Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
In a significant move aimed at generating employment and enhancing administrative efficiency, Punjab Finance and Planning Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday officially approved the direct recruitment process for 70 posts under the Planning Department.
According to a press release issued here, Cheema said that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is continuously working to streamline departmental functioning and provide ample job opportunities to the youth. He stated that formal approval has been granted to initiate direct recruitment for various Group A, B, and C posts under two key institutions the Directorate of Statistics and the Economic Policy and Planning Board.
Sharing category-wise details, the Finance Minister said that out of the total 70 vacancies, 68 posts will be filled in the Directorate of Statistics. These include 14 Assistant Research Officers, 4 Senior Assistants, and 50 Investigators through direct recruitment.
He further added that the remaining two posts have been allocated to the Economic Policy and Planning Board, which include one Group-A Programmer and one Senior Assistant.
Explaining the background of the decision, Cheema said that an initial proposal was presented before the Punjab Cabinet for the recruitment of 140 officers across various categories in both institutions. During the Cabinet meeting held on March 29, 2026, approval was granted to fill 50 percent of the proposed posts, bringing the total number of vacancies cleared under the current recruitment drive to 70.