Punjab Government

Security arrangements in Bathinda have been stepped up security ahead of Baisakhi celebrations in the state

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday announced new office timings for all the state government offices ahead of the summer season

The AAP government's freebies push in Punjab will have the state, which already is one of the most fiscally stressed states, missing the fiscal targets by a wide margin yet again this fiscal, shows an analysis. According to an India Ratings' analysis of the Punjab budget for FY24, the Bhagwant Mann government will likely close the year with a fiscal deficit of Rs 33,216 crore which is a whopping 5.3 per cent of GSDP or gross state domestic product from the budgeted Rs 23,835 crore or 3.8 per cent in FY24. This comes on top of the state closing the previous year with a 5 per cent fiscal deficit. The Centre allows a state to borrow annually only 3 per cent of its GSDP and an additional 50 bps more on meeting certain reforms in the power distribution and public transport sectors. Punjab's fiscal stress will continue even in the medium-term and will remain one of the fiscally most stressed states, says Sunil Kumar Sinha, the senior director at the agency. This is because the state's .

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday exposed a Rs 200-crore liquor scam in the Excise Department in Punjab and demanded a CBI probe into the fraud

Concerned by the deployment of heavy security here, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh Friday asked the Punjab government to not try to create panic ahead of Baisakhi. The Jathedar called a special gathering at Takht Damdama Sahib on Friday to discuss the role of Sikh and Punjabi journalism, Sikh media contribution, and challenges the state is facing at present. The gathering comes at a time when concerns about the rise of secessionist forces in the border state are being expressed, especially in the wake of a major law and order breach in Ajnala Police Station attack led by radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been declared a fugitive by police. Addressing the gathering, the Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, said because of the security strictness, only a fraction of the usual number of devotees has come here this time ahead of Baisakhi. "Every year, we see a big gathering which starts from April 5 (for Baisakhi). But (at present), the number of

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Friday said the state has cleared its entire electricity subsidy bill of Rs 20,200 crore for the last financial year and has witnessed a jump in excise and GST revenue. Mann, addressing the media here, said the state has registered a revenue of Rs 8,841 crore for the financial year 2022-23, up by 41.41 per cent when compared to 2021-22. He claimed that Punjab's financial position was on the right track. Mann spelled out various initiatives taken by his over-a-year-old government in various spheres including health, education and power. "What we have achieved in one year, other governments were not able to do so in 15 years," he said. He also said his government has fulfilled several poll promises in the first year itself, "which other governments are not able to do even in the fifth year". He said his government has set a target of 10,000 crore in excise revenue for the current fiscal, as he criticised the previous governments for allowing "liq

Amritpal Singh has been on the run since March 18. The police so far have arrested eight of his close aides

In the wake of this, the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav has sent out a message to the officers canceling all previously sanctioned leaves

The Punjab Police on Friday urged people not to believe rumours and fake news of the surrender of radical preacher and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh.Responding to a media report on Friday, Punjab Police, in a tweet, said, "This is a fake news and factually incorrect. Please fact-check news before sharing. Don't spread rumours and fake news."Waris Punjab De chief, Amritpal, has been on the run since March 18, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him.Amid speculations that the radical preacher is likely to surrender at Amritsar's Golden Temple, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Parminder Singh Bhandal said last Saturday that if the fugitive Khalistani leader wants to surrender, they will facilitate the same in accordance with the law."We are continuously working to ensure the safety and security of people in Amritsar. Right now, we are more focused on managing traffic as Baisakhi is around the corner. If Amritpal wants to surrender, we are ready to ...

The Punjab government has introduced millets in the menu for players at all centres of Punjab State Institute of Sports to provide them with a balanced and nutritious diet. "Millets will be provided thrice a week in the form of Ragi porridge (Dalia), mixed millet chapatis and Bajra-Dal Khichdi. Trainees will be made aware of the benefits of the consumption of millet through online and offline classes periodically," Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said on Wednesday. He said this initiative is part of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's motto of a healthy and prosperous Punjab. Principal Secretary, Sports Department, Rakhee Gupta Bhandari said the department has made full preparations to implement this new initiative. The year 2023 has been declared as International Year of Millets by the United Nations. Trainees are being made aware of the benefits of coarse grains, including millets, in their diet, she said.

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh on Wednesday said the government is prepared to deal with any situation arising out of a rise in Covid cases. Currently, there was no Covid patient in ICU or on ventilator support in the state, Singh said and assured that the situation was under control. "Our oxygen plants are functional. Our staff, wards, emergency system, all are active," he said and asserted that "our entire system is fully geared up". The minister advised people to wear masks while going out, particularly in crowded places. He advised immunocompromised patients not to go out and asked those showing symptoms of cough and fever to get themselves tested for Covid. Singh also reviewed the arrangements at the government-run Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Punjab on Tuesday had reported 73 fresh cases of coronavirus with the highest (22) in Mohali followed by 14 in Jalandhar and 11 in Ludhiana. There were 396 active cases in the state as on April 4 and the positivity rate was 3.27

