*Dr. Baljit Kaur: Punjab Government Strengthens Support for SC Students’ Higher Education Dreams; 2.70 Lakh Students to Benefit Under Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme in 2026-27*
*Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government Committed to Ensuring That No Deserving Student Is Deprived of Higher Education Due to Financial Constraints*
*₹245 Crore Proposed for Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme; Number of Beneficiary Students Increased by 40% in 2025-26 Compared to 2020-21*
*Smooth Application Process Through National Scholarship Portal; Special Focus on Awareness and Assistance for Students*
*Dr. Baljit Kaur Appeals to Students to Avail Maximum Benefits of the Scheme and Contribute Towards Building Rangla Punjab*
Chandigarh, October 31:Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment towards social justice and ensuring equal opportunities in education, Punjab Cabinet Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development and Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur, said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government is making continuous efforts to ensure that financial constraints do not become a barrier in the path of higher education for any Scheduled Caste student.
Sharing details of the Budget Proposals for 2026-27, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government has set a target to provide benefits of the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste students to nearly 2.70 lakh students, with an estimated expenditure of ₹245 crore. She said that this initiative reflects the State Government’s strong commitment towards educational empowerment of SC students and providing them equal opportunities to pursue higher education.
The Minister said that the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste students is being implemented with complete transparency and dedication, enabling students from economically weaker sections to pursue higher education and realise their aspirations.
Highlighting the progress of the scheme, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the number of students availing benefits under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme increased by 40 per cent in 2025-26 as compared to 2020-21, which reflects the expanding reach of the scheme and the Government’s continuous efforts to ensure that eligible students receive timely assistance.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further informed that a special awareness programme on the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme was organised on January 30, 2026, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, with the objective of creating awareness among students about the scheme and encouraging them to avail its benefits. More than 10,000 students participated in the programme, reflecting the positive response of the student community towards the initiative.
She said that for the convenience of students, the scheme has been implemented through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). She added that continuous efforts are being made to provide information regarding the application process, resolve technical issues and create awareness about the scheme. She also directed officials and educational institutions to provide full support to eligible students so that no student is deprived of the benefits of the scheme due to lack of information or procedural difficulties.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the objective of the Punjab Government is not only to provide financial assistance but also to make SC students self-reliant, empowered and connected with the mainstream through education. She said that expanding educational opportunities is essential for channelising the potential of youth in the right direction and strengthening the foundation of an equal and prosperous Punjab.
The Minister said that education is the strongest instrument for achieving social equality, economic progress and empowerment. She added that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government is continuously working towards fulfilling the aspirations and dreams of the youth to realise the vision of a progressive and Rangla Punjab.
Dr. Baljit Kaur appealed to students to make maximum use of the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, pursue higher education with dedication and contribute towards the development of Punjab. She reiterated that the Punjab Government stands firmly with every eligible student and is committed to ensuring that financial difficulties never become an obstacle in their education and bright future.
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*Mann Govt’s FastTrack Portal Sets Benchmark for Ease of Doing Business; Over 20K Approvals Granted in 16 Months*
*•Single-window portal guarantees time-bound approvals within 45 days, auto-deemed approval on delay, says Aman Arora*
*•Single Common Application Form ends department-hopping for investors*
•*Portal offers 2-step registration, real-time tracking & e-Wallet facility ensuring transparency & accountability: Industries Minister*
Chandigarh, October 31:Setting a new national benchmark in Ease of Doing Business, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government's FastTrack Portal (https://fasttrack.punjab.gov.in) is fast emerging as a game-changer, positioning Punjab as India's most investor-friendly destination. The portal guarantees all regulatory approvals within 45 days, backed by provision for automatic deemed approval in case of delay and has already delivered 20,417 clearances since its launch on June 10, 2025.
Calling it a game-changer for the state’s industrial landscape, Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Mr. Aman Arora said that the portal serves as a single-window digital platform, enabling businesses to obtain all regulatory approvals and government services online through one integrated system.
Highlighting its operational efficiency, Mr. Aman Arora said the portal offers a seamless two-step online registration process. Once registered, investors can access a dedicated dashboard to apply for new investments, avail services for existing projects, manage e-Wallet transactions and track their projects in real time.
For new investments, businesses need to submit only a single Common Application Form to apply for all requisite services, approvals and clearances, eliminating the need to approach multiple departments separately. The portal guarantees time-bound delivery of approvals within a maximum of 45 days, with provision for automatic deemed approval in case of departmental delay- a move that ensures administrative efficiency, brings clarity on timelines and enables faster decision-making for investors.
