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Time of India
30-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
IAS, IPS officers, PU profs now to mentor Chandigarh's govt schools
1 2 3 Chandigarh: From Tuesday, some of the most powerful and accomplished figures in Chandigarh — from senior IAS and IPS officers to Panjab University professors — will be mentors to the city's government school students. As part of the newly launched 'Adopt a School – Inspire a Generation' programme, 42 senior secondary schools have been allotted mentors drawn from the administration, academia, medical profession and industry. The initiative aims to bring real-world exposure, career guidance, life skills and emotional support to school students, especially in Classes 11 and 12. Among IAS officers who have adopted schools are Ajay Chagti (GMSSS-15), Prerna Puri (GMSSS-21), Mandeep Singh Brar (GMSSS-16), Rajeev Verma (PM SHRI GGMSSS-18), Surya Chander Kant (GGMSSS-20B), Sorabh Kumar Arora (GMSSS-22A and 28D), Mohd Mansoor (GMSSS-23A), and Amit Kumar (GGMSSS-23NYC and GMSSS-47). IPS officers have also joined in, including Pushpendra Kumar (GMSSS-8), Sumer Partap Singh (GMSSS-33), Kanwardeep Kaur (GMSSS-35), and Paviter Singh (GSSS-Khuda Lahora). DANICS officers Swapnil M Naik (GMSSS-20D), Akhil Kumar (GMSSS-32), and Naveen (GMSSS-37D) are also part of the programme. From Panjab University, over 30 professors have been assigned schools. Among the mentors is Yajvender Pal Verma, Registrar of Panjab University, who will mentor Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 8. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo At GMSSS-16, former DSW (Women) Prof Nandita Shukla Singh from PU's Department of Education will work closely with the school community. Anju Suri, head of PU's History Department, is mentoring the school in Sector 23. Each mentor is expected to visit their school at least once a month, lead sessions on career and life skills, and help students navigate challenges like stress, cyber threats and lack of exposure. Schools have been directed to showcase the mentor prominently and align school activities with the mentorship calendar. "This is a long-term vision to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity," said Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, Director, School Education. "Our mentors are not just achievers, they are guides." For many students, this will be their first real contact with leaders who shape the city, now not behind podiums, but in their classrooms. BOX- 132 MENTORS A total of 132 mentors have been appointed under the "Adopt a School – Inspire a Generation" programme in Chandigarh. These include: 42 IAS, IPS, PCS, and other senior officers 42 doctors (mostly from the Department of Community Medicine and Psychiatry) 42 professors (primarily from Panjab University and affiliated colleges) 42 entrepreneurs and professionals from diverse sectors Each of the 42 government senior secondary schools has been assigned one mentor from each category, making it a four-mentor team per school.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chandigarh administration has more IAS officers than sanctioned posts
Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration, infamous for its top-heavy babudom, now has more IAS officers posted than the sanctioned IAS posts in the city. According to the Jan 3, 2025 notification of the Govt of India, 'The Indian Administrative Service (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Amendment Regulations, 2025', there are 11 sanctioned posts for IAS officers in the city. Of these, the secretary-level posts are only six, but the UT has 13 such officers currently. After the latest joining of three new IAS officers, the total strength of the IAS officers with the UT increased to 12. This includes one IAS officer posted as municipal commissioner, who is also holding the charge of secretary, rural development and panchayats. In addition, there is also a Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officer serving as Secretary of the Social Welfare Department. Consequently, there are 13 secretary-level officers in the UT administration. In contrast to the fully filled IAS posts, there is a shortage of staff lower down the hierarchy. For instance, in the education department, there are 1,500 posts vacant. Of these, only recently, the administration started the recruitment process for 993 posts. Earlier this week, three officers - Swapnil M. Naik, Pradeep Kumar, and Mohamed Mansoor - joined the Chandigarh administration. