Punjab Current Affairs 2026

At a glance

the top events

The most important events of this page, and how many news items each topic holds.

Top events

1. 5 Oct — The Punjab Cabinet approved the Ranjitgarh Development Authority Bill, 2026 for eco-tourism around the Ranjit Sagar and Shahpur Kandi dam areas; the CM is chairperson and the Tourism Minister is vice-chairman.
2. 8 Oct — CM Bhagwant Mann launched Passbook, the financial-incentive module of the Fast-Track Punjab portal, which promises investors all approvals within 45 days; Punjab says it has drawn Rs 1.89 lakh crore of investment since 2022.
3. 11 Oct — CM Bhagwant Mann flagged off a motorcycle rally from Chappar Chiri for the final phase of Yudh Nashian Virudh, Punjab's anti-drug campaign, which will cover all 23 districts to build public participation.
4. 19 Oct — CM Bhagwant Mann launched two new canned products of MARKFED's SOHNA brand, chickpeas and red kidney beans in brine, at SIAL Paris 2026 to push Punjab's agri-food exports.
5. 24 Oct — The NHRC issued notices to Punjab's Chief Secretary and the Union Road Transport Ministry over unsafe AC sleeper buses used under Punjab's Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra scheme for senior citizens.
6. 25 Oct — Punjab hosts the Hero Asian Champions Trophy (men's hockey) from 27 October to 5 November: league matches at Jalandhar's Surjit Singh stadium, and semi-finals and final at the Balbir Singh stadium, Mohali.

News by topic

Government & States

11 one-liners

International & Agreements

1 one-liners

Economy & Banking

4 one-liners

Science, Defence & Environment

3 one-liners

Sports, Days & Culture

6 one-liners

Government & States

11 one-liners

Policy · laws · schemes · states.

National

• HUNAR Punjab, a portal linking industry with skilled youth, was launched in Chandigarh; it has four modules (institute discovery, hiring, internships, industry-institute links) and over 1,700 institutions registered.
• 5 Oct — The same Punjab Cabinet meeting cleared regularisation of non-teaching contractual staff of PICTES and promotion rules to fill Tutor posts at the government nursing colleges in Patiala and Amritsar.
• 10 Oct — Punjab released over Rs 3,243 crore to 36.39 lakh beneficiaries under social security schemes this financial year; the state has set aside Rs 6,131.91 crore for these schemes in 2026-27.
• 10 Oct — Under the Mera Ghar Mere Naam scheme, Punjab handed property cards to 227 households of Kotra Amru village; the scheme gives proof of ownership to residents of the Lal Lakir (abadi deh) areas of villages.
• 11 Oct — CM Bhagwant Mann flagged off a motorcycle rally from Chappar Chiri for the final phase of Yudh Nashian Virudh, Punjab's anti-drug campaign, which will cover all 23 districts to build public participation.
• 11 Oct — The CM said Yudh Nashian Virudh has led to over 81,000 arrests of drug traffickers, about 3,900 kg of heroin seized and a 89% conviction rate; these are government claims, and about 15,000 village defence committees are active.
• 22 Oct — A special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (13th session of 2026) began on 22 October and is scheduled to run till 27 October; Question Hour and Zero Hour matters are on the agenda.
• 24 Oct — The NHRC issued notices to Punjab's Chief Secretary and the Union Road Transport Ministry over unsafe AC sleeper buses used under Punjab's Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra scheme for senior citizens.
• 24 Oct — A four-day strike by contract staff of PRTC, PUNBUS and Punjab Roadways ended on 24 October after the state issued written orders on their demands; PRTC will also add 100 midi buses and pilot electronic ticketing machines.
• 25 Oct — The PM praised the Kheti Virasat Mission's Nav-Trinjan initiative in Punjab's Malwa region, which promotes chemical-free natural cotton, including naturally coloured cotton that needs no chemical dyeing, and runs a weaving school for women.

States & UTs

• 5 Oct — The Punjab Cabinet approved the Ranjitgarh Development Authority Bill, 2026 for eco-tourism around the Ranjit Sagar and Shahpur Kandi dam areas; the CM is chairperson and the Tourism Minister is vice-chairman.

International & Agreements

1 one-liners

World · summits · MoUs · exercises.

International

• Karambir Singh Kang became Canada's first Sikh ship engineer to serve with a full beard at BC Ferries. He is from Kang village, Dhariwal tehsil, Gurdaspur (Punjab), and studied at BITS Pilani.