The Industries and Commerce Minister said the platform underscores CM Mann-led government’s resolve to build a transparent, efficient and investor-friendly business ecosystem by eliminating procedural bottlenecks and ensuring greater accountability in approvals.
“Our government is committed to building a transparent, efficient and investor-friendly ecosystem where businesses can grow without procedural hurdles. Invest Punjab is leading this transformation with the vision of becoming India’s best Investment Promotion Agency. The FastTrack Portal is a testament to our commitment to time-bound approvals, digital governance and Ease of Doing Business,” stated Mr. Aman Arora.
In an increasingly competitive investment landscape, the FastTrack initiative is a significant step forward, Mr. Arora said, while adding that by leveraging technology to simplify government-to-business interface, Punjab government is enabling investors to focus on what matters most — project implementation, employment generation and enterprise growth — instead of navigating cumbersome procedures.
The portal further strengthens the investment facilitation efforts of Invest Punjab. Through initiatives like FastTrack, Punjab is building a robust institutional framework to attract fresh investments, support existing enterprises and drive sustainable industrial growth, he added.
As Punjab aggressively pursues investments across sectors, the FastTrack Portal stands out as a progressive governance reform that brings simplicity, predictability and efficiency to the regulatory approval process, Mr. Arora said.
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*Asian Champions Trophy crosses half way, enters in final phase*
*India and Malaysia reach Semi-Final with registering three wins*
*Indian Captain Harmanpreet Singh tops in score tally with five Goals*
*Final six league matches to be played in Jalandhar on Nov 1 and 2*
*Mohali to witness knockout stage matches on November 4 and 5*
Chandigarh/Jalandhar, October 31:The ongoing Asian Champions Trophy, an international hockey tournament being hosted on Punjab soil for the first time, has crossed the halfway entering in final phase. Each team has already played three league matches thus two matches remaining for each team. The remaining league fixtures will be played on November 1 and 2 while India and Malaysia have secured its places in the semi-finals after winning three matches each. On the individual goal-scoring tally, Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh was leading with five goals.
The event is the result of the concerted efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, whose vision has brought top-tier Asian hockey to the state. Dream come true for Indian hockey players who have long wished to play an international competition on home soil.
Saturday was a rest day for all teams in the Asian Champions Trophy, as no match would be played. However, the China, South Korea and Bangladesh teams held practice sessions. In the closing days of the league stage, the matches will take place at 2:30 PM, 4:45 PM, and 7:00 PM respectively. On November 1, South Korea would play with Bangladesh whereas another match is to be held between China and Japan, and India will take on Malaysia followed by November 2 matches between China and Bangladesh, Malaysia and Japan while India would play against South Korea. The matches would be played at 2:30 pm, 4:45 pm and 07:00 pm respectively.
In the league matches played at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in here, India and Malaysia have already secured positions in the semi-finals by winning all three matches so far. India tops the points tally owing to a goal difference, while Malaysia sits in second place. Japan is at third place with two victories and South Korea having one victory occupies fourth place. China and Bangladesh were not secured any victory. Of total six participating teams, the first four teams would advance to the semi-finals while the teams finishing fifth and sixth place in the league phase are to play for the fifth-position. All knockout stage matches would be played at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior Stadium in Mohali on November 4 and 5.
A total of 9 matches have been played in the tournament so far, with every match showing a decisive result and no match registered a draw. A total of 54 goals have been scored, averaging six goals per match. Of the 54 goals, 28 were field goals, 23 from penalty corners, and three were scored via penalty strokes. After three matches for each team, India has scored the highest number of goals (22) and three conceded goals . Malaysia has scored 14 goals with six conceded goals. Japan has scored 5 goals and conceded 6. South Korea has scored 5 goals and conceded 7. China has scored 7 goals and conceded 12, whereas Bangladesh has scored 1 goal while conceding 20. So far, only India and Japan have kept a clean sheet in a match, with both teams achieving this by not conceding a single goal against Bangladesh.
In the individual goal-scoring standings, Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh was at the top tally with five goals in three matches followed by Malaysia's Abu Kamal Azrai with four goals. India's Mandeep Singh and Abhishek, along with Malaysia's Akhimullah and Azimuddin, have scored three goals each. The only hat-trick of the tournament so far was scored by India's Mandeep Singh, who netted three goals in the opening match against Bangladesh. India's Hardik Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Jugraj Singh, and Dilpreet Singh; China's Chongcong Chen and Benhai Chen; and Malaysia's Faizal Saari had scored two goals each. Nineteen players have scored one goal each, bringing the total number of players on the goal-scorers list to 32.