Haryana govt announces higher monthly honorarium, enhanced benefits for rural sanitation workers
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 11 (IANS) The Haryana government has announced a series of financial and welfare benefits for Gramin Safai Karmis, including an increase in their honorarium, higher uniform and washing allowances, compensation for duties outside their villages and compassionate appointments for a family member in the event of death while on duty. The benefits were conveyed by the Director, Development and Panchayat Department, Haryana, in an official memorandum dated September 10, issued to Deputy Commissioners, Chief Executive Officers of Zila Parishads and district- and block-level development and panchayat officials across the state. Under the decision, Gramin Safai Karmis will receive arrears arising from an increase of Rs 2,100 in their monthly honorarium from January 2026. The honorarium was increased from Rs 16,000 to Rs 18,100, with arrears payable for the period up to June 30, 2026. The government has also approved the release of outstanding honorarium for October 2023, covering eligible sanitation workers who were not paid for that month during the strike period. The order lists 48 workers in Dhand, 54 in Farukhnagar, 25 in Sihma and 15 in Nizampur, taking the total to 139 workers, subject to verification of official records. In another major decision, sanitation workers assigned duties outside their villages will be entitled to an allowance of Rs 200 per day. The amount will be paid by the concerned Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) office from petty expenses for such deployments. The government has also increased the annual uniform allowance by Rs 2,000, raising it from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000. The annual washing allowance has been increased by Rs 500, from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. The order further provides that if a Gramin Safai Karmi dies while on duty, one family member will be offered an appointment on compassionate grounds. To protect families from being exploited by private agencies, BDPO offices have also been directed to assist the families of deceased sanitation workers in completing EPF and ESI death-claim paperwork. The government has additionally directed that the monthly honorarium of Gramin Safai Karmis must be disbursed by the seventh day of every month. In case of delay, a penalty of Rs 2,500 will be payable. The decisions were issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department, Haryana, according to the memorandum signed by Sushil Sarwan.
Drug trafficking accused escaped from NCB Jammu custody arrested in Punjab
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in close coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and Punjab Police, on Thursday traced and apprehended Aqib Bashir, a notorious drug trafficker who had fled from NCB custody in Jammu. The operation is a strong example of three-day sustained search and tracking operation across J&K and Punjab and prompt coordination and intelligence sharing between J&K Police, Punjab Police and NCB besides the valuable support of the media fraternity in disseminating the alert, said an NCB Jammu spokesperson. It also reflected strong coordination between Central and state and UT agencies, spokesperson said. After fleeing from Jammu, the accused, according to the spokesperson, reached Jalandhar via the Pathankot route. He initially attempted to evade detection by taking shelter under the cover of darkness and hiding in a forest area near Narwal Fruit Mandi, Jammu. To conceal his identity, he clean-shaved, changed his clothes and altered his appearance. He subsequently used his contacts in Jalandhar to seek shelter and evade the search teams. Continuous intelligence inputs and coordinated field efforts enabled the agencies to track and narrow down his location. The NCB (Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh)Punjab Police team apprehended him when he was reportedly preparing to move towards Delhi or another state, spokesperson said, adding that the successful operation reflected the effectiveness of inter-agency coordination, real-time information sharing, sustained efforts and public cooperation.
