Punjab gets Rs 9,878-cr licence fee via e-auction of retail groups

Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Cheema has announced the successful completion of the allotment process for 207 retail excise groups for 2025-26. The process, which commenced on March 5, 2025, has generated an annual license fee of Rs 9,878 crore, surpassing the projected target of Rs 9,017 crore, an increase of 9.5 percent.

Cheema said the Excise Department had allotted 207 retail groups successfully through online auction, which saw a spirited response from stakeholders. "We will ensure the availability of high-quality liquor at competitive prices," he said.

Financial Commissioner, Excise, Vikas Pratap, said the state's revenue only from the retail sector (auctioning of vends) was inching closer to Rs 10,000-crore mark. "When we include other revenue streams like collection of licence fee, the overall revenue from excise will be around Rs 11,500 crore," he said. While 200 excise groups were auctioned before March 31, the remaining seven groups were auctioned yesterday.

Reaffirming Punjab's position as a leader in excise management, Cheema said the Excise and Taxation Department remained steadfast in its mission to enhance revenue generation while upholding regulatory integrity and consumer welfare. He said this year’s milestone achievement set a new benchmark, further cementing Punjab’s status as a frontrunner in excise sector modernisation and transparent governance.