Chandigarh, March 11:

 The India International Disputes Week concluded today at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy with jurists, arbitration practitioners and policy experts deliberating on the future of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in India.

Delivering the keynote address, Arun Chawla, Director General of the Indian Council of Arbitration, emphasised that credible dispute resolution systems are central to investor confidence and economic growth. He noted that as cross-border commerce expands, strengthening institutional arbitration and responsibly integrating technology will be key to building trust in India’s dispute resolution ecosystem.

A panel on the evolution of ADR practices in India featured Naresh Markanda, Shashwat Bajpai, Deepak Jindal, Animesh Anand Bordoloi, Neeraj Kochar, Harishankar K Sathiyapalan, and Col Narinder Singh, moderated by Jonathan Rodrigues. Speakers discussed the growing importance of mediation, arbitration and institutional mechanisms in addressing commercial disputes and improving access to efficient dispute resolution.

Another panel examined institutional arbitration versus ad hoc arbitration, featuring Sanjeev Sharma, Devna Arora, Devathas Satianathan, A J Jawad, Siddhesh Pradhan, Ulla Glaesser, Navin Kumar Singh, and Sahil Narang, moderated by Shruti Sabharwal. Panelists highlighted that institutional arbitration offers greater procedural clarity, cost transparency and oversight, which strengthens the enforceability of arbitral awards.

In the session titled “Anatomy of Enforceable Awards,” S. J. Vazifdar and Kshitij Sharma discussed the importance of carefully reasoned arbitral awards and procedural discipline to minimise challenges at the enforcement stage.

Earlier, J R Midha shared insights on improving arbitration efficiency through streamlined procedures. He emphasised structured pleadings, identification of admitted and disputed facts at the outset, use of interrogatories and video-recorded cross-examinations to reduce delays and ensure that arbitrations are completed within the statutory timeline.

Delivering the valedictory address, Dinesh Maheshwari highlighted that arbitration has evolved into a dynamic institution of dispute resolution and stressed the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks, legal scholarship and global collaboration to position India as a credible arbitration hub.

In his concluding remarks, Ashwani Kumar Mishra said the week-long event had brought together diverse perspectives from across jurisdictions and emphasised that the ultimate objective of dispute resolution mechanisms is to promote peace and certainty in society. He also lauded the participation of young lawyers and students and appreciated the efforts of the organising team, expressing confidence that initiatives such as the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre would evolve into institutions of excellence for dispute resolution.

CHANDIGARH, 11th March 2026:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said the opposition abandoned the Budget debate because it could not defend its opposition to giving ₹1,000 to women, asserting that parties which kept people poor for decades are now uncomfortable with the empowerment of ordinary families under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

Describing the fifth annual budget of the Punjab Government as the “Budget of the martyrs’ dreams,” the Chief Minister said the budget is aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Udham Singh, while reaffirming that the Punjab Government has delivered on all its election guarantees within four years and is now preparing its agenda for the 2027 Assembly elections. He also said the opposition already knows that a government led by Bhagwant Singh Mann will return to power in 2027, which is why it chose to run away from the debate instead of facing the truth before the people.

Concluding the debate on the Budget for the financial year 2026–27 presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “For the first time in the history of Punjab, a government has fulfilled all its election guarantees within four years. The manifestos of traditional parties were merely formalities. With the support of the people, we will continue serving them with the same spirit in 2027. For the first time, a government treated its budget as a sacred document and fulfilled every promise made to the people.”

Congratulating Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema for presenting a people-friendly budget, the Chief Minister said that the budget focuses on providing facilities to those whose progress is often hindered by financial constraints. “The budget includes providing benefits of the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satkar Yojna to 97% of women, providing free ration to 40 lakh families under the ‘Meri Rasoi’ scheme, and offering cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh,” noted CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

He added that earlier budgets were limited to paving streets and drains, whereas the present government is focusing on providing world-class education to children, quality healthcare services, and building medical colleges.

The Chief Minister said that to provide quality healthcare facilities to people and enable youth to fulfil their dream of becoming doctors while staying in Punjab, seven medical colleges are being established in the state. “These colleges will be built in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Sangrur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Lehragaga, Malerkotla and Ludhiana, which will add 600 MBBS seats,” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. He further noted that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have recorded five crore OPD visits, reflecting people’s trust in the healthcare services.

