LED BY CM, CABINET APPROVES NEW EXCISE POLICY 2025-26

NEW POLICY AIMS TO GENERATE EXCISE REVENUE OF RS. 11020 CRORES WITH AN INCREASE OF 8.61% AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR

EXCISE COLLECTION WITNESSES STEADY SURGE IN STATE DURING THE BHAGWANT MANN REGIME

COLLECTION WAS MERELY RS 4405 CRORE IN AKALI REGIME AND RS 6254 CRORE IN CONGRESS RULE

Chandigarh, February 27:The Punjab Cabinet led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann gave nod to the Excise policy 2025-26 which aims to collect excise revenue of Rs. 11020 crores during the financial year 2025-26, projecting an increase of Rs. 874.05 crores (8.61%) over the previous financial year’s targets.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at his official residence today.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that against the target of Rs 10,145 crore set during the Excise policy 2024-25, the state government has collected Rs 10,200 crore, so far. Excise collection is witnessing steady surge in the state during the current regime as for the first time the collection has crossed the mark of Rs 10,000 crores. It is worth mentioning that the collection from Excise in the last year of SAD-BJP alliance was Rs 4405 crore and in last year of Congress regime was merely Rs 6254 crore.

The new policy stipulates that in order to balance the existing retail trade and to provide opportunity to ensure better and widespread participation, fresh allotment of L-2/L-14A vends for the financial year 2025-26 will be done through e-tender. The group size for the year 2025-26 has been kept at Rs. 40 crores. In order to mobilize additional revenue and to ensure enough availability of country liquor, the quota of country liquor (Punjab Medium Liquor) in the financial year 2025- 26 has been kept at 8.534 crores proof litres i.e increase of 3% over the previous financial year.

There will be no increase in Country Liquor rates in the financial year 2025-26. In order to give relief to defence forces, the license fee of their wholesale license has been reduced by 50% from Rs.5 lakhs to Rs.2.5 lakhs. In order to promote tourism, the possession limit of license holder of farm stays has been increased from 12 quarts of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) to 36 quarts of IMFL with increase in possession quantity of Beer, Wine, Gin, Vodka, brandy, RTD and other liquor products. To give better consumer experience, one Model Shop in each group has been made mandatory for retail licensees in Municipal Corporation Areas.

The fee of Standalone Beer shops has been reduced from Rs. 2 lakh per shop to Rs. 25,000 per shop. To promote new investment in the State, new Bottling plants have been allowed to be set up in Punjab. Likewise, Cow Welfare Fee has been increased by 50% from Rs. 1 per PL to Rs. 1.5 per PL. With this, collection of Cow Welfare Fee will increase from Rs. 16 crores to Rs. 24 crores. To strengthen enforcement, there is a proposal to set up Excise Police Stations in the coming financial year. To promote ease of doing business, the liquor brands where no increase in EDP is there, automatic approval of these brands through e-abkari portal has been introduced.

GIVES NOD TO CONSTITUTE "PUNJAB TIRTH YATRA SAMITI"

The Cabinet also gave the nod to constitute "Punjab Tirth Yatra Samiti" with the aim of providing convenient pilgrimage to the residents of Punjab by air, rail, road or any other possible mode in coordination with various departments under the Mukh Mantri Tirth Yatra Scheme. It is pertinent to mention that the Mukh Mantri Tirth Yatra Scheme was launched by the Punjab Government during the year 2023-24 under which around 34000 pilgrims were facilitated to travel to various religious places by train/buses. The Punjab Tirth Yatra Samiti will work to carry out the travel arrangements under the scheme efficiently and smoothly.

PICTC DESIGNATED AS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF DIGITAL SIGNATURES FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS

The Cabinet also approved designating the Punjab Information & Communication Technology Corporation Ltd. (PICTC) as the sole provider of digital signatures for government departments and organizations. The Corporation has also been designated for procurement of IT and ITeG and services in keeping with the provisions of Punjab Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 2019. Furthermore, the bifurcation of responsibilities between the Department of Good Governance and Information Technology (earlier known as Department of Governance Reforms) and Punjab Infotech has been formalized. These approvals are expected to improve governance and procurement processes, foster digital transformation, and promote the effective delivery of public services.

GIVES GREEN SIGNAL TO ADOPT WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2024

The Cabinet also gave green signal to adopt the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 enacted by the Parliament of India Rajasthan in pursuance of clause (1) of Article 252 of the Constitution of India read with clause (2) thereof. The Act has replaced Criminal liability with financial penalties and it stipulates that the contravention or non-compliance of the Act would be dealt through imposition of financial penalty through an Adjudicating Officer. The provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 are progressive in nature, hence adopted by the State of Punjab as it will decriminalize and rationalize the minor offences to enhance trust-based governance for ease of living and doing business.

