News / Author / Navneet Sharma

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

3.70 lakh schoolkids in Punjab missed out on free mid-day meals last year

This was revealed in a performance review of the PM Poshan scheme done by the project approval board (PAB) of the Union ministry of education four months ago

Government school students having mid-day meal in Ludhiana. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 02, 2024 09:22 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

233 Punjab schools selected for upgrade under PM SHRI

Jointly financed by the central and state govts on a 60:40 funding ratio, the scheme seeks to upgrade 14,500 schools across India in over 5 years

The selected schools will be developed as ‘exemplar schools’ under the scheme to provide ‘high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful school environment. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 26, 2024 05:32 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

PM-Economic Advisory Council paper: Haryana surpasses Punjab in GDP share, per capita income

Punjab’s GDP share grew during the 1960s, mainly due to the Green Revolution, but then plateaued at around 4.3% until 1990-91, shows report.

Haryana’s share of gross domestic product now exceeds that of Punjab, and its relative per capita income has reached 176.8% in 2023-24 compared to Punjab’s 106.7%, shows report.

Chandigarh

Published on Sep 18, 2024 07:49 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab: Revenue receipts up 10%; deficit, subsidy key challenges

It’s ₹34,983 crore for the April-August period, up from ₹31,840 crore of last year’s corresponding period.

Tax revenue up 13%, non-tax revenue surges 15%, GST receipts grow 5.26%. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 17, 2024 05:54 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Year on, Punjab govt yet to start ex gratia scheme for ‘physical casualty’ cases in armed forces

Soldiers’ deaths due to natural causes, illness, accident, suicide, or murder due to family disputes, whether in operational or non-operational areas, are classified as ‘physical casualties.’

Officials familiar with the matter said that a meeting was scheduled to be held under the chairmanship of the chief minister on Wednesday, but it got postponed

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 14, 2024 09:20 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab’s NPS payment short by ₹122.5 crore: CAG

Report shows ₹183.37 crore interest has been incurred by the state government due delay in release of payment.

According to the norms, the delayed transfer of NPS funds attracts interest at the corresponding interest rates applicable to the general provident fund subscribers.

Chandigarh

Published on Sep 11, 2024 10:28 PM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

80% spike in pension bill in 4 yrs piles up state’s fiscal woes

The Punjab government, which is facing increasing pressure to implement its decision to revert to the old pension scheme (OPS), has seen an 80% jump in its expenditure on pension and other retirement benefits in four years.

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 06, 2024 05:40 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Bishnoi’s interview: LoP Bajwa calls for JPC-like House panel for probe

Bajwa also demanded that an all-party delegation be formed to meet the representatives of farmer unions who have been sitting on protest in Chandigarh and nearby areas to discuss their demands,

The leader of Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 04, 2024 05:14 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Gurdaspur Sainik School to see the light of day soon

The new school, delayed by a logjam between the Union ministry of defence and the Punjab government over pending paperwork for the Sainik School in Kapurthala, appears set to see finally progress as both sides have now agreed to the terms and conditions of their memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the existing school.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 30, 2024 09:28 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

CSR spending trebles, Punjab still lags behind

Punjab, which saw its corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds treble in the last five years, lags far behind other major states when it comes to benefitting from the corporate charity.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 23, 2024 05:46 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

NHAI delayed land acquisition: Punjab CM Mann in reply to Gadkari

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann further pointed out that there were several cases in which possession of land was given to NHAI, but the NHAI contractors took a long time to mobilise their machinery and start the work

Three days after Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari warned the Punjab government to improve law and order or lose eight highway projects, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday blamed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the delay in land acquisition and the two incidents of threats and violence in Jalandhar and Ludhiana on causes attributable to its concessionaire/ contractor. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 14, 2024 08:46 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Private varsities shine in India ranking, govt-run institutes slip

Chandigarh University, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lovely Professional University bag top 3 spots, Panjab University ranks 5th in Punjab

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 13, 2024 05:48 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab joins PM SHRI but wait for Samagra Shiksha funds goes on

Punjab awaits Centre's ₹176 crore Samagra Shiksha funds despite rejoining PM SHRI. Delay affects education programmes; state received partial funds; hopeful for release soon.

Punjab was among five states and Union territories which did not get third and fourth instalments of the Centre’s share in the financial year 2023-24. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 10, 2024 06:52 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

After rejoining PM Shri, Punjab to draw fresh list of schools for upgrade

The scheme, jointly financed by the central and state governments on a 60:40 funding ratio, aims to upgrade govt schools across the country

After the central government stopped funds of Samagra Shiksha, its flagship scheme for the education sector, the Punjab government last month wrote to the ministry expressing willingness to participate in the programme. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 07, 2024 08:24 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab rolls out DIET revamp plan

Punjab govt to develop 17 DIETs as 'Centres of Excellence' with ₹255 crore program, focusing on teacher training, infrastructure, and academic resources.

