PUNJAB'S PIONEERING INDUSTRY-INTEGRATED B.TECH PROGRAM GENERATES BUZZ AMONG ASPIRING ENGINEERS

• 7 Students Enrol in Initial Round; Admissions Open Until August 15, says Harjot Bains

•50% Tuition Support & Monthly Stipend for students under the first-of-its-kind program

Chandigarh, June 15:Marking a new era in technical education, the Punjab Government's pioneering B.Tech program in Mechanical Engineering (Industry Integrated) at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda, is generating buzz among aspiring engineers.

The Country’s first industry integrated program, was launched by Punjab’s Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains in May 2025, is designed to seamlessly blend academic learning with real-time industrial exposure, empowering students with hands-on experience and industry-ready skills.

S. Harjot Singh Bains said that seven out of 30 sanctioned seats have already been filled during the initial round of counselling. Admissions remain open until August 15, 2025, offering further opportunities for aspiring engineers to enrol.

The four-years program— a part of a strategic collaboration between MRSPTU and Victura Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (VTPL), Faridabad— is tailored to bridge the gap between industry and academia through an innovative model of five semesters of academic coursework at MRSPTU followed by three semesters of industrial training at VTPL, he added.

Highlighting the program’s innovative approach, the Technical Education Minister informed that the industry training site is recognised as a deemed campus of MRSPTU to ensure seamless integration and recognition of students’ experiential learning. The Victura Technologies is also setting up an Advanced Automation Lab at the MRSPTU campus with a tentative investment of Rs. 1.5 crore to strengthen practical training further.

S. Bains further stated that this program also offers a robust financial aid package, providing up to 50% tuition support for meritorious students from economically weaker sections. Furthermore, students undergoing industrial training will enjoy free boarding, lodging, transportation and a monthly stipend for ensuring that they can focus on their professional development without financial burdens.

Notably, a team led by Mr. Ajay Kumar Somvanshi, CSR Head at Victura Technologies, recently visited the campus to finalise operational aspects in discussions with Dr. Gurinder Pal Singh Brar, Registrar, and Dr. Sandeep Kansal, Program Mentor.

Interested students can either visit the MRSPTU campus or explore more details online at the official website: https://mrsptu.ac.in to learn more about the program, he added.

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Mann Government Strikes Hard in Drug War: Illegal Assets of Drug Smugglers Bulldozed back to back

Ludhiana Sees Twin Demolitions as Punjab Intensifies Drug Crackdown

CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA, June 15:With the Punjab Government has adopted zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and ill-gotten wealth amidst the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, properties of two notorious drug smugglers have been demolished in Ludhiana on Sunday. The operation was carried out by the authorities of Municipal Corporation Ludhiana with the support of Ludhiana Commissionerate Police.

Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that the operations were part of the Punjab Government’s intensified crackdown on narcotics networks, ensuring that criminals not only face arrest but also lose their unlawfully acquired assets. With demolition of these two properties, as many as 126 properties, constructed by drug smugglers using ill-gotten money, have demolished since March 1, 2025, he said.

In the first operation, a bulldozer was used to raze the house of a notorious drug smuggler identified as Gurpal located at Street no. 2 at Amarpura in Ludhiana. The operation was carried out under the heavy police deployment led by Commissioner of Police (CP) Ludhiana Swapan Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Investigation Harpal Singh, Additional DCP Zone-1 Sameer Verma and Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Zone-B Kuljeet Singh Mangat.

Sharing details, CP Swapan Sharma said that accused Gurpal, whose house was demolished, has a criminal background with as many as nine criminal cases under the NDPS act have been registered against him at different Police Stations in Ludhiana. The accused, who is notorious and infamous in the area for drug sale, has been involved into the drug smuggling since 2014, he said, while adding that the accused has managed to flee to Himachal Pradesh following the decisive war against drugs waged by the Punjab Police.

In the second operation, a house of woman drug smuggler identified as Rajinder Kaur alias Rozy, located at Street no.9 at Hero Suman Nagar at Lohara village in Ludhiana, was demolished using the bulldozer. The operation was carried out under the heavy police deployment led CP Ludhiana Swapan Sharma, DCP Investigation Harpal Singh, ADCP Zone-2 Karanvir Singh, Naib Tehsildar Sahnewal Harkirat Singh and Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Zone-C Navneet Singh.

Sharing details, CP Swapan Sharma said that accused Rajinder Kaur alias Rozy, who has shifted into the locality few years ago and gradually constructed a house, has been facing two criminal cases under the NDPS act. The accused woman is currently in the jail.

The CP said that both the operations have been carried out following all the rules and regulations. Both the operations were carried out smoothly amidst the support from the residents of the both the areas, he said.

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PUNJAB GOVT SCHOOLS SET NEW BENCHMARK; 474 STUDENTS QUALIFY NEET

• Impressive performance of students in competitive exams a shining example of Mann Govt’s focus on quality education, says Bains

• Education Minister wishes all the best to NEET qualifiers

Chandigarh, June 15:In a remarkable achievement, Punjab's government school students have once again showcased their academic prowess, with 474 students qualifying the highly competitive National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of School Education, Punjab.

Extending heartiest congratulations to the NEET qualifiers, S. Harjot Singh Bains wished them all the very best for their future in medical field.

While highlighting the remarkable achievements of Punjab's government school students, the Education Minister noted, “265 students from Government Schools qualified for JEE (Mains) and 44 cleared JEE (Advanced) this year. The impressive performance of our students in competitive exams is a shining example of our government's focus on quality education. The remarkable achievement that speaks volumes about the hard work of our students and the dedication of their teachers."

The Education Minister emphasised that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering the students to excel and reach their full potential by creating a conducive environment that allows the students to flourish. The state government would continue to work tirelessly to foster an ecosystem that identifies, supports, and nurtures talent, providing the students with access to world-class education and resources that enable them to thrive and realise their dreams.