Chandigarh: Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday presented a ₹2,60,437 crore budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, dedicating the budget to International Women’s Day.
The budget, the fifth and final one of the government led by Bhagwant Mann, focuses on welfare measures for women and Dalits. During his address, Cheema also praised the courage shown by people during recent floods in the state.
Announcing a major welfare initiative, the finance minister introduced the ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dhian Satikar Yojana’, described as the largest scheme for women’s economic empowerment in Punjab’s history.
Under the scheme, all women aged 18 years and above will receive financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month. Women belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) will receive ₹1,500 per month. The amount will be transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
However, the scheme will not cover current or former regular government employees, current or former MPs and MLAs, and income-tax payers. Women already receiving old-age, widow or disability pensions will remain eligible for the benefit.
This is also the first time in the history of the Punjab Assembly that the state budget has been presented on a Sunday, with the government choosing International Women’s Day for the announcement.
Meanwhile, hours before the budget presentation, the assembly received a bomb threat through email on Sunday morning. Security agencies immediately launched a search operation and the anti-bomb squad carried out checks across the assembly complex.
