*Punjab Government Provides ₹4.82 Crore Self-Employment Loans to 139 Backward Classes Beneficiaries: Dr Baljit Kaur*
*CM S. Bhagwant Singh Mann Government committed to ensuring equal opportunities and inclusive growth for every section of society*
*Minister urges people to avail maximum benefits of government welfare schemes and move towards self-reliance*
Chandigarh, October 12:Punjab Cabinet Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr Baljit Kaur, said that the Punjab Government has provided self-employment loans worth ₹4.82 crore to 139 beneficiaries belonging to the Backward Classes, enabling them to start their own ventures and strengthen their livelihoods.
The Cabinet Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is implementing result-oriented welfare policies to provide equal opportunities for progress to every section of society. She said that promoting self-employment and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for needy families remain among the key priorities of the State Government.
Dr Baljit Kaur said that through self-employment schemes, beneficiaries are being encouraged to utilise their skills and capabilities for establishing their own ventures. She said the objective of the government is not merely to provide financial assistance but also to create opportunities through which people can enhance their family income and contribute towards the economic growth of the State.
The Cabinet Minister further said that such initiatives are giving a new direction to the aspirations of beneficiaries by improving their standard of living and providing them a platform to transform their skills into sustainable sources of income.
Appealing to the people of Punjab, Dr Baljit Kaur urged eligible citizens to come forward and avail maximum benefits of the self-employment and other welfare schemes being implemented by the State Government. She said active public participation will ensure that the benefits of government initiatives reach every deserving family and further strengthen the vision of a prosperous and self-reliant Rangla Punjab.
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*Vigilance Bureau nabs 8 persons red handed in 6 bribery cases during September*
Chandigarh, 12 October 2026:The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing crusade against corruption in the state, has been able to apprehend 6 government officials and 2 private persons red handed while accepting bribes in 6 different trap cases during the month of September.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the VB has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere during the period.
He informed that the Bureau had submitted challans pertaining to 23 vigilance cases in various competent courts in the last month. Besides, one Vigilance enquiry has also been registered to thorughly probe the corruption case. He added that 4 criminal cases were also registered against 8 accused which include 7 government employees. One disproportionate asset case was also registered against a government employee.
Giving more details, he added that different competent courts have decided four bribery cases filed and contested by the Bureau during the last month, in which six persons were convicted and sentenced ranging from 2 to 5 years imprisonment and fine ranging from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 25,000/- .
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*PUNJAB ROPES IN DRONES TO KEEP VIGIL ON DENGUE LARVAE & TARGET MOSQUITO BREEDING SITES*
*— HEALTH DEPARTMENT INKS MOU WITH KIRAN CORPORATION MUMBAI FOR DRONE-OPERATED LARVICIDE SPRAY IN PATIALA HOTSPOTS*
*— WE ARE STEPPING UP OUR WAR AGAINST VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES WITH CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY: DR BALBIR SINGH*
*— HEALTH MINISTER CREDITS ‘HAR SHUKARVAR DENGUE TE VAAR’ CAMPAIGN FOR BRINGING DENGUE DEATHS TO ZERO AND CURBING CASELOAD ACROSS STATE*
Chandigarh, October 12:In a pioneering move to leverage modern aerial technology in the fight against vector-borne diseases, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has roped in advanced drones to trace and destroy mosquito larvae in hard-to-reach areas. In this regard, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s Kiran Corporation/SPV, Mumbai, to initiate a 60-day emergency drone-operated larvicide spray operation in identified dengue hotspots of Patiala district.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh by Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Hitinder Kaur on behalf of the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab, and Sachin Shetty on behalf of Kiran Corporation, Mumbai.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Balbir Singh said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government is leaving no stone unturned to combat vector-borne diseases and is adopting tech-driven interventions to stay ahead of outbreaks. "Instead of merely reacting to dengue cases, our prime focus is on actively hunting down and destroying dengue larvae. Many large stagnant water bodies, rooftop accumulation points, abandoned plots, and congested localities remain inaccessible for conventional manual spraying. Drones will now act as our aerial eyes and sprayers to neutralise high mosquito breeding grounds with precision," the Minister asserted.
