Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday announced that the Punjab government will organise the fourth edition of Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan from September 5 to November 29, with a target of involving more than 10 lakh participants across all age groups. The grand sporting event, aimed at reviving Punjab’s sporting culture and channelising the energy of youth towards sports, will begin with the opening ceremony at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Bathinda and conclude with the closing ceremony in Patiala. The 2026 edition has been planned as the biggest edition of the sporting extravaganza so far.

Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “Sports will be made the biggest weapon to channelise the energy of youth and fight against drugs, with the Punjab Government launching Season 4 of ‘Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan’ from Bathinda on September 5. More than 10 lakh players are expected to take to the playgrounds this year, with the grand finale scheduled to be held in Patiala on November 29.”

“For the first time, a massive budget of ₹1,794 crore has been allocated for sports. Along with developing 3,148 sports grounds and 6,000 gyms in villages, special work is also being undertaken in the field of sports medicine. Let us witness three generations of Punjabis playing together on the same field and make Punjab a leading state in sports,” the post concluded.

Addressing a press release conference, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The fourth edition of Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan will commence on September 5 and the games will be inaugurated at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Bathinda. It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that this year our target is to involve 10 lakh players. Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan is the best platform to identify, promote and nurture hidden sporting talent from every village, town and city of Punjab.”

The Chief Minister stated, “Through these games, we aim to prepare our children and youth for competitions at the national and international levels. A unique feature of Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan is that it brings different generations together. In previous editions, three generations of the same family, including grandfather, son and grandson, participated in the games. This year, players from nine age groups will participate, ranging from 14 years to above 70 years of age.”

He said, “A total of 38 sports disciplines will be organised this year, along with four para-sports, namely Athletics, Powerlifting, Badminton and Wheelchair Basketball. We have introduced a very simple registration process this year and registration is completely free of cost. For the first time, the Sports Department has introduced QR-code-based registration, enabling players to register anytime and from anywhere.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann noted, “Registration can also be completed through the Sports Department’s portal and the process is already underway. I appeal to all players to register themselves and participate enthusiastically in these games. The competitions will be organised at block, district and state levels, covering all 153 blocks and all 23 districts of Punjab. The state-level games will be held across 16 districts.”

The Chief Minister pointed out, “For the first time, Tennis Ball Cricket for both boys and girls has been included as a demonstration game. The Mashaal March, or Torch Relay, commenced on August 12 and will pass through all districts of Punjab before reaching its destination on September 5. The games will conclude on November 29 in Patiala. Gold Medal winners at the state level will receive ₹10,000, Silver Medal winners ₹7,000 and Bronze Medal winners ₹5,000.”

He said, “Medal winners up to 40 years of age will also receive a Gradation Certificate, making them eligible to avail the benefit of the sports quota in government jobs. During the first three seasons, ₹25.51 crore in prize money was distributed among players, reflecting the huge success of these games.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “In the first season, 3.50 lakh players participated, 9,688 players won medals and ₹6.88 crore in prize money was distributed. In the second season, more than 4 lakh players participated, 12,500 players won medals and ₹8.87 crore was distributed as prize money. In the third season, 4.35 lakh players participated, 14,500 players won medals and ₹9.76 crore was distributed. The games could not be organised in 2025 due to floods.”

The Chief Minister said, “Sports have always remained an integral part of Punjab’s proud cultural heritage and legacy. To channelise the unbounded energy of our youth in a positive direction, the new Sports Policy was introduced in 2023. It increased the budgetary allocation for sports and provided players with cash awards as well as financial assistance for training and preparation.”

He said, “For the first time in Punjab’s history, a budget of ₹1,744 crore has been allocated exclusively for the promotion of sports. Since 2022, for the first time in the history of Punjab, a total of ₹135 crore in prize money has been distributed to 40,415 players across the state.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Financial assistance is also being provided to players for preparation. An amount of ₹15 lakh is being provided for preparation for the Olympic Games and ₹8 lakh for preparation for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. As many as 85 players have been honoured with the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, while 11 players who brought laurels to Punjab at the national and international levels have been appointed as PCS/DSP officers.”

The Chief Minister asserted, “Promotion of sports culture can be the most effective tool in the state government’s crusade against drugs and that is why we are focusing on promoting sports. Youth involved in sports have no time even to look at drugs because they are using all their might to excel in their respective fields. This will go a long way in eliminating the curse of drugs from the state and making our youth equal partners in the social and economic development of Punjab.” The concept note for the 2026 edition also positions Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan as an important vehicle for strengthening the state’s sporting culture and channelising youth energy towards sport.

He said, “As many as 3,100 ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’ rural sports grounds are being developed across the state. For the first time since Independence, Punjab is hosting the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy, with matches scheduled in Jalandhar and Mohali during October-November, giving the people of Punjab an opportunity to watch their hockey stars play on their home turf. It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that eight players from Punjab are currently representing the Indian hockey team at the World Hockey Cup being held in Europe.”

Highlighting Punjab’s present sporting culture, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann noted, “Captain of the Indian Hockey Team Harmanpreet Singh, Captain of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team Shubman Gill, Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team Harmanpreet Kaur and Captain of the Indian Basketball Team Palpreet Singh Brar all hail from Punjab.”

