PunjabENews

Category: Punjab

  • Three days 12th National Gatka Championship at Talkatora Stadium New Delhi from June 12 to 14

    Three days 12th National Gatka Championship at Talkatora Stadium New Delhi from June 12 to 14

    Chandigarh: The National Gatka Association of India (NGAI) is organising its 12th National Gatka (Men and Women) Championship from June 12 to 14, 2025 at the iconic Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. This national-level martial arts tournament will feature the participation of 16 states Gatka teams comprising more than 500 boys and girls from various states competing in a series of thrilling individual and team events in Gatka Soti and Farri-Soti over three days.

    Starting more about the event, Harjeet Singh Grewal, State Awardee and President of the NGAI, said, the championship is being organized with the objective of preserving, promoting, and professionalizing the traditional Sikh martial art of Gatka, while providing a national platform for emerging athletes to showcase their talent.
    He said “This championship is part of our long-term ‘Vision Document–2030’ to elevate Gatka from a traditional martial art to an internationally recognized sport. Our aim is to make it Olympic-ready by enhancing technical standards, ensuring gender equality through mixed combat events, and adopting IT-based tournament management systems.”
    Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, Acting President of NGAI, added, “We are committed to providing our youth with safe, competitive platforms to popularise our heritage. This championship is a testament to the growing popularity of Gatka and our association’s efforts to promote it at national and global levels.”
    General Secretary Harjinder Kumar and Finance Secretary Baljit Singh Saini informed that the opening ceremony will be held on June 12 while the concluding ceremony on June 14 will honour top-performing athletes with medals, trophies, and certificates. The NGAI warmly invites sports enthusiasts, cultural patrons and the general public to witness the electrifying bouts and support India’s Gatka warriors in this historic event.

  • Punjab Government Meets Peak Demand of 16,711 MW Without Any Power Cuts: Harbhajan Singh ETO

    Punjab Government Meets Peak Demand of 16,711 MW Without Any Power Cuts: Harbhajan Singh ETO

    New Record Set for Electricity Demand in the State: Power Minister

    Chandigarh, June 11:

    The Punjab Government successfully supplied a record-high electricity demand of 16,711 MW across the state without any power cuts on June 11, 2025. This was disclosed by Punjab Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO in a press statement issued here today.

    He stated that the previous record of 16,192 MW, set just a day earlier on June 10, 2025, was surpassed within 24 hours. Prior to that, the highest peak demand was 16,058 MW, recorded on June 29, 2024.He said today new Record Set for Electricity Demand in the State.

    The Power Minister emphasized that under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the officers and employees of PSPCL and PSTCL have been working tirelessly to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people of Punjab. He lauded their efforts and said they deserve special appreciation for their dedication and commitment.

    1. Harbhajan Singh ETO further informed that the state government had already made arrangements for 17,000 MW of electricity in anticipation of the summer and paddy sowing seasons. This preparedness ensured that the peak demands recorded over the last two days were successfully met without any disruptions.

    ——

  • Due to efforts of Punjab Government, Punjab Transport Department collects record additional revenue of Rs. 5375.65 crore during year 2022-2025

    Due to efforts of Punjab Government, Punjab Transport Department collects record additional revenue of Rs. 5375.65 crore during year 2022-2025

    Additional revenue received during year 2022-2025 as compared to year 2019-2022 is a testament to better administration and commitment of current Punjab Government: Laljit Bhullar

    Chandigarh, June 11:

    Due to the commitment of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to provide better administration, the state’s Transport Department has collected an additional revenue of Rs. 5375.65 crore during the year 2022-2025 as compared to the year 2019-2022, which is a testament to the better administration of the State Government.

    Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar while sharing this information said that the non-commercial wing of the Punjab Transport Department, PUNBUS and Roadways and PEPSU have registered a significant increase in revenue collection, which reflects the efforts of the department to better its financial performance. He said that the Punjab Transport Department is committed to continue its efforts to increase revenue collection and improve its services to the public.