Taking note of the criticism of the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satkar Yojna by opposition leaders, the Chief Minister said that wealthy leaders of traditional parties are deliberately insulting poor people. “Traditional parties never worked for the welfare of the poor, due to which many families still struggle with poverty and find it difficult to arrange two meals a day,” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

He added that these leaders are uncomfortable with the economic empowerment of the poor and pointed out that while they educate their own children in convent schools in the hills, they want poor families to remain deprived of quality education.

The Chief Minister said that after the Punjab Government started Schools of Eminence, children from underprivileged families are now clearing examinations such as JEE, JEE Mains and NEET. “The Meri Rasoi scheme will ensure nutritious food for 40 lakh families, especially their children,” added CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. He explained that under the scheme each family will receive a kit containing 2 kg sugar, 2 kg pulses, 1 litre mustard oil, 200 grams turmeric and 1 kg salt.

Highlighting employment generation, the Chief Minister said that the creation of 10,000 posts in the Punjab Police will provide opportunities for youth and further strengthen the force. “The Punjab Government has already provided around 64,000 government jobs to youth so far,” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. He also said that the Sardar Bahadur Amin Chand Armed Forces Preparatory Institute in Hoshiarpur has been completed and admissions will begin this year, enabling youth to prepare for service in the armed forces.

Referring to efforts to ensure canal water reaches tail-end areas and reduce dependence on groundwater, the Chief Minister said that recent data reflects encouraging results. “According to data presented in the Rajya Sabha by the Central Ground Water Board, groundwater levels have increased in 57% of observation wells in Punjab, with the rise mostly ranging between 0 to 4 meters,” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

He further said that to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, a Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur World-Class University is being established at Sri Anandpur Sahib as a tribute to the great Guru. The Chief Minister added that the 650th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj will be celebrated on a large scale and ₹100 crore has been allocated in the budget for this purpose.

Criticising the opposition for constantly opposing welfare initiatives, the Chief Minister said that opposition parties had earlier claimed that free electricity could not be provided, yet the Punjab Government successfully fulfilled the promise. “They also claimed that Bhagwant Singh Mann would not remain Chief Minister even for a year, yet I have been serving as Chief Minister for four years,” noted CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. He asserted that he will continue to serve as Chief Minister even after the 2027 elections.

Reiterating his stand on Punjab’s rights, the Chief Minister said that neighbouring states often call Punjab their “elder brother” but simultaneously attempt to exploit its resources. “Himachal Pradesh sometimes calls Punjab its elder brother while demanding a share in Chandigarh and royalty on water, while Haryana raises the demand for the SYL canal,” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

He added that because of the firm stand taken by the Punjab Government, for the first time Haryana has not allocated funds for the construction of the SYL canal in its budget.

Taking a dig at the absence of opposition members during the debate, the Chief Minister said that opposition leaders have never been serious about the issues of their constituencies and predicted that they will also disappear from the political map in 2027. “The Congress party is suffering from internal factionalism and cannot return to power,” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. He added that the party’s condition has deteriorated to such an extent that it now wants to contest Assembly elections without declaring a Chief Ministerial face.

Holding the Shiromani Akali Dal responsible for damaging Punjab’s generations, the Chief Minister said that the party pushed youth into the quagmire of drugs and the path of gangsterism, which ruined entire generations. “Zomato was formed much later, but during the Akali government drugs were transported in government vehicles,” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

The Chief Minister further remarked that the Shiromani Akali Dal, which finished third in the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, is day dreaming about forming the government in Punjab. “The Punjab Government is fully committed to the well-being of Punjab and the prosperity of its people, and no stone will be left unturned to achieve this goal,” affirmed CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, adding that the government will continue safeguarding the interests of the people of Punjab and take every possible step for their welfare.

CHANDIGARH, 11 March 2026:

The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday passed the State Budget for the Financial Year 2026–27 presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema after a comprehensive three day debate. Concluding the discussion in the House, the Finance Minister presented a detailed summary of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s work over the past four years and responded to the queries and suggestions raised by various MLAs during the debate.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “Guided by AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s anti corruption principles and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s vision, the Punjab government’s zero tolerance policy toward theft has led to record breaking revenue growth. Excise revenue increased from ₹20,000 crore to ₹53,000 crore, while GST collections doubled from ₹61,000 crore to ₹1,21,000 crore. Additionally, stamp registration revenue rose significantly from ₹12,000 crore to ₹30,000 crore. This financial turnaround has been made possible through strict vigilance and honest governance.”

