CM Nayab Singh Saini meets PM Modi; discusses Haryana’s growth and welfare initiatives

Chandigarh August 6: Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi in New Delhi. During this meeting, Haryana's current development works, welfare schemes and future projects were discussed in detail.

The Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister of the state’s progress, emphasizing that with the Central Government’s policies and support, Haryana has been achieving remarkable milestones across various sectors. He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Haryana is continuously moving forward as a 'double engine' government and the citizens of the state are getting benefits in areas like education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, industry and social welfare.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini apprised the Prime Minister of some major schemes and programs being implemented in the state and also outlined the state government’s future priorities. He said that the State Government is working for the inclusive development of every section of the society guided by the spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas'.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister sought guidance from the Prime Minister on various matters of state interest and expressed gratitude to the Central Government for its continued support. He said that the State Government is consistently working towards public service and good governance in line with the Prime Minister’s vision.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, Haryana will continue to progress rapidly toward a “Developed Haryana” along with “Developed India.” He reaffirmed that the Haryana Government remains committed to the state’s all-round growth in the spirit of a “double-engine government,” with active cooperation from the Centre.

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Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini interacts with representatives of social media news channels

Says: social media plays a key role in bringing government campaigns to the public

Government will consider demands of Digital Media Journalists Association: Chief Minister

Chandigarh August 6: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh Nayab Singh Saini, today interacted with representatives from news channels of social media platforms (Facebook and YouTube) from across the state at Haryana Niwas, Chandigarh. During the event, representatives of the Digital Media Journalists Association, Haryana, honored the Chief Minister by presenting him with a bouquet of flowers.

While interacting with journalists, the Chief Minister said that social media has become a powerful platform, with every piece of information leaving a significant impact on society and individuals. He urged journalists from social media news channels to prioritize fact-based, on-the-ground reporting to maintain public trust. Sh Saini also mentioned that he personally takes time to watch social media and, on several occasions, issues instructions for immediate action based on the information received from these platforms.

Describing social media as a powerful medium for social reform, the Chief Minister highlighted its potential in advancing public interest campaigns launched by the state government. He specifically mentioned initiatives such as Nasha Mukt Haryana, Environmental Protection, and Swachhata Abhiyan, urging representatives of social media news channels to actively contribute in ensuring these campaigns reach every household. He emphasized that this collective effort would accelerate positive change within society.

In response to the various demands raised by the Digital Media Journalists Association, the Chief Minister assured that necessary actions would be taken after assessing their feasibility. He said, "We are with you and will extend all possible cooperation."

On this occasion, Director General of the Information, Public Relations, and Languages Department, Sh K.M. Pandurang, said that the Haryana Digital Media Advertising Policy-2023 has been implemented for news channels on social media platforms. Under this policy, these channels are empaneled and advertisements are issued accordingly. He urged representatives of social media news channels to prioritize fact-based reporting and refrain from spreading fake news.

Several dignitaries were also present on this occasion, including the Media Advisor to Chief Minister Sh. Rajiv Jaitley, and the Additional Director (Administration) of the Information, Public Relations, and Languages Department, Sh Yogesh Mehta.

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Chandigarh, August 6 – Haryana Government will organize a grand state-level event in Kurukshetra on November 25 to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The event will witness participation of lakhs of devotees. This program will not only serve as an occasion to pay tribute, but also as a platform to spread the message of Shi Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s sacrifice, protection of religion and his commitment to humanity.

To ensure the event is historic, dignified and inclusive, the state government has constituted a high-level committee comprising representatives from the Sikh community, Sant Samaj and various religious organizations. A review meeting of this committee was held in Panchkula on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, where the overall preparation of the program was discussed in detail. Intellectuals and respected figures from the Sikh community also shared their valuable suggestions.

*Four Shobha Yatras to begin across the State*

Providing further details, the Chief Minister informed that four ‘Shobha Yatras’ will be carried out from different regions of the state to disseminate the life, teachings and legacy of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji among the people.