    The Transport Minister said that in the last three years, the non-commercial wing (STC) of the Transport Department has generated a total revenue of Rs. 9037.49 crore. He said that in contrast, the revenue generated during the years 2019-2020, 2022-2021 and 2021-2022 was Rs. 5825.38 crore. Reiterating the state government’s commitment to better governance, he said that an additional revenue of Rs. 3212.11 crore has been collected during the years 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, which is a record.

    The Cabinet Minister said that PUNBUS and Punjab Roadways have collected an additional revenue of Rs. 2323.21 crore during the three years of 2022-2025 as compared to Rs. 1332.03 crore in the year 2019-2022, which is an increase of Rs. 990.91 crore.

    1. Bhullar said that PEPSU Roadways Transport Corporation has collected a revenue of Rs. 2894.15 crore during the year 2022-2025 as compared to Rs. 1721.52 crore in the year 2019-2022. He said that the revenue for the year 2022-2025 is Rs. 1172.63 crores more than the previous three years.

    1. Bhullar further said that this impressive performance by the Transport Department is a testament to the department’s commitment to improve its revenue collection methods. He said that due to the sincere efforts of the State Government, Punjab is continuously moving forward in the direction of all-round development. He said that the government led by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has been working towards making Punjab a Rangla Punjab since the past 3 years.

  •  Poll Staff Training and hands-on-training on use of EVMs, a mock drill on EVM voting

     Poll Staff Training and hands-on-training on use of EVMs, a mock drill on EVM voting

    Chandigarh, June 11:

    Proper and professional training of polling officials is an integral part of the preparation for elections. The primary objective of training is to equip the polling personnel with the required knowledge and skills to conduct elections strictly as per Law, Rules and instructions. For this purpose, two rounds of training are conducted in smaller groups so that there is adequate opportunity for interaction and doubt clearing. In the training programmes, hands-on-training related to their role/duties on use of EVMs is also conducted as per guidelines of the Election Commission of India.

    Punjab CEO Sibin C informed that First Training of polling and presiding officers to be deployed at 194 polling stations for conducting poll on 19-06-2025 for Bye election 064-Ludhiana West was organized on 04-06-2025 at Auditorium Khalsa college for women. 1552 polling personnel in Two Shifts at morning 09.00AM and Afternoon at 02.00 PM were trained during the training programme.

    As a part of hands-on-training on use of EVMs, a mock drill on EVM voting was conducted by every Presiding Officer/polling officer individually on separate machines. In the mock drill voting, 388 Presiding Officers participated.

    During the mock drill, individual Presiding Officers cast at least 100 votes in EVM for dummy candidates on a random basis. After completion of mock voting, Presiding Officers personally tallied manual record of votes cast with electronic result of Control Unit and thereafter, electronic result from Control Unit with respective VVPAT slips count. No mismatch was found in manual record of votes cast, electronic result of EVM and VVPAT slips count.

    The Presiding and Polling officers thanked the Election Commission for this hands-on training and came out fully satisfied and showed complete confidence in the functioning of the EVM machines.

  • CEC Highlights India’s Electoral Integrity, Scale and Diversity

    CEC Highlights India’s Electoral Integrity, Scale and Diversity

    – Gyanesh Kumar Delivers Keynote Address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity

    Chandigarh, June 11:

    Highlighting India’s electoral integrity, scale and diversity, Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, while delivering his keynote address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity in Sweden last evening, reaffirmed the role of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in capacity building programmes for Election Management Bodies (EMB) of countries around the globe. Conducting elections with utmost integrity is a testament to our national resolve, he emphasized. Over 100 participants representing Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of around 50 countries are taking part in the Conference, which is being organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

    Gyanesh Kumar also informed the participants about the massive scale of the election exercise that is undertaken by the ECI, especially during the parliamentary elections, which is done under the close watch of the political parties; candidates; general, police and expenditure observers and the media who, he stated, act akin to concurrent auditors at various stages. The CEC also highlighted the scale of coordination that underpins the conduct of elections in India. With over 20 million personnel, including polling staff, police forces, observers, and agents of political parties at the time of conduct of elections, ECI becomes the world’s largest organisation, surpassing the combined workforce of several national governments and major global corporations and ensures that India’s nearly one billion electors are freely able to exercise their franchise.

