Harjot Bains Archives - National Times

28 Oct

Harjot Bains Accuses Previous SAD-BJP Government of Fueling Punjab’s Drug Crisis, Defends Mann’s Anti-Drug Drive

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingHarjot Bains

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has intensified the political battle over drug trafficking in the state, accusing the former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP government of failing to tackle the spread of narcotics during its 2007–2017 tenure. He also praised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for taking action against senior Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. In a post on X, Bains alleged that the drug known as chitta became a major problem in Punjab during the previous coalition government's decade in office. He claimed that Majithia's political influence had discouraged people from speaking out against him at…

04 Sep

Punjab to Honour 75 Educators with State Teacher Awards on Teachers’ Day

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Harjot Bains, Punjab education, School Education, State Awards, Teachers Day

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Saluting educators as the primary drivers of the state’s educational transformation, the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will confer the prestigious State Teacher Awards 2026 on 75 distinguished teachers on the occasion of Teachers' Day. School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced that the selections were conducted strictly on merit under the official State Teacher Awards Policy, ensuring that professional excellence and commitment to classroom learning remained the sole criteria for recognition. The 75 recipients encompass diverse categories within the state education framework, including 55 educators chosen for the State Teacher Award, 10 for…

18 Aug

What Decades Of Previous Govts Failed To Do, Bhagwant Mann Govt Has Achieved In Just 4.5 Years: Harjot Singh Bains

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Education, Harjot Bains, Infrastructure, NITI Aayog, Punjab, Schools

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Presenting the four-and-a-half-year status report of school education, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that the Bhagwant Mann government has transformed the Punjab’s education system through a ₹2,300 crore reform programme, with Punjab surpassing Kerala to emerge as No. 1 in school education in the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog Report 2026-27. Presenting the status report at a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Tuesday, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that 3.64 lakh students have shifted from private schools to government schools since 2022, reflecting the growing public trust in government schools. He attributed…

06 Aug

Punjab Outperforms Kerala to Secure Top Rank in NITI Aayog School Education Index, Says Minister Harjot Bains

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabHarjot Bains, Mission Samarth, NEET qualifiers, NITI Aayog, Punjab education, Sikhya Kranti

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Claiming a historic turnaround, Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains on Thursday said the state has overtaken Kerala to rank No. 1 in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index 2026. While 8,000 schools had no boundary walls and 4 lakh children sat on the floor in 2022, today Punjab has 882 NEET qualifiers from government schools and has become the first state in the country to introduce Artificial Intelligence as a core subject from Classes I to XII. This is the revolution AAP led government promised. Participating in a discussion on an education-related resolution moved…

03 Aug

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Erupts Over Alleged Pharmacy Exam Paper Leak as Congress Stages Walkout; AAP Challenges For A Debate

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP government, Congress walkout, Harjot Bains, Paper Leak, Punjab Assembly, Vidhan Sabha

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The opening day of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha's Monsoon Session witnessed high political drama on Monday as the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and opposition Congress legislators clashed over an alleged pharmacy examination paper leak. The stormy confrontation triggered intense slogan-shouting inside the House, culminating in a protest walkout by opposition members. The controversy erupted during Question Hour when Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa raised the issue and demanded the immediate resignation of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. Drawing parallels to national controversies surrounding competitive entrance exams, Bajwa alleged that multiple examination paper leak…

27 Jul

Punjab Government Increases Monthly Pay of Contractual Sanitation Workers to ₹20,500

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabHarjot Bains, Punjab government, Sanitation Workers, wage hike

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Delivering on its commitment to restore dignity to frontline sanitation workers, the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government on Monday approved a major hike in the monthly remuneration of contractual Safai Sewaks and Sewermen. The decision was announced after Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains held extensive deliberations throughout the day with Safai Sewak Union representatives led by Chandan Grewal, Chairman, Punjab Raj Safai Karamchari Commission, and Sh. Vijay Danav, Chairman, Punjab Dalit Vikas Board. Following the successful deliberations, the ongoing strike by sanitation staff across the state has been called…

10 May

Punjab outshines Kerala to claim top spot in national education rankings

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAcademic success, Harjot Bains, NITI Aayog, Punjab education, School reform

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Marking a historic turnaround for government schools in the state, Punjab has been recognised as one of India’s best-performing states in school education, with the NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026 placing it ahead of Kerala, long considered India’s gold standard in school education, on key foundational learning metrics. Hailing the achievement as the beginning of ‘Punjab’s Era’ driven by systemic reforms and grassroots dedication, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated, “This honour belongs to every parent, student and teacher who refused to give up on government schools. This is not a one day miracle. When…

05 Apr

Long-Stalled Bhakra Museum Project in Nangal Back on Track, Says Harjot Bains

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingHarjot Bains, Nangal

Ropar (Gurpreet Singh): After years of delays, the proposed Nangal–Bhakra Dam Museum project has finally picked up pace, with Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains confirming that work is now progressing swiftly. The project, which had remained on paper for nearly 20 years despite multiple announcements, is now being executed with renewed urgency. According to the minister, construction activity is underway round the clock to fast-track completion. The upcoming museum is expected to showcase the legacy and significance of the Bhakra Dam, while incorporating modern features to enhance visitor engagement. Bains highlighted that the initiative is part of a larger…

21 Feb

HARJOT BAINS TAKES LOOK AT AI BREAKTHROUGHS FOR PUNJAB SCHOOLS AT INDIA AI IMPACT EXPO 2026

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingHarjot Bains

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant move to future-proof the state's educational framework, the Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains today led a School Education Department’s high-powered delegation to the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, where he engaged in a series of strategic discussions with global technology titans and central government institutions to explore scalable, AI-driven solutions for the state's vast school network and further improve the learning outcomes. During his extensive tour of the exhibition halls, accompanied by Secretary School Education Ms. Sonali Giri, Chairman PSEB Dr. Amarpal Singh, and DGSE Mr. Arvind,…

11 Aug

Punjab Moves Supreme Court to Safeguard Services of Over 1,100 College Faculty Members

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, Punjab, TrendingHarjot Bains, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Bains has confirmed that the state government has filed a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking to modify its order dated July 14, 2025. The plea requests that 1,158 Assistant Professors and Librarians working in government colleges be allowed to continue in their positions for the time being. Bains said the move was taken to prevent disruption to the academic calendar and ensure continuity in higher education. “Removing such a large number of teaching and library staff at once would create a severe shortage, directly affecting students’ learning and overall academic environment,” he…