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Naik, an AGMUT officer of the 2009 batch, was assigned the charge of Secretary, Hospitality, relieving Anuradha S Chagti of the charge. He was also given the charge of Chairman, CITCO, relieving Ajay Chagti of the charge. In addition, he was appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Personnel. Pradeep Kumar, a 2013 batch officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been posted as Special Commissioner, MC. In addition, he has been assigned the charges of Secretary, Agriculture, and Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, relieving Hari Kallikkat of these charges. The third officer to join the UT, Mansoor, has been assigned the charge of Secretary, Cooperation, and Secretary, Food and Supplies, relieving Prerna Puri of these charges. He has also been appointed as Secretary, Excise and Taxation, relieving Ajay Chagti of the charge. Questions have been repeatedly raised over the utility and efficacy of the 'large' IAS strength in the UT administration. "For most of its history, including the 2010s, the city was run by three senior IAS officers – UT adviser (now renamed as chief secretary), home secretary, and finance secretary. But slowly, the number of IAS officers increased. So, now we have a secretary being posted as OSD or having main charges of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, both of which have a very small footprint in an urban area like Chandigarh," said a retired IAS officer who didn't want to be named. A senior UT official, however, contended, "We have IAS officers heading multiple departments and are overburdened. The posts are sanctioned by the central govt. There are 11 posts sanctioned, and 11 IAS officers have been posted. The MC commissioner post is not counted in these 11 sanctioned posts."
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: GMCH-32 to fill UT pool seats based on NEET-PG merit despite exceeding all-India quota
Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, has stuck with the decision of filling half of the state quota seats for admission to PG courses (MD/MS) for the 2024-25 session on the basis of rank obtained in NEET-PG 2024 despite facing opposition from parents for exceeding the all-India quota of 50%. The PG medical courses seats are divided into state and all-India quota. Earlier, in Chandigarh, the state quota pool was further divided into institutional preference and residence/domicile based. However, on January 29, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) had ruled that the domicile quota for admission to PG courses at GMCH-32 is not allowed. On April 9, based on the apex court's judgement, the UT administration had issued a notice to convert the UT Chandigarh pool seats of the state quota into institutional preference for the third counselling round of admissions to the PG courses. Some students had then approached the high court (HC) against the UT administration's notice and for sharing grievances due to other reasons. The HC had dismissed the pleas in its order on May 27 and directed the UT administration to carry out admissions in accordance with the SC's judgement of January 29 and decisions of the HC division bench on April 23, 2019. Following the HC's order on May 27, the UT administration had again notified about the third counselling round on June 3, stating that filling of the UT pool seats of the state quota will be held on all-India merit basis of NEET - PG. This notice has been challenged by a parent in the HC for exceeding the all-India quota limit. The hearing for the case is scheduled for Tuesday. Regarding the June 3 notice, GMCH-32 stated that the third counselling round for the remaining state quota seats will be held on the basis of institutional preference and rank obtained in NEET - PG. Parents are opposing this decision, stating that withhalf of the state quota seats being filled through all-India merit basis, the all-India quota would go up to 75%, exceeding the 50% limit demarcated for it. While some parents, whose wards are enrolled in medical courses outside Chandigarh, are favouring the decision, the other group, whose wards are studying at GMCH, is favouring institutional preference. The UT administration has been unable to keep its stance stable regarding the admission. A parent who has filed a petition against the notice released recently by the administration termed it arbitrary and said it to be favouring applicants seeking admission through the all-India quota. Health secretary Ajay Chagti said, 'We are going to go ahead with the third counselling as per our June 3 notice that is based on HC's judgement which was upheld by the SC in January. In our clarification plea regarding the remaining seats under the state quota, the SC had directed us in March to go ahead as per the HC's judgment. In the HC's decision on May 27, same directions were issued.'
