Chandigarh, March 7 (NationPress) The Punjab Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has officially sanctioned the creation of a world-class university dedicated to Guru Teg Bahadur in Anandpur Sahib.

During a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Chief Minister, the Cabinet also endorsed the Industrial and Business Development Policy of 2026 and approved the recruitment of 1,158 Assistant Professors and Librarians for government colleges.

According to the Chief Minister's Office, the Cabinet has approved the establishment of the university and the draft Bill for the Sri Guru Teg Bahadur World Class University, which will be introduced in the Assembly. The Cabinet has empowered the Chief Minister to make all necessary decisions for the prompt establishment of this institution.

Moreover, the Cabinet has authorized the Industrial and Business Development Policy of 2026, along with specific policies, detailed plans, and operational guidelines under the prominent initiative Punjab Udyog Kranti.

This policy aims to create a comprehensive framework for fiscal incentives, sectoral progress, job creation, infrastructure enhancement, and the promotion of emerging industries in the state. It is poised to significantly boost economic activity and steer Punjab toward a trajectory of substantial economic growth.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved measures to facilitate reservation for sportspersons in government employment and educational admissions. The policy establishes clear and objective criteria for scoring achievements in sports.

According to the policy, 75% weightage will be given to sporting achievements, while 25% weightage will be based on performance in entrance examinations. An amendment was also sanctioned in the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Technical (Group-C) Service Rules of 2016 to include a diploma in pharmacy as an additional qualification for pharmacist recruitment. This will allow diploma holders to apply for pharmacist positions, thereby enhancing the quality of healthcare services in Punjab, as stated by officials.

In a compassionate move, the Cabinet has also approved an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore to the family of the martyr and Home Guards volunteer Ashok Kumar, who sacrificed his life during duty in Gurdaspur. This decision acknowledges his significant contribution to the nation's unity, integrity, and sovereignty.

Furthermore, the Cabinet granted approval to introduce the Punjab Regulation of Crusher Units, and Stockist and Retailers (Amendment) Bill of 2026 in the current Assembly session. This initiative aims to convert the existing ordinance into a formal Act.

In another notable resolution, the Cabinet consented to commence a new recruitment process for 1,158 positions in government colleges, which includes 1,091 Assistant Professors and 67 Librarians. The recruitment will strictly adhere to UGC Regulations and will be conducted through the Punjab Public Service Commission. The government intends to withdraw the previous requisition of 612 Assistant Professor posts pending with the commission and will submit a fresh consolidated requisition for all posts.