Aryans Group of Colleges organises blood donation camp
Srinagar, Sep 10:The Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura, near Chandigarh, successfully organised a Blood Donation Camp at its campus, witnessing enthusiastic participation from students, faculty and staff members. Dr Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges, presided over the camp, while Ajay Jain, Samvedna Trust (R), Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, was also present on the occasion. Students from Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing, Allied Healthcare, Physiotherapy, Management, Business Studies, Computer Applications and Education came forward for the noble cause. A total of 88 units of blood were collected during the camp. A medical team from Guru Nanak Charitable Hospital, Ludhiana, comprising Harish Kumar, Medical Officer; Sandeep Kaur, Staff Nurse; Ritik Sharma, Lab Technician; and Arshdeep Singh, Lab Technician, conducted health screening and eligibility assessments of the prospective donors. Dr Anshu Kataria, as per a statement, said that blood donation is one of the most meaningful forms of service to humanity, and educational institutions have a responsibility to develop socially conscious and compassionate citizens. He said, A single act of blood donation can bring hope to patients and their families during critical situations. We are proud to see our students and staff voluntarily participating in this humanitarian initiative. Among those who donated blood were Aditya Kaur (B.Tech), Abdullah Ansari (RIT), Shashi Gupta (RIT), Awqat Ahmad (B.Tech), Swati (Staff), Balbir Singh (E), Rohan Gupta (OT), Amandeep Singh (Student), Tarun Singh (B.Pharm), Adnan Hazari (B.Tech), Rammek Singh (B.Pharm), Krishna Madhdesiya (B.Tech), Zahid Abdullah (B.Pharm), Wajheed Ahmad (B.Pharm), Abhney Guleria (B.Tech), Vikas Shukla (B.Tech), Vishal Kumar Panday (B.Tech), Shoukat Bashir (Staff), Akhtar Ansari (B.Pharma), Ayaz Ahmad (B.Pharma), Mohd. Mohsin Dar (B.Pharma), Sushil Kumar (RIT), Suhel Ali (B.Pharm), Neeraj Kumar (B.Pharm), Jagdeep Singh (B.Pharm), Fayeez Singh (B.Pharm), Jugal Dumolia (Student), Lutman Nabi Lone (RIT), Tauseef (RIT), Manish Kumar (B.Tech), Lovdeep Singh (B.Tech), Abdishak (RIT), Faizaan (RIT), Ali Shoaib (Staff), Amit (RIT), Taranpreet Kaur (Nursing), Kunika (Nursing), Javed (Staff), Dr. Vallari (Staff), Imran Khan (Nursing), Barun Sharma (Nursing), Gursharanpreet Singh (GNM Nursing), Mohammed Vami (CSE), Irfan Ansari (OT), Aamir Anir Choudhary (RIT), Dr. Vinay Thakur (Staff), Abhijeet Kumar (RIT) and Danish Majeed Mir (RIT). Their participation reflected the collective commitment of the Aryans community towards social responsibility and humanitarian service.
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NCSC panel visits suicide victims family, takes stock of action by Punjab govt
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 10 (IANS) A team of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Thursday visited a village in Sangrur district and met the family of late Gulzar Singh at his residence. The team interacted with the family and took stock of the action taken by the government. Opposition parties have been calling for registration of an abetment of suicide case against state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and others named by suicide victim Gulzar Singh in his dying declaration over the rampant sale of drugs in his village, Toor Banjara. In a statement, Deputy Commissioner of Sangrur, Poonamdeep Kaur, said, During the interaction, the family expressed satisfaction with the action taken so far by the Punjab government and the authorities. The family also informed that the assistance assured by the government was being provided to them. She said Rs 5 lakh compensation has already been released to the family. The government has also assured employment to a family member, and this has been conveyed to the NCSC team during the meeting. She said the family also expressed satisfaction with the action taken by the police. Four people have been arrested, while further efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by an officer of Additional Director General of Police rank, is conducting an investigation into the matter, and strict action is being taken in accordance with the law. The NCSC team took note of the steps taken by the Punjab government and the district administration. The administration apprised the commission of the assistance extended to the family as well as the ongoing investigation and assured full cooperation with the commission in the matter, said the Deputy Commissioner. It was stated that the district administration remains committed to ensuring all necessary assistance to the bereaved family and facilitating the implementation of all assurances made by the government. She said the administration would continue to extend full cooperation to the NCSC and ensure that all further action in the matter is taken strictly in accordance with law.
