NEW DELHI- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday strongly raised Punjab’s long-pending concerns before the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog Governing Council, seeking a special package for the revitalisation of border areas and demanding that Punjab be accorded Special Category Status (SCS) with 90:10 funding under all Centrally Sponsored Schemes on the lines of hill states, North Eastern states and Jammu & Kashmir. Addressing the meeting, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted the extraordinary security, economic and social challenges faced by Punjab as a frontline border state and asserted that the state’s aspirations are fully aligned with the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Speaking on the unique challenges confronting Punjab, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Punjab is a frontline state sharing a 553-kilometre border with Pakistan. The state faces a deep and multidimensional crisis that includes persistent cross-border terrorism, drone-based smuggling of heroin and weapons. This has resulted in a drug addiction epidemic among youth, organised crime and daily hardship for farmers cultivating land between the security fence and the international border under BSF escort.”
Highlighting the impact of natural disasters and security-related disruptions, the Chief Minister said, “Punjab also suffered the devastating impact of natural disasters such as the 2025 floods, which damaged more than 2, 300 villages and caused losses estimated at ₹12, 905 crore. The onslaught that residents of Punjab had to face in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor was visible for the entire country to see.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that densely populated villages and towns located close to the international border have been deprived of the economic growth witnessed by other parts of the country. He noted that decades of uncertainty and risk have resulted in negligible investment in border districts and, in many cases, led to a flight of capital and the closure or relocation of industries. “Although Punjab acts as a buffer for the country against repeated hostilities from our neighbour, support from the Government of India has been grossly inadequate for the state and its border areas, ” he said.
Pointing to the disparity in development initiatives, the Chief Minister said, “Only 107 villages have been covered under the recently launched Vibrant Village-II Programme, whereas more than 2, 000 villages and towns are located in very close proximity to the border.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has repeatedly urged the Union Government to take urgent measures to strengthen the international border and address the multiple challenges confronting the state. “To secure our international border with Pakistan, make it future-ready and address the multifaceted crisis facing Punjab, we have placed a series of urgent demands before the Central Government on multiple occasions. However, there has been little and unenthusiastic response from the Centre, which is unfortunate and undesirable, ” he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the demands raised during the 10th meeting of the Governing Council in May 2025, as well as those presented during the current meeting, deserve serious consideration. “The genuine demands of the people of Punjab, raised by me during the 10th meeting of the Governing Council and reiterated today, may kindly be accepted, ” he said.
Urging the Prime Minister to extend greater support to Punjab, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Punjab and its people stand resolute in their commitment to protect the country and its borders from a hostile neighbour even at the cost of their own disadvantage.” Expressing hope that Punjab’s concerns would receive a positive response, he added, “I hope that the genuine and legitimate demands of the state are favourably considered and Punjab is given its due recognition and share in the economic development of the country.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann assured the Prime Minister that Punjab would continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Union Government to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. “Punjab and its people will collaboratively work with the Government of India towards making India Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Only a secure, safe and thriving Punjab can guarantee a Viksit Bharat @ 2047, ” he said.
Presenting Punjab’s development roadmap, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “As the Chief Minister of Punjab, a land of resilience, promise and potential, I am proud to present our collective vision for a Rangla Punjab that is determined to play a pivotal role in shaping a Viksit Bharat by 2047.” He said that as Punjab’s aspirations align with national priorities, discussions centred on human capital development are both timely and crucial.
The Chief Minister envisioned a family-centric development model focused on ensuring the well-being of every child, empowering the working-age population to become productive and innovative, and providing dignity and care to the elderly. “This requires us to harness our inherent strengths, confront challenges head-on with innovative solutions, empower people with cutting-edge skills and create an enabling environment that allows them to become active contributors and beneficiaries of Punjab’s and India’s growth story, ” he said.
Punjab Seeks National Knowledge and Education Hub Status for Mohali
Listing Punjab’s aspirations before the NITI Aayog, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann thanked the institution for creating a platform that aligns national priorities with regional aspirations and provides states an opportunity to share their developmental initiatives. The Chief Minister urged the Union Government to recognise Mohali and the area within a 50-kilometre radius as a National Knowledge and Education Hub.
He said that the region possesses a unique concentration of educational institutions, research centres and innovation ecosystems of national importance, along with a large talent pool and a strong industry-academia collaboration framework. “This recognition will strengthen Mohali’s global competitiveness, attract investments and international partnerships, and promote innovation-led growth in support of India’s vision of becoming a leading knowledge-based economy, ” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Chief Minister further proposed the development of the Mohali region as a National Knowledge and Innovation Region (NKIR) through integrated planning and the creation of world-class infrastructure. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that advanced shared research facilities, dedicated funding mechanisms and Centres of Excellence in strategic sectors should be established. “These Centres of Excellence should focus on Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Quantum Technologies, Agri-Tech and Advanced Manufacturing, ” he said.
The Chief Minister also advocated attracting reputed foreign universities to establish campuses and collaborative academic centres in Mohali. “This will strengthen India’s internationalisation agenda while enhancing global academic engagement, ” he added.
The Chief Minister said that Mohali possesses several strategic and logistical advantages that make it the ideal location for an Integrated Semiconductor Mega-Cluster. “Ready availability of trained manpower, proximity to defence and strategic consumers, requisite infrastructure and an existing private-sector footprint in the field are already available in Mohali, ” he said. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that establishing the cluster would position Punjab as a frontrunner in one of the world’s most strategic and high-growth sectors, while accelerating economic growth and innovation in the state.