Referring to employment generation and the AAP government’s guarantees, Harpal Singh Cheema said, “When our government took its first Cabinet decision in 2022, we had promised to provide 30,000 government jobs. Today we have far exceeded that promise by delivering more than 63,000 government jobs to the youth of Punjab. This historic recruitment drive has helped curb the state’s brain drain and has created a positive environment for the younger generation.”

Responding to opposition concerns on state debt, he continued, “Eighty five percent of the state’s current funds are being utilised to service the massive debt inherited from previous governments. Despite this burden, our government has successfully reduced the debt to GDP ratio from 48 percent to 45 percent and cleared inherited liabilities worth ₹21,860 crore. At the same time, the state has strictly adhered to the limits set under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act and has not resorted to excessive borrowing. Short term cash management has been handled efficiently through the Sinking Fund and Guarantee Redemption mechanisms, enabling the state to secure lower interest rates.”

Speaking about welfare measures, the Finance Minister added, “The government has successfully rolled out the ₹1,500 financial assistance for women, fulfilling all five major guarantees promised to the people of Punjab. Not a single rupee of sugarcane dues owed by the state government is pending. The outstanding ₹27 crore belongs to a private mill in Phagwara and its properties have already been attached to ensure farmers receive their rightful payments.”

Responding to a suggestion from MLA Rana Inder Pratap regarding a One Time Settlement for farmers, Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is actively pursuing the amalgamation of loss making banks with the Reserve Bank of India to facilitate such a settlement.”

Replying to questions raised by MLA Barindermeet Singh Pahra regarding MLA Local Area Development funds, he stated, “The MLA Local Area Development funds have been doubled from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore per MLA, enabling elected representatives to bring forward comprehensive development proposals. There are certain guidelines for utilising these funds and MLAs should ensure that these guidelines are followed.”

Addressing infrastructure demands raised by MLA Nachhattar Pal and other newly elected members, the Punjab Minister added, “The budget has prioritised critical infrastructure projects. An allocation of ₹130 crore has been made for the construction of new bridges and roads across the state. The Home Affairs budget has been increased by seven percent to ₹11,577 crore. Capital outlay for constructing new police stations and police lines has also increased significantly from ₹297 crore to ₹480 crore.”

Addressing concerns raised by MLA Rana Inder Pratap regarding funding for the health insurance scheme, Harpal Singh Cheema said, “₹2,000 crore has been earmarked for the Health Insurance Scheme and if required this allocation can be increased later in the year.”

Welcoming suggestions from MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi regarding salaries of personal assistants and drivers, he added, “The House committee should forward its recommendations for the review of the Chief Minister.”

Speaking about employee welfare and pensions, the Punjab Finance Minister continued, “The government has cleared 100 percent of pending Dearness Allowance arrears for pensioners above 75 and 85 years of age for the period from January 2016 to June 2021. Funds have also been allocated to release the remaining arrears for current employees and pensioners starting from April 1.”

On the Old Pension Scheme, he said, “An expert committee led by the Chief Secretary is carefully studying the fiscal impact of the Old Pension Scheme to take a secure long term decision. The committee is also examining the financial challenges faced by states such as Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh after implementing similar policies. ₹100 crore has been allocated to celebrate the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas at Khuralgarh. Ten acres of land have also been purchased near Dera Ballan for establishing the Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Bani Adhyayan Center and its foundation will soon be laid by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.”

Speaking about future initiatives, the Punjab Minister added, “Funds have also been designated for establishing a new World University to commemorate the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Guru Tegh Bahadur and work on the project will begin on a war footing.”

Concluding the discussion on the budget, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated the government’s commitment to development and said, “Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has promised to deliver water to the last field and the government remains fully committed to taking Punjab to new heights of prosperity ahead of 2027.”

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Chandigarh, March 9:

Punjab Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters and Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat, while replying to a question raised by Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar during the ongoing Punjab Vidhan Sabha session today, informed that an important project is underway in the Abohar area for the development of horticulture and to address the problem of waterlogging

The Minister said that the project is being implemented by the Department of Soil and Water Conservation in the Abohar region. Under the first phase of the project, work has been initiated in 27 villages at an estimated cost of around ₹27.73 crore, while another 15 villages will also be covered under the scheme in the second phase.