Hindustan Times
08-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Time-bound promotions for GMCH-32 faculty on the cards
Three years after the UT administration's notification for adopting Central service rules for its employees, the newly drafted UT Chandigarh Health Service Rules are awaiting implementation. With this, the medical faculty of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, will have time-bound promotion in place. After receiving the approval from the administrator on May 29, 2025, the health services rules have been sent to Union ministry of health and family welfare for final nod. Earlier, doctors at GMCH-32 were getting promoted on the basis of vacancy. With new rules in place, an assistant professor can be promoted to associate professor having four years of experience, degree requirements and good work performance. From associate professor to professor, the promotion will require four years of regular service. For promotion from professor to director would require seven years of experience and other minor requirements. Currently, there are 137 faculty posts in GMCH-32, who will be benefitted by this. Health secretary Ajay Chagti said, 'With time-bound promotion in place, faculty wouldn't lack the motivation and wouldn't have to wait for a vacancy to get promotion.' Replacing the Punjab Service Rules, the new rules have come in place after three years of implementation of central service rules for UT employees in Chandigarh. The department had first sought the in-principle approval from the ministry of health and family welfare to frame new rules as per central service rules which then were placed before law, personnel and finance department for reform. Having received the green signal from all the departments and administrator, the draft of service rules for medical posts in GMCH-32 now awaits ministry of health and family welfare approval. The health department is yet to frame the service rules for general duty medical officers and dentists in Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
CHB back-pedals on Sector-53 housing scheme, to refund ₹7.5-crore application fee
The Chandigarh Housing Board still cannot seem to make up its mind about the long-delayed General Housing Scheme in Sector 53 — its only offering since 2016. After conducting a much-publicised demand survey, which received an enthusiastic response, the board has now decided to refund the nearly ₹7.5 crore collected from the hopeful applicants. The demand survey, which ended on March 3, saw 7,468 applicants vying for 372 flats across three categories — nearly 20 applicants per unit — reflecting a strong demand. To confirm their interest, the applicants had deposited ₹10,000 for High-Income Group (HIG) and Middle-Income Group (MIG) flats, and ₹5,000 for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats. However, a sharp hike in the city's collector rates, which took effect from April 1, pushed the flat prices up by 35% to 40%, throwing the project into uncertainty. When the demand survey was conducted, just weeks before the new collector rates were implemented, the estimated cost of the three-bedroom, two-bedroom and two-bedroom EWS flats was ₹1.65 crore, ₹1.40 crore and ₹55 lakh, respectively. But under the new collector rates, the prices have risen to a staggering ₹2.29 crore for a three-bedroom flat, ₹1.97 crore for a two-bedroom flat and ₹73 lakh for an EWS flat, leaving officials pondering whether the interested applicants will still be willing to proceed at the higher prices. Subsequently, CHB CEO Ajay Chagti had said the matter will be placed before the Board of Directors to decide whether to go ahead with the scheme or conduct a fresh demand survey. But no meeting has been held since. Instead the board has simply decided to refund the application fee — leaving thousands of housing hopefuls in Chandigarh frustrated and disappointed. To make matters worse, there's no clarity on what comes next. A CHB official confirmed that UT chief secretary-cum-CHB chairman Rajeev Verma had approved the refunds. However, no decision has been taken on whether a fresh survey will be conducted or whether the scheme will proceed at all. Ironically, the demand survey itself was ordered by the UT chief secretary to establish demand for the project. But a call to conduct a fresh demand has never been taken even two months after the hiked collector rates were enforced. Scrapped, revived, on hold again The whopping 7,468 applications are in stark contrast to only 178 applications for 492 flats when the scheme was first floated in 2018. The low response, primarily due to steep prices, had ultimately led to the scheme getting dropped. Back then, the three-bedroom flat was offered for as high as ₹1.8 crore, two-bedroom flat for ₹1.5 crore and one-bedroom flat for ₹95 lakh. Struggling to justify its existence, the board revived the scheme in February 2023 with lower prices. However, former UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit put the scheme on hold on August 3, 2023, citing there was no requirement for it. But Purohit's successor Gulab Chand Kataria, in November 2024, revived the scheme, prompting a fresh demand survey. Established in 1976, with the primary objective of providing reasonably priced and good quality housing in Chandigarh, CHB had last successfully rolled out a housing scheme in 2016, when it had offered 200 two-bedroom flats in Sector 51 for ₹69 lakh each.