Punjab BJP chief Dhillon's convoy attacked by AAP workers
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 10 (IANS) The convoy of Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon was allegedly attacked by workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday, but he and other senior party leaders escaped unhurt. The attack took place when Dhillon was on his way to Toor Banjara village in Dirba in Sangrur district to offer condolences to the family of Gulzar Singh, who had allegedly died by suicide after being allegedly distressed by the state government. He was accompanied in the vehicle by BJP National Vice-President Manpreet Singh Badal, former State Presidents Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma. Dhillon said in a statement that the tenure of the Aam Aadmi Party had turned into a rule of hooliganism, where no one was safe. He noted that today AAP workers stopped and attacked his vehicle. This was not an attack on me, but an attack on democracy, Dhillon was quoted as saying. He said he was going with senior leaders of BJP to raise his voice for justice for Gulzar Singh's family, but on the way AAP workers, allegedly acting at the behest of their masters in Delhi, surrounded his vehicle. He added that even more shocking was the fact that the police administration stood just 100 metres ahead and watched the entire incident as a mute spectator. The (AAP) government is attempting to silence not only the voice of the people but also that of the Opposition. The Aam Aadmi Party has resorted to politics of 'saam, daam, dand, bhed'. The State BJP Chief said that the Aam Aadmi Party had crossed all limits of oppression and that its end was now near. The self-respecting people of Punjab are ready to give a befitting reply to this high-handedness. He said the BJP would not be intimidated by such attacks by the AAP government and would firmly confront every act of high-handedness by the Punjab government. During their return journey to Chandigarh, the route of Dhillon and the accompanying BJP leaders was also blocked by AAP workers. However, Dhillon and the other BJP leaders got out of their vehicles, proceeded towards the road blocked by the AAP workers, and crossed the route on foot along with the convoy, the statement added.
Punjab CM using green pen for torture, alleges Sukhbir Badal
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 10 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Thursday said that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was using his self-proclaimed green pen for loot and torture with the latest incident of a youth consuming poison in despair after being tortured at the Dhuri police station. The Akali Dal chief was addressing a gathering in Kharar town, and he promised that the constituency would be developed in a holistic manner once the party took over the reins of the state. Asserting that the latest incident followed a spate of cases of torture and suicide in Sheron and Toor Banjara villages in which two people were tortured for showing a black flag to the Chief Minister and for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on the rampant sale of drugs, Badal said: This is the change AAP has brought into Punjab politics. Shaming the Chief Minister for brandishing a green pen while claiming it would bring in a revolution by being used for public good, he said: All this green pen has done is silence the voice of dissent and loot the resources of the state. He said today, again in a shocking incident, the police tortured youth Chamkaur Singh to such an extent in Dhuri that he consumed a poisonous substance in police lock-up. Badal said even as all this was happening, CM Mann was indulging in lies and mimicry in fake Lok Milni programmes and strutting around on stages in an inebriated condition. Simultaneously he is also handing over clean chits to thugs, drug lords and even rapists. He said the manner in which the Chief Minister had inducted alleged gangster Gurpreet Singh Sekhon into AAP and made him the partys in-charge of Zira, despite the fact that he had 50 criminal cases pending against him, revealed his true stand on tackling gangsters. Badal announced that the party would tackle the menace of gangsters and drugs once it came to power by enacting special laws which would allow seizure of their properties and a minimum jail term of 20 years.