The Chief Minister said, “For the first time in the post-Independence period, India crossed the magic figure of 100 medals in the Asian Games by winning 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze medals. Punjabis made a huge contribution to this tally by winning 20 medals during the Asian Games 2023.”

He said, “As many as 32 players from Punjab bagged eight gold medals, six silver medals and six bronze medals, thereby breaking the 72-year-old record of Punjab’s performance in these games. Players from Punjab had earlier won seven gold medals each at the Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1951 and Jakarta in 1962. By winning eight gold medals in the recently concluded Asian Games, Punjab’s players broke this record and created history. The maximum tally of medals by players from Punjab was earlier 15 at the New Delhi Asian Games in 1951, but after more than 70 years, this record has also been broken as Punjabi players won 20 medals.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The government will continue to strengthen sports infrastructure and create wider opportunities for young players so that Punjab regains its leading position in the sporting arena while providing its youth with a positive and productive avenue to excel.”

*10 Lakh+ Participants, 38 Sports And Four Para Sports To Feature In Fourth Edition*

The games will be conducted through block, district and state-level competitions, with seven sports at block level, 28 at district level and 38 at state level, besides four para disciplines at the state level. The Para State-Level Games will be held in Ludhiana from November 25 to 28 and will feature Para Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Badminton and Wheelchair Basketball.

The state-level competitions will be organised in three slots from October 10 to November 23 across 16 districts: Ludhiana, Mansa, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, S.A.S. Nagar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, Patiala, Sangrur, Rupnagar, Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Malerkotla. The first slot, from October 10 to 15, will feature 13 disciplines, while the second slot from October 17 to 23 will feature 13 disciplines. The third slot from November 17 to 23 will feature 12 disciplines.

The four para disciplines, namely Para Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Badminton and Wheelchair Basketball, will subsequently be held at Ludhiana from November 25 to 28.

Maximum utilisation of the newly constructed rural playgrounds will be ensured during the block and district-level competitions, with each competition also serving as a community mobilisation event bringing together local leadership, Olympians, public figures and youth.

In a major push to position Punjab as a national hub for technology-driven entrepreneurship, the Punjab Government signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) to set up “Startup Punjab Hub –Neuron 2.0” at STPI Mohali with an investment of ₹29 crore. The state-of-the-art technology incubation centre will focus on cybersecurity and next-gen startups to further strengthening state’s startup ecosystem.

Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Mr. Aman Arora witnessed the signing of the MoU at Udyog Bhawan here. The agreement was signed by Director Industries and Commerce-cum-Punjab Startup Nodal Officer Mr. Jaspreet Singh and Director of STPI Mr. Shailendra K Tyagi.

Mr. Aman Arora said the new facility builds on the success of Neuron 1.0, which incubated 114 startups, supported the development of 158 products and 171 prototypes and created nearly 2,700 jobs. Startups from the earlier hub have attracted ₹251 crore in investments and hold a combined valuation of ₹2,890 crore.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has extended an in-principle support of ₹12 crore for the project, while STPI will contribute ₹17 crore, he said, while adding that the initiative aims to nurture at least 50 startups over the next five years and train 2,000 professionals through structured skilling programmes in emerging technologies. Eligible startups at the facility will be encouraged to register with Startup Punjab to avail benefits under the state’s startup policy.

Neuron 2.0 will introduce cybersecurity as an additional core domain alongside artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, internet of things (IoT) and audio-visual graphics. A dedicated cybersecurity lab with advanced facilities will be set up to support product development and experimentation.The facility is envisioned as a comprehensive innovation platform that will offer startup incubation, mentoring, advanced infrastructure, skilling, product commercialisation and industry linkages, he added.

“The collaboration with STPI for Neuron 2.0 reflects Punjab Government’s commitment to leveraging emerging technologies for economic growth and job creation. By adding cybersecurity to our existing domains, we are strengthening the state’s startup ecosystem and preparing our youth for future opportunities,” Mr. Aman Arora stated.

He said that STPI will operate and manage the facility, maintain the cybersecurity lab and conduct outreach programmes, hackathons, bootcamps and investor-connect events. The skilling component will include foundation, intermediate and expert-level programmes. Startup Punjab will facilitate startup outreach, mentoring, and ecosystem development, and connect the hub with government departments, educational institutions and industry bodies. Training opportunities will also be extended to students of government and government-aided schools and colleges.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman on Wednesday hit back at Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, challenging him to produce evidence for his allegations or publicly apologise. He said, “Thieves see everyone as thieves. It is easy to level allegations, but difficult to provide evidence.”

Addressing the SAD leader through a social media post, Rajbir Singh Ghuman stated, “I openly challenge Bikram Singh Majithia, who has appointed himself as the spokesperson of the ED (Enforcement Directorate), that if he has even a single chat of mine or any evidence of me asking anyone for money, he should make it public. Either bring the evidence before the people or publicly apologise. Otherwise, be prepared to face a defamation case.”

