Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

12 Aug

India Ranked Sixth-Largest Global Economy with $3.92-Trillion GDP for 2025–26

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaEconomic Growth, IMF ranking, India economy, nominal GDP, Pankaj Chaudhary, Rajya Sabha

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India has been ranked as the world's sixth-largest economy, registering a nominal gross domestic product of $3.92 trillion for the 2025–26 financial year. The data, cited by the Union government from the International Monetary Fund's April 2026 World Economic Outlook, was presented to Parliament by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written submission to the Rajya Sabha. The latest figures place Japan and the United Kingdom ahead of India, shifting the country from its previously reported fourth position to sixth in global economic standings. Addressing the parliamentary inquiry, Chaudhary explained that the rankings…

11 Aug

Punjab Police ANTF Bust Cross-Border Drug Module in Ferozepur, Seize Over 30 kg Heroin

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab

Ferozepur (Gurpreet Singh): In a major breakthrough in the ongoing campaign to eradicate illegal narcotics from the state, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Ferozepur Range has dismantled a cross-border drug smuggling cartel with the arrest of three individuals and the recovery of 30.672 kilograms of heroin. The operation, executed under the directive of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to establish a drug-free Punjab, was confirmed on Tuesday by Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav. The arrested suspects have been identified as 24-year-old Anmolpreet Singh, alias Anmol, of Kasuri Gate, Ferozepur; 22-year-old Akash Singh, alias Akash, a native of…

11 Aug

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Travels to Jaipur via Vande Bharat Express for BRICS Meeting

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaBRICS meeting, Jaipur journey, Nirmala Sitharaman, Vande Bharat, youth outreach

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Passengers aboard the Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi to Jaipur experienced a pleasant surprise when Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman joined them on their journey. The Finance Minister boarded the high-speed train to travel to Jaipur, where she is scheduled to represent India at the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting. Her presence created a flurry of excitement among commuters as she actively engaged with fellow travellers throughout the trip. The train journey formed part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gen Z outreach initiative, designed to foster direct dialogue between top government leadership…

11 Aug

Lok Sabha Clears Bills to Rename Kerala as Keralam and Expand NCDC Financing Amid Opposition Uproar

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaKeralam Bill, Lok Sabha, NCDC Act, Parliament proceedings

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Amid continuous disruption and sloganeering from opposition parties over police action against protesting students and the Ram Mandir theft issue, the Lok Sabha passed two significant pieces of legislation within a span of 14 minutes today. Following a morning washout, the Lower House reconvened at 2:00 PM, where the government piloted and successfully passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, alongside the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, before the House was adjourned for the day at 2:25 PM. The passage of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, fulfills a long-standing demand from…

11 Aug

AAP Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu Accuses Harbhajan Singh and Celebrities of Defaming Punjab via Fake Video

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP Punjab, Baltej Pannu, drug menace video, Harbhajan Singh, Rajasthan clip

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab State Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said that the campaign being run on social media by former cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh ‘Bhajji’ and other celebrities to defame Punjab was a dirty conspiracy to stab Punjab, Punjab Police and the government in the back. Addressing the media during a press conference on Tuesday, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “The same party which had honoured Bhajji and given him a Rajya Sabha seat was the party that he stabbed in the back and then went and sat in the lap…

11 Aug

Over 260 Cashless Burn Treatments Delivered in Punjab Under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBalbir Singh, Bathinda health, burn treatment, Cashless healthcare, MMSY Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): A fire can last minutes. The damage can last much longer. For someone who suffers serious burns, getting out of the flames is only the beginning. There can be repeated dressings, procedures, reconstruction and months of recovery. Punjab’s latest burns data under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) puts a number on that difficult journey. 265 treatments worth ₹1.39 crore were provided. Twenty-four-year-old Arjun Kumar was injured when a short circuit triggered a fire at his home. He was taken to Bathinda for treatment worth nearly ₹50,000, provided cashlessly under the scheme. “Everything happened so fast,” he…

11 Aug

Punjab Launches Mass Teacher Training Initiative to Combat Student Substance Abuse and Support Mental Health

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Punjab education, Teacher training, Yudh Nashean Virudh

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant step to strengthen its fight against drug abuse and to promote mental wellbeing of the students, the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government began an extensive teachers’ awareness and capacity-building programme across 12 districts under its flagship anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, this past week. The objective of the initiative is to equip more than 21,850 teachers with the capacity and practical skills needed to identify early signs of mental health concerns and drug abuse among students and to intervene in time. The drive was kicked off in Fazilka and Tarn Taran on Monday, where over…

11 Aug

Harpal Singh Cheema Highlights Timeless Relevance of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj’s Message at Mohali Seminar

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAmity University Mohali, Bani Adhyayan Centre, Guru Ravidass Ji, Harpal Cheema, Social equality

SAS Nagar (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema today said that the sacred Bani of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj carries a timeless message of equality, human dignity, social justice and universal brotherhood, which remains profoundly relevant in contemporary society. Addressing a state-level seminar on ‘Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj Bani and Social Equality’ organised at Amity University, Mohali, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Guru Ji Maharaj's teachings transcended the barriers of caste, creed and social status and emphasised the inherent dignity and equality of every human being.” Speaking about Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj vision of society,…

11 Aug

AAP Appoints MP Meet Hayer and MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand as Election In-charges for PUCSC Polls

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP Punjab, Amritpal Sukhanand, ASAP wing, Meet Hayer, Panjab University, PUCSC elections

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab today announced the appointment of MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand as election in-charges for the upcoming Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections. The appointments have been made for AAP Student Wing - Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), as the party begins preparations for the upcoming student elections at Panjab University. AAP Punjab congratulated both leaders on being entrusted with the new responsibility and expressed confidence that their experience and connect with young people would strengthen the party’s student outreach and campaign at the…

11 Aug

Punjab Minister Aman Arora Launches School Bag Distribution Drive for Nearly 20,000 Students in Sunam

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAman Arora, NEET JEE achievers, Punjab government, school bags distribution, Sunam education

Sunam (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora today launched a special initiative aimed at further strengthening the school education sector in Sunam constituency by distributing school bags to 5,710 girl students studying in Classes 6 to 12 at Shaheed S. Bhagwan Singh Government Smart School (Girls), Longowal. The initiative aims to provide school bags to all 19,886 students studying in 129 government schools across the constituency. His wife, Sabina Arora, was also present on the occasion. Aman Arora said that the initiative was being undertaken by his family through the Babu Bhagwan Das Arora Foundation. He said that school…