TAKING OUT OF BOX INITIATIVES TO GIVE BOOST TO EDUCATION SECTOR- CM
FELICITATES STUDENT OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS WHO HAVE CRACKED NEET EXAM
DESCRIBES EDUCATION AS PANACEA OF ALL ILLS
Chandigarh, June 27:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday said that the state government is taking ‘out of the box ideas’ to give a boost to the education sector in the state.
Addressing the gathering after facilitating the students clearing NEET exam, the Chief Minister said that in the last more than three years a paradigm shift has taken place in the Education sector. He said that these revolutionaries’ steps have given major fillip to the Education sector due to which students are excelling in every sphere these days. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is the red letter day as 509 students of the government schools have cracked the coveted exam of NEET.
The Chief Minister said that Education, Health, Infrastructure, Industry, Sports, Jobs along with weeding out the menace of drugs are the key areas of concern of the state government. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for the first time in the history of the state a mass campaign in the form of Yudh Nashesyan Virudh has been embarked by the state government. He said that the state government is leaving no stone unturned to wipe out the menace of drugs from the state adding that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are being put behind the bars by the state government.
The Chief Minister said that these students have cracked this prestigious exam by their sheer hard work and perseverance adding that they will become role models for the entire society. He said that after assuming the charge of office his government is trying to clear the mess created by their predecessors in the last more than 70 years. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that some of our youngsters got overage for government jobs due to the lackadaisical approach of previous governments.
The Chief Minister said that the parents are realizing their dreams through the government schools which are imparting quality education to the students. He bemoaned that previous regimes had not provided the right opportunities to the people due to which most of them had crossed their age limit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is unfortunate that there is no bar on contesting of polls by the political leaders but there is an age limit for getting government jobs.
The Chief Minister said that the name of the venue is Municipal Bhawan but as a number of jobs are being given so it may be renamed as ‘Appointment letter’ Bhawan. He said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for him that government jobs have been provided to more than 54,000 youths completely on the basis of merit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in a ‘good omen’ for the state, reverse migration is being witnessed in Punjab as youth are leaving foreign land to join government jobs in the state.
The Chief Minister said that it is because this recruitment has been purely done on merit by adopting a completely transparent process. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this has increased the faith of youth in working for the state government due to which they have shunned the idea of moving abroad and are preparing for government jobs here. He said that hard working and resilient Punjabis have always remained on the forefront in every sphere of life as the state has been blessed with fertile land and courageous people.
However, the Chief Minister said that a lot of brain drain took place due to the apathetic approach of the previous regimes due to which a large number of youngsters had migrated from here. However, he said that since the state government has adopted a course correction large number of students are becoming an integral part of the socio-economic development of the state by joining government jobs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is imperative to make Punjab a frontrunner state in the country through active support and cooperation of the youth.
The Chief Minister said that in a paradigm shift Parent Teacher Meetings (PTMs) were organized in the government schools adding that this was a regular practice earlier in private schools but was missing in government schools. He said that this is one of the best practices of education being adopted in these schools for the well-being of the students as Parents and teachers are able to communicate for the betterment of students. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has embarked on an era of education revolution in Punjab and no stone is being left unturned for giving boost to it.
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Vigilance Bureau registers corruption case against ASI, Panchayat Member for receiving Rs 20000
Arrests Panchayat Member for acting as middleman
Chandigarh, June 27 –The Punjab Vigilance Bureau during its drive against corruption in the has registered a case against Avtar Singh, ASI (Local Rank), posted at city Police Station, Rampura, in Bathinda district and Rajdeep Singh, a Panchayat member from village Rampura, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.
Disclosing this an official spokesperson of the state VB said the action follows a complaint filed by a resident of village Dhaula, district Barnala, on the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line. He further informed that during the investigation, it was revealed that the said accused ASI, in collusion with Panchayat member Rajdeep Singh, had demanded Rs 40,000–50,000 from the complainant in exchange for favorable action in a case pending against him. Afterwards, the said police official ultimately accepted Rs 20,000 as an illegal gratification.
He further added that in this case middleman Rajdeep Singh has been arrested by the VB Bathinda Unit while raids are underway to apprehend the absconding ASI. Further investigation is in progress, he said.
