Secretary of the Information and Public Relations Department and 2005 batch Punjab cadre IAS officer Malwinder Singh Jaggi is retiring today i.e. 31st March after putting in 33 years of distinguished service as a civil administrative officer.

Born in a teaching and intellectual family in Patiala, Mr. Jaggi's father Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi is a prominent Sikh scholar who was recently awarded the fourth highest civilian honour, Padma Shri, by the Government of India for his literary achievements. The constructive and scholarly atmosphere of the house instilled good qualities and commitment in Malwinder Singh Jaggi from his childhood. After receiving his primary education from Patiala, Mr. Jaggi pursued professional education in engineering from the renowned engineering college GNE Ludhiana.

With cheers, applause, and an air of unbridled excitement, the much-anticipated three-day cultural extravaganza—KAARVAAN 2025—entered into second day at DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh.

Under the dynamic leadership of Principal Dr. Mona Narang, Dr. Harmunish Taneja (DSW), Dr. Manminder Singh Anand (Deputy DSW), and Dr. Sumita Bakhshi (Deputy DSW), the festival began with a spectacular display of talent, setting the tone for an electrifying celebration of art, culture, and creativity. KAARVAAN 2025 promises three days of high-octane performances, artistic expression, and boundless enthusiasm from March 27 to March 29. The student council of DAVC10 : HSA & HPSU played a pivotal role in making this event a grand success.

Senior leader and spokesperson of the Aam Aadmi Party Punjab, Pawan Kumar Tinu, praised the Punjab Budget 2025-26 and thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and party supremo Arvind Kejriwal for making special provisions for the Scheduled Caste community in the budget.

Addressing a press conference in Jalandhar on Thursday along with AAP leader Tarandeep Singh Sunny, Pawan Tinu said that this budget is the biggest in Punjab's history and, most importantly, does not impose any new tax.

Pawan Tinu particularly praised the decision to waive off loans amounting to ₹70 crore taken by Dalit families under the Scheduled Caste Finance Corporation until March 31, 2020. He said this decision has benefitted over 4,650 families who were unable to repay due to high-interest rates and financial difficulties. He criticized the Congress Party for this, stating that Congress leaders promised to waive these loans to gain Dalit votes during the 2017 Assembly elections but did nothing once in power.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann presented its 4th Budget today named  'Badlda Punjab Budget 2025-26'. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema termed it as a visionary blueprint aimed at transforming Punjab into a vibrant, prosperous, and equitable state.

Addressing the media after his Budget speech, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema launched a scathing attack on the previous governments for their failures and mismanagement, which plunged Punjab into financial and social turmoil. "The Akali Dal and Congress regimes systematically destroyed Punjab's economy and society with corruption, drugs, poor policies, and lack of vision. They left us a state riddled with drugs, unemployment, and crumbling infrastructure. In just three years, we have reversed this decline and set Punjab on a path of progress," said Cheema.

Taking a historic decision to check the illegal mining in state, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday nod for the enactment of the Punjab Regulation of Crusher Units Act 2025.

A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the Council of Ministers held here under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at his official residence.

S. Randeep Singh Ahluwalia today assumed the charge as Additional Director of the Information and Public Relations Department following his promotion. Mr. Ahluwalia, a 1999 batch Information and Public Relations Officer selected through PPSC, was previously serving as the senior-most Joint Director in the department. He was recently promoted to the post of Additional Director by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DOC).

Decorated IAS officer Dr. Ravi Bhagat on Monday assumed the charge of Principal Secretary to the Punjab Chief Minister here at his office in the presence of senior officers of the state government.

Pertinently, Dr. Ravi Bhagat, a senior officer of the Indian Administrative service, had served the state government in various capacities. A 2006 batch IAS officer, Dr. Ravi Bhagat has a penchant for out of the box ideas to improve the delivery of citizen centric services to people. He is known for his proactive and responsive approach towards public service.

The Non-Teaching Staff Union of DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, has re-elected its leadership team for another term after a closely contested election. 

Bihar Foundation Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Punjab Raj Bhavan, where Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT Chandigarh, presided over the event.

The celebration, held under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, showcased Bihar's rich cultural heritage through an array of captivating performances. Traditional folk dances, soulful musical presentations, and cultural programs presented by Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi highlighted the vibrant and diverse traditions of the state, leaving the audience spellbound.