The first Yatra will begin from Dabwali and pass through Ratia, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Dhamtan Sahib, and Kaithal before culminating in Kurukshetra. The second Yatra will start from Lohgarh, traveling through Sadhaura, Bilaspur, Jagadhri, Yamunanagar, Radaur, and Ladwa. The third Yatra will start from Faridabad, proceeding via Gurugram, Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, and Karnal. The fourth Yatra will commence from Kalka passing through Pinjore, Panchkula, Ambala, and Shahabad en route to Kurukshetra.

The Chief Minister further informed that in addition to these Yatras, a month-long series of events dedicated to the revered Guru will be organized throughout Haryana. These include seminars, quiz contests, painting and essay writing competitions, symposiums for school and college students, to engage the youth and instill in them the values embodied by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

Speaking on the Guru’s legacy, the Chief Minister said that the unparalleled sacrifice made by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji for the protection of religion and humanity holds a unique and revered place in world history. Such an example of courage and selflessness is rarely found anywhere across the globe, he added.

He said that it is the collective responsibility of society to ensure that younger generations are made aware of the inspiring legacy of the Sikh Gurus. By learning about the glorious past, the youth will be motivated to contribute meaningfully to nation-building, he said.

The Sikh Gurus have always stood as guardians of truth, justice, and righteousness, making the ultimate sacrifice for the nation, society, and faith. Their lives are a golden chapter in our history, and it is our duty to preserve, promote, and pass on their teachings to future generations, the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister said that the Guru Maryada will be strictly observed during the organization of the state-level program. To ensure this, specialized committees have been constituted, comprising eminent scholars, religious leaders from the Sikh community and senior administrative officers. He appealed to intellectuals, Sikh institutions, and organizations to actively participate and extend their support to ensure the success of these events.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also released a special documentary based on the life and legacy of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, and launched a dedicated Facebook page. Through this page, citizens from Haryana, across the country, and even abroad can share their suggestions and ideas related to the upcoming state-level program.

The Chief Minister said that this event is a sacred initiative by the state government to preserve and pass on the cultural, historical, and spiritual legacy of the Sikh Gurus to future generations.

*Gratitude to Chief Minister for Honoring the Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at the State Level – Sardar Jagdish Singh Jhinda*

Sardar Jagdish Singh Jhinda, President of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, welcomed the decision to organize a state-level event on the occasion of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini for this historic and commendable step.

He said that the Haryana Government has been consistently taking welfare-oriented steps for the Sikh community and making remarkable efforts to bring Sikh history closer to the people. This initiative not only fills the Sikh community with pride but also serves as an important bridge to connect future generations with their spiritual and cultural roots.

He assured that the entire Sikh community, including the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, would extend full support to ensure the grand success of the program scheduled for November 25.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Dr. Krishan Middha, MLA Sh Bhagwan Das Kabirpanthi, former Minister Sh Manish Grover and representatives of several Sikh organizations and institutions from across the state.

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Haryana to Host 18th Urban Mobility India Conference-cum-Exhibition 2025 in Gurugram

Chandigarh, August 6 - Haryana is set to host the prestigious 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference-cum-Exhibition, scheduled to be held from November 7 to 9, 2025, in Gurugram. The preparations for this international event were reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi here today.

The UMI Conference is a flagship annual event organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, and serves as a globally recognized platform for stakeholders to deliberate on emerging issues, trends, innovations and challenges in the field of urban transport and mobility.

Chief Secretary Rastogi emphasized that hosting this prestigious event is a matter of pride for Haryana and presents a significant opportunity to showcase the state's progress in sustainable urban development, smart transportation solutions, and infrastructure innovation.

The theme for this year's conference is "Urban Development and Mobility Nexus," focusing on the critical interlink ages between planned urban growth and efficient transport systems. The conference will feature plenary sessions, technical sessions, panel discussions, and interactive exhibitions, with participation from policymakers, industry experts, researchers and delegates from across India and various countries.

Since its inception in 2008, the UMI Conference has evolved into a comprehensive knowledge-sharing platform that promotes best practices, encourages cross-learning between cities, and helps shape future policies for improved urban mobility across India.

