Navneet Sharma

A senior assistant editor, Navneet Sharma leads the Punjab bureau for Hindustan Times. He writes on politics, public affairs, civil services and the energy sector.

Articles by Navneet Sharma

Punjab gets 1,298 cr for school education, Centre flags dropout spike

Samagra Shiksha Scheme: The Centre has flagged the increase in the school dropout rate and teacher vacancies at the secondary level in the state

The central ministry, while appraising the state’s annual work plan and budget proposal, flagged the substantial increase in the school dropout rate at the secondary level. (HT File)
Updated on May 23, 2023 12:50 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Jalandhar bypolls: Breach of bastion a blow for Congress

The loss in the crucial byelection to the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency is a huge setback for the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections

The Congress slipped badly in the bypoll necessitated due to the death of its two-time MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary following a cardiac arrest in January this year. (Reuters File Photo)
Updated on May 13, 2023 10:13 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll: Big boost for AAP ahead of 2024 LS polls

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party proved its mettle in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll on Saturday by routing the Congress in its Dalit bastion for the first time in 24 years

The decisive win over the formidable opponent in the crucial byelection has come as a shot in the arm for the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab ahead of the 2024 parliamentary polls (ANI Photo)
Updated on May 13, 2023 08:53 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

2022-23 fiscal: Punjab: Salary, subsidy bill was 8% more than budget estimates

Punjab saw its expenditure on salaries, pensions and subsidies exceed the budget estimates by 8% during the financial year 2022-23, while revenue receipts fell short of the target.

The outgo on ‘committed expenditure’ and power subsidy has been a cause of concern as it amounted to 95% of the total revenue receipts during the previous year. (Representational Photo)
Updated on May 11, 2023 10:39 PM IST

Jalandhar bypoll: Stakes high, Congress puts up united face

The entire state leadership of the Congress has united behind party candidate Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary, the wife of sitting MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary whose death necessitated the bypoll, in its effort to retain the reserved seat

Senior leaders of Punjab Congress set their differences aside on Thursday and put up a united show as their candidate, Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary, filed her nomination papers for the May 10 Jalandhar Lok Sabha byelection. (HT Photo)
Updated on May 05, 2023 01:23 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Bill Leyao, Inaam Pao: To boost tax revenue, Punjab govt to give ‘lucky’ consumers rewards up to 50k

The Punjab government is gearing up to roll out a new scheme, ‘Bill Leyao, Inaam Pao’ (Bring a bill, Get a reward), under which ‘lucky customers’ can receive rewards up to ₹50,000 by submitting receipts of their purchases to the taxation department.

As per the taxation department’s plan, 10 participants from each of the 29 “taxation districts” will be rewarded every month. (Representational Photo (Getty Images/iStockphoto) )
Updated on May 01, 2023 09:55 PM IST

Punjab govt ups spending limit of depts, says focus on priority areas

The Punjab government, which presented the ₹1.96 lakh-crore budget on March 10, has decided to stagger the expenditure over the year, allowing the departments to spend up to 50% of their budgetary allocation in the first six months of this financial year and the balance in the remaining period, two officials aware of the development said

Punjab government has allowed a higher expenditure limit to its departments in the first half (April to September) of the financial year 2023-24 as compared to the same period of the previous year. (HT File)
Updated on Apr 26, 2023 02:01 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Jalandhar bypoll result will be verdict on our govt’s performance: Harpal Cheema

AAP’s Jalandhar election in-charge and Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema says they are 100% confident that they will emerge victorious

AAP’s Jalandhar election in-charge and Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema says they are 100% confident that they will emerge victorious.
Updated on Apr 21, 2023 01:04 AM IST

PSIEC plot: Industries dept mum on Punjab VB’s recommendation

The vigilance bureau made the recommendation in a demi-official letter to chief secretary VK Janjua on March 2, stating that the state government should revoke the allotment to Signify Innovations under Section (4) (20) and Section 3 (1) of the conveyance deed

PSIEC plot: Industries dept mum on Punjab VB’s recommendation
Updated on Apr 19, 2023 01:11 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Year on, no word from Punjab government on 6th finance panel recommendations

The the 6th State Finance Commission (SFC) headed by former chief secretary KR Lakhanpal had submitted the report to Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 in the last week of March 2022

The 6th State Finance Commission (SFC) had recomended a slew of substantive recommendations on the state finances and the devolution of tax revenues and their apportionment between the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) and municipal bodies in the state.
Updated on Apr 13, 2023 01:14 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab assembly: Stormy scenes after Cong adjournment motion on law & order disallowed

The budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha resumed post-recess on a stormy note on Wednesday with members of the opposition Congress raising slogans in the well of the House after their adjournment motion on law and order was disallowed.

