Punjab’s excise revenue has witnessed an unprecedented surge, rising from Rs 6,254 crores in 2022-23 to over Rs 10,200 crores in 2024-25, announced Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday. The AAP-led government’s excise policies have been credited with this remarkable growth, marking the first time in Punjab’s history that excise revenue has crossed the five-digit mark.
Cheema revealed that the excise revenue target of Rs 10,145 crores for FY 2024-25 is likely to be exceeded, with the ongoing e-tendering process for 2025-26 already fetching Rs 8,681 crores from 179 retail liquor groups, along with an additional Rs 871 crores as premium. The Minister expressed confidence that the ambitious target of Rs 11,020 crores for FY 2025-26 would also be surpassed, potentially reaching Rs 11,800 crores — a 16 percent increase over the previous year.
The Minister criticized the previous Congress and SAD-BJP regimes for their failure to boost excise revenue. He highlighted that during the Congress rule from 2002 to 2007, excise revenue declined by 6.9 percent, falling from Rs 1,462 crores to Rs 1,363 crores. Similarly, under the SAD-BJP government, revenue dropped from Rs 4,796 crores in 2015-16 to Rs 4,400 crores in 2016-17 due to flawed policies. The Congress regime from 2017 to 2022 saw stagnation, with revenue reaching only Rs 6,200 crores by FY 2021-22, alongside a tragic hooch incident that claimed 128 lives.
Cheema reaffirmed the AAP government’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and progressive policies, emphasizing that the excise revenue growth reflects the success of these initiatives. He stated that the increased revenue would be utilized for the state’s financial stability and the betterment of all sections of society.
The overwhelming response to the e-tendering process and the consistent growth in excise revenue underscore the AAP government’s effective governance and its focus on driving Punjab’s economic progress.
