Chandigarh: The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has approved the Excise Policy for 2025-26, aiming to generate ₹11,020 crore in revenue from excise duties—₹800 crore more than last year.
Key Changes in the Excise Policy:
- Liquor Vends Allocation: The government is reverting to its 2022 policy of allotting liquor vends through e-tenders.
- Quota Adjustments: While the open quota system for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) remains unchanged, the quota for country-made liquor has been increased by 3%.
- New Bottling Plants: The state has permitted the establishment of new bottling plants.
- Licensing Units: A total of 207 licensing groups will be auctioned.
Apart from excise-related changes, the Cabinet has also introduced amendments in the issuance of birth and death certificates. Now, doctors will be required to mention the exact date and cause of death in the certificate. Additionally, the NRI Commission Report was presented before the Council of Ministers during the meeting.