Congress MLAs on Wednesday walkout from Punjab assembly budget session after expressing concern on law-and-order situation in Punjab . (Hindustan Times Photo/Ravi Kumar)
Updated on Mar 22, 2023 10:32 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab assembly declares Himachal Pradesh’s move on water cess ‘illegal’

In the absence of opposition Congress MLAs, unanimously adopts resolution against neighbouring hill state, recommends to state govt to request Centre to prevail upon hill state to withdraw decision

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann addressing the assembly on Wednesday. Mann criticised the Congress government of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh for its decision to impose water cess on hydel generation. (Ravi Kumar/HT)
Published on Mar 22, 2023 04:01 PM IST

Punjab assembly: Oppn Congress guns for AAP govt on law and order

Opposition Congress MLAs walk out of the House, raising slogans against Speaker and CM Bhagwant Mann when their adjournment motion on law and order was disallowed

Punjab Congress MLAs, led by Partap Singh Bajwa, raising slogans against Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and chief minister Bhagwant Mann after their adjournment motion on law and order was disallowed in the Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday. The MLAs walked out of the assembly in protest. (Ravi Kumar/HT)
Updated on Mar 22, 2023 11:43 AM IST

One year at helm: Roller-coaster year for AAP govt in Punjab

With mandate for badlav (change), Bhagwant Mann’s government scores on intent to deliver on its populist promises, but misses in action whether it’s reining in radicals or maintaining law and order, while it struggles to fight the drug problem and fiscal troubles.

The state government has been grappling with challenges related to law and order, gangsterism, a surge in activities of radical elements, and fiscal constraints. (HT Photo)
Published on Mar 15, 2023 07:38 PM IST

Punjab education minister orders principal secy-level probe into teachers eligibility test goof-up

Harjot Singh Bains says accountability will be fixed and guilty will be booked for criminal negligence after GNDU, Amritsar cancels Punjab State Teachers Eligibility Test after most correct answers in social studies question paper were marked in bold

The social studies section of paper-2 of the Punjab State Teachers Eligibility Test is a qualifying test to become a trained graduate teacher for Classes 6 to 8. (Representational photo)
Updated on Mar 13, 2023 12:28 PM IST

Big push for agriculture, education, health in Punjab budget

No new taxes, 26% hike in allocation over last year as Punjab budget focuses on agriculture, education, health

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann along with finance minister Harpal Cheema with the budget document at the Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Friday. With no new taxes and 26% hike in allocation over last year, Punjab budget focuses on agriculture, education, health . (Ravi Kumar/HT )
Published on Mar 11, 2023 01:59 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab budget: Five key takeaways

Chandigarh : Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, like some of his predecessors, started his stint by talking about the ‘empty coffers’ left by the previous government and even brought out a ‘white paper’ on the debt-laden state’s finances

Punjab finance minister Harpal Cheema presenting the budget in Chandigarh on Friday. (Ravi Kumar)
Published on Mar 11, 2023 01:39 AM IST

Punjab FM presents 1,96,462-cr budget, 26% increase in outlay

₹13,888 crore has been allocated for agriculture and allied activities, which is 20% more than the amount earmarked in the previous year; new agriculture policy on anvil, says Harpal Singh Cheema

Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema presenting the budget for 2023-24 as chief minister Bhagwant Mann looks on in the Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Friday. (Ravi Kumar/HT)
Updated on Mar 10, 2023 04:15 PM IST

Allotment of industrial plots: Punjab Vigilance seeks wide-ranging probe into politician-official-land mafia nexus

In fresh trouble for Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC), the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has recommended an extensive enquiry into the alleged irregularities in the allotment, regularisation, and bifurcation of industrial plots to break the nexus between politicians, officials, and land mafia.

During the conduct of this enquiry, a ‘toll-free helpline’ may be set up with due publicity to encourage persons affected by these irregularities to come forward to register their grievances, the letter said. (Representational Image)
Published on Mar 09, 2023 11:10 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

‘Threatening posture’: Punjab Cong MLAs to boycott CM till he apologises

A day after chief minister Bhagwant Mann and leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa sparred in the state assembly over the functioning of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), the Congress on Tuesday announced its decision to “boycott” Mann in the House till the time he apologised for his “threatening posture” towards its members.