Mohinder Bhagat said that upon completion of the project, significant progress will be made in resolving the waterlogging problem in the Abohar area and the horticulture sector will receive a major boost. He added that this will provide farmers with additional income opportunities through horticulture and cultivation of other crops.

The Minister further said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is committed to strengthening the horticulture sector in the state and promoting sustainable agricultural development. The project will also significantly benefit water conservation and agricultural sustainability in the region.

Chandigarh March 9, 2026:

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against  corruption in the state, has apprehended  Assistant Sub-Inspector Gopal Singh posted at Police Division No. 2 Commissionerate Jalandhar, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 8,000/-.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by a resident of Gandhi Camp, Jalandhar.

He said that the complainant  works as an astrologer and the police of Police Station Division No. 2 had arrested his neighbour Vijay Raj alias Pali in a drug case on his  complaint. Subsequently, the complainant visited Police Station Division No. 2 along with the sister of Vijay Raj alias Pali and the locality president, where they came to know that a drug case had been registered against Vijay Raj alias Pali.

He further informed that two days later, the accused ASI called the complainant and warned him that if he did not come to the police station and meet him, his name would also be included in the said case. Thereafter, when the complainant’s younger brother Balwant and the locality president Amit Kumar alias Lovely Bhagat met the accused ASI at Police Station Division No. 2, the accused demanded a bribe of Rs. 50,000/- for not implicating the complainant in the case.

Upon the request of the complainant’s younger brother Balwant and Amit Kumar alias Lovely Bhagat, the accused reduced the bribe amount to Rs. 20,000/-. Under compulsion, they paid Rs. 10,000/- to the accused on the spot. However. the accused remained insistent on the remaining bribe of Rs. 10,000/. After they expressed their inability to pay the remaining amount, the accused agreed to accept Rs. 8,000/- at a later stage. Complainant had recorded the conversation regarding the demand for the bribe.

Unwilling to pay any illegal gratification, the complainant approached the Vigilance Bureau range Jalandhar. After a preliminary enquiry on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused ASI was arrested red handed while accepting  bribe money of Rs 8,000/- from the complainant in presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard, a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Jalandhar and further investigation into this case is under progress.

CHANDIGARH:

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday presented the fifth Budget of the Aam Aadmi Party-led (AAP) government in Punjab for 2026–27, proposing a total outlay of ₹2,60,437 crore and projecting the state’s GSDP at ₹9,80,635 crore with an estimated growth rate of 10 per cent. Tabled on International Women’s Day, the Budget unveiled the ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna’—a universal cash transfer scheme under which women will receive ₹1,000 per month and Dalit women ₹1,500—while outlining major allocations across education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and social welfare, which the government described as fulfilling the all key electoral guarantees of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann.

Presenting the Budget, the Finance Minister said, “The Effective Revenue Deficit is projected at 2.06 per cent of GSDP and the Fiscal Deficit at 4.08 per cent.” He described the document as the “Saari Guarantiyan Puri Karan Wala Budget”, emphasising that the government has worked to fulfil all the guarantees made to the people.

Presented on International Women’s Day, the Budget introduced the “Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna”, which the Finance Minister described as the first universal cash transfer initiative for women. Explaining the scheme, Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Under this initiative, the government will transfer ₹1,000 per month directly to the accounts of all eligible adult women and ₹1,500 per month to adult women belonging to the Scheduled Caste community.” He added that a budgetary outlay of ₹9,300 crore has been earmarked to ensure that nearly 97 per cent of adult women in Punjab are covered, including women already receiving social security pensions.

The Finance Minister further said that the government has allocated ₹600 crore to continue the free bus travel facility for women, ₹932 crore for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) covering more than 27,000 Anganwadi Centres, and ₹65 crore for the Navi Disha Scheme to provide free sanitary pads to needy women and adolescent girls.

Speaking about the education sector, Harpal Singh Cheema shared that the government has proposed an outlay of ₹19,279 crore, representing a seven per cent increase over the previous year. Highlighting reforms in the sector, he said, “Punjab’s top ranking in the national PARAKH assessment reflects the impact of reforms introduced in recent years.” The Finance Minister announced the launch of the “Sikhiya Kranti 2.0” initiative, a ₹3,500 crore project in collaboration with the World Bank aimed at transforming the education ecosystem.

