. The Finance Minister also took the opportunity to thank Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for initiating the 'Rangla Punjab Scheme.'
Emphasising that comprehensive efforts driven by the visionary approach of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for the all-round development of the state are underway, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that prior to this, development funds worth Rs 334 crore were recently released to Panchayats, Zila Parishads, and Panchayat Samitis. He affirmed that the development of villages and cities is progressing continuously, and in this endeavour, no village, town or city will be left behind.
Furthermore, the Finance Minister mentioned that over 3,000 stadiums are being constructed in Punjab to enable the youth to reach the Olympics through these facilities. Additionally, 19,000 kilometres of roads are being built to strengthen the road network. The Finance Minister concluded by contrasting this approach with previous governments, which typically initiated development only in their final year, stating that the AAP government has been fulfilling its guarantees since day one.