The Chief Minister said that in a noble initiative the state government is constructing public libraries to inculcate reading habits amongst the students adding that these libraries have been equipped with high-end facilities like Wi-Fi, solar power digital analogs and others. He said that these libraries have world-class books on contemporary literature and curriculum books, providing a rich learning experience. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these libraries are a true repository of knowledge and literature adding that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction for all of us that this state of the art libraries houses precious books on varied subjects, which attracts the book lovers.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has prioritized education and has taken path breaking initiatives in the Education sector to transform the lives of people. He said that no freebee or concession cards can eliminate poverty or other social maladies in the state but education is the key that can pull people out of this vicious circle by raising their standard of living. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to this his government is tirelessly making efforts to improve the standard of education to empower the common man.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that girls are excelling in all the fields today and are even outnumbering the boys. He said that the state government has made concerted efforts for empowering women in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government has appointed seven women officers as Deputy Commissioners and eight women have been appointed Senior Superintendent of Police.
On the occasion Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains and others were also present.
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STUDENTS FROM HUMBLE BACKGROUNDS HAIL CM FOR FACILITATING THEM TO CRACK NEET EXAM
Chandigarh, June 27-The students of government schools having modest backgrounds on Friday showered heaps of praise for the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for providing them required logistical and infrastructural support to crack the coveted NEET exam.
Interacting with the Chief Minister here at Municipal Bhawan, Gurshan Sodhi from Fazilka said that he cracked both the JEE Advanced and NEET exams with support of the state government. He said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister the misconceptions about government schools are changing day by day as these schools are now equipped with ultra modern facilities.
Student of Govt School Dakha, Abhinav Bansal also said that he has cracked JEE Advanced and NEET exam due to the motivation by the Chief Minister. He said that the constant efforts by the state government is changing the education scenario in the state due to which they are able to crack this exam.
Daughter of a Salesman, Tamanpreet Kaur from Amritsar, extended the words of gratitude to the Chief Minister as her family could not afford further studies but government schools gave wings to her dreams. She said that she cracked the exam without any coaching.
Kamini Sharma from Pathankot, also lauded the Chief Minister for constantly encouraging them to excel by providing the requisite support. She said that she has attended one such function earlier but was able to interact with the Chief Minister today.
Anisha from Ludhiana, said that she has cracked the exam without any coaching adding she is also working on a shop to earn two square meals for her family. She also profusely thanked the Chief Minister for upscaling the level of education in government schools to provide them quality education.
Jana Pahwa from Amritsar also hailed the Chief Minister for realizing their dreams through quality education. She also sought kind intervention of the Chief Minister for enhancing MBBS seats in the state.
Simranpreet Kaur from Patti thanked the Chief Minister for opening a school of eminence in the state which is acting as a harbinger of the education revolution in the state. She said that she is feeling blessed to have a visionary Chief Minister who is realizing dreams of the students and their parents.
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MAJOR TERROR PLOT FOILED IN PUNJAB; JUVENILE AMONG THREE OPERATIVES OF BKI MODULE HELD
— POLICE TEAMS RECOVER TWO HAND GRENADES AND ONE GLOCK PISTOL
— TERROR MODULE WAS BEING OPERATED BY UK-BASED NISHAN SINGH ON DIRECTIONS OF TERRORIST HARWINDER SINGH RINDA: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— HAND GRENADES WERE MEANT TO BE USED IN A TARGETED EXPLOSION: AIG SSOC RAVJOT GREWAL
CHANDIGARH, June 27:Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police has busted a Pak-ISI backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module, being operated by UK-based Nishan Singh on the directions of terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda, with the arrest of its three associates, including a juvenile, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
Those arrested have been identified as Sehajpal Singh and Vikramjit Singh, both residents of Ramdas in Amritsar, and a 17-years-old juvenile. The intelligence-led operation was carried out by State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Mohali.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that, during the operation, two hand grenades and one sophisticated 9MM Glock pistol along with three live cartridges were also recovered from the possession of arrested accused persons.
This group was conspiring to carry out attacks at police establishments and targeted killings in the area of Amritsar, he said, while adding that a major terror plot has been foiled, saving countless innocent lives.
The DGP said that further investigations are ongoing to establish forward and backward linkages in this case. More arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days, he added.
AIG SSOC SAS Nagar Ravjot Grewal said that during investigation, arrested accused Sehajpal Singh revealed that he was working on the direction of another associate identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Love of village Pairewal in Amritsar, who was lodged in Ferozepur Jail.
