3 weeks ago
Punjab cabinet clears private school fee regulation and outsourcing bills
The government of Punjab, a state in India, had a big meeting on Wednesday.
In this meeting, the leaders agreed to make new rules.
One new rule stops private schools from raising their fees too much and too often.
This is because many families were finding school fees too expensive.
The leaders also decided to give steady jobs to workers who were hired through outside companies.
These workers can get a direct job with the government after working for five years.
Workers in dangerous jobs can get it even sooner, after three years.
The government also allowed three new online universities to open.
These universities will teach students over the internet.
Another new law will help protect trees and grow more forests in Punjab.
The government also made it easier for businesses to follow tax rules.
These changes are meant to help families, workers, students, and the environment.
The Punjab cabinet approved the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Un-aided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to regulate fee hikes by private unaided schools following complaints of arbitrary annual increases.
It cleared the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel Transition to Contractual Engagement Bill, 2026, which offers contractual employment to eligible outsourced personnel after five years of continuous service (three years in notified hazardous categories).
The cabinet approved the Punjab Private Digital Open Universities Policy, 2026, allowing three private digital open universities, including PhysicsWallah Digital University.
It approved the Punjab Protection of Trees Bill, 2026, which aims to raise the state's forest and tree cover from about 5.92% to 7.5% by 2030.
Other approvals included amendments to the Punjab GST law, extension of services for 449 veterinary pharmacists and 451 safai sewaks across 582 veterinary hospitals, and creation of Block Tarsika in Amritsar district.
- Who
- The Punjab cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann
- What
- Approved a series of bills and policies, including regulating private school fee hikes, transitioning outsourced personnel to contractual employment, and establishing private digital open universities
- Where
- Punjab, India
- When
- Wednesday, with the cabinet session in 2026; some measures such as staff extensions run from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027
- Why
- To address complaints of arbitrary fee hikes burdening families and to improve employment security, education access, tree conservation and tax compliance
Key facts
- Chief Minister
- Bhagwant Singh Mann
- School fee bill
- Punjab Regulation of Fee of Un-aided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Outsourcing bill
- Punjab State Outsourced Personnel Transition to Contractual Engagement Bill, 2026
- Contract eligibility
- 5 years of continuous service (3 years for hazardous categories)
- Digital universities approved
- 3, including PhysicsWallah Digital University in Patiala
- Forest cover target
- ~5.92% to 7.5% by 2030
- Veterinary staff extension
- 449 pharmacists and 451 safai sewaks across 582 veterinary hospitals
- New block created
- Block Tarsika, Amritsar district (64 gram panchayats from Jandiala Guru block)
Sources
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