Punjab sets target to Double IIT Enrolment as 44 Govt School Students Crack JEE (Advanced)
•PACE Program Breaks Barriers, Empowers Underprivileged Students to Excel
Chandigarh, June 5:In a significant stride towards academic excellence by ensuring world-class standards education in the state, the Punjab Government has set an ambitious target to double the number of government school students securing admissions to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the coming session, said Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains.
The move comes after 44 government school students successfully cleared the highly competitive JEE (Advanced) examination this year.
While addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan here on Thursday, S. Harjot Singh Bains credited the success to the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s all out efforts to empower government school students to crack competitive exams like JEE and NEET through the Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) program, which was launched in November 2023. The PACE provides free coaching, including live online classes, doubt-clearing sessions, mock tests, and residential camp coaching. This initiative has bridged the financial gap by enabling government school students from humble backgrounds to compete with private school peers.
The Education Minister noted that the high cost incurred on preparing for exams like JEE and NEET—often amounting to lakhs of rupees— has long been a hurdle for students from economically weaker backgrounds. The PACE program has effectively addressed this issue, ensuring that no meritorious student is deprived of opportunities due to financial constraints.
"PACE is more than just a coaching program – it's a movement that unlocks the potential of students from rural areas, small towns and underprivileged backgrounds, proving that with the right support, talent can thrive anywhere," said S. Harjot Singh Bains, highlighting the initiative's impact. He added that these efforts have already yielded impressive results, with 44 students successfully cracking the challenging JEE (Advanced) exam.
“This is an education revolution. We're not just focusing on a few big cities like Mohali, Ludhiana, or Jalandhar; our aim is to empower students across the state, providing them with the best possible opportunities to succeed. We plan to expand the program to reach more students, offering them the necessary support to achieve their goals. Additionally, we'll be placing special emphasis on mentorship and guidance to help students make informed decisions about their careers”, he emphasised.
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DAY 96 OF ‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’: 154 DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 1.6KG HEROIN, ₹10L DRUG MONEY
— POLICE TEAMS IN SIX DISTRICTS ALSO CHECK 82 PHARMACEUTICAL SHOPS
— AS PART OF ‘DE-ADDICTION’, PUNJAB POLICE CONVINCE 99 PERSONS TO UNDERGO DE-ADDICTION TREATMENT
CHANDIGARH, June 5:With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 96th day, Punjab Police on Thursday arrested 154 drug smugglers and recovered 1.6 kg heroinand Rs 10.03 lakhs drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 15,861 in just 96 days.
The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.
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.
Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1500 police personnel, under the supervision of 101 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 567 locations across the state leading to the registration of 108 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 581 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.
The Special DGP said that with 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 99 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.
Meanwhile, Police teams have also conducted checking at as many as 82 pharmaceutical shops in six districts including Commissionerate Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar Rural and Tarn Taran to ensure that they are not selling intoxicant tablets or any other habit-forming drugs, and are adhering to the prescribed norms and regulations regarding the sale of medicines.
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WOMAN AMONG SIX DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 4KG HEROIN IN AMRITSAR
— ONE MODULE WAS OPERATED BY ACCUSED SEVENBIR, WHILE OTHER WAS MANAGED BY WOMAN ASSOCIATE OF RANJEET ALIAS CHEETA: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— ARRESTED ACCUSED WERE RECEIVING CONSIGNMENTS VIA DRONE FROM ACROSS THE BORDER: CP ASR GURPREET SINGH BHULLAR
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, June 5:In a major crackdown on cross-border drug smuggling networks amidst the ongoing drive against drugs launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted two international narco-trafficking cartels with arrest of its six drug smugglers, including a woman, and recovered 4 kg Heroin, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.
Those arrested have been identified as Vishal Singh (23) of village Guru Ki Wadali in Amritsar, Didar Singh alias Kali (50) of village Jathaul in Amritsar, Sevenbir Singh (25) of village Burj Sarai Amant Khan in Tarn Taran, Harjit Singh (38) alias Jita of Baba Deep Singh Colony in Amritsar, Jaj Singh (19) of Mohalla Chetuan in Amritsar and Jasbir Kaur (60) of Kapatgarh in Amritsar. Apart from recovering heroin, Police teams have also impounded their Toyota Innova car, which they were using to deliver drug consignments.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that one module is operated by arrested accused Sevenbir, who is in direct contact with Pak-based smugglers. The latter received heroin consignments and operated under the guise of livestock trade, he said.
