‘Cultural Extravaganza’ Organised by Department of School Education to Celebrate Republic Day

Chandigarh, 24.01.2026:A grand Cultural Extravaganza was organised today by the Department of School Education, Chandigarh Administration at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, Chandigarh, to commemorate Republic Day. The event was based on the patriotic theme “150 Years of Vande Mataram” and showcased the spirit of unity, cultural diversity and national pride, with enthusiastic participation from students of various schools.

Sh. H. Rajesh Prasad, Chief Secretary, UT Chandigarh, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Ms. Prerna Puri, Secretary Education; Sh. Nitish Singla, Director School Education; Sh. Rajiv Tiwari, Director Public Relations, along with other senior officers of the Education Department and Chandigarh Administration, were also present on the occasion.

The audience witnessed a series of captivating performances, ranging from a soulful enactment from the Ramayan to thought-provoking presentations on women empowerment, vividly reflecting the true spirit of India. A meaningful skit presented by St. Joseph Senior Secondary School highlighted the importance of education and demonstrated how the Constitution of India strengthens the foundations of the nation. The central theme, “150 Years of Vande Mataram,” infused the programme with deep nationalistic fervour. Each performance echoed the essence of patriotism and India’s rich cultural heritage.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Sh H. Rajesh Prasad congratulated the students and teachers for their commendable performances. He shared valuable insights on the significance and salient features of the Constitution of India, emphasizing its pivotal role in strengthening democracy, unity and social harmony. He also highlighted the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and underscored “Viksit Bharat 2047” as a national resolve towards making India a developed nation by the centenary year of Independence.

The programme concluded on a high note, leaving a lasting impression of patriotism, cultural pride and collective aspiration for a progressive and developed India.

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Zero-Day Approvals: CPCC Automates Consents for Green Category Industries

CHANDIGARH, January 22, 2026:In a landmark move toward enhancing the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and reducing regulatory compliances, the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) launched a fully automated module for issuing fresh Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) for Green Category industries.

The new automated module, integrated into the existing Online Consent Management and Monitoring System (OCMMS) portal (chocmms.in), effectively reduces the processing timeline for Green Category industries from 15 days to zero.

Green Category units account for approximately 40% of the industrial setup in Chandigarh. These units will now receive their certificates immediately upon the submission of their application and requisite fees, eliminating manual scrutiny for this segment. The initiative was formally presented to industry representatives today, receiving widespread acclaim for reducing regulatory hurdles and streamlining business operations.

By automating CTE/CTO approvals for new Green category industries, Chandigarh is setting a new standard for public convenience and regulatory efficiency, directly contributing to the national EoDB agenda, stated the Chairman, CPCC.

The Member Secretary, CPCC highlighted that this initiative is the latest in a series of proactive measures by the CPCC to reduce the compliance burden on the industry. Key reforms already implemented include:
* An auto-renewal facility for Consent to Operate across all industry categories (Red, Orange, and Green) is active eliminating manual interventions and reducing renewal timelines.
* Industries which are not generating any water & air poll
* ution have been categorised as white category and these are exempted from the purview of consent management and self-certification facility introduced for such facilities.
* Inspection and Sampling Frequency has been reduced.
* Stand Alone DG Sets upto 1000 KVA have been kept outside the Consent Purview means no consent is required for such DG sets.
* Consent Processing Timelines have been reduced substantially.

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Sports Department, Chandigarh Administration

The matches of the 20th Administrator’s Challenge Cup Football Tournament 2026 (Under-17 Boys), which were scheduled to be held on 23 January 2026, had to be cancelled due to heavy rainfall and unfavourable weather conditions.

As per the revised fixture schedule, the postponed matches were successfully conducted today, 24 January 2026 (Day–5) at the Sports Complex, Sector 46, Chandigarh, ensuring the smooth continuation of the tournament.

RESULTS

(Matches played on 24 January 2026 at Sports Complex, Sector 46)

Match–1
Rajasthan United Football Club (Alwar, Rajasthan) vs AFTA Odisha
Result: Rajasthan United FC 1 – 4 AFTA

Goal Scorers:
Rajasthan United FC:
* Karthik (29’)

AFTA Odisha:
* Aayush CA (13’)
* Nibash (45+2’)
* Sadish (80’)
* Anwar (86’)

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Match–2
Minerva Football Academy (Mohali, Punjab) vs RBDSA (Meghalaya)
Result: Minerva Football Academy 4 – 1 RBDSA

Goal Scorers:
Minerva FA:
* Azam (9’)
* Denamani (14’, 56’, 59’)

RBDSA:
* Badonlang (19’)

Cautions:
* Rhytham (Minerva FA)
* Bantgilang (RBDSA)

Red Card:
* T. H. Malemnganba (Minerva FA) – Violent Conduct

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Match–3
Baba Fateh Singh Football Academy (Anandpur Sahib, Punjab) vs CASA Football Academy, Barwani (Madhya Pradesh)
Result: 3 – 3 (Draw)

Goal Scorers (BFSFA):
* Vikash Kumar (65’, 90+5’)
* Yashpreert Sharma (68’)

Cautions:
* Sukhreet
* Jatin

Goal Scorers (CASA FA):
* Sanskar (8’, 16’)
* Jay (27’)

Cautions:
* Shakurkh (Coach)
* Raght

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Match–4
Himalayan FC (Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh) vs Sandhu Football Academy, Chandigarh
Result: 1 – 1 (Draw)

Goal Scorers:
* Himalayan FC: Ansh Panday (61’)
* Sandhu FA: Natik (3’)

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The revised schedule for the remaining league matches, semi-finals and final has been implemented accordingly and is attached for reference.

The Sports Department, Chandigarh Administration, appreciates the cooperation, discipline and sportsmanlike spirit displayed by all participating teams, officials and coaches during the weather-related disruption and looks forward to the successful completion.