The All-India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF) has formally opposed the Punjab government's decision to deploy nursing students to independently manage patient care, citing serious safety concerns. In a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, the AIGNF stated that nursing students are being assigned to care for serious patients without adequate supervision, which violates Indian Nursing Council (INC) guidelines. The federation emphasized that students are trainees and should only work under the supervision of registered nurses. This opposition comes amid a 13-day strike by nursing staff at three government medical colleges and hospitals in Punjab, who are demanding the restoration of their grade pay from ₹2,800 to ₹4,600, which would significantly increase their monthly salaries. The nurses argue that the current pay structure is discriminatory and does not reflect their workload and responsibilities. The AIGNF has called for immediate intervention from the Union health ministry to ensure patient safety and compliance with professional standards.