Economy & Banking

4 one-liners

RBI · markets · trade · reports.

Economy & Banking

• 1 Oct — Punjab began paddy procurement for 2026-27 at the Batala grain market on 1 October, with a target of 180 lakh metric tonnes and a Centre-approved cash credit limit of Rs 42,786.68 crore.
• 8 Oct — CM Bhagwant Mann launched Passbook, the financial-incentive module of the Fast-Track Punjab portal, which promises investors all approvals within 45 days; Punjab says it has drawn Rs 1.89 lakh crore of investment since 2022.
• 19 Oct — CM Bhagwant Mann launched two new canned products of MARKFED's SOHNA brand, chickpeas and red kidney beans in brine, at SIAL Paris 2026 to push Punjab's agri-food exports.
• 19 Oct — MARKFED, Punjab's cooperative marketing federation, has a turnover above Rs 21,248 crore, serves about 20 lakh farmers and exports to over 20 countries; its Verka brand belongs to Milkfed.

Science, Defence & Environment

3 one-liners

Space · tech · forces · ecology.

Science & Technology

• India's first Green Forge complex started at the National Agri-Food and Biomanufacturing Institute, Mohali; it is a simulation facility for agri-biotech and GM crop research with tightly controlled light, humidity and temperature.

Environment & Ecology

• 22 Oct — The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviewed stubble burning with Punjab and Haryana in Chandigarh under Chair Rajesh Verma, referring to its Directions No. 99 and No. 92.
• 22 Oct — Punjab recorded 510 stubble-burning incidents by 22 October 2026, with Tarn Taran (247) and Amritsar (136) leading; environmental compensation was imposed in 184 cases, against 5,114 cases in the whole of last season.

Sports, Days & Culture

6 one-liners

Results · important days · heritage.

Sports

• Six teams play the Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab: India, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China and Bangladesh, which replaced Pakistan; India, captained by Harmanpreet Singh, has won the title five times.
• 19 Oct — The Ranji Trophy is run by the BCCI and named after Ranjitsinhji. It was announced in 1934, its first season was 1934-35, and the trophy was donated by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.
• 25 Oct — Punjab hosts the Hero Asian Champions Trophy (men's hockey) from 27 October to 5 November: league matches at Jalandhar's Surjit Singh stadium, and semi-finals and final at the Balbir Singh stadium, Mohali.
• 25 Oct — Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann felicitated 17-year-old Jagsher Singh Khangurra of Nabha, who won bronze in the boys' singles at the BWF World Junior Championships in Cairo.

Important Days

• 25 Oct — India will mark the 100th birth anniversary of Narinder Singh Kapany, the "Father of Fiber Optics" born in Moga, Punjab, on 31 October 2026; the PM urged youth to read about him.

Art, Culture & Tourism

• IISER Mohali in Punjab is hosting 47 students from Gujarat for a week-long Yuva Sangam exchange showing Punjab's scientific, industrial, historical and cultural heritage.

Quick quiz

test yourself

Practice questions on this period. Tap an option to check your answer.

Fill in the blank: one-liner flashcards

The _____ approved the Ranjitgarh Development Authority Bill, 2026 for eco-tourism around the Ranjit Sagar and Shahpur Kandi dam areas; the CM is chairperson and the Tourism Minister is vice-chairman.

Punjab Cabinet

CM Bhagwant Mann launched _____, the financial-incentive module of the Fast-Track Punjab portal, which promises investors all approvals within 45 days; Punjab says it has drawn Rs 1.89 lakh crore of investment since 2022.

Passbook

CM Bhagwant Mann flagged off a motorcycle rally from _____ for the final phase of Yudh Nashian Virudh, Punjab's anti-drug campaign, which will cover all 23 districts to build public participation.

Chappar Chiri

CM Bhagwant Mann launched two new canned products of _____ brand, chickpeas and red kidney beans in brine, at SIAL Paris 2026 to push Punjab's agri-food exports.

MARKFED's SOHNA

The _____ issued notices to Punjab's Chief Secretary and the Union Road Transport Ministry over unsafe AC sleeper buses used under Punjab's Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra scheme for senior citizens.

NHRC

_____ hosts the Hero Asian Champions Trophy (men's hockey) from 27 October to 5 November: league matches at Jalandhar's Surjit Singh stadium, and semi-finals and final at the Balbir Singh stadium, Mohali.

Punjab

_____ became Canada's first Sikh ship engineer to serve with a full beard at BC Ferries. He is from Kang village, Dhariwal tehsil, Gurdaspur (Punjab), and studied at BITS Pilani.

