Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday announced a major revision in operational timings for all state government offices, schools, and colleges across the state. Under the newly mandated schedule, regular working hours will be shifted from the conventional 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM slot to an early morning session of 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The synchronized policy adjustment will officially take effect on Monday, May 25, 2026, and will remain strictly enforced until further administrative orders are issued by the state government.
The critical decision was finalized following detailed consultations with regional administrative stakeholders to protect public sector employees and students from extreme daytime weather conditions. Chief Minister Mann emphasized that the adjusted morning hours will enable citizens to access essential public services early in the day, entirely eliminating the need to take formal leave from work during peak thermal hours. Additionally, the revised structure will ensure that institutional hours align seamlessly, allowing public servants to return home around the same time as their school-going children to rest during peak afternoon radiation.
Beyond individual healthcare measures, the administration’s decision doubles as a vital resource-management strategy to ease heavy strain on the state’s fragile electrical grid. Chief Minister Mann pointed out that official data from the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited demonstrates that regional peak power loads begin to escalate sharply after 1:00 PM. By shutting down major commercial and administrative operations by 1:30 PM, the state expects to achieve massive energy conservation, reduce overall electricity consumption, and effectively minimize widespread voltage fluctuations and power outages across both rural and urban sectors.