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PGIMER Recruitment 2026: Applications Open for 243 Nursing Officer Positions
PGIMER Chandigarh has announced the recruitment of 243 Nursing Officer positions. Applications are open until October 3, 2026. PGIMER Recruitment 2026: Applications Open for 243 Nursing Officer Positions
Slow Korean courts present tough hurdle, but India ready for Davis Cup challenge: Rohit Rajpal
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) Expecting a stern challenge on 'slow courts', Indias Davis Cup non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal believes his unified squad is well-prepared to counter South Koreas home advantage when the two sides meet in the World Group Qualifiers Round 2 in Seoul on September 18 and 19. The games will be at the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center and carry huge importance the winner will advance to the prestigious Davis Cup Final Eight, to be played in Bologna, Italy, in November. India, ranked 19th, last met 16th-ranked South Korea a decade ago in 2016 and secured a 4-1 victory on grass in Chandigarh. India, who trails 6-5 in the head-to-head between the two nations, booked its place at this stage in similarly dramatic fashion, beating the Netherlands with a Dhakshineswar Suresh-inspired comeback. As a captain obviously, I have very high expectations. But I do sort of recognize that this is going to be a very tough tie because Koreans are playing in Korea and I'm sure being the hosting team, they're preparing the courts to be very slow, which are not in our favour and much more in their favour and that is the home advantage the home team gets to exercise. So, that will make it tougher. But the Koreans are known to be very tough to beat in Korea. So, but we are preparing accordingly. We are getting there early and trying to get as much as possible used to the local conditions that have been prepared for us, Rajpal told IANS in an exclusive conversation, facilitated by subscription-free OTT platform VETO. India have retained the core of the squad that stunned the Netherlands 3-2 in Bengaluru in February to reach the second round of the qualifiers for the first time since the current competition format was introduced in 2019. The five-member team in Seoul comprises Sumit Nagal, Dhakshineswar Suresh and a maiden call-up given to Manas Dhamne. Doubles duty rests with specialists Yuki Bhambri and N. Sriram Balaji, while Sidharth Rawat and junior Grand Slam campaigner Arnav Paparkar join as reserves. Addressing the inclusion of Dhamne, Rajpal said it was done with an eye for the future. So, Manas is young and energetic and what we are trying to do is also so that there is no transition in the team as we go because some of the best teams in the world go through a transition period. We want to make sure that we have a good mix of younger and experienced player so that the transition period, whenever it does happen, we are through with it and Manas, from that point of view, brings a lot of value to the team and he is playing well. He is transitioning at the moment from being a junior into the men's area. So, I think it will do him a lot of good by being there. He has been there earlier in the squad. But now, for the first time he has made it to the team. He is improving a lot and so, I think it will be a very good experience to see and to play under these kind of pressure situations. Managing player availability amid a demanding professional calendar can be tricky, but Rajpal praised the commitment of the Indian players. Well, we are here, which itself shows that all the players are here. The Indians are known to be very emotional about their country and it is my job as a captain to make sure that the team is unified. In this team, all the energies are together and we are firing as one machine. So, we try to push each other and a lot of the team building exercises are put into place in the last few years and that is paying rich dividends now. There is a lot of leg pulling and a lot of fun jokes are directed at each other. All those things which are necessary to take the pressure off right before a tough match, they do happen. We eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together all the time, as they are all coming from different places in the world. So, the idea to get there early as well is to get everybody together and synergize and fire as one firing good machine. India have historically thrived in doubles rather than singles, something which Rajpal agrees with. I mean, the format itself offers you four singles and one doubles. So, it clearly shows that you need to win many more singles and there is only one doubles. But doubles does play an important role. Every point is important there because you need to get to three matches first to win. Sometimes doubles does change the momentum of teams as well . Sometimes, you have seen teams down love two and then the minute the doubles is in your favour, the next day, you get off to a better start. So, Indians have had a good history with Leander (Paes), Mahesh (Bhupathi), Rohan (Bopanna), all these guys really playing and making a career out of doubles, which frankly is fantastic. After you're done with your singles, it does give you many more years to be able to continue on the tour and still survive. So, they showed the world that you could all be a doubles specialist and still do very well for yourself on the tour. Both teams enter the contest on the back of stunning upset wins - while India stunned the Dutch, South Korea fought back to eliminate 2016 champions Argentina 3-2 in Busan. Asked about the ideal benchmark for success in Korea, Rajpal stressed a pragmatic, match-by-match approach over distant targets. Benchmarks are difficult to pinpoint. I mean, I set very high benchmarks for myself and for the boys. Only if you aim for the top, do you reach somewhere near the top. But if you don't aim for the top, you're nowhere, you know, because everything is target-oriented. So, if you set a target, then your body and mind and everything else works in tandem to be able to get you there or close to that. Sometimes you fall short, maybe for skill, stamina, for whatever reasons and you can fix that and come back again. But at the same time, I'd like to be realistic and we take it one match at a time. I tell the boys that please take it one match at a time. Don't think of the next match and don't think what's going to happen after because we need to first cross that hurdle to be able to then look and prepare for the next one. So, realistically speaking, we're not thinking ahead. We're just going to be focused on getting this tie home and bringing it home.
