Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. File picture
The central authorities will current the Union Price range for the monetary 12 months 2026–27 right this moment. With Meeting elections due in Punjab in 2027, expectations are excessive within the state for particular bulletins by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. In the meantime, the Punjab authorities has formally sought a particular financial package deal from the Centre on this finances.
The Punjab authorities has submitted its calls for in writing to the Union Finance Ministry, stating that the state suffered a extreme pure catastrophe in 2025, resulting in heavy monetary losses. In view of this, it has requested for a particular financial package deal to assist Punjab get well.
Floods and border tensions a ‘Double Whammy’
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has urged the Centre to instantly announce a particular financial package deal. He mentioned the border state is dealing with a “double whammy” — long-standing tensions alongside the Pakistan border and essentially the most devastating floods witnessed final 12 months.
Forward of the Union Price range 2026–27, Cheema submitted an in depth memorandum throughout a pre-budget assembly with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He careworn that Punjab’s monetary stress ought to be thought-about from a nationwide safety perspective, given its strategic location.
Symbolic picture.
Key calls for positioned earlier than the centre
₹12,905 crore loss on account of floods- Punjab suffered large injury on account of floods amid ongoing border tensions. In response to the state authorities, over 2,300 villages had been affected, with complete losses estimated at ₹12,905 crore.
RDF and Improvement Fund- The state demanded the fast launch of ₹7,757 crore pending underneath the Rural Improvement Fund (RDF). It mentioned rural roads and infrastructure tasks are struggling as a result of extended withholding of funds.
Agriculture and Water Conservation- To encourage crop diversification away from paddy cultivation and preserve quickly depleting groundwater, Punjab demanded that the motivation be doubled to ₹15,000 per acre.
Income loss after GST- The federal government mentioned Punjab has suffered vital income losses after the implementation of GST, incurring an annual lack of round ₹6,000 crore. It demanded a mechanism to compensate the state for this shortfall.
MGNREGA and Well being Mission- The state opposed the proposed adjustments to MGNREGA and demanded the restoration of cuts made to the Nationwide Well being Mission (NHM) funds.
₹1,000 crore for police modernisation- To counter cross-border threats and drug trafficking by drones, Punjab sought particular central help of ₹1,000 crore for police modernisation and anti-drone expertise.
What Punjab obtained from the centre in 2025–26 ?
Within the Union Price range 2025–26, Punjab was allotted ₹5,421 crore for the development and improvement of railway infrastructure. This included rail community upgrades, station redevelopment underneath the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, and safety-related works.
Round 30 railway stations in Punjab had been permitted for redevelopment underneath the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. As well as, hyperlink tasks such because the Mohali–Rajpura line had been permitted underneath central schemes, with monetary help of about ₹203 crore.
