Influenced by the pro-people policies of the Aam Aadmi Party and the development works of the Punjab Government, world-renowned Punjab-style Kabaddi player Sandeep Luddhar joined AAP on Wednesday.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann warmly welcomed Sandeep Ludhar and his associates and supporters into the party. Chief Minister Mann honoured Sandeep Luddhar with a siropa and formally inducted him into the party.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that today the Aam Aadmi Party family has witnessed another remarkable addition. Eminent and talented player of Punjab’s own sport Kabaddi, Sandeep Luddhar, has joined the party today. “On behalf of the party, I warmly welcome him”, Mann added.

He said that the support of such youth, who have brought glory to Punjab in sports arenas, will further strengthen our mission to build a ‘Rangla Punjab’. Their experience will greatly help in inspiring the youth towards sports. Let us all together take Punjab’s youth and sports to even greater heights.

After joining the Aam Aadmi Party, Sandeep Luddhar said that he is deeply impressed by the policies of the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the development works being carried out for the progress of the state. He assured that he would work with complete honesty for strengthening the party and for the welfare of Punjab.

In a landmark feat for school education, Punjab has emerged as the top-performing State across the country under the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for Stated/UTs 2024-25, released by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education (GoI). Notably, the PGI top rank comes just two weeks after another national endorsement. NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026 rated Punjab among India’s best-performing states.

Sharing the remarkable achievement here on Wednesday, Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains said that Punjab has attained the Prachesta‑1 Grade (scoring between 51% and 60%)- the distinction shared only with UT Chandigarh. The State has surpassed Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh, all of which were placed in the Prachesta‑2 category.

The Education Minister further shared that the PGI 2.0 ranks States/UTs on their combined performance across six domains: Learning Outcomes & Quality, Access, Infrastructure & Facilities, Equity, Governance Process, and Teacher Education & Training.

Punjab has clinched the top position nationwide in the most critical domain-Learning Outcomes & Quality- with an impressive score of 150.4. This domain assessed student proficiency in Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Science for Classes 3rd, 6th and 9th, making it the ultimate measure of educational quality, he added.

In the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI‑D) 2024‑25, Barnala topped the State with a score of 461, earning the prestigious Uttam‑2 Grade. Close behind are Sri Muktsar Sahib, SBS Nagar (Nawanshahar), Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, Tarn Taran and Malerkotla. It has proved that excellence in classrooms runs deep across districts. The PGI‑D ranks districts on six key pillars including Outcomes, Effective Classroom Interactions, Infrastructure Facilities & Student’s Entitlements, School Safety & Child Protection, Digital Learning and Governance Process.

Congratulating the hardworking and dedicated teachers for the achievement, S. Harjot Singh Bains stated, “This victory belongs to you. Your concerted efforts turned Sikhya Kranti from a vision into reality. Topping the Learning Outcomes domain nationwide shows that our focus on conceptual understanding over rote learning is delivering real results. Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, we have broken away from the status quo. Surpassing Kerala, Delhi and Maharashtra is a proud moment for every Punjabi. Punjab’s government schools are becoming India’s new benchmark. We are not merely building schools. We are building a future‑ready Punjab.”

The commencement of flight operations from Halwara Airport marks the beginning of a new era of economic growth, connectivity and development for Punjab, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann asserting that the long-pending project, completed through the determined efforts and financial commitment of the Punjab Government, will accelerate trade, industry, investment and employment across the region. Visiting the airport terminal along with AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal for the first time after flight operations began, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann interacted with people and said the airport becoming operational reflects the Punjab Government’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure and bringing world-class facilities to the state.

Highlighting that the Punjab Government spent nearly ₹54.67 crore on the development of the airport, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said regular flight operations from Halwara will not only provide major convenience to the people of Punjab but will also open new avenues for industrial investment and business activity in the state. Reiterating the Government’s commitment to honouring the legacy of freedom fighters and great saints, the Chief Minister said that after persistent efforts led to Mohali Airport being named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Adampur Airport being named after Sri Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji, the Halwara Airport should now be named after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, adding that he will raise the matter with the Centre.

Interacting with people during his visit to the airport, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Due to strenuous efforts of the Punjab Government, the airport has now been made operational. The sole motive behind this move is to ensure that people of the state have access to safe, affordable and comfortable air travel.”

He added, “This airport will help in easy movement of entrepreneurs, traders and industrialists from the region as well as other parts of the country to Punjab, thereby boosting trade, commerce and economic activity.”

Highlighting the difficulties faced earlier, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “In the absence of direct flights to Delhi-NCR, people, especially industrialists, had to face immense inconvenience while travelling to the national capital by road. This not only caused undue harassment but also led to huge wastage of time, money and energy.”

He further stated, “The operationalisation of this airport will greatly facilitate the people of the region and also attract leading entrepreneurs from across the globe to make large investments in Punjab.”

Expressing confidence over the airport’s economic impact, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “This airport will act as a catalyst in accelerating industrialisation in Punjab and further establish the state as the most preferred investment destination.”

Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment to improving connectivity, he said, “More flights will soon be started from Halwara airport to facilitate passengers. Enhanced air connectivity will further strengthen economic activity in Punjab and play a key role in the progress of the state and prosperity of its people.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government would strongly pursue with the Government of India the demand to name Halwara airport after legendary martyr Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha laid down his life for the nation at the young age of just 19 years. His supreme sacrifice inspired millions of people to fight against British imperialism.”

He added, “Even Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh considered Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha as his role model. Naming Halwara airport after him will be a befitting tribute to the great martyr, who belonged to this region and had gone to Berkeley University to pursue aviation studies before returning to participate in India’s freedom struggle.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further said, “Punjab is the sacred land of great Gurus, saints, seers and martyrs, and every inch of this soil carries their legacy. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha had unanimously passed a resolution on March 22, 2023 requesting the Government of India to name the International Airport at Indian Air Force Station Halwara, Ludhiana as Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha International Airport.”

Highlighting the martyr’s contribution to India’s freedom movement, he said, “Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha played a pivotal role in liberating the country from foreign imperialism. As a leader of the Ghadar Party, he worked tirelessly for India’s freedom both abroad and within the country.”

The Chief Minister added, “Earlier, due to persistent efforts of the Punjab Government, Mohali International Airport was named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Naming Halwara airport after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha will be another humble tribute to our martyrs.”

He further stated, “Naming airports, universities and institutions after iconic martyrs and great personalities has been an important initiative of our government to preserve and promote their glorious legacy. Adampur airport has also been named after Sri Guru Ravidass Maharaj ji.”

On aviation training facilities, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Punjab Government will also make concerted efforts to utilise the Sahnewal airport building for training young pilots. Aviation training is already being imparted to youth at affordable rates. The Punjab Government will also take up the issue of changing flight timings from Halwara airport with the Union Government in the larger public interest.”

Reaffirming his government’s commitment towards the welfare of Punjab and its people, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “No stone will be left unturned to safeguard the interests of the state and ensure its continued progress and prosperity.”