*Punjab Government Strengthens Educational Support for SC Students; ₹53.30 Crore Released and Proposed Under Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme: Dr. Baljit Kaur*

*94,092 Students Benefited in 2025-26; ₹40 Crore Proposed for 1.17 Lakh Students in 2026-27*

*CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government Committed to Ensuring Every Child Has an Equal Opportunity to Learn and Succeed*

Chandigarh, September 14:Reaffirming the Punjab Government's unwavering commitment to making quality education accessible to every child, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government is continuously strengthening scholarship support to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent Scheduled Caste (SC) students from pursuing their education.

Sharing details, Social Justice, Empowerment and Miniorties Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC Students, the Punjab Government has released ₹13.30 crore for 94,092 students during the financial year 2025-26. For the financial year 2026-27, the Government has proposed an allocation of ₹40 crore to benefit 1,17,142 students, ensuring sustained educational support at the school level.

The Cabinet Minister said that the scheme is enabling thousands of children from economically weaker Scheduled Caste families to continue their studies without financial stress. She emphasised that education is the strongest foundation for social empowerment and plays a transformative role in creating equal opportunities for every child.

Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government is pursuing result-oriented initiatives to uplift marginalised communities by investing in education and human development. She added that expanding educational opportunities for SC students is an important step towards building an inclusive, progressive and Rangla Punjab.

Highlighting the Government's roadmap, the Minister said the Department will continue to ensure timely implementation of the scholarship scheme, wider awareness among eligible families and seamless disbursement of benefits so that every deserving student receives assistance without delay. She reiterated that the Punjab Government remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering young minds and building a brighter future through education.

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State Information Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu Represents Punjab at the National Conference on RTI in Hyderabad

Chandigarh, 14th September:State Information Commissioner Punjab Harpreet Sandhu represented the Punjab State Information Commission at the National Conference of Information Commissions held at Hyderabad on the theme, “RTI: Operational Uniformity in Implementation – Challenges and Solutions”, a subject of vital importance to democratic governance, transparency and accountability in public administration.

State Information Commissioner, Punjab Harpreet Sandhu had the distinction of being a Speaker at the National Conference, where he delivered his keynote address on the given subject of Digital Personal Data Protection Act and its evolving interface with the Right to Information Act. SIC Punjab addressing an audience comprising of the Central Chief Information Commissioner of India, R. K. Goyal, IAS (Retd.), and Chief Information Commissioners and Information Commissioners from 25 States of India, highlighted the emerging challenges and the need to maintain an appropriate balance between the citizen’s fundamental right to information, protection of personal data and the larger public interest.

The National Conference brought together senior functionaries of Information Commissions from across the country, providing an important national platform for deliberation on strengthening the effective, uniform and citizen-centric implementation of the Right to Information Act. The deliberations witnessed participation from Information Commissions representing States including Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Delhi, Punjab, Chennai, Kerala, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh, among others.

The significance Harpreet Sandhu’s address on personal data protection and its interface with the RTI framework was acknowledged by the Central Chief Information Commissioner of India, Shri R. K. Goyal, IAS (Retd.), particularly in the context of promoting transparency, accountability and effective implementation of the RTI Act in the evolving digital governance environment.

SIC Punjab Harpreet Sandhu also represented Punjab at the 34th Meeting of the Board of Governors of the National Federation of Information Commissions in India (NFICI), held at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad. His participation marked an important representation of the Punjab State Information Commission at the national level and reflected the significance of Punjab’s contribution to deliberations concerning the strengthening and effective implementation of the Right to Information regime in India.

SIC Punjab Harpreet Sandhu presented the official souvenir on behalf of the Punjab State Information Commission to the Central Chief Information Commissioner of India, R. K. Goyal, IAS (Retd.), and the Chief Information Commissioner of Telangana, Dr. G. Chandrashekar Reddy, IFS (Retd.) in the presence of Hon’ble Governor of Telangana Shiv Pratap Shukla, who was the Chief guest during the National Conference in Hyderabad.

The participation of SIC Punjab Harpreet Sandhu at the National Conference and the NFICI Board of Governors meeting provided an important platform for sharing perspectives, experiences and institutional practices aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and the effective functioning of the Right to Information framework in the country.

Director General Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad Dr. N. Ramesh Kumar, IAS (Retd.) felicitated State Information Commissioner, Punjab Harpreet Sandhu on behalf of Telangana State Information Commission for his participation in the National Conference on RTI held in Hyderabad on 12th September 2026.

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*Vigilance Bureau nabs 8 persons red handed in 6 bribery cases during August*

Chandigarh, 14 September 2026:The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing crusade against corruption in the state, has been able to apprehend seven government officials and one private person red handed while accepting bribes in 6 different trap cases during the month of August.

