To increase the accessibility of affordable and quality higher education to the state’s youth, Punjab Cabinet on Monday approved the creation of 320 additional posts of assistant professors in the 16 new Government Colleges of the State.
“These colleges were started in 2021-22. The Cabinet has also approved the creation of 16 posts of Library Restorer and 64 posts of Lab Attendants for these colleges. This will ensure the deployment of required faculty and staff in the newly-opened colleges thereby ensuring smooth running of the new colleges which in turn will benefit the students,” said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
At the same time, the Cabinet also gave consent to enhance the upper age limit for direct recruitment of 645 assistant professors in the Government Colleges from 37 years to 45 years. This will help in providing regular Assistant Professors in all Government colleges in the State along with giving one-time opportunity to those already working as non-regular faculty in various colleges to apply for the regular posts of Assistant Professors through direct recruitment by PPSC, said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson added that the decision will benefit the students by ensuring that they get access to quality higher education besides ensuring a pool of experienced applicants who have sufficient academic contributions.
Govt proposed to levy 2% stamp duty on power of attorney issued outside family
The Cabinet also gave the nod to amend entry number 48 in schedule 1-A for Punjab, in the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, thereby levying a two per cent stamp duty of the amount of the consideration or of collector rate in respect of the property for the Power of Attorney issued to people other than those in blood relations. This will be levied when power of attorney is given to a person other than a family member (viz spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent and grandchild), authorizing him to sell any immovable property. This move is aimed at checking the misuse of the power of attorneys and checking frauds with the people.
MoU with British Council to Start Training Course for Govt Colleges’ Students
The Cabinet also gave nod to the Department of Higher Education to sign an MoU with the British Council for starting a training course for students of Government Colleges under the aegis of Higher Education Department, in English Communication for Work from academic session 2023-24 and covering 5000 students initially. The online training course will help the students to improve their English speaking skills to communicate with confidence in professional situations. This would not only improve the confidence level of the students but also provide them the necessary edge when applying for jobs, both in the private and public sector and also communicating as entrepreneurs.