Scholarship Scheme for SC Students; Half of BPEO Posts Vacant

July

2026

Panjab’s Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister, Dr Baljit Kaur announced the launch of the post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students on 5 Jul. The minister urged all eligible SC students to apply through the National Scholarship Portal beginning 1 Jul to avail financial assistance for higher education for 2026–27. Students can submit applications till 15 Nov. Meanwhile, data compiled by the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) has revealed that nearly half of the sanctioned Block Primary Education Officer (BPEO) posts are lying vacant in Panjab. Despite the government’s much-touted claims of Sikhya Kranti (education revolution), 107 of the 228 sanctioned BPEO posts remain vacant raising concerns over the functioning of the primary education department. Among Panjab’s districts, against the five sanctioned posts in Mansa and 10 in Rupnagar, none has been filled. Hoshiarpur has only two BPEOs against 21 sanctioned posts, Jalandhar has seven out of 17, Kapurthala has three out of nine and Nawanshahr two out of seven. DTF state president, Digvijaypal Sharma, said that a large number of vacancies have forced several officers to handle multiple blocks, delaying salary preparation and other service-related work. Additionally, members of the Diploma-Degree Apprenticeship Association, have urged the Panjab government and the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to frame a dedicated recruitment policy for them. Protesting outside the head office of PSPCL in Patiala, association members alleged that engineering graduates underwent one year of technical apprenticeship in PSPCL under the provisions of the Apprentice Act, 1961, gaining experience in grid substations, system operations, maintenance, and protection works. However, the experience was not recognized during recruitment. Concurrently, the Joint Front of the Rural and Agricultural Labour Organisations will organize a massive state-level rally on 5 Aug at Jalandhar to protest inflation, sharp increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas, rising unemployment and the continued neglect of landless workers’ demands in Panjab. Their demands include; provision of permanent employment throughout the year for laborers, repeal of Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin law and restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Act, with a daily wage of USD 7.32 for every adult worker and increase in widow, old-age, and disability pension to USD 52.27 per month (earlier coverage).