The Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab has criticized the Center’s decision to amend the rules governing appointments in the Bhakra Beas Management Board, describing it as part of a broader pattern aimed at weakening the state’s authority and undermining the federal framework. Party leaders said the move reflects an attempt by the BJP-led central government to increase its control over Punjab’s key institutions and natural resources.

Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains strongly opposed the amendment, saying it demonstrates the Center’s intent to erode Punjab’s rights at every opportunity. He described the decision as a direct blow to the federal structure and expressed concern that such a step was taken on the birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who had envisioned a balanced and cooperative system between the Center and states.

Bains also warned that changes in the appointment process could weaken Punjab’s role in managing its water resources. He said removing the requirement of appointing officers with local understanding risks sidelining regional expertise and could affect the state’s interests. Calling the move unconstitutional, he urged the Center to reverse the decision and asked BJP leaders in Punjab to clarify their position.

Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal echoed similar concerns, stating that the amendment appears to be a calculated attempt to interfere in Punjab’s control over its resources. He pointed out that since the formation of the board in 1974, there had been a well-established arrangement regarding representation from Punjab and Haryana, which had functioned without dispute. He argued that altering this system without justification raises serious questions about the Center’s intentions.

Goyal further said that by introducing flexible wording in the rules, the Center has created room to appoint individuals of its choosing. He also highlighted that Punjab had earlier opposed increasing the number of board members due to the additional financial burden, but its objections were overlooked. According to him, this step, along with earlier decisions such as deploying central forces at dams, places unnecessary strain on the state and signals a shift towards greater central control.

AAP Punjab media in charge, Baltej Pannu, also criticized the changes, saying they effectively open up positions that were traditionally associated with Punjab to candidates from anywhere in the country. He alleged that the Centre’s larger objective is to gain control over Punjab’s water and other key institutions.

Pannu further accused the BJP of pursuing policies that are harmful to Punjab’s interests while simultaneously projecting political ambitions in the state. He warned that such an approach poses a threat to the federal structure and could have serious consequences if left unchecked.

Reaffirming the party’s stance, he said the people of Punjab are aware of these developments and will resist any attempts to compromise the state’s rights. He added that the Aam Aadmi Party will continue to oppose such measures and work to protect Punjab’s resources and interests.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann met Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi on Friday and secured major relief measures aimed at easing pressure on farmers and mandis. The Centre has agreed to operate special trains to transport 155 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains currently lying in Punjab, a move expected to address the state’s severe storage shortage ahead of the Rabi marketing season.

In addition to this immediate step, Mann raised several long standing issues affecting the state. These included higher interest rates on Cash Credit, pending dues of around ₹9,000 crore under the Rural Development Fund, compensation for crops damaged by hailstorms and the demands of commission agents. The Union Minister responded positively and assured follow up action, including the creation of a mechanism at the secretary level to resolve pending financial matters.

Sharing details of the meeting on social media, Mann said discussions focused on key concerns related to Punjab, including the demands of arhtiyas and the urgent need to clear foodgrain stocks. He highlighted the need for faster movement of 15.5 million metric tonnes of wheat and rice and called for the release of pending Rural Development Fund payments. He also urged the Centre to reduce interest rates under the Cash Credit system and resolve issues related to EPF payments for mandi labourers.

The Chief Minister pointed out that Punjab is facing an acute shortage of storage space, with 180.88 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains already occupying nearly the entire covered capacity of around 183 lakh metric tonnes. With the Rabi Marketing Season for 2026 to 27 beginning on April 1, the state expects procurement of around 130 to 132 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, which will further strain storage facilities.

He added that a significant portion of last year’s wheat stock is already lying in open storage due to limited space, forcing the state to store nearly 40 lakh metric tonnes under less than ideal conditions. Mann also expressed concern over the slow pace of foodgrain movement, noting that only about 5 lakh metric tonnes are being transported each month. He suggested increasing this to at least 12 lakh metric tonnes monthly or expanding distribution under central welfare schemes to ease the burden.

Raising financial concerns, Mann said Punjab is incurring losses due to higher interest rates charged by banks on procurement funds compared to the rates permitted by the Centre. He pointed out that this mismatch results in an avoidable loss of around ₹500 crore each season and called for alignment of interest calculations.

He also pressed for the release of pending Rural Development Fund dues, stating that the money is essential for improving mandi infrastructure and rural roads. While acknowledging that the issue is currently under legal consideration, he urged the Centre to release the funds, even in phases, as they rightfully belong to Punjab.

On the issue of commission agents, Mann said the current commission rates fixed by the Centre have not kept pace with expectations, leading to dissatisfaction among arhtiyas. He urged the Centre to revise the commission to 2.5 percent of the minimum support price in line with state legislation.

He further highlighted concerns over withheld mandi labour payments, stating that the Food Corporation of India has been holding back a portion of these funds due to EPF related issues. Mann argued that since state agencies are already securing undertakings from arhtiyas to address any liabilities, there is no reason to continue withholding payments and called for their immediate release.

Emphasising Punjab’s critical role in the national food procurement system, Mann said timely intervention by the Centre is essential to ensure smooth procurement operations, safeguard farmers and prevent additional financial strain on the state.

Punjab has advanced its education reform drive by launching the next phase of its Sikhya Kranti initiative, with Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia unveiling Mission Samrath 4.0 on Thursday. The programme focuses on strengthening foundational learning while introducing a state wide attendance tracking system that will send daily SMS updates to parents about their child’s presence in school, aiming to improve accountability and ensure consistent learning.

Describing it as a major step forward, the minister said Punjab, which already ranks first in the PARAKH assessment survey, is now shifting its focus from recognition to measurable outcomes by tightening classroom monitoring and expanding effective teaching practices. He highlighted that the state government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has increased the education budget to ₹19,279 crore, ensuring that funds are directly utilised for improving schools and learning results.

As part of the new phase, the attendance system will alert parents daily and flag prolonged absences at both district and state levels. Students missing school for seven days will prompt direct outreach from district authorities, while those absent for more than fifteen days will be escalated to the state level, ensuring both academic continuity and student safety.

Bains said the programme is designed to strengthen teaching quality and accountability, with a focus on ensuring that every child develops strong foundational skills. He also reflected on his role, calling it a meaningful responsibility and noting that education leadership has become more valued than in the past.

He pointed to significant investments in infrastructure, stating that government schools now have improved facilities, including campus managers, security staff and sanitation workers, which were previously lacking. He also noted that textbooks are now delivered on time, with all students receiving complete sets at the start of the academic session.

Mission Samrath 4.0 will continue to prioritise students in classes 3 to 8, focusing on reading, writing and mathematics. The programme uses a level based teaching approach, grouping students according to their learning ability rather than grade. According to the minister, Punjab has surpassed national averages in foundational learning by a significant margin, reflecting the impact of these reforms.

A compendium of 38 effective classroom practices developed by teachers was also released during the event, which will now be implemented across government schools to further improve outcomes, especially for students needing additional support.

Manish Sisodia praised Punjab’s progress, stating that the state has demonstrated how government schools can lead nationally. He said the initiative ensures that students attend school regularly and continue learning effectively, while also emphasising that no child should be left behind in the education system.

Officials added that Mission Samrath has already grown into one of the largest foundational learning programmes in the country, reaching around 12 lakh students and involving over 70,000 teachers each year. The latest phase aims to build on this progress and push Punjab’s education system towards global standards.