Fri Feb 28 04:39:38 UTC 2025: ## Punjab Approves New Excise Policy, Projects Revenue Increase
**Chandigarh, February 28, 2025** – The Punjab Cabinet has approved a new excise policy for 2025-26, aiming for a significant revenue boost. The policy projects a collection of ₹11,020 crore (approximately $1.3 billion USD), an increase of ₹874.05 crore over the previous year.
This follows a successful 2024-25 fiscal year, where excise revenue exceeded the ₹10,145 crore target, reaching ₹10,200 crore. The government attributes this success to its current administration.
The new policy will utilize e-tendering for liquor vend allocation and maintain existing country liquor prices. A key feature is a 50% reduction in wholesale license fees for defense personnel, from ₹5 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh. The policy also permits new bottling plants to encourage investment.
In a separate development, the Cabinet also adopted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024. This Act replaces criminal penalties for minor water pollution offenses with financial penalties, aiming to streamline governance and improve ease of doing business.
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