Punjab Cabinet announces major relief for NEET aspirants, approves age relaxation for lecturer posts, new PWD recruitment
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 10, 2026: The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Wednesday approved a series of key decisions aimed at supporting students, job seekers and young professionals across the state. The announcements include free bus travel for NEET candidates and their attendants, relaxation in the age limit for lecturer recruitment, and approval for fresh recruitment in the Public Works Department (PWD).
Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema outlined the decisions and said the government remains committed to providing relief to students and expanding employment opportunities.
Free PRTC Travel for NEET Candidates and One Attendant
In a major relief for students affected by the NEET examination controversy, the Punjab Government announced free travel in PRTC buses for candidates appearing in the re-conducted examination scheduled on June 20, 21 and 22.
Cheema said around 28,000 students from Punjab were impacted by the NEET paper leak issue and are now required to reappear for the examination. To ease their burden, the state government has waived bus fares for all NEET candidates travelling to examination centres during the three-day period.
The benefit will also extend to one parent or attendant accompanying each student. The Finance Minister said that while the hardship caused to students by the examination irregularities cannot be fully compensated, the government is making every effort to provide meaningful assistance.
Five-Year Age Relaxation for Lecturer Recruitment
The Cabinet also approved a five-year relaxation in the upper age limit for candidates applying for the recruitment of 1,013 lecturer posts in the Education Department.
The decision is expected to benefit thousands of eligible candidates who had crossed the prescribed age limit and were unable to apply for government teaching positions. The move is aimed at widening employment opportunities and addressing vacancies in the education sector.
156 Junior Engineer Posts Approved in PWD
In another employment-focused decision, the Cabinet gave approval for the direct recruitment of 156 Junior Engineers (JEs) in the Public Works Department.
The government said the recruitment will help strengthen the department's workforce, improve execution of infrastructure projects and create additional job opportunities for engineering graduates and diploma holders.
The decisions reflect the Punjab Government's focus on supporting students, expanding public sector employment and strengthening key government departments through fresh recruitment and welfare measures.