*₹4.77 Crore Released under Post-Matric Scholarship, Major Relief for Students from Deprived Backgrounds — Dr. Baljit Kaur*
*Over 2.62 Lakh Students Apply under the Scheme, Ensuring Equal Opportunities through Education*
*Education Is Not Just a Scheme but the Foundation of Social Justice — Government’s Firm Commitment*
- Chandigarh, December 27:The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is continuously taking historic steps to bring students from deprived and backward sections into the mainstream and to make them self-reliant through education. This was stated by Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur.
Sharing details, Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that ₹4.77 crore has been released so far under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste students, ensuring that no student is forced to discontinue education due to financial constraints.
She informed that 2,62,373 students across the state have applied under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, which clearly reflects that the government’s education welfare initiatives are effectively reaching the intended beneficiaries.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further stated that a budget provision of ₹245 crore has been made for the scheme during the financial year 2025–26, highlighting the seriousness, sensitivity and long-term vision of the government towards strengthening education.
The Cabinet Minister also shared that during the previous financial year, financial assistance was provided to 2,37,456 students under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme.
Emphasising the government’s approach, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that for the Mann Government, education is not merely a government scheme but the strong foundation of social justice. She reiterated the firm commitment of the government that no poor or deprived student should be compelled to drop out of education due to economic hardships.
- She added that through the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, the state government is strongly supporting the aspirations of students who wish to transform their families and society through the power of education. The government stands firmly with every child who aspires to move forward and build a strong identity through education.
=============================
Forest & Wildlife Preservation Department puts in place special arrangements at Chhatbir Zoo for protecting animals from winter
Hygenic & protective environment for various species of animals & birds
Chandigarh, December 27:Keeping in view the onset of winter season and harsh weather conditions, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department, Punjab, led by the Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, has evolved special measures to ensure hygenic and protective environment to the animals at Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park in Chhatbir.
For the Carnivores, Room heaters and heat convectors have been provided in the night shelters of all the Tigers, Leopards, Lions and other small cats. All the windows and openings have been covered with polythene sheets or fiber sheets and sacrum grass thatch. Special temperature control arrangements have been provided for old and young animals.
For the Herbivores, Creation of temporary shelter/hut has been undertaken with the help of binding wire and ropes with the facility of water proof arrangements (black tarpaulin fixed in the roof) in all the enclosures of herbivores animals. Paddy straw and wheat husk bedding have been provided to all the herbivores animals for cozy flooring.
As regards the Birds, All the cages of birds have been covered with fiber cloths, jute mat and polythene sheets tightly to save them from wind chill and winter rain. Paddy straw, wheat husk and rice bran bedding have been provided to all the birds for warm nesting. Covering from the front side of bird’s cages is foldable so that can be open for sunlight when needed. All the pheasant’s cages have been enriched with grass/paddy/kanna structure for cozy environment.
Further, the Reptile house has been equipped with oil fin heaters which are very good for reptiles as these heaters are not affecting the natural humidity of the enclosures. Apart that all the cells of reptiles have been provided wheat husk, dry leaf foliage and heavy blankets which gives coziness to the reptiles. Special UV LAMPS have been fitted in the reptile section. Special aquarium water heaters with water circulation system are also been provided to Turtles and Tortoises.
========================================
*YEAR ENDER 2025: PUNJAB GOVT SCULPTS ACADEMIC REVOLUTION, FORGING GLOBAL-READY YOUTH & SETTING NATIONAL BENCHMARKS*
*• PUNJAB SUSTAINS TOP RANK IN NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SURVEY, PROVING LEARNING SURGE IS THE NEW STANDARD: HARJOT BAINS*
*• GOVT SCHOOL STUDENTS SMASH NATIONAL EXAMS: 265 CLEAR JEE MAINS, 45 JEE ADVANCED, 847 NEET*
*• PUNJAB BECOMES FIRST STATE TO INTRODUCE "ENTREPRENEURSHIP" AS A MAIN SUBJECT FOR CLASS XI*
*• PIONEERING DRUG PREVENTION CURRICULUM REACHES 8 LAKH STUDENTS, BUILDING PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE*
*•WORLD-CLASS TEACHER TRAINING IN SINGAPORE, FINLAND & IIMs INFUSES GLOBAL PEDAGOGY INTO CLASSROOMS*
Chandigarh, December 27-As 2025 concludes, Punjab’s government school education system stands radically transformed, having delivered tangible, transformative results that set a national benchmark for academic excellence. Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, classrooms have been reimagined as crucibles where confidence, innovation and resilience are forged, reshaping the future of the state’s youth.
Punjab’s Education Minister, S. Harjot Singh Bains, highlighted this year’s landmark achievements, stating that the government’s resolve to empower students is matched by its commitment to holistic and future-ready education. "Our initiatives have driven a paradigm shift. Sustaining our top National Achievement Survey (NAS) rank proves improved learning outcomes at the grassroots are now our unwavering standard," he said.
The most resounding testament to this transformation came from competitive exam results that broke all ceilings. A record 265 government school students cleared JEE Mains, 45 conquered JEE Advanced and 847 cleared NEET, proving these schools are now premier launchpads for the country’s top professional avenues.
Punjab carved a unique national identity by introducing "Entrepreneurship" as a main subject for Class XI in the 2025-26 academic session, igniting an entrepreneurial spirit. Student-led micro-enterprises began sprouting in schools, shifting mindsets from job-seeking to job creation, he added.
In a decisive move for student well-being, S. Bains said that a pioneering drug prevention curriculum was rolled out for Classes XI & XII in all government schools. Reaching over eight lakh students, it empowers them with peer leadership and psychological resilience, creating a student-led barrier against substance abuse and transforming schools into fortresses of well-being.
S. Bains said that the school education system saw a massive infusion of world-class teaching methods, with 234 Principals and Education Administrators trained in Singapore, 216 primary teachers trained at Finland’s University of Turku, and 199 Headmasters received training at IIM Ahmedabad. The revolutionary "School Mentorship Program" pairs students with top bureaucrats, making aspirational careers personal and achievable.
To ensure equitable career planning for all students, the Education Minister said, Punjab Government has recently launched a first-of-its-kind initiative to integrate artificial intelligence-driven career guidance into its public school system. Under the pilot phase, 25 AI-Enabled Career Guidance Labs have been inaugurated in Government and Punjab School Education Board (PSEB)-affiliated schools.
The "English Edge" program matured into an institution, transforming hesitant murmurs into the clear, confident discourse of 3 lakh students in Grades 9-12 across 500 schools, unlocking global gateways for young minds, he added.
S. Harjot Singh Bains further informed that 118 Govt Schools are being transformed into ‘Schools of Eminence’. Strengthening the human resource backbone, 12,316 qualified employees were regularised, 13,765 new teachers recruited, and 1,908 Campus Managers & 1,316 Security Guards hired for government schools.