ACCORDS APPROVAL TO AMENDMENTS IN THE PUNJAB REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2025

In order to streamline the work of registration of births and deaths in the state, the Cabinet also gave green signal to several amendments in the Punjab Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2025. Pertinently, keeping in view the amendment in Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 as Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023 by the Central Government, the State Government had prepared the Punjab Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2025 on the basis of Model Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2024 sent by the Central Government. This will bring uniformity in the Act and facilitate the general public in a big way.

OKAYS ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT OF PUNJAB STATE COMMISSION FOR NRI'S

The Cabinet also gave consent to the Annual Administrative Report with audit report of the Punjab State Commission for NRI's for the year 2022-23.

APPROVES POST OF OSD (LITIGATION)

The Cabinet also gave nod to the creation of one temporary post of Officer on Special Duty (Litigation) in the Department of Personnel.

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PUNJAB POLICE’S ACTION AGAINST DRUG MAFIA CONTINUES: TWO MORE ILLEGAL HOUSES OF DRUG SMUGGLERS RAZED IN PATIALA AND RUPNAGAR

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A DRUG-FREE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN

CHANDIGARH, February 27:Continuing its action against drug mafia, Punjab Police with the help of local administration on Thursday, has demolished buildings of the illegally constructed houses of two drug peddlers in Patiala and Rupnagar districts. The operation was carried out as part of the state government’s ongoing decisive War against Drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.

In Patiala, police teams under the leadership of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala, took stern action against a notorious and habitual drug smuggler identified as Rinky, a resident of Rodi Kut Mohalla in Patiala. As per the information, a notorious drug smuggler Rinky has been facing at least 10 first information reports (FIRs), registered between 2016 and 2024, under the NDPS Act.

SSP Dr Nanak Singh said that the house of the drug offender, which was an Illegal construction, was demolished by Patiala Police as per the demolition orders given by district administration. Patiala Police is committed to take stern action against drug smugglers and such strict action will be taken in future as well against serial drug offenders, he reiterated.

Similarly, in Rupnagar, District Police and administration took a major action and demolished the building of the illegally constructed house of drug smugglers identified as Salim Mohammad and his wife Asha.

Giving information on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain and SSP Rupnagar Gulneet Singh Khurana said that following the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, a campaign was launched against drug smugglers in District Rupnagar.

Giving further details, the SSP said that the both husband and wife, a resident of village Sadabrat in Rupnagar, are habitual drug peddlers and have been facing three criminal cases each under the NDPS Act. Both are involved in drug business and in these cases, ganja and narcotic powder were also recovered from both the husband and wife, he added.

SSP Gulneet Khurana further said that the accused couple had constructed an illegal house using drug money, which was demolished by the Municipal Council, Rupnagar with the help of the police.

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BATALA POLICE NEUTRALISES KEY ACCUSED INVOLVED IN BLASTS AT JAINTIPUR AND RAIMAL; PISTOL RECOVERED

— BATALA POLICE BUSTED PAK-ISI BACKED BKI MODULE WITH ARREST OF TWO PERSONS INVOLVED IN BLASTS

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN

— ACCUSED MOHIT UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO EVADE POLICE CUSTODY WHEN TAKEN FOR WEAPON RECOVERY: DIG SATINDER SINGH

CHANDIGARH/BATALA, February 27: In a major action by the Batala Police amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, key accused involved in blast cases at Jaintipur in Amritsar and Raimal in Batala, identified as Mohit, was neutralised in a retaliatory fire by police teams in an encounter took place in Batala on Thursday late evening.

The development came hours after Batala Police solved the blast cases in Jaintipur and Raimal after busting a Pak-ISI backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module being operated by Pak-based terrorist Harvinder Rinda and USA-based terrorist Happy Passia with the arrest of its two operatives identified as Mohit of Buddhe di Khui in Batala and Vishal of Basarpura in Batala.

As per the information, an explosive sound was heard at the residence of Constable of Punjab Police in Raimal on February 17 this year, while another blast took place at the resident of Pappu Jaitipuria in Amritsar on January 15 this year. USA-based terrorist Happy Passian used social media to claim the responsibility of both the blasts.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Border Range Satinder Singh, while addressing the media said that following disclosures of accused Mohit about arms and ammunition concealed at an isolated place, the latter was being taken for recovering and upon reaching the spot, the accused opened fire at the police party to evade custody, in response the police acted in self-defence.

He said that the injured accused was taken to Civil Hospital Batala, where he was declared brought dead. However, police teams have recovered .30 bore pistol, used by accused Mohit to fire at the police party, he added.

“During this course of action, our one Police officer has also sustained a bullet injury,” said the DIG.

SSP Batala Suhail Qasim Mir said that police teams have identified two more accused persons involved in blast cases and manhunt is on to nab them. Further investigation is on and more recoveries are likely in coming days, he added.

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