He said the real problem for the opposition was that ordinary families’ sons had risen to positions of responsibility and that the political opportunities of those who had ruled Punjab for years were now being challenged.

“He (Majithia) is actually troubled by how youth from ordinary families have come forward and their turns of forming government have been broken. When they cannot challenge us for our work, they have now resorted to ugly lies and character assassination,” he added.

Rajbir Singh Ghuman asserted that the Bhagwant Mann Government is working honestly for Punjab and would continue to do so. “We are working honestly for Punjab and will continue to do so. If he has the courage, he should talk about our work, not false allegations,” he said.

Inspired by the pro-people policies of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the development works being carried out by the Bhagwant Mann Government, former Indian cricketer Manpreet Singh Gony and international gold medallist athlete Kunar joined the Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday.

Welcoming the sportspersons into the party, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Today, the Aam Aadmi Party family has witnessed another very remarkable addition. The support of such youth, who have made Punjab proud on the sports fields, will give further strength to our campaign to create ‘Rangla Punjab’. Their experience will be of great help in inspiring the youth towards sports.”

The Chief Minister warmly welcomed both players into the party and honoured them by presenting siropas before formally inducting them into the Aam Aadmi Party. Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian was also present on the occasion.

After joining the AAP, Manpreet Singh Gony and Kunar said, “We are highly impressed by the policies of the Punjab Government led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and the work being undertaken for the development of the state. We will work with complete sincerity for strengthening the party and for the welfare of Punjab.”

The induction of the two sportspersons further strengthens the Aam Aadmi Party’s connect with Punjab’s youth and sports community, while reflecting the growing participation of accomplished young Punjabis in the state’s public and political life.

With monsoon conditions favouring mosquito breeding, Punjab is strengthening surveillance, prevention and treatment for dengue, malaria and other vector-borne diseases. Alongside these public-health measures, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) is helping eligible families access cashless healthcare when illness requires treatment.

Earlier this year, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh stressed the need for stronger community participation in preventing mosquito-borne diseases.

During a state-level review, authorities highlighted dengue, malaria and chikungunya and called for greater surveillance, testing and elimination of mosquito-breeding sites.

Punjab has reported a substantial decline in dengue. Cases fell from 23,389 in 2021 to 4,981 in 2025, while deaths declined from 55 to eight. The Health and Family Welfare Minister attributed the improvement partly to proactive house-to-house surveillance, including around 15 million visits during the previous transmission season.

The state also pushed the “Har Shukarvaar Dengue Te Vaar” campaign, under which students, teachers and health workers are encouraged to inspect surroundings every Friday and remove stagnant water from coolers, flower pots, overhead tanks and other containers.

On this, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said, “Mosquito-borne diseases need a community-wide response. Prevention cannot remain the responsibility of the health department alone. Every household, school and institution must ensure that stagnant water does not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.”

Punjab has also expanded diagnostic facilities, with free ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) testing for dengue and chikungunya available at 47 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals. Malaria rapid diagnostic testing and dengue testing have also been expanded.

Doctors, meanwhile, caution residents against ignoring persistent fever or assuming every monsoon fever is routine. Dr Shifali Choudhary (MBBS, MD) Medical specialist, District Hospital, Mohali, explained, “Mosquito-borne diseases can cause havoc when symptoms are ignored or treatment is delayed. Persistent fever, severe weakness, intense body or joint pain, repeated vomiting, unusual bleeding, breathing difficulty or dehydration should prompt medical attention.”

For patients who do fall ill, financial access to healthcare can be equally important. The latest Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana treatment data record 351 beneficiaries receiving 357 treatments, involving expenditure of ₹89,35,345.

Of these, 250 patients received 256 treatments at P-type hospitals, involving ₹75,02,250, while 101 patients received 101 treatments at G-type hospitals, involving ₹14,28,895. Women accounted for 194 beneficiaries and 199 treatments, while men accounted for 157 beneficiaries and 158 treatments. The largest age group was 31–45 years, with 102 beneficiaries and 105 treatments, followed by those aged 46–60, with 80 beneficiaries and 80 treatments.

Dr Shifali Choudhary added that Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana can reduce the financial hesitation that sometimes delays treatment. “Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is helping people across Punjab seek timely medical care without the immediate burden of arranging treatment expenses. Cashless access can be especially valuable when an illness requires emergency and hospitalisation.”

Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana data from SHA reveal significant treatment burden from dengue, malaria and chikungunya cases:

* Total: 357 mosquito-borne disease treatments, involving ₹89.35 lakh in expenditure.

* Dengue: Largest share of treatments, including dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.

* Dengue fever: Key treatment groups included 51 treatments costing ₹12.22 lakh, 25 costing ₹9.11 lakh, and 55 costing ₹8.46 lakh.

* Malaria: Multiple cases were recorded, including complicated malaria.

* Chikungunya: Several treatment records were reported.

* Severe cases: Some patients required additional interventions, including blood transfusions, advanced imaging and treatment for complications such as renal failure and severe sepsis.

For Punjab, the broader response therefore rests on two pillars: preventing mosquito-borne infections through surveillance and elimination of breeding sites, and ensuring patients can access timely, affordable treatment when illness occurs