Chandigarh, March 26:Hailing the budget 2025-26, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said that the budget is a paradigm shift to Rangla Punjab from the regressive one during the previous regimes.

The Chief Minister said that budget worth Rs 2,36,080 crore is the largest budget of state and is the third tax free budget of his government. He said that though during the earlier regimes Punjab had got several negative tags but his government is committed for carving out Rangla, progressive and happy Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that funds have been earmarked for every sector like Health, education, jobs, Industry and others which will give impetus to development of the state.

The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that this third tax free budget has been presented by his government. He said that this budget of his government is aimed at further giving a fillip to the ongoing development of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that the budget will further transform the destiny of the common man (Aam Aadmi) by ensuring peace, progress and prosperity in the state on one hand and giving major fillip to economic activity on the other.

The Chief Minister said that as per the commitment of his government, the budget is the blueprint for restoring the pristine glory of the state and carving out a Rangla Punjab. He said that the budget will give further impetus to the growth in every sector and ensure that the state witnesses comprehensive growth. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the day is not far when this budget coupled with pragmatic policies of the state government will help in the progress of the state.

The Chief Minister said that it is heartening to note that due to concerted efforts of the state government, Punjab ranks at 15th in the list of States by Per Capita Income and state’s economy is on a strong growth trajectory, registering an impressive 9% growth in the current year. He said that as promised in the first budget of his government, Punjab’s deteriorating fiscal health has been restored after inheriting a fragile financial state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Punjab’s Own Tax Revenue has recorded double-digit growth in current year also, rising by 14% as of February 2025 adding that due to concerted efforts of the state government enhanced Excise, Revenue and GST collection have resulted in our Own Tax Revenue increasing from ₹37,327 crore in FY 2021-22 to ₹57,919 crore in FY 2024-25 i.e. an increase of ₹20,500 crore in just three Years of our Government.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has embarked “Yudh Nashe De Virudh” from March 1, 2025 to annihilate and eradicate the problem of drugs right from its roots. He said that a budgetary provision of around Rs 400 crore has been earmarked to update the Police department in this war against drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a budgetary provision worth ₹585 crore (₹5 crore per constituency) has been proposed for the ‘Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme’ in the budget which will give a major fillip to the development activities across the state.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is sensitive towards saving the groundwater in the state for which a project worth ₹8,227 crore of surface water projects to expand canal irrigation in previously excluded areas has been kept in the state. He said that to ensure last-mile connectivity and expand canal irrigation, the government has prioritized the lining and rejuvenation of watercourses across the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in FY 2025-26, 63,000 hectares will be covered under these projects, including laying underground pipelines, with an estimated cost of ₹315 crore.

The Chief Minister said that the decision to launch the “Mukh Mantri Street Light Yojna” through which we will install 2.5 lakh streetlights in the next year throughout Punjab, will go a long way in illuminating villages and towns of the state. He said that to give impetus to industrial growth, the current budget, financial incentives for various industries have been increased to Rs.250 crore, the highest allocation in Punjab’s history. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that provision of construction of Unity Mall at a cost of Rs 80 crore to promote national unity and showcase Punjab’s industrial and cultural diversity will go a long way in developing the state as hub of industry by highlighting its various sectoral achievements.

The Chief Minister said that the 2025-26 budget has allocated Rs.3,426 crore for the industrial sector, including subsidized electricity as the state government wants to accelerate economic growth in Punjab. He said that to enhance employment opportunities through skill training and career counseling, Rs.230 crore has been allocated in the 2025-26 budget, marking a 50% increase from the previous year, which will go a long way in opening new vistas of employment for youth. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that ‘Mukhya Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana,’ will open doors of quality healthcare for 65 lakh families in state by providing ‘Sehat Cards,’ allowing them to avail of cashless treatment up to Rs.10 lakh in both government and private hospitals across Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that since education, health and jobs are the major thrust areas of the state, the Punjab government has given a major boost to the education sector by allocating 11% of the total Budget expenditure to it, amounting to Rs.18,047 crore in the budget. Likewise, he said that as Sports can be utilised as the most effective weapons in the fight against drug addiction, the Aam Aadmi Party government has allocated a record-breaking budget of Rs.979 crore for sports in the 2024-25 budget—the highest in Punjab’s history. Bhagwant Mann also said that modernization of the Police force will be ensured for keeping a strict vigil over law and order and to tackle crime.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that the budget has laid due focus on supporting various welfare schemes and for empowerment, protection and holistic development of SCs, BCs, Minorities and all downtrodden sections of the society. He said that the budget has laid due focus on repair and construction of roads, comprehensive development of rural and urban areas, cleaning and strengthening of the canal system, upgradation of the public transport sector, subsidized power and other sectors. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed hope that the budget will ensure that Punjab emerges as a frontrunner state in the country adding that the budget marks the dawn of a new era in the state which will benefit each and every Punjabi.