Detailing the proposals, Harpal Singh Cheema said the Budget includes extensive infrastructure upgrades in schools, including boundary walls, toilets, security personnel and a large-scale whitewashing drive. ₹395 crore has been allocated for digital transformation in schools through the provision of computers and interactive panels. The successful Schools of Eminence model will be strengthened further, and a statewide career counselling framework will be implemented for more than 7.35 lakh students.

Turning to higher education, the Punjab Finance Minister added that ₹1,760 crore has been allocated as grant-in-aid to state universities, while ₹569 crore has been earmarked for Technical Education, including the establishment of ITIs in 11 jails to provide vocational training to inmates. The AAP government has granted in-principle approval for establishing a world-class university at Sri Anandpur Sahib in the name of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

Turning to healthcare, Harpal Singh Cheema said the government has proposed an allocation of ₹6,879 crore for the sector. He said, “The Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana has been provided a ₹2,000 crore provision to offer cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh per year for 65 lakh families in the state. The Aam Aadmi Clinics network, currently consisting of 881 clinics, will be expanded with the addition of 143 new clinics and the upgrading of 308 Subsidiary Health Centres, increasing the total to 1,432 clinics.”

The Budget also includes ₹300 crore for advanced medical equipment in government hospitals and provisions for establishing a modern Trauma Centre and Mother and Child Care Hospital at Sri Anandpur Sahib, along with an on-call incentive for specialist doctors.

The Finance Minister added that ₹1,220 crore has been earmarked for Medical Education and Research. He pointed to developments such as successful liver transplants at the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Mohali, the establishment of seven new medical colleges and the purchase of land for a new medical college in Malerkotla.

Addressing the agrarian sector, Harpal Singh Cheema shared that ₹15,377 crore has been allocated for agriculture and allied sectors. He explained that the allocation includes ₹7,715 crore for free power to farmers, a 33 per cent subsidy on Bt cotton seeds, incentives for Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and kharif maize, and ₹600 crore for machinery to manage crop residue burning. He also announced a ₹1,300 crore project supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aimed at expanding horticulture acreage by 300 per cent by 2035.

He added that dairy farmers will be supported with a ₹100 crore provision for fair milk procurement prices, while sugarcane farmers will benefit from a ₹270 crore allocation following the increase in the State Agreed Price to ₹416 per quintal.

Speaking about environmental sustainability, the Punjab Finance Minister said ₹238 crore has been allocated for forestry under the Punjab Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority programme. A ₹760 crore JICA-supported biodiversity conservation project will also be implemented.

On rural development, Harpal Singh Cheema said the Budget proposes ₹7,606 crore to complete the modernisation of 19,876 kilometres of rural link roads. He added that the AAP government has allocated ₹1,500 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme and ₹800 crore to construct one lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin). The allocation for the Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme has been doubled to ₹1,170 crore to ensure equitable development across all 117 constituencies.

Turning to urban development, the Punjab minister said the Municipal Development Fund has been increased fourfold to ₹1,000 crore.  ₹500 crore has been proposed for the canal-based surface water supply project in Ludhiana and Amritsar and ₹665 crore for AMRUT 2.0 projects. “In total, ₹7,257 crore has been proposed for the Housing and Urban Development sector,” he said.

The Finance Minister also spoke about industrial growth under the Industrial Policy 2026. He said Punjab received ₹55,000 crore in investments in 2025 alone, which he noted doubled foreign direct investment and raised the state’s national ranking in FDI inflows to 11th place. The Budget includes ₹500 crore for fiscal incentives and provisions for One Time Settlement (OTS) schemes.

Highlighting employment generation, Harpal Singh Cheema shared that 63,943 candidates have been recruited in government departments since 2022. ₹287 crore has been allocated for employment generation initiatives, including the operationalisation of new Armed Forces Preparatory Institutes.

Addressing internal security, he said an allocation of ₹11,577 crore has been proposed for Home Affairs, Justice and Jails. The “Yudh Nashian De Virudh” campaign will be strengthened through mobilisation of Village Defence Committees, enhanced border surveillance through 2,367 CCTV cameras and a ₹100 crore outlay for a comprehensive drug and socio-economic census. The Anti-Gangster Task Force will continue its operations, while emergency response systems such as the Sadak Surakhya Force and Dial 112 have been strengthened. ₹535 crore has been allocated for modernising jail security through AI-based surveillance and jammer systems.

Speaking about youth engagement, Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The government is investing ₹1,791 crore in sports infrastructure with plans to build 6,000 new village playgrounds, establish 5,000 indoor gyms and organise adventure sports camps.”

