India, March 26 -- Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday presented the state budget for 2025-26 in the assembly, making it the Aam Aadmi Party government's third budget after coming to power in the region in 2022.

Cheema proposed a total budget expenditure of Rs.2,36,080 crore, saying that Punjab will carry out its first-ever "drug census" to understand the prevalent narcotics issue in the state and the usage of de-addiction centres there.

The finance minister said the state's effective revenue deficit and fiscal deficit are expected to be at 2.51 per cent and 3.84 per cent, respectively.

Citing Advanced Estimates data provided by the Directorate of Statistics, Cheema said Punjab's economy is on a trajectory of stron...