17 DIETs to be upgraded as ‘Centres of Excellence’ in four years at the cost of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>255 crore (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 31, 2024 11:26 PM IST

ByNavneet Sharma

Gulab Chand Kataria sworn in as Punjab governor

BJP veteran vows to visit border areas like predecessor Banwarilal Purohit; says ‘time will tell’ on his relations with chief minister Bhagwant Mann.

Punjab and Haryana high court chief justice Sheel Nagu administering the oath of office of the governor to Gulab Chand Kataria (right) at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Kataria succeeds Banwarilal Purohit as governor and Chandigarh administrator. (Sanjeev Sharma/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Jul 31, 2024 12:16 PM IST

ByNavneet Sharma

Constitutional overreach’ defined Purohit-Mann tussle

The 84-year-old Maharashtra politician, Banwarilal Purohit, who came to Punjab as governor in September 2021 after gubernatorial stints in Tamil Nadu, Assam and Meghalaya, was engaged in a confrontation with the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for most part of his nearly three-year-long tenure in the border state

With President Droupadi Murmu accepting his resignation on Saturday night, curtains have come down on Banwarilal Purohit’s eventful tenure as the governor of Punjab.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 29, 2024 07:04 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma

Punjab sees 15% jump in tax revenue despite sluggish GST

Punjab’s tax revenue stood at ₹17,977 cr in April-June quarter as against ₹15,673 cr during the corresponding period last year

The Punjab government registered an increase of 15% year-on-year (YoY) in its tax revenue in the first quarter (April-June) of the financial year 2024-25

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 22, 2024 06:38 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma

Cong takes the cake, spoils AAP’s party

Ruling party fails to repeat its 2022 stellar show; wins in 33 assembly segments of 13 LS constituencies compared to 92 seats it had bagged in 2022 state polls

Congress supporters celebrate party’s victory in Jalandhar. (ANI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 06, 2024 06:08 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab: Congress bounces back with resounding win on 7 seats, 3 for AAP

The Congress tally, though one less than the eight seats it won in the 2019 parliamentary polls, marked its return as a dominant player in state politics after the party had slumped to a distant runner-up position in the state assembly polls two years ago.

Punjab Pradesh Congress committee chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring celebrating after winning the Ludhiana seat on Tuesday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 05, 2024 08:16 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab: Setback for AAP’s ‘mission 13’, but solace on vote share front

The ruling party’s vote share has also gone down in Punjab from 42% in the 2022 state polls to 26% this time, a dive of about 16%.

A consolation for the AAP is that its Punjab vote share in Tuesday’s results is almost equal to that of the Congress (around 26%), which won seven seats in the state.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 05, 2024 06:56 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma

With 5 bypolls, Punjab heads into another electoral battle

The MLAs, who emerged victorious in the Lok Sabha election results declared on Tuesday, include cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal. The resignation of Jalandhar West MLA Sheetal Angural, who had switched to the BJP from the AAP two months ago, has been accepted by Punjab assembly speaker.

The elected candidates are expected to tender their resignations from the Punjab assembly in the next few days.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 05, 2024 06:34 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab electors cut turncoats to size

Of 14 defectors who joined the four major parties in the past two-and-a-half years, only two have won — Dr Raj Kumar and Dr Dharamvira Gandhi

Congress candidate Dr Dharamvira Gandhi after his victory in Patiala on Tuesday. (PTI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 05, 2024 06:26 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Cong bounces back with resounding win on 7 seats, 3 for AAP

Jailed radical Sikh leader Amritpal triumphs in Khadoor Sahib, SAD retains Bathinda, BJP scores a duck

Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi with supporters after his win in the Lok Sabha elections in Jalandhar on Tuesday. (PTI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 05, 2024 06:14 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab government misses 2023-24 capex target by 53%

Punjab government missed its capital expenditure target by 53% in FY 2023-24, facing challenges in meeting revised goals due to pending central funds.

Against a capital expenditure of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>10,354 crore proposed in budget estimates (BE), the state government spent only <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>4,862 crore during the financial year, leaving a gap of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>5,492 crore, according to the latest data on key economic indicators

Chandigarh

Updated on May 25, 2024 07:52 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

LS polls: Of 52 Punjab candidates, mainstream parties field only six women

The proportion of women candidates in Punjab is way short of the 33% reservation in Lok Sabha and state assemblies laid down for them by the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, or the Constitution (128th Amendment), Bill.

In the 2014 and 2019 parliamentary elections, women constituted 15%, and 13% of the total 39 candidates fielded by the Congress, AAP and the SAD-BJP combine in the state.

Chandigarh

Updated on May 21, 2024 07:48 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Parties drop sitting MPs, only 7 of 13 in poll fray

The BJP, which won two seats in the 2019 elections in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has replaced both its sitting MPs, actor Sunny Deol and Union minister Som Prakash, from Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur.

The Congress, which had the highest number of seven sitting Lok Sabha members in Punjab, is left with just two of them — Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar and Dr Amar Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib, in its line-up.

