Punjab Cabinet approves free bus travel for NEET students on June 20-22
Synopsis
The Punjab Cabinet has approved free bus travel for NEET candidates and one attendant each on the three re-exam days — a direct relief measure amid the controversy surrounding the re-conducted test. Bundled with 1,169 new government recruitments and two biogas projects, it is one of the more substantive single-session cabinet outputs from the Mann government this year.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC will provide free travel to NEET aspirants and one attendant on June 20, 21 and 22 ; admit card is the only requirement.
The Cabinet cleared 1,013 Lecturer Cadre (Group-B) vacancies with a one-time five-year age relaxation for applicants.
156 Junior Engineers — 127 Civil and 29 Electrical — will be recruited in the Public Works Department via PSSSB .
Wet waste-based compressed biogas projects of 100 TPD each approved for Patiala and Jalandhar , awarded to HPRGE .
Punjab generates nearly 4,000 tonnes per day of municipal solid waste across 166 Urban Local Bodies .
Amendment to Rule 8 of Punjab Civil Services Rules, 1994, introduces merit-based tie-breaking where rank and date of birth are identical.
The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Wednesday, 10 June 2025, approved a package of decisions that includes free bus travel for NEET aspirants and one attendant each on June 20, 21 and 22 — the dates of the re-conducted National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. The decisions also cover recruitment of over 1,169 government posts, two compressed biogas projects, and amendments to industrial and civil services rules.
Free Travel for NEET Aspirants
State-run Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS, and PRTC buses will carry NEET candidates and one attendant free of charge to and from examination centres across Punjab and Chandigarh on the three exam days. Students need only present their admit cards to avail the facility — no fare will be collected. The move is aimed at easing the logistical and financial burden on students appearing in the re-conducted exam.
Over 1,169 Government Posts to Be Filled
The Cabinet cleared the filling of 1,013 sanctioned vacant posts in the Lecturer Cadre (Group-B) through the Education Recruitment Directorate, covering both backlog and newly created vacancies. A one-time five-year relaxation in the upper age limit has been granted to candidates applying for these posts in the School Education Department.
Separately, 156 Junior Engineers will be recruited in the Public Works Department — 127 posts of Junior Engineer (Civil) and 29 posts of Junior Engineer (Electrical). All posts will be filled through direct recruitment by the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB).
Compressed Biogas Projects in Patiala and Jalandhar
To advance sustainable waste management and renewable energy, the Cabinet approved the award of wet waste-based compressed biogas (CBG) projects of 100 TPD capacity each at the Municipal Corporations of Patiala and Jalandhar to HPCL Renewable and Green Energy Ltd (HPRGE) on a nomination basis. Punjab currently generates nearly 4,000 tonnes per day of municipal solid waste across 166 Urban Local Bodies. The projects are expected to reduce landfill burden, cut methane emissions, generate organic manure, and support a circular economy model.
Amendments to Civil Services and Industrial Policy Rules
The Cabinet approved an amendment to Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994, to resolve tie-breaking in merit lists. Where candidates share both merit rank and date of birth, inter se seniority will now be determined by final grading or percentage in the minimum educational qualification prescribed for the post.
Amendments to the Industrial and Business Development Policy, 2026 were also cleared, aimed at boosting investment and industrial growth in the state. All decisions, according to the Chief Minister's Office, reaffirm the government's commitment to public welfare and economic progress. The recruitment drives and biogas projects are expected to move to implementation in the coming weeks.
Point of View
PUNBUS and PRTC actually deploy adequate capacity on the three exam days, not just issue a cabinet order. On the recruitment front, 1,013 lecturer vacancies with an age-limit relaxation signals that the backlog in government school staffing is deeper than routine hiring cycles can address. The biogas projects, if executed on schedule, would mark a meaningful step for Punjab's urban sanitation — but 'nomination basis' awards to a single entity deserve scrutiny on pricing and timelines.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which buses will provide free travel to NEET students in Punjab?
State-run Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS, and PRTC buses will carry NEET aspirants and one attendant free of charge on June 20, 21, and 22 — the dates of the re-conducted exam. Students must show their admit card; no fare will be charged.
How many government posts did the Punjab Cabinet approve for recruitment?
The Cabinet approved filling 1,013 Lecturer Cadre (Group-B) posts in the School Education Department and 156 Junior Engineer posts in the Public Works Department, totalling 1,169 positions. All will be filled through direct recruitment by the PSSSB.
What are the compressed biogas projects approved for Patiala and Jalandhar?
The Cabinet approved 100 TPD wet waste-based compressed biogas projects at the Municipal Corporations of Patiala and Jalandhar, awarded to HPCL Renewable and Green Energy Ltd on a nomination basis. The projects aim to reduce landfill burden, generate renewable energy, and cut methane emissions.
What is the age-limit relaxation approved for lecturer posts?
A one-time relaxation of five years in the upper age limit has been granted to candidates applying for Lecturer Cadre posts in Punjab's School Education Department. This is a one-time measure tied to the current recruitment cycle.
What change was made to Punjab Civil Services seniority rules?
Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994, was amended so that when candidates share the same merit rank and date of birth, inter se seniority is decided by the final grading or percentage in the minimum educational qualification for the post.