Dr Balbir Singh highlighted that the state’s proactive approach—spearheaded by the intensive mass awareness drive ‘Har Shukarvar Dengue Te Vaar’—has delivered landmark results on ground. He credited the weekly source-reduction campaign, active door-to-door larvae surveillance, and robust community mobilisation for reducing dengue cases substantially across Punjab and bringing dengue-related deaths down to zero this year.
Giving details of the project, the Health Minister said that under this 60-Day Emergency Vector Control Cycle (Phase-I), drones will be deployed in identified dengue hotspots and high mosquito-breeding pockets of Patiala district, which had recorded a high disease burden in 2025. The intervention encompasses aerial spraying of government-approved larvicides/insecticides, daily field reporting, and stringent outcome monitoring through scientific larval and adult mosquito density surveys.
The Health Department will facilitate hotspot identification, requisite clearances, local coordination, and technical supervision. Dr Balbir Singh underlined that the entire 60-day initiative is being executed on a non-financial basis, involving no financial transactions from the state exchequer. A comprehensive joint review will be undertaken within 10 days of the project's completion to evaluate the dip in larval density and plan further phase-wise scale-up across other districts.
Special Secretary Health-cum-MD National Health Mission (NHM) Sakshi Sawhney, MD Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) Gautam Jain, and State Programme Officer (NVBDCP) Dr Arshdeep Kaur were present during the MoU signing ceremony.
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Special Intensive Revision 2026 Successfully Completed in Punjab: CEO Anindita Mitra
* Final Electoral Rolls of all 117 Assembly Constituencies published
• 7,97,263 new electors enrolled in the Final Electoral Roll, statewide.
• CEO thanks Electors of Punjab, BLOs and Political Parties of Punjab for their participation and cooperation.
• Final Electoral Rolls for all 117 Assembly Constituencies handed over to representatives of recognised political parties by the CEO, Punjab.
Chandigarh, 12th October :In accordance with the instructions of the Election Commission of India, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls, 2026 vide notification dated 14.05.2026, was undertaken in the State of Punjab with effect from 25 June 2026. Punjab was included in the Phase-III of the Special Intensive Revision, 2026. The Final Electoral Rolls of all 117 Assembly Constituencies in Punjab have been published today.
Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, stated that the Final Electoral Rolls are available at the offices of the District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and with the Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The rolls can also be downloaded from the official website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab (www.ceopunjab.gov.in) and the citizen service portal (www.voters.eci.gov.in).
Copies of the Final Electoral Rolls of all 117 Assembly Constituencies, along with soft copies, have been handed over to representatives of recognised political parties by the CEO, Punjab. She thanked the representatives of the political parties for their valuable support especially the 89,395 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed statewide whose active participation resulted in the successful culmination of this exercise.
As on 9 June 2026, Punjab had 2,14,61,043 registered electors, comprising 1,11,76,866 male, 1,02,83,478 female, and 699 third gender electors. During the House-to-House Enumeration Phase (25 June – 3 August 2026), BLOs distributed enumeration forms to registered electors and collected.
The Draft Electoral Roll was published on 13 August 2026 with a total of 1,93,94,435 electors. Copies of the Draft Electoral Roll were handed over to representatives of political parties statewide for their active participation during the Claims and Objection period.
During the Claims & Objections period (13 August – 12 September 2026), citizens were encouraged to verify their details in the Draft Electoral Roll and submit claims or objections if any. Applications were accepted online, through the ECINET Mobile App, offline via BLOs, or at the offices of EROs. During this phase, CEO Punjab, 19 Roll Observers, and District Election Officers conducted extensive field visits and conducted super-checking of the claims and objections received.
The Notice Phase/Disposal of Claims and Objections (13 August – 8 October 2026) involved serving notices to unmapped electors and electors with discrepancies. Hearings were conducted by EROs/AEROs at the village level, and decisions were taken after verifying documents and BLO reports. CEO Punjab shared that the election machinery provided a smooth and hassle-free environment during the notice period, ensuring convenience to the public. To ensure transparency and efficiency, a dedicated Document Verification Team was constituted at both the state and district levels. Additionally, a robust grievance redressal mechanism was established statewide wherein District Grievance Officers in each district catered to all the grievances received and the 1950 helpline number actively resolving elector queries from 8 am to 8 pm. Help desks were also set up at the ERO and DEO level to promptly assist the voters for any query.