In addition to the main sessions, the event will include technical tours and heritage site, offering delegates a glimpse of the region's rich culture and urban transport initiatives.

Additional Chief Secretary, Town and Country Planning, Sh. AK Singh, Director General, Information, Public Relations, Languages and Culture, Sh. K. Makarand Pandurang, Additional Director (Admn.) Sh. Yogesh Mehta, and senior officers of various departments attended the meeting.

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Departments must coordinate to make waterlogged and saline areas saline-free: Shyam Singh Rana

Chandigarh, August 6- Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Fisheries Minister Sh Shyam Singh Rana has directed officials to foster mutual coordination among departments to eliminate salinity from the state's affected areas. He directed to initiate a special pilot project in the Charkhi Dadri district, emphasizing the need to work diligently towards achieving this goal at the earliest.

Sh Shyam Singh Rana was presiding over a meeting of officers of the department here today.

Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department Sh Pankaj Agarwal, Director Sh Rajnarayan Kaushik and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.

The Minister said that the state government has set a target of reviving about one lakh acres of saline land for the year 2025-26 in the budget. The Agriculture Department and Fisheries Department should work together to achieve this target. He said that a lot of land in the state is Sem affected and saline in which crops are not grown.

He directed the officials to explore the potential of shrimp farming by creating ponds on the waterlogged and saline land. He said that draining the saline water through tube wells would lower the groundwater level, thereby making the area saline-free. Additionally, shrimp farming would provide farmers with a good source of income. Considering the rainy season, he also instructed coordination with the Disaster Management and Irrigation Departments to ensure proper drainage of water through the drainage systems.

The Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister also directed efforts to encourage farmers to adopt natural farming. Instructing officials to prioritize the implementation of budget announcements, he assured that there would be no shortage of funds for development projects.

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Ayushman Bharat: Payments to hospitals in process, all concerns of IMA to be addressed

ACS-Health Sudhir Rajpal holds meeting with IMA representatives, assures swift action on payments to hospitals

Chandigarh, August 6 - Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Sh. Sudhir Rajpal, held a detailed meeting today with representatives of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Haryana, to address their concerns regarding delayed payments under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He assured them that the state government is actively releasing payments to empanelled hospitals and remains fully committed to resolving all outstanding issues.

During the meeting, Sh. Rajpal gave a patient hearing to the delegation and acknowledged the challenges faced by the medical fraternity. He reiterated the government’s commitment to clearing all pending dues under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana at the earliest.

Appealing to the IMA representatives, the Additional Chief Secretary urged them to reconsider their decision to go on strike, emphasizing that such action could disrupt essential healthcare services, particularly for economically weaker sections of society. “We understand your concerns, and we are working to address them. However, a strike would adversely affect thousands of poor patients who depend on the scheme for timely and affordable treatment,” he said.

Payments being released by government: Former IMA Haryana President

Dr. D.S. Jaspal, former National Vice-President of the IMA Headquarters and former President of the IMA Haryana State Chapter, said he was not at all in support of the call for a strike. He said, “The government has already initiated the release of pending payments and has assured us that all our concerns will be addressed in a time-bound manner. Under these circumstances, there is no justification for a strike. Any such move would only harm the interests of poor patients who are in urgent need of medical care.” Dr. Jaspal also appealed to his colleagues in the medical fraternity to support the government's ongoing efforts and to continue delivering uninterrupted healthcare services.

’Resorting to a strike no solution’

Dr. Anil Malik, Member of the IMA Headquarters Standing Committee for AGC 2025–2026, emphasized that grievances should be raised through appropriate platforms and resolved through constructive dialogue. He stated that resorting to a strike would not offer any solution and would only disrupt patient care.

Budget received from State Government

Notably, the budget has already been received from the State Government on 4th August 2025, and accordingly, payment to empanelled hospitals has been initiated on a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) basis. This development reflects the State Government's commitment to ensuring timely disbursement of funds and uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The State Health Agency (SHA), Haryana has already processed and paid claims submitted by empanelled hospitals up to the first week of May 2025. A total of Rs. 2,900 crore has been disbursed to hospitals since the inception of the scheme. During the financial year 2025-26, up to 16th July 2025, an amount of Rs. 240.63 crore has been received from the State and Central Governments and fully utilized for settlement of eligible claims.

