Chandigarh 11 March 2025: Taking another leap in the field of Digitalization, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan today launched the searchable engine for accessing Punjab Legislative Assembly debates. The launch occurred in the presence of Aman Arora, who is the Good Governance and Information Technology Minister. Harbhajan Singh, who is the Power Minister, was also present along with Dr. Ravjot Singh, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, and MLA Gurinder Singh Garry Birring.

Searchable Engine Simplifies Punjab Vidhan Sabha Research

Speaker Sandhwan said that now it would be easier to research any topic. This searchable engine simplifies finding any fact from the debates/proceedings of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. It covers the period from 1947 to the current day.  He also mentioned that this searchable engine was developed collaboratively. The collaborators are Punjabi University Patiala, IIIT Hyderabad, and CDAC Noida.  For implementing this project, Dr. Gurpreet Lehal, Professor and Consultant, IIIT Hyderabad, and his entire team have provided special support. They worked tirelessly to complete this project.

Searchable Engine : Punjab Vidhan Sabha Becomes Country’s First High-Tech Assembly

The launch of these projects has set the Punjab Vidhan Sabha apart. It is now the first among the Vidhan Sabhas of the country. A complete solution has been prepared for the convenience of MLAs. Regular training will also be imparted to MLAs and other departments. Sandhwan emphasized that concrete efforts have been made to modernize Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Efforts were also made to make it high-tech after the formation of Aam Aadmi Party Government in Punjab.  He also informed that currently the sessions of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha are being run paperless through the Neva portal.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Goes Digital with Live Streaming & Automation

Furthermore, he said that for the first time, all sessions of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha are being broadcast live on YouTube and social media channels of the Punjab Government.  Apart from this, an automation system is also being implemented in the library of Punjab Vidhan Sabha.  Even though the committee rooms and branches of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha have been digitized. He gave more details. He added that software being run by the Punjab Government, including e-Office and HRMS, has been fully implemented in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Efforts will continue to digitalise in the future also.

Speaker Reviews E-Gallery and Digital Initiatives

Meanwhile, Speaker viewed the e-gallery pass. They also observed the paperless internal working of House Committees and Constituency e-Management. This was developed under MLAs e-Connect by NIC Punjab Unit. The Speaker inaugurated the digital Compendium of Honorable Members. On this occasion, Vikas Pratap, Additional Chief Secretary, Vijay  Namdeorao Zade, Secretary Expenditure, Dilraj Singh, Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs, Girish Dayalan, Director, Governance Reforms, Vijay Kumar Chopra, Chief Engineer, Manoj Aggarwal, NIXI, New Delhi, Vivek Verma, State Informatics Officer, NIC and other officers of Punjab and Chandigarh Administration were also present.