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 13 vigilance cases in various competent courts in the last month. Besides, 3 Vigilance enquiries have also been registered to thorughly probe the corruption cases. He added that 10 criminal cases were also registered against 23 accused which include 17 government employees.

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 eight persons were convicted and sentenced ranging from 4 to 5 years imprisonment and fine ranging from Rs. 8,000/- to Rs. 1,00,000/- .

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*Punjab Tax Department’s Big Enforcement Drive: 170 Vehicles Detained, Goods Worth Over Rs 5 Crore Seized: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Major Enforcement Drive in Mandi Gobindgarh and Khanna, A Wake-Up Call for Tax Evaders: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Consignments Under Verification; Strict Action to Follow, Sustained Campaign to Ensure Every Rupee Reaches Public Exchequer: Harpal Singh Cheema*

Chandigarh, 14th September 2026:In a sweeping enforcement drive that cast the net wide across Punjab, the Department of Excise and Taxation detained 170 vehicles carrying goods suspected to be in violation of GST provisions. The operation, carried out jointly by all State Investigation and Preventive Units with special focus on Mandi Gobindgarh and Khanna, led to the seizure of iron scrap and finished iron/steel goods valued at more than Rs 5 crore.

Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema described the drive as “a wake-up call for those who think they can cut corners and get away with it.” He emphasised that the government is determined to plug every loophole and ensure that tax compliance becomes the rule of the day rather than the exception.

The Taxation Minister said, “We have drawn a line in the sand, those who attempt to move undocumented goods will find the law catching up with them sooner rather than later."

Revealing the details of the enforcement drive, Cheema said, "A substantial number of vehicles were found without proper invoices and prescribed documents, a clear violation of the GST law. The writing is on the wall, Punjab will not allow tax evasion to eat into the state’s revenue. Every legitimate rupee must reach the public exchequer, for it is the lifeblood of development.”

The Minister further informed that the detained consignments are undergoing detailed verification, which is expected to be completed within a week. He said, “Once the dust settles, appropriate action will be taken, including determination and recovery of applicable tax and statutory dues. We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that violators face the music.”

Underlining that this operation is part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen tax compliance and curb the movement of undocumented goods across Punjab, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “This is not a flash in the pan. It is a sustained campaign to instill discipline in trade practices. The government’s message is loud and clear, play by the rules or pay the price.”

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*Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Holds Meetings With Employee Unions, Directs Departments to Expedite Matters Requiring Finance, Personnel Departments’ Intervention*

*Bhagwant Mann Govt Committed to Resolving Employees’ Genuine Demands Fairly & Transparently: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Cabinet Sub-Committee Will Continue Dialogue With Employee Unions to Address Genuine Concerns Promptly: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Constructive Dialogue, Timely Action Key to Strengthening Trust Between Punjab Govt & Employees: Harpal Singh Cheema*

CHANDIGARH; 14th September 2026:Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who also serves as Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to address employees’ issues, convened meetings on Monday with representatives of various employee unions. The Minister reiterated the state government’s commitment to resolving legitimate concerns at the earliest, underscoring the government’s dedication to constructive dialogue and timely action.

During the deliberations, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema gave a patient hearing to all the matters raised by the unions. He directed the heads of the concerned departments to resolve legitimate issues without delay and instructed that demands requiring intervention from the Finance Department or Personnel Department be expedited.

Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assured the representatives, “The Bhagwant Mann government remains steadfast in its resolve to address employees’ genuine demands in a fair and transparent manner.”

The Finance Minister emphasised, “The Cabinet Sub-Committee will continue to engage with employee unions to ensure that legitimate concerns are addressed promptly, thereby strengthening trust between the Punjab Government and its workforce.”

The meeting witnessed participation from a wide spectrum of employee unions. Among those present were Er Jasvir Singh Dhiman, Er Ajaypal Singh Atwal, Er Amardeep Singh, Er Jatinder Garg, Er Sukhwant Singh, and Er D K Goyal from the PSEB Engineers’ Association; Balihar Singh, Tek Chand, Balwinder Singh, Sandeep Khatri, Sher Singh, and Mandeep Singh from Powercom and Transco Theka Mulazam Union; Kuljit Singh Ratol from the General Categories Welfare Federation PSEB; Sewa Singh from Sarkari ITIs Theka Mulajam Union; Gurmeet Singh and Navjot Kaur from the Rural Health Pharmacist Union; Kamaljeet Singh Chouhan from the Rural Health Pharmacy Officer Association; and Amandeep Singh from the Punjab Police Waiting List 2016 Union. Each union presented their issues and demands, which were duly noted for resolution.