    Further, speaking at this global platform, Gyanesh Kumar traced the evolution of Indian elections over the decades, noting how the system has adapted to increasing complexity while staying rooted in constitutional values. From 173 million electors in 1951-52 to 979 million in 2024, and from just 0.2 million polling stations in the early years to over 1.05 million today, India’s electoral journey has demonstrated both institutional foresight and unmatched scale. He noted that the 2024 General Elections saw the participation of 743 political parties, which comprised six national parties, 67 state parties and the other registered political parties. A total of 20,271 candidates contested elections conducted across the length and breadth of the country using 6.2 million Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), reaffirming the Commission’s capability to conduct elections that are inclusive, efficient, and secure.

    Gyanesh Kumar underscored the statutory sharing of India’s Electoral Roll with all recognized political parties every year during revision as well as before the elections since 1960 till today, with provision of claims, objections and appeals, as one of the world’s most rigorous and transparent exercises, reinforcing the accuracy and integrity of the electoral process. He noted that this robust mechanism plays a vital role in upholding electoral credibility across the country, year after year.

    Reflecting on the inclusive design of Indian elections, he stated that the electoral process serves first-time voters, senior citizens aged 85+, persons with special abilities, third-gender electors, and voters in the most inaccessible regions with equal care and commitment. From polling booths with a single elector to highest altitude stations like Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh, India’s commitment to leaving no voter behind was reiterated as a constitutional principle rather than a logistical challenge.

  • CEC Gyanesh Kumar holds bilateral meetings with Heads of Election Management Bodies on the sidelines of the International IDEA conference in Stockholm, Sweden

    CEC Gyanesh Kumar holds bilateral meetings with Heads of Election Management Bodies on the sidelines of the International IDEA conference in Stockholm, Sweden

    Chandigarh, June 11

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar held a series of bilateral meetings with the Heads of various Election Management Bodies (EMBs) on the sidelines of his visit to Sweden to attend the International IDEA Stockholm Conference on Electoral Integrity (June 10-12, 2025).

    These engagements aim to further strengthen India’s longstanding partnerships in election management and democratic cooperation. During the bilateral meetings, CEC Gyanesh Kumar held one-on-one discussions with heads and senior officials from several Election Management Bodies (EMBs), covering a wide range of global electoral experiences and innovations.

    Later in the evening of Tuesday, CEC Gyanesh Kumar delivered the inaugural keynote address at the opening session of the International IDEA Stockholm Conference on Electoral Integrity.

    Details of bilateral meetings:

    1. Ms. Marisa Arlene Cabral Porchas, Coordinator of International Affairs and Ms. Norma Irene De la Cruz, Electoral Councilor, National Electoral Institute, Mexico

    1. Mr. Mochammad Afifuddin, Chairperson, General Election Commission, Republic of Indonesia (KPU RI)

    1. Mr. Purvee Delgernaran, Chairperson, General Election Commission of Mongolia

    1. Mr. Mosotho Simon Moepya, Chairperson, Electoral Commission of South Africa

    1. Mr. Hanspeter Wyss, Policy Advisor, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland

    1. Ms. Angelica Caraman, Chairperson and Mr. Pavel Postica, Deputy Chairperson, Central Election Commission, Republic of Moldova.

    1. Mr. Darius Gaizauskas, Head of Information Technology Department, Central Electoral Commission, Republic of Lithuania

    1. Mr. Abdool Rahman Mohammad Irfan, Electoral Commissioner of Mauritius.

    1. Mr. Vijay Rangarajan, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission of the United Kingdom

    1. Ms. Anna-Karina Elbert, Head and Ms. Claudia Isfort, Assistant Head, Federal Returning Officer’s Office, Germany.

    1. Mr. Oleh Didenko, Chairperson and Mr. Vitalli Plukar, Deputy Chairperson, Central Election Commission of Ukraine

    1. Mr. Drazenko Pandek, State Electoral Commission of the Republic of Croatia.
  • Punjab Government Ensuring Peak Power Demand Without Any Cuts: Harbhajan Singh ETO

    Punjab Government Ensuring Peak Power Demand Without Any Cuts: Harbhajan Singh ETO

    Punjab News: In a historic achievement in Punjab’s power sector, the state successfully met an all-time high peak power demand of 16,192 MW on June 10, 2025—surpassing the previous record of 16,058 MW set on June 29, 2024. The milestone was achieved without imposing any power cuts across various sectors for the first time since India’s independence.