Engineering Department UT Chandigarh Junior Engineer Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline
Engineering Department UT Chandigarh has released the Recruitment 2026 notification for 10 Junior Engineer posts. Eligible candidates can apply offline through the official website, chandigarh.gov.in, by 08 October 2026.
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Punjab minister invites UAE investors with fast-track approvals
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 9 (IANS) Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Aman Arora on Wednesday invited UAE investors and global businesses to invest in the states new Industrial and Business Development Policy of 2026 with fast-track approvals and complete handholding through a single-window platform, Invest Punjab. Addressing investors and business leaders during the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in Dubai, Arora said Punjab offers a unique blend of robust industrial infrastructure, skilled manpower, vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, agricultural strength, strategic connectivity and a large consumer market, making it an ideal destination for the UAE and global investors. Inviting UAE-based investors, global businesses and the Punjabi diaspora to partner in Punjabs next phase of industrial growth, Arora highlighted the states progressive Industrial and Business Development Policy that offers a flexible incentive framework tailored to diverse investor categories and priority sectors and facilitation through a single-window system. Punjab is open for business and ready for investment. We want investors to see Punjab not just as a market, but as a strategic partner for manufacturing, food processing, technology, logistics and global business operations. Our focus is ease of doing business, speedy approvals, policy certainty and maximum handholding for investors, said Arora. Under the policy, eligible manufacturing units can avail fiscal incentives up to 100 per cent of eligible fixed capital investment, while units in priority sectors and those in border districts and Kandi areas are eligible for incentives up to 125 per cent, subject to an overall cap of Rs 500 crore. Key benefits include capital subsidy of up to 20 per cent of eligible fixed capital investment, i.e. up to Rs 10 crore, 75 per cent reimbursement of the net SGST for the eligible period and 100 per cent exemption of electricity duty for eligible new units as well as existing units undertaking expansion, subject to applicable conditions, he added. The policy also provides employment-linked support and encourages investments in priority and emerging sectors, enabling investors to align incentives with their business and employment plans. The framework extends benefits not only to new projects but also to expansion and modernisation of existing industrial units.
Punjab CM bats for pact with CII for crop residue management
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 9 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday called for collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to accelerate sustainable crop residue management, strengthen horticulture through knowledge and technology exchange, and build a skilled workforce to drive industrial growth in the state. At a meeting with a CII delegation, the Chief Minister emphasised sustainability, resource efficiency, climate resilience and green technology for the benefit of farmers, while pitching focused efforts in the Malwa region, particularly Sangrur and Barnala districts, along with new skill and technology initiatives, including the proposed Multi-Skill Training Institute in Ludhiana and Centre of Excellence for Technical Textiles with an ultra-modern laboratory in Jalandhar. Chairing the meeting with the CII delegation here, CM Mann called upon the CII to scale up sustainable cultivation efforts in the Malwa region, particularly Sangrur and Barnala, where the Parmal variety of paddy is cultivated, apart from other parts of Punjab. Punjab is committed to adopting sustainable and technology-driven solutions for crop residue management. There is a need for the government, industry and other stakeholders to work together to ensure that farmers get practical, affordable and effective solutions while the state moves firmly towards a cleaner and greener future, he said. The Chief Minister assured full support and cooperation to the CII for facilitating the visit of World Horti India during CII Agro Tech India 2026. Punjab would be immensely benefited from such visits through the exchange of knowledge and expertise in both the agriculture and industrial sectors, he said. CM Mann also advocated further knowledge exchange and technology collaboration to strengthen Punjabs horticulture sector and benefit the farmers of the state. He also laid emphasis on strengthening industrial and urban infrastructure across key focal points to improve ease of doing business and quality of life. The Chief Minister said that modern and well-planned infrastructure is essential for improving ease of doing business, reducing costs and attracting investment to the state. The Punjab government is committed to ensuring reliable and quality power supply to industrial areas, particularly during peak demand periods, besides addressing critical infrastructure bottlenecks affecting industrial operations, he added.
