Led by CM, Punjab Cabinet gives nod to Budget estimates 2025-26

Chandigarh, March 20-

The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday gave nod to place the Budget estimates for the year 2025-26 in the ensuing budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of Council of Ministers held here at the official residence of the Chief Minister.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the budget will be presented by the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on the floor house on March 26. The Cabinet also gave consent to place the report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India for year 2023-24 on floor of house.

Students from EWS to get 25% reservation in private schools

In a major step aimed at ensuring access of quality education to the students from Economically Weaker sections of society, the Cabinet also gave nod to amend Punjab Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 for omitting clause 7 (01) of the Punjab Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011. This will enable the students belonging to the economically weaker section to avail admission in private schools. This path breaking initiative will herald a new era of education revolution in the state by opening doors of quality education for poor in private schools too, along with that being already imparted in the government schools.

Pertinently, the Right to Education stipulate that 25% seats in all the private schools will be reserved for the students for the EWS. However this provision in the rules framed by the previous regimes debarred the students from getting this facility directly in private schools. But this historic decision of the state government will now remove all the restrictions on the students of weaker and underprivileged sections and provide them access of quality education in private schools across the state.