86,038 of the 35,49,036 electors who were issued notices, were marked ineligible after extensive verification and through speaking orders.
The electorate increased from 1,93,94,435 total electors in the Draft Roll to 2,01,00,727 in the Final Roll, representing a net increase of 3.64%. The Final Roll total electors 2,01,00,727 comprises 1,03,76,026 male, 97,24,195 female, and 506 third gender electors.
The Final Electoral Roll of the Special Summary Revision relating to Service Voters, with reference to 01 October 2026 as the qualifying date, has also been published today.
Polling station rationalisation was carried out across all districts, increasing the number of polling stations from 24,453 to 25,332 to enhance voter accessibility.
A month-long SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) plan was implemented using multichannel outreach. Key initiatives included the symbolic launch of SIR 2026 on 23 June, where over 2,000 youth formed a human chain, SMS alerts on key dates, radio jingles, audio messages through e-rickshaws, and BLO field announcements. Electoral Literacy Clubs engaged citizens through poster-making, debates, seminars, and rangoli competitions, while IEC material was displayed at banks. Social media campaigns featured SVEEP icons and eminent personalities. Special camps were organised at polling booths on 7 June, 11–12 July, 19 July, and 16 August 2026 to facilitate electors in checking and submitting their details. Special camps were also held in colleges and schools across Punjab to enroll young voters.
Regular meetings with the recognised political parties were held at the State and District Level, ensuring their active involvement throughout the process. Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, reiterated that every possible effort has been made to reach out to all eligible electors.
The Special Intensive Revision, 2026 was successfully completed in Punjab in a smooth, transparent, and time-bound manner, in accordance with the directions of the Election Commission of India. The successful completion reflects the coordinated efforts of election machinery, the cooperation of electors, and the active participation of all stakeholders.
CEO urged eligible persons who, for any reason, could not be included in the final electoral roll after its publication, or new electors seeking enrolment, may apply online through the ECINET App or offline through their respective BLO by filling out Form 6.
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*PSIC CELEBRATES STATE-LEVEL RIGHT TO INFORMATION DAY*
*RTI ACT A KEY INSTRUMENT FOR ENSURING TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE: AMAN ARORA*
*“RTI AND GOOD GOVERNANCE” BOOK RELEASED TO MARK 21 YEARS OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005*
*Chandigarh, October 12:*The Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC) today organised a special event at the UT State Guest House, Chandigarh to celebrate Right to Information Day, marking 21 years of the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Act is a landmark legislation that has further strengthened transparency, accountability and citizen empowerment in democratic governance.
On this occasion the book titled “RTI and Good Governance”, authored by Punjab State Information Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu, was released under the patronage of Punjab Chief Information Commissioner Inderpal Singh Dhanna. The book is dedicated to highlighting the significance of the Right to Information framework and its role in promoting transparent, accountable and responsible administration. The publication aims to raise public awareness about the objectives and provisions of the RTI Act, its evolution over the past 21 years and emerging dimensions of information governance in the context of contemporary legal and administrative developments.
Addressing the gathering, Punjab Good Governance and Information Technology Minister Aman Arora said that the Right to Information Act, 2005, had empowered ordinary citizens to secure their rights while ensuring transparency and accountability in government functioning. He said that in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution, the government must be of the people, by the people and for the people. This objective can be achieved only when public institutions function transparently and remain accountable to citizens. He added that the state government was further strengthening good governance through digital platforms by ensuring time-bound delivery of services and fixing accountability for delays.
The state-level RTI Day event was attended by Punjab Chief Information Commissioner Inderpal Singh Dhanna; State Information Commissioners Sandeep Dhaliwal, Varinderjit Singh Billing, Harpreet Sandhu, Dr. Bhupinder Singh Bath and Pooja Gupta; and former Punjab Chief Information Commissioners Rajan Kashyap, IAS (Retd.), Ramesh Inder Singh, IAS (Retd.), S.S. Channy, IAS (Retd.) and Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill. The gathering also included Chandigarh DGP Sagarpreet Singh Hooda, a delegation from the Western Command led by Colonel Jagdeep Sandhu, senior police and civil administration officers of the Punjab Government, former High Court judges and Public Information Officers (PIOs) from across Punjab.
