*Punjab Strengthens Social Safety Net: Over ₹3,243 Crore Released to Benefit 36.39 Lakh People Under Social Security Schemes : Dr. Baljit Kaur*

- *CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government committed to ensuring dignity, security and timely financial assistance for every deserving citizen*

- *₹841.76 crore released for widows, destitute women and dependent children; ₹2,401.67 crore disbursed to senior citizens and persons with disabilities*

- *Dr. Baljit Kaur directs officers to ensure no eligible beneficiary is left out of any welfare scheme*

Chandigarh, October 10:Reinforcing its commitment to building an inclusive, compassionate and welfare-oriented Punjab, the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government continues to strengthen the social security net to ensure that timely financial assistance reaches every deserving citizen with dignity and respect. Stating this, Social Security, Women & Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the State Government is taking result-oriented initiatives to safeguard the interests of the most vulnerable sections of society and improve their quality of life.

Sharing details, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that more than ₹3,243 crore has been released so far during the current financial year under various Social Security Schemes, benefiting 36.39 lakh beneficiaries across the State. She said these initiatives have emerged as a strong pillar of social protection, ensuring timely financial assistance to those who need it the most.

The Cabinet Minister said that ₹841.76 crore has been released as financial assistance to 9.45 lakh widows, destitute women and dependent children, while ₹2,401.67 crore has been disbursed among 26.94 lakh senior citizens and persons with disabilities, enabling them to lead a life of dignity, security and self-reliance.

Emphasising the Government's people-centric approach, Dr Baljit Kaur said, "No family should feel abandoned in times of vulnerability. Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, our Government stands firmly beside every widow, senior citizen, person with disability and dependent child, ensuring that eligible beneficiaries receive timely financial assistance with dignity, transparency and respect."

Highlighting the Government's long-term commitment to social welfare, Dr Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government has made a budget provision of ₹6,131.91 crore under various Social Security Schemes for the financial year 2026-27, ensuring uninterrupted and timely delivery of benefits to eligible beneficiaries.

The Cabinet Minister further directed all officers to intensify awareness campaigns, expedite the processing of applications, strengthen field-level monitoring and ensure that not a single eligible person is deprived of the benefits of any Social Security Scheme. She reiterated that every deserving citizen must receive assistance without delay and affirmed that every rupee allocated for social welfare should translate into timely relief, greater social security and an improved quality of life for the people of Punjab.

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*Vigilance Bureau nabs ASI red handed accepting bribe of Rs 80,000/-*

Chandigarh, 10 October 2026:The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has apprehended Assistant Sub Inspector Gurbaksh Singh posted at Sadar Police Station Faridkot, red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 80,000/-.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by a resident of village Ghugiana district Faridkot.

He stated that the complainant alleged that the accused ASI Gurbaksh Singh had already taken a bribe money of Rs. 40,000/- in lieu of cancelling a case registered against the complainant. In this connection , the accused ASI further demanded a bribe of Rs 80,000/- from the complainant to drop a registered case against him.

Unwilling to pay the illegal gratification, complainant approached the VB Range Ferozepur. Acting on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which accused ASI Gurbaksh Singh was arrested red handed while accepting bribe money of Rs 80,000/- from the complainant in presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard, a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Ferozepur and further investigation into this case is under progress.

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*Punjab Government to Provide Rs. 10,000 Interest-Free Festival Advance to Group-D Employees Ahead of Diwali: Harpal Singh Cheema*

Chandigarh, 10th October 2026-Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday announced that the State Government will grant an interest-free festival advance of Rs. 10,000 to its Class-IV (Group-D) employees to assist them in celebrating the upcoming Diwali festival.

Revealing this in a press communique issued here, the Finance Minister said, "We have dedicated a budget provision of Rs. 20.00 crore for this initiative during the 2026-27 financial year to ensure that our workforce can joyfully celebrate Diwali with their families." He said that this advance is available to the state's total strength of approximately 34,604 Group-D employees.

Giving details, the Finance Minister Cheema said, "Should every eligible employee opt to take the loan, the total expected expenditure for the state will be Rs. 34.60 crore. To ensure timely access to these funds before the Diwali festival on November 8, employees are permitted to withdraw the amount from the treasury until November 6, 2026. The advance will then be recovered smoothly in five equal monthly installments, with deductions commencing from the employees' December 2026 salary."

The Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the announcement of this festival advance follows other recent financial measures implemented by the state government for its workforce during the current year. He said, "The Punjab Government remains deeply committed to the welfare of its employees, which is why we are issuing an interest-free festival advance of Rs. 10,000 for our Group-D staff."

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*57 MRSAFPI CADETS CRACK NDA (II) WRITTEN EXAM, INSTITUTE LOGS ALL-TIME HIGH 87.7% SUCCESS RATE*

*•Aman Arora hails cadets as ‘Pride of Punjab’; Says result reflects Mann Govt's commitment to steer youth towards Armed Forces*

Chandigarh, October 10:In a historic first, Punjab's Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI), Mohali has scripted history with a record-shattering 87.7% success rate in the NDA (II) Written Examination, with 57 of its 65 cadets qualifying for the prestigious NDA-158 Course commencing in June 2027.

In addition to the regular cadets, 7 out of 30 aspirants who underwent a two-month intensive crash course at the Institute also cleared the prestigious examination. The qualified cadets will now advance to the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview - the decisive final hurdle for entry into the Indian Armed Forces.

Congratulating the cadets, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora said, “These young cadets are the pride of Punjab. Their dedication and hard work have brought laurels to the state. I wish them the very best for the forthcoming SSB interview and the rigorous training ahead.”

Mr. Aman Arora said that the result further cements MRSAFPI's reputation as the country's premier feeder institution for the Indian Armed Forces and stands as a testament to the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government's unwavering commitment to channelizing the state's youth power into the defence services and providing world-class training infrastructure to realise their dreams of serving the nation.

MRSAFPI Director Major General Ajay H. Chauhan, VSM (Retd.), congratulated the cadets and urged them to maintain the same rigour for the upcoming SSB interviews. He also lauded the dedicated faculty and staff whose relentless efforts and overtime work ensured this career-defining success.

Highlighting the Institute's stellar track record, the Director informed that 15 cadets of the Institute are awaiting call letters to join the NDA, TES and Naval Academy courses commencing in December 2026.