Claims submitted by empanelled hospitals are processed by a team of 50 doctors through the NHA's online platform. The portal ensures a transparent and impartial claim allocation process by randomly assigning cases to processors. All deductions are made strictly as per NHA guidelines and only when adequate clinical justification or documentation is lacking. Before any rejection or deduction, hospitals are given an opportunity to upload the required supporting documents such as vital charts, clinical images, OT notes, and test reports. If a hospital disagrees with a deduction, it may file an appeal through the portal. These appeals are reviewed by a designated Medical Audit Committee.

The SHA has also taken cognizance of the grievances raised by hospitals regarding payment delays, claim rejections, and non-processing of claims. To date, over 400 grievances from empaneled hospitals have been formally registered and resolved through the CGRMS 2.0 portal.

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Bihar voter list revision: Claims and Objections process continues

Chandigarh, August 6 – Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. A. Sreenivas said that the Election Commission of India has published the draft electoral roll for Bihar on August 1, 2025, with the aim of ensuring accuracy in the voter list.

Sh. A. Sreenivas said that the Commission has appealed to all political parties, organisations, and citizens to carefully review the draft voter list. If any errors or discrepancies are found, then they should submit their claims and objections within the stipulated time limit, so that correction can be made in time.

He further stated that, so far, no claims or objections have been submitted by any political party regarding the draft list. However, 2,864 claims and objections have been received so far directly from the electors. In addition, a total of 14,914 applications have been received from new voters of 18 years of age or above.

As per rules, the Claims and Objections are to be disposed of by the concerned Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) after the expiry of 7 days.

He further said that as per SIR orders, no name can be deleted from the draft list published on August,1 2025 without passing a speaking order by the ERO/AERO after conducting an enquiry and after giving a fair and reasonable opportunity.

The Chief Electoral Officer has appealed to all political parties, citizens, and organisations to actively take part in this process and help in creating a voter list that is accurate, transparent, and inclusive.

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Haryana Government Notifies Rules for Contractual Employees

Thousands of Contractual Employees Get Service Protection

Chandigarh, August 6 – The Haryana Government has notified the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Rules, 2025. These rules have been notified under sub-section (1) of Section 10 of the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024 (17 of 2024). With this notification, the services of thousands of contractual employees working in various departments, boards, corporations, and authorities across the state have been secured.

According to the notification issued by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, to be granted the status of a “secured employee”, a contractual worker must have completed at least five years of service by August 15, 2024, and must have received wages for a minimum of 240 working days in each of those years. Even if an employee worked in both higher and lower posts within the same year, the service will be counted, provided wages were received for 240 days.

Notably, employees who were earlier appointed to regular posts but lost their positions due to the cancellation or revision of merit lists by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission will have their prior regular service also counted toward the five-year eligibility, excluding any break period between regular and contractual service. Service rendered in different departments or government-controlled bodies will also be considered collectively.

However, any person who has married someone while their spouse is still alive or has remarried during the lifetime of their spouse will not be eligible for service protection under this Act. The government may grant exemption in such cases only if it is satisfied that the marriage is permissible under applicable personal law and other valid grounds exist.

Wherever a corresponding post is easily identifiable, the government organization will create a “supernumerary post” (extra post) effective from August 16, 2024, for the protected employee. If a matching post is not available or the designation is different, then the concerned organization will propose the creation of such a post, including designation, pay scale, required qualifications, and job description. The government will approve this proposal within 90 days in consultation with the Finance Department, after which the protection order will be issued.

If the number of protected employees in a department is high, the list will be sent to the government for adjustment in other departments as needed. The appointing authority will have the power to transfer secured employees anywhere within or outside Haryana in public interest.

