The Indian Army has decided to start the civil work for setting up Service Selection Centre (North) at Rupnagar as all the formalities pertaining to this ambitious project has been completed. Apprising the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal about this major development, the Commander of Western Command Lieutenant General Surinder Singh AVSM, VSM said that Army was running the provisional campus of SSC at Kapurthala and it would be shifted to Rupnagar after the construction work on it was completed. Lieutenant General Surinder Singh, who called on the Chief Minister late last evening at his residence, said that the work on this prestigious project would be started very soon. Pertinently, the state government has given 200 acres of its land for the centre.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister assured Lieutenant General Surinder Singh of fulsome support and cooperation from the state government for financial assistance to the prestigious Sainik School Kapurhala. He asked the officer to send a detailed proposal regarding it. Mr. Badal said that this premier institute has produced a galaxy of eminent Army officers, who were serving the country in various capacities, so it was the bounden duty of the state government to provide every sort of help to it. Lauding the Chief Minister for setting up Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for girls on the pattern of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Academy, Lieutenant General Surinder Singh said that this was first of its kind centre in the country, which has enabled the girls to get selected in the Armed forces. The commander asked Mr. Badal to explore the possibility of introducing short term courses for girls aspiring to join Armed forces. The Chief Minister assured the officer to look into the matter. Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Military Assistant Colonel IS Bhalla VSM.