    Power Minister Harbhajan Singh attributed this success to the proactive leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, whose direction ensured early paddy sowing and seamless coordination across the energy infrastructure.

    The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) played a pivotal role in achieving this feat. The state’s record-breaking energy demand came just a day after the final phase of advanced paddy sowing commenced on June 9, 2025, in line with the government’s decision to prepone the sowing to June 1st this year. PSPCL’s swift and strategic response enabled the state to break its previous demand record the very next day.

    Minister Harbhajan Singh lauded the effective integration of in-state and out-of-state power generation resources, interstate power banking, and optimal use of the transmission network. He emphasized that the coordinated efforts ensured uninterrupted power to agriculture, residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, even at peak demand.

    Agricultural consumers were receiving more than eight hours of continuous power supply daily, without any curtailment to other sectors. “This is a landmark moment. For the first time after independence, Punjab has managed its peak power demand season without resorting to power cuts,” said the Minister.

    He extended his gratitude to PSPCL CMD Ajoy Kumar Sinha, the board of directors, and all employees for their dedication and efficient handling of the power supply system. “Their hard work and preparedness ensured that every sector, especially farmers during the paddy season, received reliable power,” he noted.

    This achievement reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening power infrastructure and improving service delivery. Under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s governance, Punjab is striving towards energy self-sufficiency while ensuring citizen-centric outcomes.

    Minister said such milestones boost investor’s confidence in the most suitable industrial climate of Punjab and enhance the quality of life for its residents—demonstrating that with visionary leadership and effective execution, power challenges can be turned into achievements.

  • Chairman Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission visits Nangal village of Phillaur

    Chairman Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission visits Nangal village of Phillaur

    Phillaur News: Jasvir Singh Garhi, Chairman of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission, today visited village Nangal in the sub-division to assess the site where an act of vandalism was committed against the statue of Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. He was accompanied by local in-charge Principal Prem Kumar.

    Speaking to the villagers on the spot, he assured them that the honor of Baba Saheb will be maintained at all costs and that those who disrespected the statue will soon be sent behind bars.

    After reviewing the administrative report related to the incident, the Chairman held a meeting in Phillaur with various organization representatives in the presence of administrative officials. He stated that no one will be allowed to disturb the peace and communal harmony of the state, and any foreign forces attempting to disrupt the atmosphere in Punjab will never be allowed to succeed.

    The Chairman emphasized that the reconstruction of Baba Saheb’s statue should take place under administrative supervision. He also recommended that the Gram Sabha meeting of the village be called so that the work can be completed with unity. Additionally, he directed officials to take strict action against miscreants involved in unnecessary interference.

    While interacting with the media after the meeting, Chairman Jasvir Singh Garhi reiterated that those responsible for insulting Baba Saheb’s statue will not be spared and will soon be brought to justice.

    In response to another question, he said that the administration would be advised to form volunteer teams to monitor statues. Furthermore, he stated that the issue of obtaining approval from competent authorities before installing statues will be raised before the Punjab Government.

    Present on the occasion were SDM Phillaur Parleen Kaur, DSP S.S. Bal, and others.

  • PUNJAB POLICE INKS MOU TO EMPOWER YOUTH THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

    Punjab News: In a major step toward youth empowerment and community-centric policing, Punjab Police’s Community Affairs Division (CAD) and the Hartek Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to engage vulnerable and disoriented youth across Punjab through skill development, counselling, awareness, capacity-building and community engagement programs.