The DGP said that another arrested accused, Jasbir Kaur, is linked to the cartel of the infamous smuggler Ranjeet alias Cheeta and maintained contact with smugglers in both Indian and across the border. Further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case, he added.
Sharing operation details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, while addressing the media, said that both the drug trafficking modules were busted in an intel-led operation under the supervision of DCP City Jagjit Singh Walia, ADCP-2 Harpal Singh, ACP West Shivdarshan Singh led by SHO Police Station Chheharta Vinod Sharma.
The CP said that arrested accused Sevenbir Singh was running the cartel in garb of sale/purchase of goats for past five years from which he amassed wealth to built a large kothi in his village apart from other property.
The accused has been receiving narcotic consignments through drone in vicinity of his village which lies very close to International border. After retrieval he used to conceal the contraband in his relatives’ home and later, used to distribute through his associates, he said, while adding that further investigations are on to unravel both the modules and more arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days.
In this regard, two separate cases FIR no. 104 dated 02-06-2025 under sections 21-C and 27A of the NDPS Act and FIR No. 106 dated 04-06-2025 under sections 21-C and 29 of the NDPS Act have been registered at Police Station Chheharta in Amritsar.
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Four Lady Cadets from Mai Bhago Institute Make it to Elite Defence Academies
• The remarkable feat of these lady cadets’ will inspire more young girls to pursue career in Defence Services, says Aman Arora
Chandigarh, June 5:Embodying its mission to transform girls into strong and capable women, the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls in SAS Nagar (Mohali) has achieved another milestone with four of its cadets being selected for prestigious pre-commission training academies in the defence services. The selected cadets will be joining the esteemed institutions— National Defence Academy (NDA), Air Force Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Officer's Training Academy.
Divulging the details today, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora informed that Nancy, who will be joining the National Defence Academy, is the daughter of Smt. Swarnjeet Kaur Nijjer, Principal of a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Punjab. Nisha, who is set to join the Indian Naval Academy, is the daughter of Sh. Dinesh Chander, Senior Assistant at Punjabi University, Patiala, whereas Diksha who is joining the Officer's Training Academy at Chennai, is daughter of Sh. Pawan Kumar, a business man hailing from Pathankot. Similarly, Harsimrat Kaur, selected for the Air Force Academy's flying branch, is the daughter of Subedar Ravinderjit Singh, an Indian Army veteran from Beas.
Congratulating the lady cadets, Mr. Aman Arora said that the remarkable achievement of these girls will undoubtedly inspire more young girls from Punjab to pursue career as commissioned officers in the Defence Services.
Responding to the aspirations of girls from the State to serve the nation, he said that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann had taken a ‘Path Breaking’ initiative of starting an NDA Preparatory Wing for Girls at Mai Bhago AFPI in 2023, to further empower women in the state. This Institute is undoubtedly the Pride of Punjab, he added.
Expressing happiness over the four Lady Cadets being selected to join the Pre-Commission Training Academies, Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM (Retd.), Director of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, stated that it will galvanise their efforts to propel more girls from Punjab into the Defence Services. He wished the cadets a bright future ahead, expressing confidence that they would excel in their training and future roles.
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Let us vow to shun the use of plastic for protection of environment: LG Minister Dr Ravjot Singh
Chairs State Level Function for Celebration of World Environment Day, 2025 at Mohali
Chandigarh/ SAS Nagar, June 5:Punjab Minister for Local Government and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Ravjot Singh gave a call to the public to shun the use of plastic for the protection of environment and to follow the theme of this year 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
Chairing the State Level Function to mark the World Environment Day organised by Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Punjab, at Indian School of Business, Mohali, Dr Ravjot Singh expressed concerns over the prevailing environmental challenges of the State and highlighted the holistic remedial actions being undertaken by the Bhagwant Singh Government to address the same in a time bound manner to make Punjab as one of the healthiest State with clean and green environment.
He further informed that the State Government has already banned Single-Use Plastic (SUP) in the State due to its harmful effects on the environment but also prohibited its manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use. The concerned Departments/Agencies have been directed to ensure strict compliance and promote use of Non-plastic and Eco-friendly alternatives.
He further called upon the people of the State to contribute at their own level for the improvement of their surroundings and environment by following the teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who preached us to respect and conserve nature by equating ‘Air’ with Guru, ‘Water’ with Father and Earth with Mother. He also made a clarion call to the citizens of Punjab to adopt ecofriendly lifestyle and have compassion for nature and its all attributes.