Karambir Singh Kang

India's first _____ started at the National Agri-Food and Biomanufacturing Institute, Mohali; it is a simulation facility for agri-biotech and GM crop research with tightly controlled light, humidity and temperature.

Green Forge complex

_____ in Punjab is hosting 47 students from Gujarat for a week-long Yuva Sangam exchange showing Punjab's scientific, industrial, historical and cultural heritage.

IISER Mohali

_____, a portal linking industry with skilled youth, was launched in Chandigarh; it has four modules (institute discovery, hiring, internships, industry-institute links) and over 1,700 institutions registered.

HUNAR Punjab

MCQs

1. Narinder Singh Kapany, known as the Father of Fiber Optics, was born in which place?

   1. Amritsar
   2. Moga
   3. Ludhiana
   4. Patiala
   Show answer

   Answer: Moga — He was born in Moga, Punjab, and his 100th birth anniversary falls on 31 October 2026.

2. In Mann Ki Baat 139, the Nav-Trinjan natural cotton initiative was praised in which region of Punjab?

   1. Doaba
   2. Majha
   3. Malwa
   4. Puadh
   Show answer

   Answer: Malwa — The Kheti Virasat Mission's Nav-Trinjan initiative works in Punjab's Malwa region.

3. In which Punjab city is the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, renovated for the Asian Champions Trophy?

   1. Ludhiana
   2. Jalandhar
   3. Patiala
   4. Amritsar
   Show answer

   Answer: Jalandhar — The stadium at Burlton Park, Jalandhar, was renovated at over Rs 16 crore to host the league matches.

4. The Ranjitgarh Development Authority Bill, 2026 of Punjab is about eco-tourism around which dams?

   1. Ranjit Sagar and Shahpur Kandi
   2. Bhakra and Pong
   3. Harike and Ropar
   4. Nangal and Kishau
   Show answer

   Answer: Ranjit Sagar and Shahpur Kandi — The authority will plan sustainable development around the Ranjit Sagar and Shahpur Kandi dam areas; the CM is its chairperson.

5. The Fast-Track Punjab portal promises investors all approvals within how many days?

   1. 15 days
   2. 30 days
   3. 45 days
   4. 90 days
   Show answer

   Answer: 45 days — The portal works as a single window and Chief Minister Mann has committed to approvals within 45 days.

6. Which district of Punjab had the most stubble-burning incidents (247) by 22 October 2026?

   1. Amritsar
   2. Ferozepur
   3. Tarn Taran
   4. Patiala
   Show answer

   Answer: Tarn Taran — Tarn Taran recorded 247 of the state's 510 incidents, followed by Amritsar with 136.

7. Where has India's first Green Forge complex been started?

   1. Mohali
   2. Pune
   3. Hyderabad
   4. Bengaluru
   Show answer

   Answer: Mohali — It is at the National Agri-Food and Biomanufacturing Institute, Mohali.

8. The NHRC issued notices over bus safety under which Punjab government scheme in October 2026?

   1. Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra
   2. Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana
   3. HUNAR Punjab
   4. Mission Chardi Kala
   Show answer

   Answer: Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra — The NHRC flagged unsafe AC sleeper buses used for senior citizens under the Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra scheme.

9. Jagsher Singh Khangurra, who won bronze at the BWF World Junior Championships, is from which town of Punjab?

   1. Nabha
   2. Jaito
   3. Khanna
   4. Rajpura
   Show answer

   Answer: Nabha — The 17-year-old is from Nabha and was felicitated by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.

10. SOHNA is a food brand of which Punjab organisation?

    1. Milkfed
    2. Punjab Agro
    3. MARKFED
    4. PSIEC
    Show answer

    Answer: MARKFED — MARKFED, the Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation, launched two new SOHNA canned products at SIAL Paris 2026.

11. The final phase of Punjab's Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign started with a motorcycle rally from:

    1. Anandpur Sahib
    2. Chappar Chiri
    3. Talwandi Sabo
    4. Kartarpur
    Show answer

    Answer: Chappar Chiri — The rally began at Chappar Chiri, linked to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, and covers all 23 districts.

12. Where will the semi-finals and final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 be played in Punjab?

    1. Amritsar
    2. Mohali
    3. Ludhiana
    4. Patiala
    Show answer

    Answer: Mohali — League matches are at Jalandhar; the knock-out matches on 4 and 5 November are at the Balbir Singh stadium, Mohali.