Punjab Politics & Governance

Punjab launches Mawan-Dhiyan Satikar Yojana

1 July 2026

Punjab launched the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dhiyan Satikar Yojana in Dhuri, with direct bank transfers to eligible women beginning the same day. The initial payment covered July to September: ₹1,000 per month for eligible women and ₹1,500 per month for eligible Scheduled Caste women.

Key Facts

• The scheme’s stated purpose is to strengthen women’s dignity, confidence and financial empowerment, beyond providing monetary assistance.

MPLADS utilisation rates differ among Punjab MPs

1 July 2026

A snapshot of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation ’s MPLADS portal on 1 July 2026 showed different fund-utilisation rates among Punjab’s Lok Sabha MPs. Faridkot MP Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa had the highest reported rate at 58.7%, while Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi had the lowest at 16.8%.

Key Facts

• Under MPLADS, MPs recommend constituency development works; district administrations release funds, manage tendering and supervise implementation.

Punjab reports 24.45% first-quarter GST growth

1 July 2026

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reported GST collections of ₹7,833.45 crore for April–June 2026, up 24.45% from the same quarter of the previous financial year. He also reported that ₹1,270 crore in GST refunds had been issued during the quarter, including ₹713.70 crore as the State GST component.

Key Facts

• GST is a multistage, destination-based indirect tax, collected where goods or services are consumed rather than produced.

Punjab launches Kalyan distributary lining project

1 July 2026

Punjab launched a ₹34.51-crore project to line 60.66 kilometres of the Kalyan distributary with concrete. The project is projected to increase water-carrying capacity by 10% and improve irrigation across 50,819 acres in 42 villages in Barnala and Malerkotla; October 2026 was set as the completion target.

Key Facts

• The lining project is designed to raise the distributary’s carrying capacity from 150.40 to 170.61 cusecs.

Punjab Cabinet approves revised land-pooling benefits

2 July 2026

Punjab’s Cabinet approved revisions to land-pooling benefits, raising the commercial plot entitlement from 200 to 210 square yards per acre while retaining 1,000 square yards for the residential-and-commercial option. Landowners choosing only residential plots would be eligible for 1,630 rather than 1,600 square yards per acre; the commercial entitlement for commercial-category projects rises from 800 to 840 square yards. The Cabinet also approved changes to the policy for landowners whose land is acquired.

Key Facts

• Under the revised ‘Aaoستي’ policy, landowners whose land is acquired qualify for 200-, 300- or 500-square-yard plots according to the acreage acquired.
• Eligible original landowners receiving developed plots owe no stamp duty or other charges at registration or conveyance.

Punjab approves temporary fee waivers for citizen services

2 July 2026

Punjab’s Cabinet approved fee waivers from 1 July to 30 September 2026 for specified citizen services, including caste, residence and birth certificates and duplicate Class 10 and 12 certificates. It also waived the ₹70 service fee for 120 doorstep government services during the same period.

Key Facts

• During the waiver period, eligible certificates can be obtained through Sewa Kendras, nearby service centres and the online citizen-services portal.
• The ₹70 service charge for Punjab’s 120 doorstep government services is waived for the specified three-month period.

Punjab approves recruitment for 716 posts

2 July 2026

Punjab approved recruitment for 619 vacant Multipurpose Health Worker (Female) posts and 97 posts in the Industries Department, taking the total to 716. Baba Farid University of Health Sciences will handle the selection process for the health-worker posts. The approvals concern recruitment; they do not indicate that appointments have been made.

Key Facts

• Baba Farid University of Health Sciences is a public university established under Punjab legislation; it will conduct selection for the approved health-worker recruitment.

Punjab makes specified serious traffic offences non-compoundable

2 July 2026

Punjab made specified serious traffic offences non-compoundable, requiring cases to go to court rather than be settled by paying a challan at the roadside. The listed offences include red-light violations, dangerous or zig-zag driving, driving under the influence, unauthorised overtaking and allowing a minor to drive. Courts will decide penalties; allowing a minor to drive may attract up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹25,000.

Key Facts

• The Motor Vehicles Act provides India’s framework for road-transport regulation, including traffic rules, offences and ...