Inaugurating the celebrations, Dr. Ravjot Singh, launched an awareness campaign for plantation in the State by distributing plants and calling upon the people to participate in the Nobel cause. He asked people to shun the use of plastic for protection of environment.
The Minister distributed cheques of Rs. 8.10 Cr to the organizations/departments for eco-restoration works and virtually inaugurated two important research laboratories in Punjab Biotechnology Incubator.
Besides, the Local Government Minister released Books titled Phenomenological Wonder of Nature in Gurbani jointly prepared by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) and Khalsa College Amritsar and Bilingual Encyclopedia Dictionary of Environment and Climate Change prepared by the Council. A technical report Pathways to Net Zero in Punjab: Critical Role of Non-CO2 Pollutants jointly prepared by PSCST and Institute of Governance and Sustainable Development (IGSD), USA was also released on the occasion.
Recognizing the outstanding and significant contributions made in the field of Environment, Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources of Punjab, the Minister conferred 2025 edition of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Punjab State Annual Environment Award today to four organizations namely Gram Panchayat, Village Jangirana, District Bathinda in the category of Gram Panchayat; Govt High School Malkon, Mansa in the category of Institution; Green Planet Society, Zirakpur, SAS Nagar in the category of NGO/Social Organization and Natraj Wooltex Limited, Amritsar in the category of Industry. The Award includes cash prize of Rs. 1 Lac, a certificate of appreciation and silver plate memento to each organization.
Besides, the Minister also felicitated 8 grassroot innovators of Punjab, selected out of 1043 entries for developing low cost indigenous technologies and processes with their own ingenuity and know-how. District Coordinators of Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana and Amritsar were also felicitated for achieving the best districts award in India in the National Eco-creativity & Innovation Hackathon. Govt Senior Secondary School, Kot Khalsa, Amritsar was also felicitated for winning WIPRO Earthian Award, 2024. The Govt Senior Secondary School, Kot Khalsa, Amritsar was among the 20 best schools of the Nation chosen for this prestigious award. The Honble Minister also released a booklet to facilitate the grassroot innovators prepared by PSCST.
Member Rajya Sabha, Padam Shri, Sant Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, while expressing concern over the worldwide trends of the environment depletion said that its' our collective responsibility to save our planet earth from the challenges coming ahead due environment ill effects. Citing example of Kali Being that was once known for a pollutant water body and now a sacred source of water, he said that we make everything possible by putting hard efforts. He said when the Cleaning of Budha Nullah was started in Ludhiana, a lot of bottlenecks came in the way but now the stretch encompassing 12 villages bad three colonies have shown the way to follow rest of the part too. He said that in the coming days, the water flowing in the Budha Nullah will be clear and clean, he has affirm believe. He called for a collective and positive human approach to conserve environment around us.
Among the prominant persons present there included Priyank Bharti, Secretary, Science, Technology and Environment, Manish Kumar, Special Secretary, Science, Technology and Environment-cum-Director, Environment, Parminder Pal Singh, Commissioner, MC Mohali, Pritpal Singh, Executive Director, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Dr Ajit Dua, CEO, Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, G S Majithia, Member Secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board besides environmentalists and representatives of the Industries and community organizations.
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CROSS-BORDER WEAPON SMUGGLING MODULE WITH PAK-LINKS BUSTED; TWO HELD WITH SIX SOPHISTICATED PISTOLS
— ARRESTED ACCUSED WAS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH PAK-BASED HANDLERS, WHO WERE USING DRONES TO PUSH ARMS-AMMUNITION FROM ACROSS BORDER: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— ENTIRE NETWORK OF ARMS TRAFFICKING CARTEL WILL BE TRACED: SSP ABHIMANYU RANA
CHANDIGARH/TARN TARAN, June 5:In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing war against drugs and crime waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Tarn Taran Police has dismantled a cross-border weapon smuggling module with links to Pakistan and arrested its two operatives after recovering six highly sophisticated Pistols— four 9MM Glock 26 and two .30 bore PX5— along with live cartridges from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.
The arrested accused have been identified as Surajpal Singh and Arshdeep Singh, both residents of village Lakhna in Tarn Taran. Apart from recovering arms and ammunition, police teams have also impounded their Hero Splendor motorcycle, which they were using for delivery of weapon consignments.