During the discussion on the 2025-26 “Badlda Punjab” budget in the Vidhan Sabha, Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema expressed gratitude to both the ruling and opposition parties for their participation. He provided a detailed overview of key issues raised during deliberations and highlighted Punjab’s ongoing transformation under the leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Emphasizing the party’s commitment to progress, Cheema noted that the AAP government came to power with five guarantees, of which four have already been fulfilled. He assured that efforts are underway to implement the fifth guarantee of providing ₹1,000 to women, with the Finance and Welfare Departments actively collecting data for its rollout. He also stated that the budget’s title, “Badlda Punjab” (Transforming Punjab), reflects this commitment to change.
Addressing GST revenue, Cheema contrasted the performance of previous governments with the current administration. He pointed out that when GST was introduced in 2017, the Congress-led government collected ₹21,286 crore without taking measures to enhance revenue. Under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, GST revenue has surged to ₹64,253 crore over three years. He criticized the previous Congress Finance Minister, now with the BJP, for prioritizing rhetoric over action and challenged former Congress ministers to acknowledge whether they had fully understood the budget during their tenure.
Cheema also highlighted Punjab’s financial burdens, attributing them to the Congress government’s reliance on GST compensation, which was counted as a loan by the central government. He revealed that the state still carries ₹20,000 crore in debt from GST compensation and argued that proactive revenue-generation efforts could have reduced the need for borrowing. Dismissing opposition allegations of “tax terrorism,” he accused the previous government of failing to implement tax intelligence measures or reward schemes such as “Bill Liyao, Inaam Pao,” which led to substantial revenue losses due to tax evasion.
Regarding excise duty, Cheema compared collections under different administrations. He stated that while the SAD-BJP government (2012-2017) generated ₹20,545 crore and the Congress government (2017-2022) collected ₹27,395 crore, the AAP government has already amassed ₹28,000 crore in just three years. He pledged to generate an additional ₹25,000 crore over the next two years and criticized previous governments for failing to curb revenue-draining mafias. He credited the AAP government for dismantling the land mafia, leading to a surge in stamp and registration revenue, which reached ₹14,786 crore in three years—surpassing collections under both the SAD-BJP and Congress governments.
Reaffirming Punjab’s commitment to social welfare, Cheema announced an allocation of ₹13,987 crore for the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) in 2025-26, accounting for 34% of the development budget. He also introduced a loan waiver scheme for individuals who defaulted on loans from the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation (PSCFC) before March 31, 2020, benefiting 4,650 people.
Cheema further outlined key budgetary allocations, including ₹8,000 crore for the sinking fund to manage short-term loans. The health sector will receive ₹5,598 crore, with ₹592 crore earmarked for medical colleges. The education budget has been set at ₹17,975 crore, while sports will receive ₹979 crore. As part of the state’s anti-drug efforts, ₹110 crore will be allocated for anti-drone technology, ₹150 crore for drug tests, ₹125 crore for emergency response vehicles, and ₹53 crore for constructing a new headquarters. Additionally, 5,000 home guards will be deployed to bolster security.
The Finance Minister also highlighted increased financial incentives for industries, with ₹250 crore allocated—the highest in Punjab’s history. He criticized past governments for neglecting industrial growth, noting that the Congress government had spent only ₹53 crore in five years, while the SAD-BJP government spent nothing. Under the AAP government, ₹3,426 crore has been allocated to Industries & Commerce.
In terms of capital expenditure, Cheema underscored significant progress under the current administration. He noted that while the SAD-BJP government spent ₹14,641 crore and the Congress government spent ₹19,356 crore, the AAP government has already invested ₹19,810 crore in three years, focusing on infrastructure, education, and healthcare. He also addressed issues related to solar subsidies, service centers, and employee welfare, which had been discussed by other ministers.
Concluding his address, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reaffirmed that the “Badlda Punjab” budget exemplifies the Punjab government’s dedication to transforming the state and ensuring the well-being of its citizens.