Chandigarh, June 10: The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has approved a series of major decisions aimed at supporting students, creating employment opportunities, boosting industrial growth, strengthening public infrastructure, and promoting renewable energy across the state.
The decisions were taken during a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Chief Minister. Key approvals include free bus travel for NEET aspirants, recruitment of 1,169 government employees, establishment of compressed biogas projects in Patiala and Jalandhar, and amendments to the Industrial & Business Development Policy, 2026.
Free Bus Travel for NEET Candidates
In a significant relief for students appearing in the reconducted NEET UG examination, the Cabinet approved free bus travel for candidates and one attendant travelling to examination centres in Punjab and Chandigarh.
The NEET UG exam, originally scheduled for May 3, 2026, has been rescheduled for June 21, 2026. Students and one accompanying attendant will be allowed to travel free of cost on Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS, and PRTC buses on June 20, 21, and 22.
Candidates will only need to show their admit cards to avail of the facility. The Transport Department will bear the expenses, which will later be reimbursed by the Finance Department.
Recruitment of 1,013 Lecturers and 156 Junior Engineers
To strengthen government services and create employment opportunities, the Cabinet approved the recruitment of 1,013 vacant Lecturer Cadre (Group-B) posts in the School Education Department.
A one-time relaxation of five years in the upper age limit has also been granted for candidates applying for these positions.
The Cabinet further approved the recruitment of 156 Junior Engineers in the Public Works Department (PWD), including 127 Junior Engineer (Civil) posts and 29 Junior Engineer (Electrical) posts. These vacancies will be filled through direct recruitment by the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB).
Biogas Projects Approved for Patiala and Jalandhar
Promoting sustainable waste management and renewable energy, the Cabinet approved two Wet Waste-Based Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects with a capacity of 100 tonnes per day each in Patiala and Jalandhar.
The projects will be developed by HPCL Renewable and Green Energy Limited (HPRGE). They are expected to reduce landfill waste, improve urban sanitation, generate clean energy, produce organic manure, and lower methane emissions.
Punjab currently generates around 4,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily across its urban local bodies.
Amendments to Civil Services Rules and Industrial Policy
The Cabinet also approved amendments to Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services Rules, 1994. Under the revised provisions, if two candidates have the same merit and date of birth, seniority will be determined based on marks or grading obtained in the minimum educational qualification required for the post.
In another important decision, amendments were approved to the Industrial & Business Development Policy, 2026 under the Punjab Udyog Kranti initiative.
The revised policy extends fiscal incentives beyond MSMEs to existing industrial units and strengthens provisions related to industrial clusters, research and development facilities, and environment-friendly technologies.
The government believes these reforms will encourage new investments, support industrial expansion, and further strengthen Punjab’s position as a preferred investment destination in India.
