The Punjab Assembly's Government Business Committee has raised serious concerns over the distribution of de-addiction medicines in jails. Reports reveal that inmates consumed 43.44 crore Buprenorphine tablets in the last four and a half years. The supply of these tablets in prisons has increased eight-fold since 2022. While Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh attributed the rise to the expansion of OOAT clinics, the committee questioned whether the government is merely replacing one addiction with another. The committee noted that the government lacks data on the actual number of individuals who have successfully recovered from addiction, raising doubts about the long-term effectiveness of the current de-addiction program. https://khalastv.com/the-government-was-exposed-in-the-assembly-on-the-issue-of-drug-addiction-listen-to-the-surprising-revelations/

On the occasion of National Handloom Day, PM Narendra Modi appealed to the youth of India to promote indigenous handicrafts. Through an Instagram video, he encouraged participation in the 'Get Ready With Me' (GRWM) social media trend using handloom products. He emphasized that supporting local weavers helps strengthen the livelihood of millions of poor families and contributes to the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' mission, recalling the significance of the 1905 Swadeshi Movement. https://www.rozanaspokesman.in/news/bihar/070826/pm-narendra-modi-handloom-day-news-in-punjabi.html

Akali Dal Waris Punjab has announced its first candidate for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. During a press conference in Amritsar, acting president Tarsem Singh and MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa named Satwant Singh, son of Shaheed Kehar Singh, as the candidate for the Bassi Pathana constituency. The party also appointed Sukhwinder Singh Agwan to its parliamentary board. The leadership emphasized their commitment to Panthic principles and honoring families who made sacrifices for the community, dismissing claims that such families were being sidelined. https://www.punjabitribuneonline.com/news/punjab/waris-punjab-announces-first-candidate/

Chandigarh Police Operation Cell busted an international arms smuggling syndicate linked to foreign-based gangster Deepak Nandal. Four individuals, including three shooters from Haryana and a cross-border smuggler from Amritsar, were arrested. The prime accused, Nishan Singh, allegedly received weapons from Pakistan via drones. Police recovered one Zigana pistol, two Chinese-made PX3 pistols, and 19 live cartridges. The gang was planning a major shooting and extortion incident in Gurugram, which was successfully averted by the police. https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/zeephh/chandigarh/chandigarh-police-busts-international-and-interstate-arms-smuggling-gang/3286436

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema addressed a state-level seminar on Guru Ravidas Ji's teachings at Amity University, Mohali. He emphasized that Guru Ji's message of equality and social justice is timeless. Cheema announced that the Punjab government is establishing a state-of-the-art 'Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Bani Study Centre' at Dera Ballan with an investment of ₹25 crore, for which ₹11 crore has already been spent on land purchase. He urged students and scholars to study the concept of 'Begampura' to build a discrimination-free society. https://sanjhisoch.com/%E0%A8%B8%E0%A9%8D%E0%A8%B0%E0%A9%80-%E0%A8%97%E0%A9%81%E0%A8%B0%E0%A9%82-%E0%A8%B0%E0%A8%B5%E0%A8%BF%E0%A8%A6%E0%A8%BE%E0%A8%B8-%E0%A8%9C%E0%A9%80-%E0%A8%AE%E0%A8%B9%E0%A8%BE%E0%A8%B0%E0%A8%BE-2/

Raksha Bandhan 2026 will be celebrated on August 28. According to astrological calculations, the Shravan Purnima Tithi will end at 9:48 AM on August 28. A significant highlight for 2026 is the absence of Bhadra Kaal during the festival, as it ends before sunrise. The most auspicious time to tie Rakhi is between 5:57 AM and 9:48 AM on Friday. However, people are advised to avoid Rahukaal, which occurs from 10:46 AM to 12:22 PM. The article also details the traditional rituals involving the puja thali and tilak for brothers. https://www.ptcnews.tv/news-in-punjabi/when-is-the-festival-of-raksha-bandhan-2026-know-shubh-time-and-bhadra-timing-4428094

A tragic road accident occurred on Nahan Road in Himachal Pradesh where a vehicle fell into a deep gorge in the Renuka area. The accident resulted in the death of four people. Local authorities and police reached the spot for rescue operations and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. https://punjab.news18.com/videos/nahan-road-accident-4-renuka-himachal-news-994861.html

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema addressed a state-level seminar on Guru Ravidas Ji's teachings at Amity University, Mohali. He emphasized that the principles of equality, freedom, and social justice were advocated by the Guru 650 years ago. The minister highlighted the Punjab government's initiative to establish a state-of-the-art Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Bani Study Centre at Dera Ballan with an investment of ₹25 crore. He urged the youth and scholars to study the Guru's concept of 'Begampura' to build a harmonious society free from discrimination. https://punjab.news18.com/news/punjab/chandigarh-the-principles-of-liberty-equality-and-non-discrimination-were-enshrined-in-the-teachings-of-sri-guru-ravidas-ji-maharaj-650-years-ago-harpal-singh-cheema-hs-local18-995118.html

The Indian government has introduced a digital currency model for ration subsidies in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli starting August 14, 2026. Under the PMGKAY scheme, subsidies will be sent directly to beneficiaries' digital wallets via the PNB Digital Rupee app instead of bank accounts. This purpose-bound money can only be used to buy food grains at government ration shops using QR codes. If the funds are not utilized within 30 days, they will automatically revert to the government account. This move aims to prevent the misuse of funds for non-essential items like mobile recharges or alcohol. https://punjabi.abplive.com/business/ration-subsidy-via-digital-rupee-scheme-rolls-out-from-chandigarh-cash-to-be-credited-in-account-877636