Addressing the gathering, Rajan Kashyap, the founding Chief Information Commissioner of Punjab, shared his recollections of the early days of the implementation of the RTI Act. Former Chief Information Commissioners Ramesh Inder Singh and S.S. Channy also shared their views on the occasion.
The book "RTI and Good Governance” carries special messages from Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Punjab Governor and Administrator of UT Chandigarh Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Information Commissioner of India Raj Kumar Goyal, IAS (Retd.). Their messages highlight the constitutional and democratic significance of the publication, which has also received endorsements from Wajahat Habibullah, India’s first Chief Information Commissioner and Rajan Kashyap, Punjab’s first Chief Information Commissioner.
Authored by Punjab State Information Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu under the patronage of the Punjab State Information Commission, the book reiterates the commitment to enhancing public awareness, promoting the responsible implementation of the RTI framework and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability in public institutions. The event provided an important opportunity to review the achievements of the past 21 years while reaffirming the continuing need for effective implementation of the Act in the larger public interest.
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*HISTORIC FEAT: 17 LADY CADETS OF MAI BHAGO AFPI CRACK NDA EXAM; HIGHEST TALLY FROM ANY GOVT INSTITUTE IN INDIA*
*•Aman Arora congratulates cadets, says Punjab's daughters will shine in SSB & beyond with their grit*
*•Punjab emerges as national leader in empowering girls; the result validates Mann Govt’s visionary decision to start NDA wing at Mai Bhago AFPI, says Aman Arora*
Chandigarh, October 12:Shattering the glass ceiling in a male-dominated bastion, 17 lady cadets of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali have made national history by cracking the NDA written examination- the highest-ever tally of lady cadets from any government institute in the country, including Sainik Schools and Rashtriya Military Schools.
These 17 Lady Cadets- Tanvi, Urvi, Simranpreet Kaur, Komalpreet Kaur, Pahuljeet Kaur, Jasmeet Kaur, Muskanpreet Kaur, Garima, Anisha, Pranya Kargwal, Jashandeep Kaur, Samridhi, Arshkiran Kaur, Sehajpreet Kaur, Japneet Kaur, Khushi and Jasleen Kaur- have triumphed against monumental odds, cracking the exam in a system where only 6% of NDA seats are earmarked for women against 94% for men.
Calling it a historic feat, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora said the result has put Punjab on the national map as the leader in empowering girls for the Armed Forces. He further said the triumph validates Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government’s visionary decision to start the NDA preparatory wing for girls at Mai Bhago AFPI, asserting that this is just the beginning and results will get even better in the coming years.
Congratulating the cadets, their families and the faculty, Mr. Aman Arora said, “I am immensely proud of the 17 lady cadets of Mai Bhago AFPI. This is not just the victory of these young women, but a historic moment for Punjab. To break through a system where 94% of seats are for boys requires extraordinary grit and brilliance, and our daughters have displayed it in abundance.”
“This result is a resounding endorsement of our government’s vision to empower our daughters with world-class training. Mai Bhago AFPI stands as a beacon of excellence today and I am confident these cadets will make the nation proud in the SSB and beyond,” he added.
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*Mohinder Bhagat Attends Annual Day Celebrations of Mount View International School, Appreciates Students’ Talent*
*Dream Big, Work Hard and Become Responsible Citizens of Nation, Says Cabinet Minister*
Chandigarh, October 12:Punjab Defence Services Welfare, Horticulture and Freedom Fighters Minister Mohinder Bhagat recently attended the annual day celebrations of Mount View International School in Dera Bassi as the Chief Guest.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Mohinder Bhagat appreciated the talent, confidence and creativity of the students. He urged them to dream big, work hard and remain dedicated to their goals. He emphasised that students should focus on their education, uphold strong values and strive to become responsible and worthy citizens who contribute to the progress of the nation.
The Minister also appreciated the school’s efforts to nurture students’ talents through cultural activities and provide them with a platform to express their creativity, confidence and sense of social responsibility.
