Overview

• On July 29, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann flagged off the first regulated bullock cart races in over a decade at Mehma Singh Wala village near Ludhiana.
• The state assembly unanimously passed an animal welfare amendment on July 11 and President Murmu gave assent in February, clearing the way for the Conduct of Bullock Cart Race Rules, 2025.
• The new rules require veterinary supervision, formal registration and strict safety standards to ensure the welfare of racing animals.
• Thousands of participants and spectators are expected as the event blends rural tradition with modern regulatory oversight.
• Punjab’s move follows similar state-led revivals of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and Kambala in Karnataka under tailored animal welfare exemptions.