Chandigarh: The Punjab Assembly session commenced today with Finance Minister Harpal Chima presenting the state budget for FY 2026–27, amounting to ₹2,60,437 crore. The budget focuses on social welfare, women’s empowerment, infrastructure development, agriculture, education, and healthcare, along with schemes aimed at boosting employment and public services.
“Meri Rasoi” Scheme to Provide Free Ration Kits to 40 Lakh Families
As part of the budget, the Punjab government announced the “Meri Rasoi” scheme, aimed at strengthening food and nutrition security for economically weaker families. Under this initiative:
- Approximately 40 lakh families covered under NFSA and Smart Ration Card schemes will receive free ration kits every three months.
- Each kit includes: 2 kg sugar, 2 kg chana dal, 1 liter mustard oil, 200 g turmeric, and 1 kg salt.
- A budget of ₹900 crore has been allocated for the scheme in FY 2026–27.
- The government will also restart new ration card enrollments, benefiting around 10 lakh additional families.
Read also: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Unveils Industrial & Business Policy 2026 to Boost Investment and Jobs
Expansion of Public Transport and Bus Services
The state will expand its public transport network, including:
- Addition of 1,279 new buses to the existing fleet of 2,267, with phased deployment by November 2026.
- Continuation of free bus travel for women and improved services in high-demand areas.
- Allocation for urban and rural road upgrades totaling ₹5,440 crore, including 2,570 km of road improvements and 31 new bridges.
Historic Growth in Mining Revenue
Punjab achieved top rank in the State Mining Readiness Index, reflecting reforms in minor minerals rules and introduction of crusher and landowner mining sites. These measures led to a rise in mining revenue from ₹260 crore to over ₹500 crore in the past year.
Digital Governance and Citizen Services
The government has digitized 13 key public services, including income, residence, and caste certificates, eliminating paper forms. The State Pendency Dashboard enables real-time monitoring, reducing pending cases from 14% to 0.33%, ensuring faster and more transparent service delivery.
Healthcare and Medical Infrastructure
- ₹6,879 crore allocated for the healthcare sector, including a modern trauma center and mother-child hospital in Anandpur Sahib.
- The CM Health Scheme provides ₹10 lakh cashless treatment per family annually, covering 6.5 million families.
- 107 essential medicines and 47 diagnostic tests offered free at 881 Am Aadmi Clinics across urban and rural areas.
- Establishment of a new medical college in Malerkotla with 38.5 acres of land for high-quality medical education.
Education and Skill Development
- ₹19,279 crore allocated for education, with 6,200 new classrooms and 4,700 renovated classrooms in 30,000 government schools.
- Nine lakh students (classes 9–12) will benefit from a new career counseling framework and portal.
- ₹569 crore for technical education initiatives, including ITIs in 11 jails and collaboration with IIT Ropar to train students in AI, IoT, and emerging technologies.
Women Empowerment and Employment
- Budget continues support for women’s welfare schemes, including financial aid and free health coverage.
- Employment generation includes 22,000 government jobs, with 17,000 new posts announced earlier by the Women & Child Development Minister.
- 3,298 constable recruitments underway for Punjab Police, part of 63,000 government jobs created in four years.
Agriculture and Rural Development
- ₹15,377 crore allocated for agriculture and allied sectors.
- Focus on crop diversification, sustainable farming, modern mandi systems, cold storage, and processing facilities.
- Increased subsidy on farm machinery: 80% for panchayats, 50% for individual farmers, with ₹600 crore proposed for FY 2026–27.
- ₹1,500 crore allocated for MNREGA to create employment and strengthen rural livelihoods.
- ₹7,715 crore for electricity subsidy to reduce farmers’ costs and increase income.
Urban Development and Housing
- ₹7,257 crore allocated for urban development, GIS-based city mapping, and improved civic services.
- ₹800 crore for construction of 1 lakh new houses in rural areas.
Cultural and Heritage Initiatives
- Special programs organized for 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in Anandpur Sahib.
- Celebration of 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas Ji at state level to promote equality and social harmony.
This budget report emphasizes welfare, infrastructure, health, education, and employment, signaling Punjab government’s focus on inclusive growth ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
