Chandigarh, November 19, 2025: Punjab will fill more than 3,000 Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) positions exclusively with local candidates after the state government created a separate cadre.
The cabinet decision, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, comes after years of Punjab’s posts being assigned to employees from other states, leaving local vacancies unfilled. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the move ensures the state’s youth finally get the opportunities they were denied.
Punjab officials said 3,165 posts had remained vacant in departments including PSPCL, Water Resources, and Health. The cabinet also approved 2,458 new posts for BBMB projects and power plants.
The decision is part of a broader assertion of Punjab’s rights over BBMB matters, including disputes with Haryana over water sharing, BBMB Class-I employee data, and appointments of CISF personnel at Bhakra and Nangal dams.
Chief Minister Mann said the move was aimed at protecting Punjab’s pride and giving youth the government jobs they deserve. “This government is committed to Punjab’s rights and its youth,” he said.
Officials said the new cadre will allow Punjab to fill vacancies directly, giving thousands of families hope and strengthening local administrative control.