Chennai Open: Ajeetesh Sandhu opens two-shot lead
Digital Desk | Chennai, Sep 9 (IANS) Ajeetesh Sandhu fired a six-under 66 to open a two-shot lead after the second round of the INR 1 crore Chennai Open 2026, here at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course. The 37-year-old from Chandigarh (65-66), who began the day sharing the lead, made eight birdies against two bogeys to reach 13-under 131 at the halfway stage. Sandhu, a five-time winner on the DP World PGTI and a former Asian Tour champion, moved two strokes clear of overnight co-leader Stepan Danek. The 29-year-old Czech Republic golfer (65-68) made six birdies and two bogeys in a four-under 68 to take sole possession of second place at 11-under 133. Delhis Rashid Khan (66-68), winner of the Telangana Open in Vikarabad two weeks ago, occupied third place at 10-under 134. His four-under 68 included an eagle on the par-five 18th, four birdies and two bogeys. Sandhu played both nines in three-under but particularly enjoyed the front nine, which was his second nine of the day, because it contains some of the courses more demanding holes. The front nine is a little trickier and has a few holes that really demand your attention, Sandhu said. I managed to make birdies on a couple of those holes, so that was enjoyable. Sandhu felt he struck the ball better than during the opening round and found his rhythm earlier. A couple of timely par saves helped him settle before his late setback, a three-putt bogey on the eighth. Overall, it was a pretty solid round, he said. I found my rhythm early and made a couple of important saves, which helped build momentum. After that, it was fairly smooth sailing. The three-putt bogey on the eighth was disappointing, but there are still two rounds to play. This is Sandhus first appearance at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course. His only previous tournament in Chennai came during his first season as a professional. I liked the course as soon as I played it during the Pro-Am, he said. It suits my eye. It is tree-lined and tricky, so Im pleased with how Ive played so far. Sandhu has also enjoyed the local cuisine, turning to idlis and dosas as part of his preparation for the humid conditions. Im a big fan of South Indian food, he said. Ive been having plenty of dosas and idlis, especially at breakfast. Idlis are good fuel for the round, so Ill continue with that. Current Race to DP World India Championship leader Saptak Talwar (67-68) moved up from tied sixth to tied fourth at nine-under 135, alongside Noida golfers Gaurav Pratap Singh (69-66) and Amardeep Malik (67-68). Defending champion N Thangaraja of Sri Lanka followed his opening 69 with a 70 to move into a share of 11th place at five-under 139. The halfway cut fell at even-par 144, with 52 players from the field of 132 advancing to the final two rounds.
Sandhu Extends Lead At Chennai Open Golf Tournament
Ajeetesh Sandhu has established a two-shot lead after the second round of the Chennai Open, firing a six-under 66 to reach 13-under 131. The Chandigarh golfer is ahead of Stepan Danek and Rashid Khan, with two more rounds to play.
UK-based author Simarjit Kaurs novel Harvir Singh Forever Five was released in Chandigarh on Harvir Singhs first death anniversary. Speakers reflected on the mothers grief and called for stronger measures to prevent crimes against children. The post Novel on Crimes Against Children Released on First Death Anniversary of Innocent Hoshiarpur Boy Harvir Singh appeared first on Sikh Siyasat News .