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*Punjab Meets Highest-Ever 17,423 MW Power Demand Without Any Power Cuts: Tarunpreet Singh Sond*

*Despite Centre’s Coal Cuts, Bhagwant Mann Govt Delivered Record 17,423 MW Power Demand Without Cuts: Tarunpreet Singh Sond*

*Guru Amardas Thermal Plant Proved Boon for Punjab Amid Record Power Demand: Tarunpreet Singh Sond*

*Punjab Handles 33% Rise in Power Demand from Usual Sept Levels, Keeps All Four Sectors Running 24x7: Tarunpreet Singh Sond*

CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA; 14th September 2026:Punjab has met its highest-ever electricity demand of 17,423 MW without imposing any power cuts due to shortage, while maintaining 24x7 power supply across the residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors. Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said the achievement came amid a sharp rise in electricity demand this year and highlighted the state’s preparedness and power generation capacity in meeting the unprecedented requirement.

Addressing a press conference at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Ludhiana on Monday, Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said, “From 7 AM yesterday, 13 September, until now, no power cuts due to electricity shortage have been imposed in Punjab. Along with this, continuous 24x7 electricity supply has been ensured and is currently running for all four major sectors: residential, commercial, industrial and agriculture.”

Emphasising the government’s priority during the ongoing paddy season, he emphasised, “Our farmers have always been and will remain our top priority because Punjab is an agrarian state. Two private thermal plants had recently developed technical snags during the paddy season. The entire in-house team of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited worked day and night to make those plants operational again.”

Referring to the measures taken to compensate farmers for the earlier disruption, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond continued, “CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has issued instructions that to cover up for the 2 to 3-hour power cuts, the Punjab Government is now giving two extra hours of electricity supply to our farmers starting yesterday.”

He said the scale of the achievement becomes clearer from the sharp rise in electricity demand this year. “In previous years during the month of September, electricity demand used to hover around 13,100 MW, but this year it touched 16,600 MW. This meant an extra demand of 3,500 MW. Despite this additional demand of 3,500 MW, PSPCL (Punjab State Power Corporation Limited) successfully handled the challenge, which in itself is a massive achievement for the Punjab Government,” he stated.

Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said, “Along with this, I praise the entire team of PSPCL that handled public complaints as well. Over the last two to three days, I personally received calls from industrialists and farmer unions.”

Reiterating the reasons behind the recent power crisis, he added, “I had already explained three days ago in a press conference that this crisis arose partly due to coal cuts by the Central Government and partly because the Centre did not release Punjab’s rightful 1,000 MW power share.”

He commended the officials of the Power Department for working round the clock. “They worked day and night, fixed the technical glitches in the thermal plants and brought them back online,” he stated.

Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond also shared an update on a private power plant from which Punjab purchases electricity. “Good news has also arrived regarding a private power plant from where the state buys electricity. Its unit has also started running and 100 MW of power supply has begun coming from it,” he said.

Congratulating the state’s industrialists and farmers, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said, “The critical crisis period has passed.”

Highlighting the importance of the Punjab Government’s decision to purchase the Guru Amardas Thermal Plant, the minister added, “History has seen many governments till date. Punjab has 10 state thermal units, out of which one plant, named Guru Amardas Thermal Plant, was bought by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s Punjab Government.”

He emphasised, “If the government had not purchased this thermal plant, the power situation today would have been extremely critical.” He added, “The Punjab Government is working with such alertness that it met a peak demand touching 17,000 MW this season.”

With the state now meeting a record 17,423 MW demand, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said, “All 10 thermal units are working at full capacity.” He further highlighted the government’s power relief measures, stating, “The public is very happy as 90 per cent of people are receiving zero electricity bills.”

MLA Chaudhary Madan Lal Bagga and MLA Rajinderpal Kaur Chhina were also present on the occasion.

*Punjab Power Demand Surges To Record High As Consumption Jumps 14%*

According to the official month-wise data, Punjab’s maximum demand met rose from 12,025 MW in April 2026 to 17,277 MW in July 2026, while September’s maximum demand had already reached 16,598 MW by 13 September, compared with 13,127 MW during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 26 per cent. The latest peak of 17,423 MW has now surpassed the earlier April to September peak of 17,277 MW by 146 MW.

The data also shows a substantial rise in overall power consumption. From April to 13 September, Punjab recorded 46,696 million units (MUs) of power consumption compared with 41,072 MUs during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 14%. July consumption rose 15% from 9,362 MUs to 10,765 MUs, while August consumption increased by 25 per cent from 8,265 MUs to 10,340 MUs. In September up to 13 September, consumption stood at 4,237 MUs, compared with 2,478 MUs during the corresponding period last year, marking a 71% increase.