Chandigarh, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on Saturday approved Departmental Service Rules for a separate cadre of 2,452 employees to be posted in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), clearing the way for direct recruitment to these positions.
The decision is aimed at strengthening Punjab’s representation in the Board and creating employment opportunities for the state’s youth.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the BBMB was constituted as a legal entity under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, to regulate projects relating to the Bhakra and Beas dams in Punjab. The partner states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan send officers and employees on deputation to various positions in the Board.
However, despite having an allocated quota for different posts, Punjab’s share of positions in the BBMB has frequently remained vacant, allowing employees from other states to be posted against those vacancies.
The state government said Punjab contributes 40 per cent of the Board’s finances, irrespective of the number of employees appointed against its allocated share. It said the situation had necessitated a separate cadre to ensure adequate representation of Punjab’s employees.
The Council of Ministers had approved the creation of a special cadre comprising 2,452 BBMB posts at its meeting on November 15, 2025.
Recruitment rules and other service conditions for appointments to these posts had already been framed. With Saturday’s approval of the Departmental Service Rules, the process of direct recruitment can now be initiated.
The government said the decision would provide employment opportunities to young people in Punjab while protecting and strengthening the state’s representation in the BBMB.
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