FINANCE MINISTER HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA ATTRIBUTES GROWTH TO TRANSPARENT POLICIES AND TAXPAYER-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES
Chandigarh, April 1 : Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday announced an achievement. The state’s Excise and Taxation Department reported a record-breaking Excise revenue of Rs 10,743.
Punjab Excise Revenue Surpasses 10,145 Cr Target with 30.67% Growth
In a press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema disclosed the remarkable growth in Excise collection. He attributed this success to the excise policies implemented by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government. He said that the state witnessed a notable rise of Rs 598.72 crore in Excise revenue, surpassing the target of Rs 10145 crore for FY 2024-25. In March 2025, Punjab achieved a remarkable 30.67 percent growth rate in Excise revenue, collecting Rs 1477.04 crore, a significant increase from Rs 1130.37 crore in March 2024. He said that this achievement marks the first time the state has crossed the five-digit mark in Excise revenue.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema further revealed that the state has also witnessed a net annual growth rate of 12.99 percent in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections, with a net annual collection of Rs 23,642.15 crore compared to Rs 20,923.37 crore in the previous fiscal year. “In March 2025, the state recorded a net GST collection of Rs 1,913.82 crore, reflecting an 8.63 percent growth compared to Rs 1,761.70 crore in March 2024”, said the Finance Minister while adding that Punjab has also achieved an annual collection of Rs 7,353.32 crore from Value Added Tax (VAT), up from Rs 6,975.3 crore in the previous fiscal year, registering a growth rate of 5.42 percent.
Finance Minister Cheema credited these achievements to the transparent excise policies. These were implemented by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government. The enforcement activities of the Excise and Taxation Department successfully curbed liquor smuggling from neighboring states. He said that the department has also enhanced GST revenue by promoting tax compliance through initiatives such as the “Bill Liayo Inam Pao” scheme.
They have leveraged technological solutions and the Tax Intelligence Unit. They have also strengthened enforcement activities. He said that the department has adopted a two-pronged strategy. This strategy provides unwavering support to honest taxpayers. At the same time, it focuses on cracking down on tax evaders. This approach ensures a fair and transparent taxation system.
“Finance Minister Highlights Tax Efforts Behind Historic ‘Badlda Punjab’ Budget”
The Finance Minister emphasized that efforts to boost the state’s tax revenue have been crucial. They enabled the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government to present a historic “Badlda Punjab” budget. This budget aims to usher in an era of economic and social development for the state. He said that the state government would continue to opt for new initiatives. These initiatives aim to further improve the tax revenue. They will not impose any new tax burden on the people of the state.
