Punjab Budget 2026–27: Cash Transfer Scheme for Women, Major Push to Education and Healthcare
Chandigarh: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday presented the fifth Budget of the AAP government, announcing a major cash transfer scheme for women and outlining a ₹2,60,437-crore budget for the financial year 2026-27. The government described the budget as fulfilling key election guarantees made by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann.
Presented on International Women’s Day, the Budget introduced the “Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna”, under which adult women in Punjab will receive ₹1,000 per month, while women from Scheduled Caste communities will get ₹1,500 per month through direct cash transfer. The state government has earmarked ₹9,300 crore for the scheme, which is expected to cover nearly 97% of adult women in Punjab.
Cheema said the Budget projects Punjab’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at ₹9,80,635 crore with an estimated growth rate of 10%. The fiscal deficit is projected at 4.08% of GSDP, while the effective revenue deficit is expected to remain at 2.06%.
Major Welfare And Social Sector Announcements
The government has allocated ₹600 crore to continue the free bus travel scheme for women and ₹932 crore for more than 27,000 Anganwadi centres under the Integrated Child Development Services programme. An additional ₹65 crore has been earmarked under the Navi Disha Scheme to provide free sanitary pads to women and adolescent girls.
Focus On Education And Healthcare
Harpal Singh Cheema speaking during the presentation of the Punjab Budget 2026–27.
The education sector has been allotted ₹19,279 crore, including the launch of “Sikhiya Kranti 2.0”, a ₹3,500-crore World Bank-supported project aimed at transforming the state’s education ecosystem. The budget also includes ₹395 crore for digital infrastructure in schools and ₹1,760 crore in grants for state universities.
For healthcare, the government has proposed ₹6,879 crore, including ₹2,000 crore for the Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana, which provides cashless treatment up to ₹10 lakh annually for around 65 lakh families. The network of Aam Aadmi Clinics, currently numbering 881, will be expanded to 1,432 clinics.
Agriculture And Rural Development
The Budget allocates ₹15,377 crore for agriculture and allied sectors, including ₹7,715 crore for free power to farmers. The government also announced incentives for Direct Seeded Rice and maize cultivation and ₹600 crore for crop residue management to tackle stubble burning.
Rural infrastructure will receive ₹7,606 crore for upgrading nearly 19,876 km of rural link roads, along with ₹1,500 crore for MGNREGA and ₹1,170 crore under the Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme.
Infrastructure, Industry And Employment
The state government has proposed ₹5,440 crore for roads and public buildings and ₹5,000 crore for modernising the power distribution network under “Mission Roshan Punjab.” Industrial growth will be supported through ₹2,805 crore, following reported investments of ₹55,000 crore in 2025.
The government said 63,943 government jobs have been filled since 2022, while ₹287 crore has been allocated for employment generation programmes.
Social Welfare And Security
The social welfare sector will receive ₹18,304 crore, including ₹6,150 crore for pensions and ₹17,700 crore under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan. The Budget also proposes ₹900 crore for the “Meri Rasoi” ration kit scheme, which aims to support nearly 40 lakh families.
For law and order, ₹11,577 crore has been allocated to Home Affairs, Justice and Jails, including ₹535 crore for AI-based jail surveillance and ₹100 crore for a comprehensive drug census as part of the government’s anti-drug campaign.
Concluding his address, Cheema said the government has doubled capital expenditure to ₹18,381 crore and reduced the debt-to-GSDP ratio to 44.47%, adding that the Budget focuses on infrastructure development while expanding welfare programmes across the state. 
______________
Also Read:
Punjab Reduces Electricity Tariffs for Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Consumers for FY 2026-27
Progressive Punjab Investment Summit to Boost Industrial Growth in State: Mann
Team PT
punjabtodaynews@gmail.com
Disclaimer : PunjabTodayNews.com and other platforms of the Punjab Today group strive to include views and opinions from across the entire spectrum, but by no means do we agree with everything we publish. Our efforts and editorial choices consistently underscore our authors’ right to the freedom of speech. However, it should be clear to all readers that individual authors are responsible for the information, ideas or opinions in their articles, and very often, these do not reflect the views of PunjabTodayNews.com or other platforms of the group. Punjab Today does not assume any responsibility or liability for the views of authors whose work appears here.
Punjab Today believes in serious, engaging, narrative journalism at a time when mainstream media houses seem to have given up on long-form writing and news television has blurred or altogether erased the lines between news and slapstick entertainment. We at Punjab Today believe that readers such as yourself appreciate cerebral journalism, and would like you to hold us against the best international industry standards. Brickbats are welcome even more than bouquets, though an occasional pat on the back is always encouraging. Good journalism can be a lifeline in these uncertain times worldwide. You can support us in myriad ways. To begin with, by spreading word about us and forwarding this reportage. Stay engaged.
— Team PT