'Thoroughly enjoyed journey': Australian envoy Philip Green takes train ride to Chandigarh
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 9 (IANS) Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, travelled to Chandigarh by Shatabdi Express on Wednesday and said he horoughly enjoyed the journey. Green termed the train journey a great opportunity to interact with people and recalled Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's earlier remarks that anyone who wants to understand India should get on a train. He shared glimpses of his train journey to Chandigarh on X. While sharing a video from the railway station on X, Green said, Our Prime Minister says, if you want to get to know India, get on a train. So, I do as often as I can and today, I'm off on this Shatabdi Express to Chandigarh. It will get me to Chandigarh, which is the capital both of Punjab and of Haryana, where I got a day of meetings. It's a great opportunity to meet people, have a conversation. Invariably, we talk about cricket. Sometimes, a charming Indian family offers me some food. That's the way it is here in India. That's the way it is on the train. So, get on the train, enjoy India, he added. Green said that he looked forward to exploring opportunities in Punjab and Haryana to further deepen ties between India and Australia. While sharing the video on X, Green wrote, My Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, often says the best way to get to know India is by travelling on its trains. So it was fitting to arrive in Chandigarh by train - a journey I thoroughly enjoyed. Looking forward to exploring opportunities in Punjab and Haryana to further deepen Australia-India ties. In May, PM Albanese recalled his first visit to India in 1991, describing it as a wonderful experience and suggesting to travel by bus or train if you want to understand India. In his address at the Australian Parliament, Albanese said, India, of course, has the largest population in the world, but it will also grow to be the third largest economy in the world over this decade. That is an extraordinary opportunity for us in our region. We are a Pacific nation, but we are also an Indian Ocean nation as well. Our trading relationship has been enhanced by the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, and we are further drawn together through culture, education, and, of course, the international language of cricket. One of my great honours has been my two visits so far to India as Prime Minister. When I first visited India as a backpacker way back in 1991, a long time ago, I travelled a bit differently in those days. I do want to say, if you want to understand India, get on a video bus or train. It is a wonderful experience to see firsthand the warmth that is there, he added.
India's gross manufacturing leasing posts 49 pc CAGR since 2021
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) India's gross manufacturing leasing has reached a cumulative 69 million sq ft, registering a compound annual growth rate of 49 per cent since 2021, a report said on Wednesday. Indias manufacturing sector is witnessing an unprecedented transformation, with leasing demand for industrial spaces projected to capture 40 per cent of the market by 2030, the report from commercial real estate services firm JLL said. Manufacturing has now emerged as the second-largest occupier segment after third-party logistics (3PL), signaling a fundamental restructuring of Indias industrial real estate hierarchy. Gross absorption touched 19.2 million sq. ft. in 2025, and H1 2026 recorded 10.2 million sq. ft.a 19 per cent year-over-year increase for the first half. With manufacturing leasing absorption forecast to reach approximately 46 million sq. ft. by 2030, the sector's trajectory underscores India's evolution toward becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse aligned with its Vision 2047 aspirations, the report noted. The growth in the manufacturing real estate asset class reflects two distinct yet complementary strategies shaping India's industrial landscape. Tier-I cities are witnessing aggressive leasing of Grade-A facilities as manufacturers prioritise speed-to-market and be capex-light due to paucity of affordable land, said Yogesh Shevade, Managing Director, Industrial & Logistics, India, JLL. Simultaneously, Tier-II markets are seeing manufacturers opt for land acquisition, seeking greater customisation and long-term operational control, Shevade said. Both approaches signal robust manufacturing commitment; whether through leasing or ownership, India is becoming the factory floor of choice, he added. Grade-A properties captured 90 per cent of manufacturing leasing in 2025 and the shift toward high-specification facilities reflects stringent adherence to enhanced building standards, hygiene protocols, and safety norms. Nearly 14 emerging markets including Lucknow, Jaipur, Chandigarh tri-city, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Surat, Nagpur, Nashik, Goa, Indore, Sambhajinagar, Tuticorin, Coimbatore & Vizag are witnessing manufacturers prioritise land transactions over leasing, reflecting diverse regional strategies aligned with specific operational requirements.
