Punjab Budget 2025: Govt presents 'Badlata Punjab Budget': Key highlights
PTC Web Desk: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday presented a Rs 2.36 lakh crore budget for the financial year 2025-26. No fresh taxes have been imposed, but the budget remains silent on the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) pre-election promise of providing Rs 1,100 per month to women.
One of the key highlights of the budget is Punjab's intensified battle against drug abuse under the ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign. For the first time, Punjab will conduct a comprehensive "drug census" to assess the extent of substance abuse across households. This initiative will gather crucial data on drug consumption, the effectiveness of de-addiction centers, and the socio-economic conditions of affected families, helping formulate a targeted strategy to combat the menace. Additionally, the government has allocated Rs 5,598 crore to strengthen healthcare services, ensuring better medical infrastructure and support.
'Badlata Punjab Budget': Key highlights
Total Budget: ₹2,36,080 crore
Economic Growth Projection: Punjab’s GSDP expected to grow by 10% in 2025-26
Key Announcements
Health & Drug Control
New Drug Census Initiative: Rs 150 crore allocated
Healthcare Budget: Rs 5,598 crore (10% increase from last year)
Aam Aadmi Clinics: 881 established in three years, Rs 268 crore set aside
Punjab State Health Insurance Scheme: 65 lakh families covered
Rs 10 lakh annual insurance coverage
Rs 778 crore allocated
Emergency Response Vehicles: Rs 125 crore allocated
Anti-Drone System: Rs 110 crore set aside
Sports & Youth Development
Total Allocation: Rs 979 crore
Infrastructure: Sports grounds in every village
3,000 indoor gyms to be constructed
Rural & Urban Development: Budget for Rural Development: Rs 3,500 crore
Cleaning and renovation of ponds under the Seechewal & Thapar Model
Street Lighting Initiative: New installations under the CM Street Light Scheme
Municipal Development Fund: Rs 225 crore
Rangla Punjab Development Scheme: Rs 585 crore
Rs 5 crore per Assembly constituency
Infrastructure Upgrades:
Rs 2,873 crore for road construction and upgradation
Rs 140 crore for the first phase of 50 km world-class roads in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Mohali
Energy & Industrial Growth
Free Electricity: Rs 7,614 crore allocated for 300 units of free power
Industrial Development: Rs 3,426 crore set aside
Rs 250 crore for financial incentives
Rs 80 crore for Unity Mall in Amritsar
Agriculture & Environment
Total Allocation for Agriculture: Rs 14,524 crore
Crop Residue Management: Rs 500 crore for stubble burning prevention
Subsidy for Agricultural Electricity: Rs 9,992 crore
Organic Farming: Rs 137 crore allocated
Irrigation Projects: Rs 3,246 crore for irrigation
Rs 100 crore for underground pipeline projects in Sangrur district
Forestry Development: Rs 281 crore allocated
Social Welfare & Employment
Pensions & Social Security: Rs 6,175 crore allocated
Aashirwad Scheme: Rs 1,177 crore set aside
Scheduled Caste Welfare: Rs 13,987 crore allocated (34% increase from last year)
Loan waiver for defaulters: Punjab Scheduled Caste Land Development & Finance Corporation to waive off loans till March 31, 2020
Education & Skill Development
Education Budget: Rs 17,975 crore (12% increase)
Primary School Initiative: 425 primary schools to be converted into "Schools of Happiness"
New ITIs: Rs 33 crore allocated for establishment
Medical Education Budget: Rs 1,336 crore (27% increase)
Public Universities: Rs 1,650 crore allocated
Law & Order
Home & Jail Department Budget: Rs 11,560 crore
Security Measures: Jammers to be installed in 12 prisons
Judicial Complexes: Rs 132 crore allocated for new court complexes in Dera Bassi, Khanna, and Patran
Women’s Welfare
Rs 1,100 Monthly Allowance for Women: Decision deferred
Cultural & Heritage Preservation
Special budget for Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s 350th martyrdom anniversary celebrations
Focus on development of Sri Anandpur Sahib
- PTC NEWS