The Finance Minister said the government will observe the 650th Prakash Diwas of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji at the state level with a ₹100 crore allocation. He also announced that a heritage-style Administrative Complex will be constructed at Sri Anandpur Sahib to commemorate the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sahib Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. ₹312 crore has been provisioned for the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme to facilitate pilgrimages for nearly 7.15 lakh citizens.

He also highlighted improvements in citizen services, noting that doorstep delivery of 412 services has been implemented and transport services have been digitised at Sewa Kendras. Digital land record platforms such as Easy Jamabandi and Easy Registry have also been introduced. The AAP government released ₹1,010 crore for flood relief through a fully digital system.

Highlighting infrastructure investments, Harpal Singh Cheema added the allocation for roads, bridges and public buildings has been doubled to ₹5,440 crore, covering projects under Plan Roads, PMGSY-III and the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund. ₹2,971 crore has been allocated for water resources to optimise canal networks, with the government aiming to double canal irrigation capacity to seven million acres by the end of the year. Flood protection works, drain cleaning and strengthening of the Ferozepur Feeder and Kathgarh Lift Scheme are underway.

Turning to the power sector, the Finance Minister said the “Mission Roshan Punjab” initiative includes a ₹5,000 crore investment to modernise the electricity distribution network with new substations and 25,000 kilometres of power lines. He said reforms are also planned to reduce the state’s subsidy burden by 25 per cent without affecting consumer benefits. Civil aviation infrastructure has expanded with the operationalisation of the Adampur and Halwara airports.

He added that Punjab has achieved the top rank in the national Mining Readiness Index and that mining revenue has doubled to over ₹500 crore. The transport sector will also witness expansion with the addition of 1,279 new buses.

Addressing food security and social welfare, Harpal Singh Cheema said the government has introduced the “Meri Rasoi” scheme with a ₹900 crore allocation to provide free quarterly essential ration kits to nearly 40 lakh families. He added that new ration card enrolments will be opened for 10 lakh additional beneficiaries. Employment opportunities will also be generated through the allotment of nearly 7,500 Fair Price Shops.

He shared that the Social Welfare and Justice sector has received an allocation of ₹18,304 crore, including ₹6,150 crore for monthly financial assistance pensions and ₹17,700 crore earmarked under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan.

Concluding his Budget speech, the Punjab Finance Minister said total revenue receipts are projected at ₹1,26,190 crore, supported by increased devolution from the 16th Finance Commission which will bring ₹30,464 crore in central taxes to the state. He added that governance reforms and enforcement have led to projected excise revenues of ₹53,122 crore over the government’s five-year tenure, while the state has set a target of ₹9,000 crore from stamps and registration and ₹32,000 crore from GST for the financial year 2026–27.

The Finance Minister also said the state has injected ₹1,000 crore into the Guarantee Redemption Fund and doubled capital expenditure to ₹18,381 crore for asset creation. “The Debt-to-GSDP ratio has been reduced from 48.25 per cent to 44.47 per cent,” Harpal Singh Cheema said, adding that the government remains committed to strengthening the financial health of Punjab while investing in infrastructure and public welfare.

CHANDIGARH/KAPURTHALA, March 8:

          In an intelligence-led operation amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Kapurthala Police has busted an arms supply module with the arrest of two persons, including one juvenile and recovered five country-made 7.65MM pistols from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.

          The arrested accused have been identified as Ajay Kumar, a resident of village Mehrajwala in Jalandhar and 17-years-old juvenile.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested persons were acting on the directions of foreign-based handlers residing in Philippines and UAE.

          The DGP said that preliminary investigation has revealed that arrested accused had procured illegal weapons from Madhya Pradesh and were supplying them to criminal gangs. The recovered weapons were intended to be used for firing and extortion activities in the region, he said.

          Sharing operational details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kapurthala Gaurav Toora said that acting on reliable inputs, police teams had arrested Ajay Kumar and recovered one pistol from his possession. Further investigation has led to the arrest of his 17-years-old accomplice and recovery of four more pistols from his possession, he said.

          The SSP said that the probe has revealed that arrested accused persons had bought weapons from unidentified person in Madhya Pradesh with the cost of Rs 87000. Further investigations are underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to completely unmask the network, he added.

          In this regard, a case FIR no. 25 dated 2/2/2026 had been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Sadar Kapurthala.