    This MoU was signed by Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Community Affairs Gurpreet Kaur Deo and CEO Hartek Foundation Harkirat Kaur here on Tuesday. The strategic partnership was launched with a collaborative effort for the ongoing Yuva Saanjh Initiative, a youth engagement programme.

    Special DGP Gurpreet Kaur Deo said that Hartek Foundation will support the Community Affairs Division to standardise the process for implementing the programme by conducting regular training and capacity building programs for the police officials and Yuva Saanjh committees through this collaboration. These steps will serve as a comprehensive roadmap for the effective and uniform rollout of the initiative across the state, ensuring a structured and impactful approach, she said.

    “The Yuva Saanjh initiative aims to build a bridge of trust between the police and the youth, particularly those who feel disconnected or vulnerable. Through this platform, we seek to foster community engagement and Youth empowerment,” said the Special DGP, while adding that the partnership envisions transforming the relationship between the police and young people by creating inclusive, safe and participatory community spaces. Together, the organisations aim to promote leadership, civic responsibility and essential life skills, with a strong focus on outreach in underserved and at-risk communities.

    She further informed that the first phase will be piloted in selected districts across Punjab, with implementation through local Saanjh Kendras under the guidance of the Community Affairs Division with a focus on the reintegration of vulnerable youth back into the society through skill development and employment initiatives and become positive influences in their communities.

    CEO Hartek Foundation Harkirat Kaur said, “We are honoured to collaborate with the Community Affairs Division of Punjab Police. Yuva Saanjh aligns with our commitment to building resilient communities by unlocking the potential of our youth and empowering them to lead positive change.”

  • Punjab Signs Landmark MoU with CMC Ludhiana to Establish State’s First Public Sector Bone Marrow Transplant Facility

    Punjab Signs Landmark MoU with CMC Ludhiana to Establish State’s First Public Sector Bone Marrow Transplant Facility

    Punjab News: In a pioneering move to strengthen tertiary care services in the state, the Government of Punjab today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana, for establishing Punjab’s first Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) facility in the public sector.

    The aim is to launch a life-saving initiative for children suffering from thalassemia and find a permanent solution.

    The MoU was signed in the gracious presence of Health Minister, Dr. Balbir Singh, who applauded the collaborative spirit of this initiative and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making advanced healthcare accessible and affordable for all.

    Under this programme, eligible patients—particularly children under 12 years—will be provided free HLA typing and subsidized allogeneic stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation, which is currently the only curative treatment for thalassemia. Once successfully treated, these children no longer require lifelong blood transfusions.

    At present, no government medical college in Punjab has an operational BMT facility, forcing patients—especially those with thalassemia, blood cancers, and other hematologic disorders—to seek costly treatment outside the state. This partnership with CMC Ludhiana, a leading institution with proven expertise in BMT, aims to bridge that gap and bring curative treatment within reach of economically weaker patients.

    The BMT centre will provide critical treatment closer to home, especially benefiting patients from rural and underserved districts. The Local availability of follow-up care within the state system will ensure improved monitoring and outcomes. Besides, the centre will also function as a training and skill development hub, strengthening the transplant ecosystem in Punjab and Local access is expected to increase uptake and reduce dropouts.

    The Health Minister on the occasion stated, “This is a historic step towards equitable healthcare in Punjab. Through this partnership, we are not just building a facility—we are giving new hope to hundreds of families battling life-threatening diseases.”

    The facility is expected to become operational in the near future, with robust coordination between the Department of Health, CMC Ludhiana, and other stakeholders to ensure transparent, need-based patient care.

    Among others present on the occasion included Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Hatinder Kaur, Dr. Balwinder Singh, Director National Health Mission, Punjab, Dr. Allen Joseph Medical Supritendent, CMC, Ludhiana, Dr. M Joseph John, Associate Director, Professor & Head Department of Clinical Haematology, Heamato-Oncology & Bone Marrow ( Stem Cell) Transplantation CMC Ludhiana, Dr. Vishal Garg, Additional Project Director, PSACS, Dr. Sunita Devi, Joint Director, BTS, PSACS, Dr. Rishav Aggarwal Deputy Director STI, PSACS.