Punjab Daily Current Affairs: 16/08/2026

Punjab Schemes & Policies in News 🏛️

The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, has approved the establishment of three new Digital Open Universities to enhance accessibility to higher education. This move is complemented by the Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Fee Regulation) Bill, which aims to curb commercialization in education by capping annual fee hikes at 5%. Furthermore, the government has launched a major reform under the Service Delivery Improvement (SIR) initiative, waiving government fees for 120 essential doorstep services including caste, residence, and birth certificates.

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Exam-Oriented Current Affairs & Key Facts 📝

• Polity & Governance: The Punjab Cabinet has officially cleared the Monsoon Session of the Vidhan Sabha to commence from August 3, 2026.
• Education: A new ordinance mandates that private schools and colleges cannot increase their annual fees by more than 5%. Any excess fee collected must be refunded to parents.
• Economy & Industry: Industrial reforms now allow the conversion of industrial plots from leasehold to freehold with a nominal fee of 5% of the prevailing collector rate.
• Urban Development: Amendments to the Land Pooling Policy have been approved to enhance benefits for landowners and farmers, alongside a new policy to regularise unauthorized colonies across the state.
• Religion & Law: The Akal Takht has intervened in the Sikh sacrilege row, directing the Punjab government to amend laws related to sacrilege within a one-month deadline.

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One-Liner Revision Notes ⚡

• Punjab Cabinet approved 3 new Digital Open Universities to boost remote learning.
• Annual fee hike in private educational institutions capped at 5%.
• Government fees waived for 120 doorstep services under the SIR initiative.
• Leasehold to freehold conversion for industrial plots approved at 5% fee.
• Punjab Monsoon Session scheduled to begin on August 3, 2026.
• Akal Takht gave a 1-month ultimatum to the state to amend anti-sacrilege laws.
• Land pooling policy revamped to provide higher compensation to farmers.
• Unauthorised colonies to be regularised via a new cabinet-approved amendment.

MCQs from Current Affairs ❓

Q1: What is the maximum percentage by which private schools in Punjab can now increase their annual fees?

• A) 7%
• B) 10%
• C) 5%
• D) 3%

Q2: How many doorstep services have had their government fees waived by the Punjab Cabinet recently?

• A) 50
• B) 120
• C) 100
• D) 75

Q3: The Punjab Cabinet recently approved the conversion of industrial plots from leasehold to freehold at what fee rate?

• A) 2%
• B) 5%
• C) 10%
• D) 1%

Q4: Which religious authority gave the Punjab government a 1-month deadline to amend anti-sacrilege laws?

• A) SGPC
• B) Akal Takht
• C) Damdami Taksal
• D) Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee

Q5: When is the Monsoon Session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha scheduled to begin?

• A) July 15
• B) August 15
• C) August 3
• D) September 1