The North News
Chandigarh, October 1
Punjab’s School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to station five recently retired MiG-21 fighter jets at Schools of Eminence across the state, saying the move would inspire young people to pursue careers in defence, aerospace and engineering.
In a letter to Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Bains said the initiative would serve as a “living tribute” to the MiG-21 and instil patriotism among students. He proposed Ludhiana, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Nangal and Kharar as locations for the display.
The minister said the state government also plans to collaborate with the IAF for ceremonial deployment events at the schools to foster a spirit of excellence and service.
Bains praised the MiG-21 as an “icon of courage, discipline and dedication” in India’s defence history, noting its role in the 1965 Indo-Pak war, the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and the 1999 Kargil conflict. He congratulated the IAF on the aircraft’s recent ceremonial retirement.
The minister assured that the installation would be carried out with full respect and adherence to IAF protocols. He said the proposal reflects the Punjab government’s emphasis on innovation in education, highlighting earlier initiatives such as international training programmes for school principals.
