Punjab approves new excise policy; eases curbs on liquor vends

The Punjab cabinet on Thursday approved the excise policy for 2025-26 at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here.

The policy aims to increase the revenue from excise duties by Rs 800 crore over the previous year.

In the coming year, the government has fixed a target of Rs 11,020 crore to be earned through excise duties, said Finance Minister Harpal Cheema.

In this year’s policy, the government has gone back to its 2022 policy of allotment of liquor vends through e-tenders. However, the policy of having an open quota for Indian Made Foreign Liquor will continue. The quota for country-made liquor has been increased by 3 per cent.

The state government has also allowed new bottling plants to be set up in the state. As many as 207 groups (licensing units) will be auctioned.

Besides, amendments have been made in the issuance of birth and death certificates, making it mandatory for doctors to specify the date and reason of death.

The Report of the NRI Commission was also tabled before the cabinet.