Chandigarh, 27 February — The Punjab government has approved the new excise policy, setting a revenue target of ₹11,200 crore for the upcoming year.
Liquor shops will now be allotted through e-tendering, a move expected to boost transparency. In 2024-25, the government earned ₹10,200 crore from excise revenue.
To curb liquor smuggling, new excise police stations will be set up, with a committee determining their locations.
The penalty for water pollution has been set between ₹5,000 and ₹5 lakh.
Other changes include an increase in the cow cess from ₹1 to ₹1.5, permission for new bottling plants, a 3% rise in the country liquor quota, and a reduction in the Exclusive Beer Shop license fee.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, after the cabinet meeting, also announced reforms in birth and death certificate registrations. Families will no longer need a court order for registering a birth after one year; the process will now be handled by the Deputy Commissioner.
Additionally, doctors must now specify the cause of death in death certificates if a person dies due to illness.
Read More: Punjab Government Considers Raising Liquor Prices