IPS Officers Posted Earlier in Jammu Kashmir Get New Assignments in Chandigarh
SRINAGAR: The Chandigarh Police has ordered a reshuffle of four senior officers, including several officers who have served in or recently been transferred from Jammu and Kashmir, with the new assignments taking effect immediately. Rajesh Kumar Sharma, IPS (2014 batch), who joined Chandigarh on transfer from Jammu and Kashmir, has been posted as SSP Operations, []
Teachers Need the Courage of the Overman, Not the Comfort of the Last Man
Every Teachers' Day, we celebrate the indispensable role of teachers in shaping society. We honour them as mentors, guides and nation-builders. However, celebration should also invite reflection. What kind of teacher does contemporary society encourage? More importantly, what kind of teacher does democracy require? The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche offers an unexpected but illuminating framework through his distinction between the bermensch (Overman) and the Last Man . While these ideas emerged in a different historical context, they provide a powerful metaphor for understanding the changing nature of teaching today. The Last Man, in Nietzsche's philosophy, is not an immoral person. Rather, the Last Man chooses comfort over courage, conformity over creativity, and approval over excellence. Content with security and social acceptance, such a person avoids risk, conflict and difficult questions. The Overman, by contrast, is defined by continual self-overcoming. The Overman questions inherited assumptions, creates new possibilities and refuses to allow comfort to replace intellectual growth. The distinction is not between good and bad teachers. It is between two educational cultures. Across the world, higher education and schooling are increasingly shaped by market-oriented reforms, performance indicators, student satisfaction metrics, accreditation frameworks and institutional branding. These developments have undoubtedly expanded access and accountability. Teachers are increasingly expected to satisfy stakeholders, minimise complaints, produce measurable outcomes and maintain favourable evaluations. Success is often quantified through feedback scores, pass percentages, employability statistics and institutional rankings. While these indicators have administrative value, they cannot fully capture the transformative purpose of education. Education is not just the transmission of information. Its deeper purpose is the cultivation of independent judgment. This requires teachers who are willing to ask unsettling questions, challenge intellectual complacency and expose students to ideas that may initially be uncomfortable. Genuine learning rarely occurs without some degree of cognitive discomfort. It demands that students reconsider assumptions, confront contradictions and engage with perspectives different from their own. However, an educational culture centred primarily on satisfaction can unintentionally discourage precisely these practices. A teacher who fears poor evaluations may avoid difficult discussions. A curriculum designed around measurable outcomes may leave little room for experimentation. Intellectual risk gradually gives way to pedagogical safety. In this sense, Nietzsche's metaphor becomes relevant. The concern is not that teachers themselves have become Last Men, but that educational institutions increasingly reward Last Man qualities: predictability instead of originality, compliance instead of critical inquiry and managerial efficiency instead of philosophical imagination. Teachers should not be reduced to service providers in a competitive marketplace. Their responsibility extends beyond delivering content or preparing students for examinations. They are custodians of curiosity, critical thinking and democratic dialogue. A teacher's highest achievement is not to produce agreement but to cultivate the intellectual confidence to disagree thoughtfully. This is particularly significant in an age shaped by artificial intelligence, algorithmic recommendation systems and instant access to information. Facts are increasingly available at the click of a button. What remains uniquely human is the capacity to interpret, question, synthesise and exercise ethical judgment. These capacities cannot be automated; they must be nurtured by teachers who themselves embody intellectual courage. Teachers, however, cannot shoulder this responsibility alone. Educational policy must create conditions that allow them to innovate without fear, experiment without penalty and engage students in meaningful dialogue without reducing every educational outcome to a numerical indicator. Professional autonomy is not a privilege for teachers; it is a prerequisite for quality education. On Teachers' Day, therefore, the challenge is not merely to celebrate teachers but to ask whether our educational institutions empower them to become creators of minds rather than managers of performance. Nietzsche believed that civilisation advances when individuals possess the courage to overcome inherited limitations and imagine new possibilities. Education requires precisely such courage. The teacher who merely satisfies expectations preserves the present. The teacher who inspires students to question, create and think independently helps shape the future. The greatest tribute we can pay teachers is not only to honour their work but also to create an educational culture that rewards intellectual courage over conformity, critical inquiry over comfort and self-overcoming over complacency. If education is to remain a transformative public institution, it must continue to nurture teachers who aspire to the spirit of the Overman rather than settle for the ease of the Last Man. (The author is teaching Political Sociology at UILS, Chandigarh University, Punjab. Feedback: ashwinsociology@gmail.com )
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