Punjab Newsline, Punjab
Initiative aims to nurture political understanding and leadership qualities among senior school students
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan announced that the Punjab Legislative Assembly will host a Mock Assembly Session on Constitution Day, November 26, 2025. As part of the preparations, students from all 117 constituencies of the state arrived at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for a hands-on rehearsal session. Assembly staff members provided them with detailed training, enabling them to raise issues related to their constituencies, participate in debates, and understand the functioning of the House. Sandhwan said this first-of-its-kind initiative is designed to generate interest in politics among the youth and help shape them into the leaders of tomorrow. The programme, he added, will equip students with practical knowledge of the Constitution and give them a deeper insight into legislative procedures.
Highlighting the eligibility for participation, Sandhwan stated that only Class 11 and 12 students from government schools have been included in this mock session. Each student represents one of the state’s constituencies and will enact the role of their respective MLA or Minister. “If a student has come from the Chief Minister’s constituency, he will act as the Chief Minister during the mock session; similarly, a student from the Speaker’s constituency will take on the role of the Speaker,” he explained.
The Speaker added that one of the key components of the training was guiding students on how to frame and ask questions during the Assembly proceedings. Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretary Ram Lok Khatana personally briefed the participants, explaining the rules of asking questions, raising doubts, and seeking clarifications during the mock session.
Students were accompanied by teachers and district coordinators, all of whom expressed their gratitude to the Punjab Government and the Speaker for launching such an innovative initiative. Many students shared that visiting the Vidhan Sabha and participating in a mock legislative session felt like a dream come true. For several of them, this was their first-ever visit to Chandigarh, made possible only through this programme. Teachers and coordinators from across districts widely appreciated the decision, stating that it would inspire students to engage with democratic processes more meaningfully.
Several MLAs, including Mohammad Jamil Ur Rahman, Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Balkar Sidhu, and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, were present during the rehearsal to encourage and motivate the students.
In the upcoming mock session, Harkamaldeep Singh from Ghanouri Kalan School of Eminence, Dhuri (Sangrur) will play the role of the Chief Minister. Jagmander Singh from School of Eminence, Kotkapura will act as the Speaker, while Harpreet Singh from Government Adarsh Senior Secondary School, Kotdhandal (Kadian) will assume the role of the Leader of Opposition (LoP).
With this initiative, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha aims to bring students closer to the democratic process, offering them a rare opportunity to experience the workings of the legislature from within—an experience that is expected to leave a lasting impact on their civic understanding and leadership development.