Chandigarh, February 27:

The Punjab Cabinet led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann gave nod to the Excise policy 2025-26 which aims to collect excise revenue of Rs. 11020 crores during the financial year 2025-26, projecting an increase of Rs. 874.05 crores (8.61%) over the previous financial year’s targets.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at his official residence today.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that against the target of Rs 10,145 crore set during the Excise policy 2024-25, the state government has collected Rs 10,200 crore, so far. Excise collection is witnessing steady surge in the state during the current regime as for the first time the collection has crossed the mark of Rs 10,000 crores. It is worth mentioning that the collection from Excise in the last year of SAD-BJP alliance was  Rs 4405 crore and in last year of Congress regime was merely Rs 6254 crore.

The new policy stipulates that in order to balance the existing retail trade and to provide opportunity to ensure better and widespread participation, fresh allotment of L-2/L-14A vends for the financial year 2025-26 will be done through e-tender. The group size for the year 2025-26 has been kept at Rs. 40 crores. In order to mobilize additional revenue and to ensure enough availability of country liquor, the quota of country liquor (Punjab Medium Liquor) in the financial year 2025- 26 has been kept at 8.534 crores proof litres i.e increase of 3% over the previous financial year.

There will be no increase in Country Liquor rates in the financial year 2025-26. In order to give relief to defence forces, the license fee of their wholesale license has been reduced by 50% from Rs.5 lakhs to Rs.2.5 lakhs. In order to promote tourism, the possession limit of license holder of farm stays has been increased from 12 quarts of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) to 36 quarts of IMFL with increase in possession quantity of Beer, Wine, Gin, Vodka, brandy, RTD and other liquor products. To give better consumer experience, one Model Shop in each group has been made mandatory for retail licensees in Municipal Corporation Areas.

The fee of Standalone Beer shops has been reduced from Rs. 2 lakh per shop to Rs. 25,000 per shop. To promote new investment in the State, new Bottling plants have been allowed to be set up in Punjab. Likewise, Cow Welfare Fee has been increased by 50% from Rs. 1 per PL to Rs. 1.5 per PL. With this, collection of Cow Welfare Fee will increase from Rs. 16 crores to Rs. 24 crores. To strengthen enforcement, there is a proposal to set up Excise Police Stations in the coming financial year. To promote ease of doing business, the liquor brands where no increase in EDP is there, automatic approval of these brands through e-abkari portal has been introduced.

GIVES NOD TO CONSTITUTE "PUNJAB TIRTH YATRA SAMITI"

The Cabinet also gave the nod to constitute "Punjab Tirth Yatra Samiti" with the aim of providing convenient pilgrimage to the residents of Punjab by air, rail, road or any other possible mode in coordination with various departments under the Mukh Mantri Tirth Yatra Scheme. It is pertinent to mention that the Mukh Mantri Tirth Yatra Scheme was launched by the Punjab Government during the year 2023-24 under which around 34000 pilgrims were facilitated to travel to various religious places by train/buses. The Punjab Tirth Yatra Samiti will work to carry out the travel arrangements under the scheme efficiently and smoothly.

PICTC DESIGNATED AS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF DIGITAL SIGNATURES FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS

The Cabinet also approved designating the Punjab Information & Communication Technology Corporation Ltd. (PICTC) as the sole provider of digital signatures for government departments and organizations. The Corporation has also been designated for procurement of IT and ITeG and services in keeping with the provisions of Punjab Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 2019. Furthermore, the bifurcation of responsibilities between the Department of Good Governance and Information Technology (earlier known as Department of Governance Reforms) and Punjab Infotech has been formalized. These approvals are expected to improve governance and procurement processes, foster digital transformation, and promote the effective delivery of public services.

GIVES GREEN SIGNAL TO ADOPT WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2024

The Cabinet also gave green signal to adopt the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 enacted by the Parliament of India Rajasthan in pursuance of clause (1) of Article 252 of the Constitution of India read with clause (2) thereof. The Act has replaced Criminal liability with financial penalties and it stipulates that the contravention or non-compliance of the Act would be dealt through imposition of financial penalty through an Adjudicating Officer. The provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 are progressive in nature, hence adopted by the State of Punjab as it will decriminalize and rationalize the minor offences to enhance trust-based governance for ease of living and doing business.

ACCORDS APPROVAL TO AMENDMENTS IN THE PUNJAB REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2025

In order to streamline the work of registration of births and deaths in the state, the Cabinet also gave green signal to several amendments in the Punjab Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2025. Pertinently, keeping in view the amendment in Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 as Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023 by the Central Government, the State Government had prepared the Punjab Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2025 on the basis of Model Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2024 sent by the Central Government. This will bring uniformity in the Act and facilitate the general public in a big way.

OKAYS ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT OF PUNJAB STATE COMMISSION FOR NRI'S

The Cabinet also gave consent to the Annual Administrative Report with audit report of the Punjab State Commission for NRI's for the year 2022-23.

APPROVES POST OF OSD (LITIGATION)

The Cabinet also gave nod to the creation of one temporary post of Officer on Special Duty (Litigation) in the Department of Personnel.

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