Chandigarh : The Punjab Cupboard, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on Tuesday authorised the convening of the thirteenth Session of the sixteenth Punjab Vidhan Sabha from August 3 to August 10 and cleared a collection of key selections, together with reforms in police recruitment, the institution of a startup innovation centre, and the implementation of a brand new rural employment scheme.
The choices had been taken throughout a gathering of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Chief Minister.
Punjab Meeting session from August 3
A spokesperson for the Chief Minister’s Workplace stated the Cupboard advisable summoning the thirteenth Session of the sixteenth Punjab Vidhan Sabha from August 3 to August 10. The earlier session had concluded on Could 1, 2026.
Below Article 174(1) of the Structure of India, the Governor is empowered to summon the State Legislature, and the Cupboard has forwarded its suggestion accordingly.
Direct recruitment at SI rank abolished
In a major police reform, the Cupboard authorised an modification to the Punjab Police Guidelines, 1934, abolishing direct recruitment to the publish of Sub-Inspector (SI).
Below the revised coverage, direct recruitment will now be carried out on the Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) stage, with 30 per cent recruitment within the District, Intelligence, Investigation and Technical Assist Companies (TSS) cadres, and 10 per cent within the Armed Cadre.
The federal government stated ASIs examine the vast majority of legal circumstances and kind the spine of police investigations. Recruiting extremely certified candidates instantly on the ASI stage is predicted to strengthen investigative capabilities at police stations.
Cupboard panel for rural employment scheme
The Cupboard additionally authorised the formation of a Cupboard Sub-Committee to supervise the implementation of the Viksit Bharat Assure for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Scheme in Punjab with impact from July 1, 2026.
The Rural Growth Division has been authorised to challenge notifications and operational pointers for the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, which might be funded on a 60:40 cost-sharing foundation between the Centre and the Punjab Authorities.
Startup and innovation hub in Mohali
To advertise entrepreneurship and innovation, the Cupboard authorised the institution of an Built-in Innovation and Startup Centre at Kalkat Bhawan, Mohali.
Modelled on South Korea’s Pangyo Techno Valley, the centre will deliver collectively incubation, analysis, startup acceleration and trade collaboration underneath one ecosystem. It’s going to primarily assist agri-tech startups together with ventures in different sectors.
Extension for desilting work
The Cupboard additionally authorised an extension for permitting the Nationwide Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to proceed desilting rivers and drains and utilise the excavated materials for Nationwide Freeway development tasks.
The federal government stated the sooner timeline was affected by delays in operationalising websites, forest clearances and different native points. Since substantial portions of usable materials stay accessible at authorised desilting websites, the extension has been granted within the bigger public curiosity to facilitate ongoing freeway tasks in Punjab.
