Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

02 Jun

Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk To Join CJP Protest On June 6, Backs Protest Seeking Education Minister’s Resignation

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaaccountability, Dharmendra Pradhan, education reform, Jantar Mantar protest, national examination controversy, Sonam Wangchuk

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk announced on Tuesday his support for a public campaign demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Delivering an ultimatum through a video message and social media posts, Wangchuk stated he will travel to Delhi to join a June 6 demonstration led by the Cockroach Janta Party if the central government fails to take decisive administrative action by June 5. The high-profile endorsement provides significant momentum to a youth-driven movement that has expanded rapidly across digital platforms over recent weeks. Wangchuk, a veteran educator with four decades of experience in the…

02 Jun

Punjab Government School Students Record 34 Percent Surge in IIT Qualifiers Under Sikhya Kranti

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabHarjot Singh Bains, IIT qualifiers, JEE Advanced 2026, Punjab education, School of Eminence, Sikhya Kranti

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Mann Govt’s Sikhya Kranti shatters ‘IIT onlIn a resounding endorsement of “Punjab Sikhya Kranti” initiative, 59 students from Punjab government schools have qualified JEE Advanced 2026, India’s toughest engineering entrance exam, registering a sharp 34% surge from 44 qualifiers in 2025, informed Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains. Expressing delight over the achievement, Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains congratulated the 59 successful students, their parents and teachers, whose dedication made this feat possible. Sharing the district-wise break-up, the Education Minister said that Patiala district emerged as the top-performing district with 11 qualifiers, followed by Sangrur with…

02 Jun

International Kabaddi Icons Join Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAam Aadmi Party, Bhagwant Mann, Kabaddi, Kinda Biharipuria, political induction, Punjab politics, Sports Infrastructure

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a major boost to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), renowned international kabaddi player Kinda Biharipuria, popularly known as "Cheetah" in the kabaddi world, joined the party on Tuesday along with several other prominent sports personalities and social leaders. The new entrants were formally welcomed into the party by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's OSD, Rajbir Singh Ghuman, who said that the growing support from respected sportspersons and youth leaders reflects the people's trust in the policies and governance of the AAP government. Among those who joined the party were international kabaddi players Kinda Biharipuria, Jeeta Badalgarh, Babbu…

02 Jun

Punjab Overhauls 26-Year-Old KCC Framework to Tackle Rural Debt, Boost High-Value Crops

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabagricultural reform, Bhagwant Singh Mann, Crop Diversification, digital banking, Kisan Credit Card, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In one of the most far-reaching agricultural reforms undertaken in Punjab in recent decades, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) system, transforming a 26-year-old framework that had long left farmers dependent on inadequate institutional credit and vulnerable to private moneylenders. The revamped policy significantly raises crop-wise credit limits in line with actual cultivation costs, lowers interest burdens, expands loan eligibility to high-value crops and allied sectors, introduces dedicated financial support for stubble management, and enables farmers to access funds through modern digital platforms such as ATMs…

02 Jun

High Court Grants Punjab Government More Time in Majithia Case, Matter to be Heard Again Tomorrow

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBikram Singh Majithiya, Punjab News

Gurpreet Singh :- The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday heard a petition related to the FIR registered against senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia at Majitha police station in Amritsar district. During the proceedings, the Punjab Government sought time till Tuesday to file its response in the matter. Accepting the request, the court adjourned the case and fixed it for further hearing on June 3. Earlier, the High Court had issued notices to the Punjab Director General of Police, the Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural), Amritsar, and the Station House Officer of…

02 Jun

‘0003’ Fetches Rs 37.63 Lakh in Chandigarh Fancy Number Auction

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, PunjabChandigarh, Fancy Number Plates

Vehicle registration auction generates over Rs 4 crore; ‘0001’ settles for second-highest bid Gurpreet Singh :- The craze for fancy vehicle registration numbers continues to soar in Chandigarh, with bidders shelling out hefty sums to secure premium numbers. In the latest auction conducted by the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA), the registration number CH-01-DE-0003 emerged as the highest-priced number, attracting a winning bid of Rs 37.63 lakh. Interestingly, the highly sought-after ‘0001’ number, which traditionally commands the highest bids, finished second this time with a bid of Rs 23.55 lakh, well below the amount paid for ‘0003’. The online auction…

02 Jun

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains Orders Probe into Amritsar Student Suicide, Abetment Case Registered Against School Management

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsEntertainment, Punjab, TrendingAmritsar, Harjot Singh Bains, Punjab News, Student, Suicide Case

Gurpreet Singh :- Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has taken a strong stance in the case of a Class XII student who allegedly died by suicide following alleged harassment by a private school in Amritsar. Acting on the matter, authorities have registered a case of abetment to suicide against members of the school management and initiated a detailed investigation. The minister said the government was treating the incident with utmost seriousness and assured that a fair and impartial probe would be conducted. He added that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found responsible. The role of the…

02 Jun

Fake Call Centre Busted in Panchkula; 21 Detained, Cash and Equipment Seized

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia

Gurpreet Singh :- In a major crackdown on suspected cyber fraud operations, the Cyber Crime Police raided an office operating under the name "Alpha Event Company" in Sector 2, Panchkula, late on Sunday night and detained 21 persons from the premises. Among those taken into custody were four alleged key operators — Navdeep, Akshay Tikku, Raza and Ankur Kapoor — while the remaining 17 individuals, including four women, were found working at the facility. Police said all those detained are being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation. During the raid, officials seized 19 desktop computers, three laptops, Rs 11.30…

02 Jun

Punjab women to receive monthly financial assistance from July 1, says CM Mann

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsEntertainment, Punjab, TrendingCm bhagwant maan

Gurpreet Singh :- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced that eligible women in the state will begin receiving financial assistance under the “Mawan Dhiyaan Satkar Yojana” from July 1, with the amount to be transferred directly into their bank accounts. Speaking during a television programme in Chandigarh, Mann said the government had completed most of the groundwork required for the implementation of the scheme and that the remaining formalities would be finalised shortly. He described the initiative as a major welfare measure aimed at providing financial support to women across the state. The Chief Minister said women beneficiaries would…

02 Jun

Punjab Cabinet Approves Election Department Rule Changes Ahead of Assembly Polls

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingPunjab cabinet

CHANDIGARH (Gurpreet Singh): The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday took a key step to strengthen the state’s election machinery ahead of the forthcoming Punjab Legislative Assembly elections by approving an amendment to the Service Rules of the Election Department. The decision removes long-pending administrative bottlenecks, facilitates the smooth and hassle-free Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and paves the way for filling crucial vacancies to ensure adequate manpower for election-related work. The Cabinet also approved the Annual Administrative Report of the Department of Water Resources for 2025-26. The decisions were taken during a…