Bajwa apprised speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan about the unanimous decision of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) to boycott the chief minister as soon as the Zero Hour began. (Ravi Kumar/HT Photo)
Published on Mar 07, 2023 10:50 PM IST

AAP, Cong slug it out over Punjab guv’s ‘my government’ remark

The budget session of the Punjab assembly on Friday saw heated exchanges between members of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress over governor Banwarilal Purohit referring to the Bhagwant Mann government as “my government” that eventually led to a walkout by MLAs of the opposition party.

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohoit addressing the Budget session of the assembly at Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Friday. (HT Photo by Ravi kumar)
Published on Mar 03, 2023 08:30 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab assembly’s budget session gets off to rocky start

Governor Banwarilal Purohit delivers speech amid Congress walkout over his addressing the Bhagwant Mann government as “my government”

Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit addressing the budget session of the assembly in Chandigarh on Friday. (Ravi Kumar/HT)
Updated on Mar 03, 2023 02:44 PM IST

Restructure PSIEC, re-examine plot re-allotments, vigilance tells industries dept

The vigilance department recommended restructuring and re-engineering of the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation for better accountability and transparency, besides seeking re-examination of the re-allotment of old industrial plots done by the corporation in the past 10 years.

The draft industrial policy was circulated to about a dozen departments nearly four months ago. (HT File Photo)
Updated on Feb 28, 2023 10:22 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

‘Budget session only after legal advice’: Punjab governor Purohit drops another letter bomb

Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit responds terming chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s response as “unconstitutional” and “derogatory”

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann had questioned the ‘criteria’ adopted by the Centre for appointment of governors after Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit raised questions about the selection of school principals sent for training to Singapore, stating he has received complaints of “malpractices and illegalities” in this regard. (HT File Photo)
Updated on Feb 24, 2023 02:20 AM IST

Govt rewards loyalists, appoints them in loss-making defunct undertakings

On a spree to accommodate its loyalists, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab appointed some of them as chairmen of public sector enterprises that have been either incurring losses or are virtually non-functional.

Of these, PSIDC, incorporated in 1966 to act as a catalyst for the development of large and medium-scale industries in Punjab, is in heavy losses, which have wiped out its entire net worth. (Representational Photo ( HT photo) )
Published on Feb 17, 2023 10:58 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

Schools of Eminence: 117 schools shortlisted , Govt fast-tracks upgrade of 4 Amritsar schools

Days after it shortlisted 117 existing schools for the flagship ‘Schools of Eminence’ Scheme, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has set the ball rolling for upgrading four of these schools in Amritsar district on priority.

The public works department has finalised the tenders and fast-tracked the work to upgrade these selected schools at <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>11 crore. (HT file photo)
Updated on Feb 08, 2023 11:52 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab govt likely to fall short of revenue targets this fiscal year

The revenue receipts of the state government in the first nine months stood at 63% of the target for the current year, according to the data on fiscal indicators for the April-December 2022 period released by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG)

Between April and December, the state achieved 65.86% of its tax revenue target which includes goods and services tax, state excise, stamps and registration, sales tax, state’s share of union taxes, land revenue and other taxes.
Published on Feb 04, 2023 01:39 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Samagra Shiksha programme: Centre proposes 1,181 crore allocation for Punjab next fiscal

The Union ministry of education has proposed an allocation of ₹1,181.30 crore for Punjab in the financial year 2023-24 under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha programme for school education.

The Union ministry of education has proposed an allocation of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>1,181.30 crore for the state in the financial year 2023-24 under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha programme for school education.
Published on Feb 02, 2023 11:50 PM IST

First batch of Punjab govt school principals headed for Singapore

36 principals will attend professional teacher training seminar from February 6 to 10: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann with the first batch of government school principals who will be going to Singapore for the training seminar from February 6 to 10. (HT Photo)
Published on Feb 02, 2023 01:51 PM IST

Punjab AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap quits assembly panel over differences on sacrilege probe

The former IPS officer, who has been airing differences with the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab over its handling of the 2015 sacrilege cases from time to time, sent his resignation to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretary on Tuesday night.

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh has resigned as chairman of the committee on government assurances of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. (HT file photo)
Updated on Jan 25, 2023 12:12 PM IST
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