Every promise made to the people of Punjab has been fulfilled, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Sunday as he presented the state’s budget for 2026-27 with an allocation of Rs 2,60,437 crore.This is the last budget of the AAP government in Punjab before it goes to polls early 2027.Presenting the budget in the state assembly, Cheema said this budget is dedicated to mothers and daughters of Punjab – a tribute to their strength and a celebration of their invaluable contribution to the society and future.Treasury benches cheer as FM announces Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhiyan SchemeMarch 8, 2026 1:20 pmAs Harpal Cheema began announcing the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Scheme, which will give financial assistance to women, the Treasury benches erupted in celebration, thumping tables. Cheema said this will be the biggest cash transfer scheme, and registration to avail the benefits will start in April.Punjab Budget allocates Rs 1,791 crore for sports infrastructureMarch 8, 2026 12:36 pmThe Punjab government has proposed to build 6,000 additional village playgrounds and 5,000 indoor gyms across the state. Harpal Cheema said that adventure sports camps will also be developed in the sub-mountainous region under the PPP mode. A budgetary allocation of Rs 1,791 crore has been made for 2026–27, marking an 83 per cent increase from last year.Rs 100 crore earmarked for caste and drug census under Yudh Nasheyan VirudhMarch 8, 2026 12:35 pmUnder the state government’s Yudh Nasheyan Virudh campaign, Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for the effective implementation of the caste and drug census this year. Cheema said that over the past year, 36,686 cases have been registered against 52,331 traffickers under the NDPS Act, leading to a seizure of more than 33,000 kg of narcotics through intelligence-led operations. He added that nearly 12,000 Village Defence Committees, with over 1.25 lakh members, and thousands of “Pinda De Pehredar” volunteers, have been mobilised to support the initiative. “The caste and drug census will help strengthen our war against drugs,” Cheema said.GSDP projected to reach Rs 9,80,635 croreMarch 8, 2026 12:18 pmCheema said for 2026-27, gross state domestic product (GSDP) is projected to reach Rs 9,80,635 crore.Punjab projects revenue receipts of Rs 1,26,190 crore for 2026-27March 8, 2026 12:08 pmThe total revenue receipts for Punjab in 2026-27 are projected at Rs 1,26,190 crore. Of this, Rs 70,851 crore will come from own tax revenue and Rs 15,687 crore will come from non-tax revenue. Since state’s share in horizontal devolution has been increased, the share in central tax will be Rs 30,464 crore, up by Rs 5,293 crore over 2025-26. The revenue deficit for this year is estimated at Rs 21,955.18 crore, while the debt of the state will rise to Rs 44,2604.16 crore.Harpal Cheema with women MLAs before the Budget session at Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune Photo: VickyMarch 8, 2026 11:59 amCM Bhagwant Mann’s mother, wife and Cheema’s wife attend Punjab Budget session on Women’s DayMarch 8, 2026 11:55 amCM Bhagwant Mann’s mother, Harpal Kaur Mann, his wife Gurpreet Kaur Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema’s wife, Manjit Kaur, and Punjab Women Commission Chairperson Raj Lalli Gill are present in the House today.Eligibility criteria for women’s financial assistance clarifiedMarch 8, 2026 11:53 amCertain categories of women will not be eligible for the monthly financial assistance. This includes female government employees and pensioners, income tax payees, and sitting and former MLAs and MPs. However, women who get social security pensions will be eligible to receive the assistance.Punjab Budget proposes new Armed Forces preparatory instituteMarch 8, 2026 11:46 amThe government has proposed the establishment of a new Armed Forces preparatory institute, named Sant Attar Singh Maharaj Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Boys, along with a degree college at Cheema (Sangrur). Meanwhile, the newly established Sardar Bahadur Amin Chand Soni Armed Forces Preparatory Institute at Bajwara, Hoshiarpur, is nearing completion and will commence training in 2026–27.Punjab Budget boosts urban development allocationsMarch 8, 2026 11:43 amThere is a four times increase in allocation to the Municipal Development Fund (MDF) to Rs 1,000 crore in 2026-27, up from Rs 225 crore in 2025-26. A sum of Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project (PMSIP) to strengthen long-term urban water security in Amritsar and Ludhiana. Additionally, a budget provision of Rs 665 crore has been proposed across 149 Urban Local Bodies to accelerate urban infrastructure improvements in the state.Major boost for rural roads in PunjabMarch 8, 2026 11:42 amIn rural areas, 11,901 km of link roads are being upgraded with NABARD assistance at a cost of Rs 2,597 crore, with works targeted for completion by October 2026. For 2026–27, the government proposes to complete the remaining 19,876 km of rural roads through the Mandi Board and the Public Works Department, at an estimated cost of Rs 7,606 crore.Rangla Punjab Vikas Fund