For determining remuneration, the minimum of the functional pay level approved at the time of sanctioning the supernumerary post will be increased by 5%, 10%, or 15%, as applicable. The final amount will be rounded off to the nearest hundred, ignoring fractions below 50 and rounding up if the fraction is 50 or above.

Secured employees will be eligible for annual increments once a year in their functional pay level. The increment date will be either January 1 or July 1, provided the employee has completed at least six months of qualifying service before that date. The first increment will be due on July 1, 2025 upon fulfilling eligibility. These employees will also be entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA) at par with regular employees from January 1, 2025.

They will continue to receive casual leave and medical leave as before. Women protected employees will now be eligible for two casual leaves per month, up to 22 days in a year as compared to the previous 10 days.

Additionally, a service book will be prepared for each protected employee by the concerned department. Until separate rules are framed, protected employees will be governed by the Haryana Civil Services (Government Employees' Conduct) Rules, 2016 and the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 2016. However, the government will have the power to relax any rule for a specific category or class of employees, citing valid reasons.

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Minimum Educational Qualification for Group-C Posts in Haryana Set to 10+2

Government directs all departments to amend service rules

Chandigarh, August 6 – The Haryana Government has directed all departments to strictly comply with the orders issued on July 21, 2023, which mandate 10+2 as the minimum educational qualification for Group-C posts.

A letter in this regard has been issued by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi to all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, chief administrators and managing directors of boards and corporations, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, sub-divisional officers (civil), and registrars of universities.

The letter clearly states that as per the instructions issued on April 21, 2023, and July 21, 2023, the minimum qualification for Group-C posts was revised from Matriculation to 10+2. Departments were required to amend their service rules accordingly with the approval of the concerned administrative secretary and LR, followed by issuing a Gazette notification. It was also clarified that no further approval from the Human Resources Department, Finance Department, or the Chief Minister’s Office is needed for this process.

After reviewing the matter, the government found that several departments are yet to comply with these instructions and have not amended their service rules. Therefore, all departments have been instructed once again to make the necessary amendments at the earliest and ensure implementation of the July 21, 2023, directions to avoid any future delays or confusion.

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Haryana Governor to Hoist National Flag in Ambala on Independence Day, CM Nayab Singh in Rohtak

Chandigarh, August 6 - On the occasion of Independence Day on August 15, 2025, Haryana Governor Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh will hoist the National Flag in Ambala. The flag hoisting ceremonies across the state will begin at 9:00 AM.

According to a circular issued by the Chief Secretary, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini will hoist the National Flag at Rohtak.

The Designated locations for various ministers are as under:

Sh. Anil Vij, Energy Minister: Ambala (with the Governor)

Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar, Development and Panchayat Minister: Kurukshetra

Sh. Rao Narbir Singh, Industries Minister: Mahendragarh

Sh. Mahipal Dhanda, School Education Minister: Kaithal

Sh. Vipul Goel, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister: Gurugram

Sh. Arvind Kumar Sharma, Cooperation Minister: Karnal

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister: Sirsa

Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, Public Health Engineering Minister: Fatehabad

Sh. Krishan Kumar, Social Justice, Empowerment, SCs & BCs Welfare and Antyodaya (SEWA) Minister: Hisar

Smt. Shruti Choudhry, Women and Child Development Minister: Panchkula

Arti Singh Rao, Health Minister: Rewari

Sh. Rajesh Nagar, Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs: Palwal

Sh. Gaurav Gautam, Minister of State for Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship: Faridabad.

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Free bus travel on Raksha Bandhan says Transport Minister Anil Vij

Chandigarh, August 6 – Haryana Transport Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that like previous years, this year too, women and children (up to 15 years of age) will be able to travel free of cost in Haryana Roadways’ ordinary buses on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. The Chief Minister has given his approval in this regard.

Sh. Vij said that the state government has decided to offer free travel in Haryana Roadways’ ordinary buses for women along with their children (up to 15 years of age) on routes within Haryana, as well as to Chandigarh and Delhi. This will help women and children travel comfortably to celebrate the festival with their loved ones.

He informed that the free travel facility will be available from 12 noon on August 8, 2025, until 12 midnight of August 9, 2025.