Marking International Women’s Day, Punjab assembly witnessed Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema unveiling the 2025-26 budget of ₹2.36 lakh crore – a milestone for women’s aspirations and ‘Changing Punjab’ goals. Focus areas: healthcare, schooling, village growth, business, farming, athletics, social aid.
State economy resilient, GSDP at ₹28.91 lakh crore (2025-26), eyeing 10% surge to ₹9.81 lakh crore (2026-27) via agri efficiency, service growth, industry push. 2026-27 outlay: ₹12.60 lakh crore; deficits pegged low at 2.06% revenue, 4.08% fiscal, embodying fiscal prudence and welfare drive.
Headline scheme: ₹1,000/month to women, ₹1,500 to SC women via DBT under ‘Mukhyamantri Matayen-Betiyan Satkar Yojana’.
School upgrades soar with ₹19,279 crore (up 7%): Across 20,000 schools, 99% bounded, 10k toilets, 100k+ desks, 8k cleaners, 3k guards, 1.8k managers; 6.2k new rooms, 4.7k renovated. ₹690 crore for fortification and beautification campaign.
Drug menace tackled: 5k border homeguards, ₹110 crore anti-drones, ₹150 crore for comprehensive ‘Drug Census’.
‘112’ lifeline enhanced: 758 cars + 916 bikes target 8-min response (₹125 crore), new Mohali HQ (₹53 crore).
Empowering youth: ‘Khedda Punjab, Badalda Punjab’ with playgrounds, 3k gyms; sports ₹979 crore.
Medical aid: ₹5,598 crore, ₹778 crore for up to ₹10L cashless/family annually. Rural dev ₹2,873 crore, city services ₹225 crore (347 e-buses). 300 free units power (₹7,614 crore). Farming ₹14,524 crore, social schemes ₹9,340 crore, industry policy ₹250 crore.
This visionary budget charts Punjab’s empowered future.