Chandigarh: Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced the successful completion of the allotment process for 207 Retail Excise Groups for the financial year 2025-26. The process, which commenced on March 5, 2025, and concluded on April 2, 2025, has yielded unprecedented revenue, generating an annual license fee of Rs. 9,878 crores, surpassing the projected target of Rs. 9,017 crores. This represents a 9.5% rise over the set Reserve price, marking a historic achievement for Punjab's Excise Department.
Revealing this in the press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Excise Department has allotted 207 retail groups successfully through online Auction and the whole process saw a very spirited response from the stakeholders. The Finance Minister attributed this outstanding success to the progressive and stakeholder-centric approach embedded in the Excise Policy 2025-26, which was designed to foster a transparent and well-regulated liquor trade.
Emphasizing that the total Excise Revenue for the year 25-26 is set to cross 11500 Crore, the Finance Minister said that the Punjab Excise Department's consistent year-on-year success is a direct result of strategic policy formulation, which defines revenue expectations, establishes market routes, and streamlines supply chain management. He said that Punjab’s dynamic excise policy ensures the availability of high-quality liquor at competitive prices, reinforcing the state's commitment to balancing revenue growth with consumer welfare.
The Finance Minister further commended the dedicated efforts of Excise officers and officials in combating the illicit liquor trade and smuggling (both intra- and inter-state). “By leveraging cutting-edge technology for monitoring and enforcement, and maintaining seamless coordination with Civil and Police Authorities, the department has successfully strengthened trust among stakeholders and ensured a transparent and supportive ecosystem for the liquor trade”, he added.
Reaffirming Punjab's position as a leader in Excise Management, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Excise and Taxation Department remains steadfast in its mission to enhance revenue generation while upholding regulatory integrity and consumer welfare. He said this year’s milestone achievement sets a new benchmark, further cementing Punjab’s status as a frontrunner in excise sector modernization and transparent governance.