allocation fund doubled to Rs 1,170 croreMarch 8, 2026 11:34 amUnder the Rangla Punjab Vikas Fund, Rs 10 crore will be allocated for development works in each constituency. The total allocation for the fund has been doubled from Rs 585 crore last year to Rs 1,170 crore in 2026-27, which is an election year.Punjab allocates Rs 15,377 crore for agriculture, introduces new iniativesMarch 8, 2026 11:33 amAgriculture, the mainstay of Punjab’s economy, has been allocated Rs 15,377 crore for 2026-27, marking a six per cent increase from last year. Key initiatives include: • Rs 40 crore for Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) • Rs 15 crore for a pilot project encouraging a shift from paddy to kharif maize in six districts – Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Sangrur, Jalandhar and Kapurthala – with an incentive of Rs 17,500 per hectare • Rs 600 crore subsidy to manage crop residue and prevent stubble burning • 7,715 crore power subsidy for the agriculture sector • Rs 1,300 crore project to promote climate-resilient and high-value horticulture crops across Punjab • Rs 100 crore for fair milk procurement prices for dairy farmers • Rs 270 crore for timely payment of sugarcane dues • Rs 238 crore under the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Haryaval Sankalp, for plantation of 4,150 hectares under the PUNCAMPA schemePunjab allocates Rs 19,279 crore for education, launches Sikhiya Kranti 2.0March 8, 2026 11:25 amHarpal Cheema announced that the education sector will receive a budget outlay of Rs 19,279 crore, marking an increase of seven per cent over last year. Cheema highlighted, “Punjab ranked first in classroom learning outcomes, surpassing Kerala, which has consistently been among the top-performing states in education for many years.” The state will launch Sikhiya Kranti 2.0 initiative, aimed at transforming school education over the next six years, with an outlay of Rs 3,500 crore in collaboration with the World Bank. The government has also accorded in-principal approval for the establishment of a world-class university in the name of Guru Tegh Bahadur at Anandpur Sahib. For higher education, a budgetary allocation of Rs 569 crore has been set aside for initiatives under technical education in 2026-27.Higher allocations for health, education and agricultureMarch 8, 2026 11:18 amThe Punjab government has proposed a substantial increase in allocations for the health, education and agriculture sectors in the upcoming fiscal year. A sum of Rs 2,000 crore has been earmarked for Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana, under which 65 families will receive free health insurance of up to Rs 10 lakh. In 2026–27, the government has proposed to establish 143 more Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state. In addition, 308 subsidiary health centres will be upgraded into Aam Aadmi Clinics. A total of Rs 351 crore has been made for the purpose. The government has also proposed to establish a modern trauma centre along with a dedicated Mother and Child Care Hospital at Anandpur Sahib.Budget dedicated to women, Rs 18,304 crore allocated for empowerment schemesMarch 8, 2026 11:16 amThe Finance Minister said that the state Budget is dedicated to the women of Punjab. He announced the ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana’, under which women will get financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per month, while Dalit women will receive Rs 1,500 per month. Almost 97 per cent of women will be covered under the current eligibility criteria. A budgetary outlay of Rs. 9,300 crore has been earmarked for the purpose. Cheema also said the free bus service scheme for women will continue, with an outlay of Rs 600 crore. In addition, Rs 932 crore has been allocated under the ICDS. Free sanitary pads will be distributed to adolescent girls under the Navi Disha Scheme, for which Rs 65 crore has been earmarked for 2026-27. Overall, the government has allocated Rs 18,304 crore for women empowerment and social welfare, the highest ever in Punjab’s history, marking a 96 per cent increase over last year’s allocation.Harpal Cheema begins Budget speech, calls it ‘Saari Guarantiyan Puri Karan Wala Budget’March 8, 2026 11:11 amPunjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema began presenting the state Budget in the Vidhan Sabha on Sunday by congratulating the women of the state on International Women’s Day. Cheema called the Budget as “Saari Guarantiyan Puri Karan Wala Budget”. The total size of the Budget for 2026-27 has been pegged at Rs 2,60,437 crore.Tight security outside Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune Photo: VickyMarch 8, 2026 10:56 amBomb threat email received before Punjab Budget presentationMarch 8, 2026 10:20 amHours before the presentation of the Punjab Budget, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha received a bomb threat through an email on Sunday morning. Following the alert, the anti-bomb squad rushed to the Vidhan Sabha complex and began a thorough search of the premises. Sources in the Vidhan Sabha said security checks are under way and that the Budget session will proceed as scheduled.