Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

06 Jun

Punjab First State to Crack Down on Arbitrary Private School Fee Hikes, Says Arvind Kejriw

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, Fee Hike Cap, Private Schools, Punjab education, Punjab School Fees

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Welcoming Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s landmark decision to curb arbitrary fee hikes by private schools, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said Punjab has become the first state in the country to take decisive action against the unchecked profiteering of private educational institutions. He highlighted that the Bhagwant Mann Government has ordered private schools to refund any fee increase exceeding 5%, providing major relief to lakhs of parents burdened by rising education costs. The AAP Chief noted that the AAP Government had previously compelled private schools in Delhi to roll back unjustified fee…

05 Jun

India-US Set to Conclude First Phase of Trade Deal by Mid-July, Says Piyush Goyal

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaDonald Trump, India US trade deal, market access, Narendra Modi, Piyush Goyal, trade tariffs

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India and the United States are on track to finalize the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement by the middle of next month, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on Friday. The announcement signals substantial progress in high-level negotiations aimed at deepening economic integration between the two global partners. Minister Goyal shared details of intense diplomatic activity in New Delhi, noting that a comprehensive delegation of American trade officials engaged in deep discussions with their Indian counterparts from June 2 to 4. He confirmed that the two sides are rapidly moving toward closing all…

05 Jun

Strong 5.9-Magnitude Earthquake Triggers Widespread Panic Across Chandigarh and North India

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabChandigarh earthquake, Hindu Kush tremors, National Centre for Seismology, North India quake, tectonic plates

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Strong earthquake tremors rattled Chandigarh and the tricity region on Friday night, triggering widespread panic as residents — particularly those in high-rise apartments and multi-storey housing societies — abandoned their homes and spilled onto streets and open grounds. The deep-focus seismic event radiated energy across vast distances, shaking multiple states across North India but leaving no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage in the local area. The quake, recorded at around 9:46 pm IST, measured 5.9 on the Richter scale. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the epicentre was located in the Hindu…

05 Jun

SC Seeks Centre’s Response on Surrogacy-Linked Trafficking Report and 1.47 Lakh Missing Children

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia: Supreme Court, child trafficking, child welfare, Ministry of Home Affairs, missing children, surrogacy scam

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the Central Government, demanding a comprehensive response following a deeply concerning report highlighting that 1.47 lakh children are currently missing across the country. The top court expressed severe anxiety over data suggesting a growing, illicit nexus between unregulated commercial surrogacy networks and inter-state child trafficking syndicates. A Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan noted that significant systemic gaps in coordination between various state and central law enforcement agencies have allowed organised trafficking networks to exploit vulnerable minors. The court emphasized that a substantial number…

05 Jun

Punjab to Launch Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna on July 1 to Empower 97 Per Cent of Women

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, direct benefit transfer, financial independence, Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, Punjab women welfare

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday announced that eligible women across the state will start receiving financial assistance under the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna from July 1. Reviewing the implementation of the flagship scheme, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the initiative is aimed at strengthening women’s financial independence and ensuring that they live with dignity and self-respect. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that under the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, every eligible woman in Punjab will receive ₹1,000 per month, while women belonging to the Scheduled Caste category will receive ₹1,500 per…

05 Jun

Cashless Healthcare Relief Reaches 3.79 Lakh Patients as Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Reviews Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, cashless treatment, MMSY cards, Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, Punjab Healthcare

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday reviewed the progress of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY) and said that the flagship healthcare initiative is proving to be a major relief for people across the state, with 3.79 lakh patients already availing cashless treatment worth ₹654 crore under the scheme. Chairing a review meeting, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab Government is committed to ensuring quality and affordable healthcare for every family in the state. “The scheme has witnessed an overwhelming response from the public and is emerging as a transformative step towards universal…

05 Jun

Punjab Anti-Drug Drive Gets Grassroots Boost as E-Rickshaw Campaign Expands to 3,440 Villages

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab: Punjab drugs, Bhagwant Mann, community awareness, Drug De-addiction, e-rickshaw campaign, Yudh Nashean Virudh

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Bhagwant Mann government’s flagship initiative against drug abuse in Punjab 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' is getting a major boost from a campaign that involves specially designated e-rickshaws at the grassroots level. These e-rickshaws are operating across Punjab's 86 legislative assemblies as part of a pilot project aimed at mobilising communities against drug abuse. As part of the campaign, one assembly segment has been selected in each of the 23 districts for the pilot project. In these assembly segments, one e-rickshaw has been assigned to cover 40 villages to spread awareness and collect anonymous tip-offs about drug peddlers…

05 Jun

Nihang Singh killed, three injured in firing following road rage incident near Batala

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsEntertainment, Punjab, TrendingAmritsar, Batala Road, Clash, Firing, Murder, Nihang Singh

Gurpreet Singh :- Gurpreet Singh :- A Nihang Singh was killed and three others sustained bullet injuries in a firing incident that reportedly stemmed from a dispute over passage of vehicles near Simbal Chowk on the Batala-Gurdaspur road on Thursday. According to preliminary information, an argument broke out between two groups after a disagreement over allowing a vehicle to pass. What began as a verbal altercation soon escalated into a violent confrontation. Sources said tensions flared rapidly, following which members of both groups allegedly opened fire at each other using their licensed pistols. The exchange of gunfire created panic in…

05 Jun

Amritsar Bar Association strikes work, protests inclusion of advocate in Majitha FIR

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAmritsar Bar Association, Protest

Gurpreet Singh :- The Amritsar Bar Association on Thursday observed a “No Work” strike in protest against the inclusion of Advocate Bikramjit Singh Bath’s name in an FIR registered at the Majitha police station. Members of the legal fraternity termed the move an attack on the independence of the legal profession and voiced strong opposition to the action taken by the police. Bar Association president Gurpreet Singh Panesar said that representing clients and safeguarding their legal rights was a lawyer’s fundamental duty and could not be treated as a criminal act. He alleged that the advocate had been unnecessarily implicated…

05 Jun

Punjabi Actress Gurpreet Bhangu’s Unique Farewell to Husband Inspires Many

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsEntertainment, TrendingGurpreet Bhangu

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a decision that has touched hearts across Punjab and beyond, veteran Punjabi actress Gurpreet Bhangu chose to donate the body of her late husband, Swarn Singh Bhangu, to medical science, turning a moment of personal grief into a contribution for future generations. Rather than following conventional funeral customs, the acclaimed actress opted for body donation, a move that will assist medical students, researchers and healthcare professionals in advancing their understanding of human anatomy and treatment methods. The gesture has received widespread appreciation from members of the entertainment fraternity, social organisations and the public, many of whom…