The annual day, themed ‘Tarang: Waves of Talent’, featured vibrant performances of music, dance and cultural presentations. The programme began with devotional recitations, followed by energetic musical performances and traditional dances representing different states. The performances highlighted patriotism, cultural diversity and important social messages.
On the occasion, Chairman PESCO Maj. (Dr.) Gurcharan Singh appreciated the hard work and dedication of the teachers and students in making the event a grand success. He also thanked the parents for their trust and continued support of the institution.
The school management outlined its infrastructure development plans, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening educational facilities and establishing Mount View International School as a premier educational institution in Dera Bassi.
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*CRICKET DA CHAMPION HUN BANEGA CANCER KHATME DA CHAMPION: YUVRAJ SINGH TO LEAD MASS SCREENING CRUSADE FROM FRONT IN PUNJAB*
*— PUNJAB RESOLUTE TO CATCH CANCER WHEN IT’S CURABLE, BEFORE IT SPREADS: DR BALBIR SINGH*
*— HEALTH DEPARTMENT INKS MOU WITH YOUWECAN FOUNDATION TO DRIVE PREVENTIVE SCREENING & AWARENESS DRIVE IN PATIALA*
*— 20,000 INDIVIDUALS TO BE COVERED OVER 12 MONTHS; 10,000 WOMEN TO RECEIVE PAINLESS, RADIATION-FREE ‘iBreastExam’*
Chandigarh, October 12:Taking a decisive step forward to bolster cancer screening and early diagnosis at the grassroots, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the YouWeCan Foundation—founded by legendary former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh—to execute a comprehensive breast and oral cancer screening project in Patiala district.
The MoU was formally signed in the presence of Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh by Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Hitinder Kaur and Trustee of Yuvraj Singh Foundation Poonam Nanda.
Reiterating the commitment of the state government towards proactive health safeguarding rather than reactive treatment, Dr Balbir Singh emphasised that the entire focus of this mission is to promote routine check-ups and bust fears around screening.
“Just as Yuvraj Singh championed India’s historic triumphs on the cricket field and defeated cancer through sheer grit, he is now leading from the front to champion early screening among our people," said Dr Balbir Singh, while adding that Cancer is entirely curable if caught early.
“Our goal is simple and clear: Punjab will catch cancer when it is curable, before it spreads. By bringing advanced, painless screening directly to people's doorsteps, we want citizens to shed hesitation and prioritize regular self-care,” the Health Minister added.
Assuring complete financial protection to patients, Dr Balbir Singh said that comprehensive cancer treatment is being provided absolutely free and cashless to eligible beneficiaries under the state's flagship Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY).
Under the 12-month joint initiative, the programme aims to screen 20,000 beneficiaries across Patiala district. This includes specialised breast cancer screening for 10,000 women using the cutting-edge 'iBreastExam' device—an innovative, non-invasive, and radiation-free examination tool designed for accurate clinical assessment. In addition, comprehensive clinical screening for oral cancer will be conducted for 10,000 men and women. The project also incorporates a robust referral mechanism to connect individuals showing suspicious findings to tertiary health facilities for confirmatory diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Commending the YouWeCan Foundation for joining hands with the Health Department, Dr Balbir Singh noted that the foundation has previously demonstrated commendable results under its 'Swasth Mahila, Swasth Bharat' campaign, having screened around 2,00,000 women nationwide, including approximately 14,000 women in Punjab's Moga district. Building upon that success, this targeted intervention in Patiala will foster community awareness, overcome screening hesitancy, and establish a replicable public-private partnership model for cancer prevention across Punjab.
On this occasion, Special Secretary Health-cum-MD National Health Mission (NHM) Sakshi Sawhney, MD Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) Gautam Jain, Assistant Director-cum-State Programme Officer (Non-Communicable Diseases) Dr Gagandeep Singh Grover, and Medical Officer Dr Ashu Gupta were present from the Department of Health. Representing the YouWeCan Foundation, Senior Advisor Arvind Nanda, Senior Program Manager Dr Bhavika, and Senior Manager (Monitoring & Evaluation) Dr Divya were also present during the signing ceremony.