Punjab Cabinet Approves Sri Guru Teg Bahadur World Class University, Announces Major Education Reforms
The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has approved the establishment of the Sri Guru Teg Bahadur World Class University at Sri Anandpur Sahib in a significant move aimed at strengthening the state’s higher education infrastructure. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting on Saturday as part of a broader push toward educational excellence and administrative reforms.
Finance Minister Harpal Cheema and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains informed the media that a draft Bill for the proposed university will soon be introduced in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The institution is expected to emerge as a major centre for higher learning and research in the state.
Alongside the university proposal, the cabinet also approved several key policy decisions, including the Industrial and Business Development Policy–2026 and a major recruitment drive to fill teaching positions in government colleges.
One of the major decisions taken during the meeting was to address the shortage of faculty in higher education institutions across Punjab. The cabinet approved the recruitment of 1,091 assistant professors and 67 librarians in government colleges through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).
To ensure fairness in the recruitment process, the government announced a one-time age relaxation for candidates who had applied under the earlier 2021 recruitment advertisement.
The cabinet also revised the criteria for the sports quota in government jobs and admissions. Under the new framework, 75 percent weightage will be given to sporting achievements, while the remaining 25 percent will be determined through performance in entrance examinations.
The Punjab government also announced several welfare and governance-related initiatives. In a humanitarian decision, the cabinet approved an ex-gratia grant of ₹1 crore for the family of Punjab Home Guard Ashok Kumar, who lost his life while on duty in Gurdaspur.
The cabinet further amended the Punjab Civil Services Rules to include dependent disabled siblings under the definition of family for pension benefits. The change is aimed at providing financial security for vulnerable family members of government employees.
In the healthcare sector, the cabinet approved amendments to the Technical Service Rules of 2016. Under the revised rules, candidates holding a diploma in pharmacy will now be eligible for recruitment as pharmacists in government services.
What’s Next
In another major reform measure, the cabinet approved the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2026. The proposed legislation will replace the colonial-era Prisons Act of 1894 and introduce modern surveillance systems along with correctional reforms within the prison administration.
On the economic front, the government cleared plans for a large-scale MICE project aimed at boosting investment and business tourism. To encourage private sector participation, the state has fixed charges for such projects at 50 percent of standard commercial rates.
Additional decisions were also taken to improve transparency and urban planning. The Medicity policy will now allow hospital sites to be allocated through e-auctions, while land use will remain restricted to healthcare purposes. In Mohali and New Chandigarh, GMADA will introduce new technical eligibility criteria for allocating school plots to ensure that only genuine educational institutions participate.
The cabinet also approved the revision of property base prices for GLADA in Ludhiana based on independent valuation reports to streamline future e-auctions.
Our Final Thoughts
The Punjab government’s latest cabinet decisions reflect a broader attempt to combine education reform, governance modernisation, and economic development under a unified policy approach. The establishment of the Sri Guru Teg Bahadur World Class University could become a major milestone in strengthening higher education in the state.
At the same time, the recruitment of over a thousand assistant professors signals an effort to address long-standing faculty shortages in government colleges. These steps, if implemented effectively, could significantly improve the academic environment for students across Punjab.
The reforms related to prison administration, healthcare recruitment, and urban planning also highlight the government’s focus on updating outdated frameworks while introducing transparency in public administration.