Punjab
Thanks to the Green Revolution, for 50 years Punjab has been the breadbasket of India. It’s large, prosperous farms still provide one of the highest standards of living of any Indian state. But Punjab has struggled in recent years thanks to the fall in food prices and its failure to build 21st-century industries such as agro-processing. It doesn’t help that the state’s previous government was widely perceived as ineffective and complicit in large-scale corruption; the current government has been focusing on supporting the food processing, light engineering, textile and garments, and power sector industries.
State Summary
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Size
19,445 sq. miles -
Population
27.7 million -
State GDP
$49.08 billion (USD) -
Legislative Assembly Seats
117
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Rajya Sabha Seats
7 -
Lok Sabha Seats
13 -
Party Affiliation
Indian National Congress (INC)
Climate Change
Subsectors
Recent Articles
Energy
India faces a complex energy challenge: it needs cheap and abundant energy to power high economic growth and lift its citizens into the middle class. But it also hopes to keep its commitments to the U.N. Climate Change Convention and achieve energy independence. India’s states have the resources to generate the energy India needs, but they take different approaches to fostering the growth of the industry. This section allows you to explore energy news from India’s states and offers the Wadhwani Chair’s analysis of India’s energy sector.
Subsectors
Coal • Energy Efficiency • Energy-related Transportation • Nuclear • Oil and Gas • Power & Renewable Energy • Power • Renewables •Recent Articles
Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) introduces the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission
Posted on July 5, 2023Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) introduces the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Intra-State Open Access) (10th Amendment) Regulations, 2023, to align its intra-state open access with the central government’s Green Energy Open Access Rules.
Punjab announces that it will provide incentives worth $36.6 million over the next three years, to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs)
Posted on June 28, 2023Punjab announces that it will provide incentives worth $36.6 million over the next three years, to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and reduce pollution. The incentives will be provided for electric two-wheelers, e-cycles, e-rickshaws, e-autos, and electric light commercial vehicles.
Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission approves an increase of 8.64% in power tariffs
Posted on May 24, 2023Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission approves an increase of 8.64% in power tariffs. On average, the prices have been revised by 25-80 paise for different consumers.
Punjab launches the Punjab State Energy Action Plan
Posted on May 17, 2023Punjab launches the Punjab State Energy Action Plan to promote energy efficiency in buildings, industries, municipalities, agriculture, transport and other sectors. The action plan is aimed at assisting government departments and agencies to adopt the most sustainable, long-term and inter-sectoral renewable and clean energy plans.
Related National Goals
U.S.–India Energy Cooperation Project Tracker — There is currently no data available for Punjab. (updated July 3, 2019)
Solar Performance Tracker — Punjab reaches 1153.21MW (updated March 31, 2021)
Wind Performance Tracker — Punjab achieves 0MW (updated March 30, 2021)
Finance
Finance
Subsectors
Recent Articles
Punjab introduces a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for recovery of outstanding Goods & Services Tax (GST)
Posted on November 22, 2023Punjab introduces a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for recovery of outstanding Goods & Services Tax (GST). The scheme will run from November 15, 2023, to March 15, 2024 and is expected to benefit traders and industrialists by reducing the burden of legacy cases and enhancing GST compliance.
Health
While India’s healthcare system is expansive in terms of the number of beneficiaries covered, inequalities in access to high-quality yet affordable care continue to plague delivery systems and push citizens towards the more unregulated private sector. Similarly, while India’s National Health Policy of 2017 promises to reform this system, the responsibility to institute those reforms falls to the states who each have their own unique challenges and opportunities to meet the healthcare needs of their people. This section allows you to explore emerging healthcare policies and news covering new initiatives from India’s states and offers the Wadhwani Chair’s analysis of India’s healthcare sector.
Recent Articles
Punjab announces the establishment of Midwifery Led Care Units (MLCU) at public healthcare facilities with an aim to provide high quality maternal and newborn healthcare services in the state
Posted on October 18, 2023Punjab announces the establishment of Midwifery Led Care Units (MLCU) at public healthcare facilities with an aim to provide high quality maternal and newborn healthcare services in the state
Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) announces free radio and laboratory diagnostics services, including MRI, CT scans, and blood tests for all government employees, pensioners, and their dependents
Posted on September 13, 2023Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) announces free radio and laboratory diagnostics services, including MRI, CT scans, and blood tests for all government employees, pensioners, and their dependents.
Punjab announces the launch of a special project to modernise the state’s secondary healthcare institutions at an estimated cost of over $48 million
Posted on June 21, 2023Punjab announces the launch of a special project to modernise the state’s secondary healthcare institutions at an estimated cost of over $48 million. Under the first phase of the project, district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals and community health centres (CHCs) in larger rural areas will be strengthened on priority.
Punjab constitutes ‘Sikhya-te-Sehat’ fund for creation and revival of health and education infrastructure in the state
Posted on August 17, 2022
Industrial Policy and Business Regulations
Subsectors
Recent Articles
Punjab issues a notification for constituting industrial advisory commissions for 26 sectors aimed at promoting holistic business development in the state
Posted on November 1, 2023Punjab issues a notification for constituting industrial advisory commissions for 26 sectors aimed at promoting holistic business development in the state. According to the notification, each advisory commission will be headed by a renowned industry stakeholder who will hold a rank equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.
Punjab issues a notification for constituting industrial advisory commissions for 26 sectors
Posted on November 1, 2023Punjab issues a notification for constituting industrial advisory commissions for 26 sectors aimed at promoting holistic business development in the state. According to the notification, each advisory commission will be headed by a renowned industry stakeholder who will hold a rank equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.
Infrastructure and Governance
Subsectors
Recent Articles
Punjab launches the "Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwar" scheme
Posted on December 13, 2023Punjab launches the “Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwar” scheme, aimed at providing citizen-centric services to people at their doorstep. Under the scheme, residents will get doorstep delivery of 43 services, including issuance of certificates of birth, marriage, death, income, residence, caste, rural area, border area, backward area, pension, payment of electricity bills and land demarcation.
Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) launches an online portal
Posted on September 13, 2023Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) launches an online portal for seeking permission for groundwater extraction. Permissions for groundwater extraction, operating drilling rigs and water tankers in Punjab under Punjab Ground Water Extraction and Conservation Directions 2023 can be obtained by applying through the portal.
Land & Labor Laws
Subsectors
Recent Articles
Punjab passes the Transfer of Property (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2023
Posted on December 6, 2023Punjab passes the Transfer of Property (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2023, easing the transfer of property through general power of attorney in the state.
Punjab cabinet increases the compensation allowance for farmers whose crops have been harmed due to natural calamities
Posted on April 5, 2023
Punjab cabinet approves a bill for regularizing the services of 36,000 temporary employees working in multiple state departments
Posted on November 17, 2021
In Detail: Punjab Protection and Regularization of Contractual Employees Bill, 2021 , Press Release
Water & Sanitation