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will launch 'CM di Yogshala' programme in Punjab on Wednesday, the party said in a statement here. The statement came a day after Mann said his government will initially start 'CM di Yogshala' initiative in four cities -- Amritsar, Ludhiana, Phagwara and Patiala. Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Tuesday said they have launched a helpline 7669400500 where people can give a missed call to seek a free yoga teacher from the state government. People will be able to get all kinds of information about diet and yoga exercise, he said. "Today, so many people are suffering from diseases related to the respiratory system, blood pressure, sugar levels and heart issues. Therapeutic yoga can help all these patients a great deal," Singh said. He said 60 people have been trained at Guru Ravidas University to teach yoga under the 'CM di Yogshala' initiative. "With 'CM di Yogshala', people will lead a healthier life, they wi

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday termed as "unconstitutional" the election commission's decision to postpone polls in the Punjab province till October 8, in a blow to the federal government that has been trying to delay the provincial election citing security issues and the economic crisis. The apex court also fixed May 14 as the date for polls in the province.

The Editors Guild of India expressed its "deep concern" over the "arbitrary suspension" of social media accounts of several journalists and media organisations in Punjab

Punjab's animal husbandry department is close to achieving 100 per cent vaccination of the 25 lakh cattle in the state against lumpy skin disease (LSD) and has inoculated more than 22 lakh of them. In an official statement issued on Saturday, Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said the vaccination drive is nearing completion ahead of the April 30 deadline. "The vaccination drive for early protection of cattle from LSD was initiated on a war footing on February 15, 2023 with 773 dedicated veterinary teams of the animal husbandry department," he said. "We have completed 90 per cent vaccination till date, with more than 22,58,300 cattle already vaccinated," the minister said, adding the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government has set a target of vaccinating all the 25 lakh cattle in the state under this mega campaign. Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Vikas Pratap said the department had set a daily target of administering 40,000 vaccine doses and has achieved it

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said his government was exploring the possibility of moving court to seek the Rural Development Fund dues of Rs 3,000 crore from the Centre. He stated this after announcing the closure of a toll plaza on the Kiratpur Sahib-Nangal-Una road, according to an official release. Mann said the state government was exploring the possibility of moving court to seek the dues from the Centre. He alleged that the Union government was "unnecessarily harassing" the state by stalling the release of Rs 3,000 crore dues under the Rural Development Fund (RDF). Mann said the state government had completed all the formalities but the Centre was deliberately stalling the release of the amount. Last month, the chief minister had raised the issue of the release of RDF dues with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu walked free on Saturday after spending nearly 10 months in Patiala central jail in a 1988 road rage death case. He was wearing a sky blue jacket when he came out of jail. There were expectations that he would be released by afternoon but he came out of jail at 5:53 pm. The 59-year-old's supporters had assembled since morning outside the prison to accord him a grand welcome upon his release and they could be heard chanting 'Navjot Sidhu zindabad'. Several Congress leaders including Amritsar MP Gurjit Aujla, former Punjab Congress chiefs Shamsher Singh Dullo, Mohinder Singh Kaypee and Lal Singh, former MLA Navtej Singh Cheema, other leaders Ashwani Sekhri, Sukhwinder Singh Danny were also waiting for the return of Sidhu. The former state Congress chief was jailed on May 20 last year after being sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court over the death of the 65-year-old Gurnam Singh in a road rage case in 1988.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said he has formed a committee under the chief secretary to look at alternative crops that require less water compared to paddy. Mann said sowing of the paddy crop over the years has led to several problems including depletion of underground water table and issues related to stubble burning. He said he has formed a committee under the chief secretary which will meet farmers in different villages and see which crops consume less water and bring more income to farmers as a replacement of paddy. The committee will submit the report to him, he said in a video message. The CM said his government was taking steps to promote basmati, cotton, moong and pulses. He said his government wanted to increase the area under the cotton crop. The CM said from April 1, canal water will be made available for irrigating cotton crop up to tail ends. He said 33 per cent subsidy was being given on cotton seeds which are certified by the Punjab Agricultura

The Punjab government has informed the Akal Takht that 348 of the 360 people taken into preventive custody during a police crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh have now been freed. The Akal Takht Jathedar's personal secretary Jaspal Singh on Thursday said a message was received from the state government that the rest would also be released soon. Earlier this week, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had given an ultimatum to the state government to release all Sikh youths held during the police crackdown against Amritpal Singh and his aides. The Jathedar had also condemned the state government for invoking the National Security Act against a few people during the police crackdown. A few days prior to the Jathedar's ultimatum, the Punjab Police had said that out of those detained, nearly 30 were hardcore criminals. The rest would be released after verification, a senior police official had said. Meanwhile, police have stepped up security in and around Amritsar and

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said 27,042 government jobs have been given to the youth during past one year. "Idle hands (mind) are devil's workshop. So we are trying our best to ensure that maximum youth get jobs so that they do not fall prey to the social menaces," said the chief minister as he handed over job letters here during a function here. A state government statement said Mann handed over job letters to 219 clerks and 26 youngsters on compassionate grounds. The chief minister said unemployment is the root cause of several social problems due to which the state government is focussing on eradicating this malady. He said so far 27,042 government jobs have been given to the youth within one year of his party coming to power. Mann said the state government is laying major thrust on providing jobs to the youth. He said the newly recruited youth should ensure maximum welfare of the public so that every section of society is benefited from it. The chief min