Chandigarh

Updated on May 16, 2024 06:58 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma

Every 4th Lok Sabha candidate in Punjab a turncoat

Of the total 52 candidates declared by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), 14 are turncoats who crossed over to their new parties in the past two-and-a-half-years and got rewarded with tickets

Though all four parties embraced defectors with open arms to reap political benefits, the BJP has given tickets to seven candidates, who switched from other parties during this period

Chandigarh

Updated on May 11, 2024 07:22 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

In a first, 12 sitting Punjab MLAs in race for Lok Sabha berth

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded nine legislators and Congress 3 MLAs; If they win, it will be raining byelections in the state

These incumbent MLAs, including five cabinet ministers and some other prominent leaders, have been fielded by their parties in nine of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state (HT File Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on May 04, 2024 09:02 AM IST

ByNavneet Sharma, Chandigarh

Interview | Punjab will vote on performance, BJP’s polarisation won’t work: Mann

In the interview, Mann railed against PM Narendra Modi and defended his performance in Punjab while exuding confidence on INDIA bloc’s poll prospects.

Chandigarh

Updated on Apr 24, 2024 12:19 PM IST

ByRamesh Vinayak, Navneet Sharma

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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.

This was revealed in a performance review of the PM Poshan scheme done by the project approval board (PAB) of the Union ministry of education four months ago

Jointly financed by the central and state govts on a 60:40 funding ratio, the scheme seeks to upgrade 14,500 schools across India in over 5 years

Punjab’s GDP share grew during the 1960s, mainly due to the Green Revolution, but then plateaued at around 4.3% until 1990-91, shows report.

It’s ₹34,983 crore for the April-August period, up from ₹31,840 crore of last year’s corresponding period.

Soldiers’ deaths due to natural causes, illness, accident, suicide, or murder due to family disputes, whether in operational or non-operational areas, are classified as ‘physical casualties.’

Report shows ₹183.37 crore interest has been incurred by the state government due delay in release of payment.

The Punjab government, which is facing increasing pressure to implement its decision to revert to the old pension scheme (OPS), has seen an 80% jump in its expenditure on pension and other retirement benefits in four years.

Bajwa also demanded that an all-party delegation be formed to meet the representatives of farmer unions who have been sitting on protest in Chandigarh and nearby areas to discuss their demands,

Punjab, which saw its corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds treble in the last five years, lags far behind other major states when it comes to benefitting from the corporate charity.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann further pointed out that there were several cases in which possession of land was given to NHAI, but the NHAI contractors took a long time to mobilise their machinery and start the work

Chandigarh University, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lovely Professional University bag top 3 spots, Panjab University ranks 5th in Punjab

Punjab awaits Centre's ₹176 crore Samagra Shiksha funds despite rejoining PM SHRI. Delay affects education programmes; state received partial funds; hopeful for release soon.

The scheme, jointly financed by the central and state governments on a 60:40 funding ratio, aims to upgrade govt schools across the country

Punjab govt to develop 17 DIETs as 'Centres of Excellence' with ₹255 crore program, focusing on teacher training, infrastructure, and academic resources.

BJP veteran vows to visit border areas like predecessor Banwarilal Purohit; says ‘time will tell’ on his relations with chief minister Bhagwant Mann.

Punjab’s tax revenue stood at ₹17,977 cr in April-June quarter as against ₹15,673 cr during the corresponding period last year

Ruling party fails to repeat its 2022 stellar show; wins in 33 assembly segments of 13 LS constituencies compared to 92 seats it had bagged in 2022 state polls

The Congress tally, though one less than the eight seats it won in the 2019 parliamentary polls, marked its return as a dominant player in state politics after the party had slumped to a distant runner-up position in the state assembly polls two years ago.

The ruling party’s vote share has also gone down in Punjab from 42% in the 2022 state polls to 26% this time, a dive of about 16%.

Of 14 defectors who joined the four major parties in the past two-and-a-half years, only two have won — Dr Raj Kumar and Dr Dharamvira Gandhi

Jailed radical Sikh leader Amritpal triumphs in Khadoor Sahib, SAD retains Bathinda, BJP scores a duck

Punjab government missed its capital expenditure target by 53% in FY 2023-24, facing challenges in meeting revised goals due to pending central funds.

The proportion of women candidates in Punjab is way short of the 33% reservation in Lok Sabha and state assemblies laid down for them by the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, or the Constitution (128th Amendment), Bill.

The BJP, which won two seats in the 2019 elections in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has replaced both its sitting MPs, actor Sunny Deol and Union minister Som Prakash, from Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur.

Of the total 52 candidates declared by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), 14 are turncoats who crossed over to their new parties in the past two-and-a-half-years and got rewarded with tickets

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded nine legislators and Congress 3 MLAs; If they win, it will be raining byelections in the state

In the interview, Mann railed against PM Narendra Modi and defended his performance in Punjab while exuding confidence on INDIA bloc’s poll prospects.

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