Following disclosures of the Sehajpal, Police teams have brought Lovepreet on production warrant at SSOC, SAS Nagar, she said, while adding that during interrogation, it has come to light that Lovepreet instructed Sehajpal Singh, who further roped in his associate Vikramjit Singh for the retrieval and transportation of the recovered arms and explosives.
Pertinently, Lovepreet, a known criminal with multiple cases registered against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act, and Attempt to Murder, played a pivotal role in mobilising and directing ground-level operatives.
The AIG said that the recovered hand grenades were meant to be used in a targeted explosion, with the specific location and timing to be conveyed later by the handlers abroad, while, the recovery of a Glock pistol was intended to be used in the targeted killing of rival gang members.
A case FIR no. 09 dated 22-04-2025 has been registered under sections 25(1)(B) and 25(7) of the Arms Act and sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosives Act at Police Station SSOC SAS Nagar.
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Punjab Government Recovers ₹166 Crore from Ineligible Pension Accounts under Special Elderly Welfare Drive: Dr. Baljit Kaur
₹166 Crore Recovered through ‘Sadde Buzurg Sadda Maan’ Survey, Remaining ₹86 Crore to Be Recovered Swiftly: Social Security Minister
Punjab Leads Transparent Pension Reforms under CM Bhagwant Mann — ₹252 Crore Identified, ₹166 Crore Already Recovered
Applications of 43,644 New Eligible Beneficiaries Approved for Pension Till May 2025
Chandigarh, June 27:Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is taking significant measures to ensure the welfare and dignity of the elderly. In a commendable initiative, a special verification drive titled ‘Sadde Buzurg Sadda Maan’ was conducted to identify deceased pension beneficiaries and streamline the distribution of pensions to the rightful recipients.
Announcing this today, Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, informed that through this extensive survey, 67,852 deceased pensioners were identified, in whose accounts approximately ₹252 crore had accumulated over time. Out of this amount, an impressive ₹166 crore has already been recovered with the active cooperation of District Social Security Officers and banks.
The Minister directed the officials to expedite the recovery of the remaining ₹86 crore and ensure that these recovered funds are utilized to extend pension benefits to other eligible beneficiaries in a timely and transparent manner.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further shared that around 35 lakh elderly persons, widows, destitute children, and persons with disabilities in Punjab are currently receiving a monthly pension of ₹1500 directly into their bank accounts. She lauded the commitment and diligent efforts of departmental officers and Anganwadi supervisors, who visited households to collect accurate information regarding pensioners’ welfare and status.
On this occasion, Dr. Baljit Kaur also highlighted that the government is committed to providing pensions to every eligible beneficiary under its social security schemes. Notably, during the current financial year up to May 2025, applications for 43,644 new eligible beneficiaries have been approved for pension disbursement. The Minister instructed departmental officials to ensure that pensions are provided to eligible beneficiaries transparently and without delay.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Dr. Kaur mentioned that the M-Sewa app was effectively deployed during the survey to facilitate real-time data collection and monitoring. She assured that such welfare initiatives and verification surveys will be conducted regularly to ensure the rightful distribution of government benefits to the people of Punjab.
Appreciating the active coordination among district authorities, banks, and the Department of Social Security, the Minister directed the officials to maintain the pace of pending recoveries and continue their dedicated service for the welfare of the elderly and marginalized sections of society.
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Vigilance Bureau arrests police Sub Inspector taking Rs. 8,000 bribe
Chandigarh, June 27, 2025 :The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing drive against corruption, has arrested Sub Inspector (SI) Ravipal, posted at police station Amir Khas, district Fazilka for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 8,000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the arrest has been made following a complaint lodged by a resident of Guruhar Sahai in Ferozepur district.
He further added that the complaint has approached the VB alleging that the accused SI had demanded a bribe Rs. 10,000 for drafting and submitting reply of a writ petition in high court and submitting chargesheet in the district court pertaining to a police case registered against the complainant.
The spokesperson further informed that after verification of this complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused police official was apprehended while he was receiving a bribe of Rs 8000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
In this regard a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the aforementioned accused at the VB Police Station, Ferozpur Range. The accused would be produced before the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.
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Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan condoles the demise of MLA Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal
Chandigarh, June 27:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed grief over the demise of Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal, M.L.A from Tarn Taran constituency. He was a very hard working, dedicated and helpful person. He produced yeoman services for Aam Aadmi Party and his constituency.
Speaker Sandhwan said that I am deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing away and I pray to God to grant a place of abode at His feet to the departed soul. Almighty may give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of distress.