Panjab Ranks 18th Among Indian States on Fiscal Health Index

The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2022–23 report by the National Institution for Transforming India Aayog (commission) ranks Panjab as the worst-performing state among India’s 18 major states. Panjab has a score of 10.7, far below topper Odisha’s 67.8. As of December 2024, Panjab’s outstanding public debt reached USD 42.9B. Panjab struggles with quality of expenditure, fiscal prudence, and debt index. However, it must also be noted that like Panjab, the other states that feature at the bottom of the table—Kerala and West Bengal—have also never been ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While the report, covering data from 2014-15 to 2022-23, reveals the need for transparency, better tax compliance, and targeted investments to improve fiscal stability, it also reveals the skewed relationship these states have with the Union government. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has blamed CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for the fiscal crisis, accusing them of diverting public funds, reducing spending on health and education, and mismanaging state finances. Adding to the fiscal woes, Panjab has overshot its revenue deficit target by USD 60.7M in the first three quarters of the current fiscal, with grants-in-aid from the Union government dropping sharply from USD 1.3B to USD 675M. The state has also raised USD 3.2B in loans against its annual limit of USD 3.5B, leaving little room for further borrowing. Now, Panjab has sought USD 69.4M from the Union government to set up special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act courts to address the backlog of 35K drug-related cases. Citing Panjab’s vulnerable geography and cross-border trafficking challenges, the state has also requested USD 1B from the 16th Finance Commission to combat narco-terrorism and drug abuse.

Significant changes to the highly sought-after H-1B visa program have officially taken effect as of 17 Jan, aiming to enhance fairness, transparency, and efficiency in hiring foreign talent in the US. The revamped H-1B program, announced by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and overseen by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeks to streamline the approval process and offer greater flexibility to employers, enabling them to retain skilled employees more effectively. Notably, Indian nationals represent a substantial majority of H-1B visa holders, accounting for 72.3% of the 386K visas issued in 2023. India—with over 700K undocumented Indians in the US as of 2022—also faces growing anxiety over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown (WD Vol 3, Issue 2, Story 9). In 2023 alone, about 90K Indians were arrested attempting to enter the US illegally. While these are official changes, on 27 Jan, the Indian media started projecting a false news that the DHS has begun visiting Gurdwaras in New York and New Jersey to check for illegal immigrants, sparking concern among Sikh organisations. Kiran Kaur Gill, Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund’s executive director, expressed alarm that such actions can raise on immigrant communities. The Sikh Coalition warned that surveillance and raids could deter attendance and hinder religious practices. However, by 28 Jan, the news was roundly denied. Davinder Singh Boparai, president of the managing committee of the Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society Richmond Hill in New York, said, ‘No such raid has taken place.’ Sukhjinder Singh Nijjar, who represents Coastal Northeast at the Sikh Cultural Society and is the chairman of its public and media committee attributed the misreporting to 'some sort of misunderstanding and miscommunication' and 'just basically word of mouth type of thing that' gets spread with no basis in fact.

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has accused the Indian government of systematic attacks on Sikh activists abroad, including the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. In a report dated 19 Nov 2024 and made public on 18 Jan, UN Special Rapporteurs highlighted allegations of transnational repression, intimidation, and harassment targeting Sikh activists in Canada, the US, and other countries. The report condemned India’s alleged violations of international law, including the right to life, freedom of expression, and minority rights, and criticised the misuse of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to suppress Sikh activism. The UNHRC expressed concern over a pattern of transnational repression aimed at silencing Sikh political activism, including criticism of the Indian government. The report also referenced the 2021 farmers’ protests in India, where Sikh protesters were accused of having a pro-Khalistan agenda and faced severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms. The Indian government dismissed the allegations as biased and accused the UNHRC of supporting a Sikh separatist agenda. This has drawn sharp criticism from Sikh organisations like the Sikh Federation (SF) UK, which called for global attention to India’s actions. The SF-UK described India’s response as ‘outrageous’ and urged Western nations, including the US and Canada, to take serious note of the UNHRC’s findings (WD Vol 3, Issue 4, Story 6). Meanwhile, in the UK, the Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) has urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to include race and religion as factors in the inquiry into grooming gangs, citing cases where Sikh and Hindu girls were allegedly targeted by predominantly Muslim perpetrators. The NSO emphasised the need to address cultural and religious motivations behind such crimes, despite opposition from some Muslim groups.

Sikhs for Justice leader and Khalistan separatist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was spotted at US President Donald Trump’s inauguration event, raising a Khalistan Zindabad (Long Live Khalistan) slogan, though no official invitation was extended to him. According to reports on social media, Pannun purchased tickets via personal contacts to attend the inaugural festivities, specifically The Liberty Ball, apparently in an attempt to project closeness with the incoming US administration. Despite efforts to appear influential at the event, through the event, Pannun was physically quite far from Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, indicating no proximity to Indian diplomatic circles either. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal stated that India would continue to raise matters impacting national security with the US, emphasising the need to address anti-India agendas. Pannun, a designated terrorist in India since 29 Nov 2022, faces non-bailable warrants in India. His properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh have been seized by the National Investigation Agency. In a separate development, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 22 Jan, Jaishankar pressed for accountability regarding the July 2023 arson attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco. Jaishankar described the attack, allegedly linked to pro-Khalistan elements, as a ‘very serious matter’ and urged the US to hold those responsible accountable. The attack followed the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2024 which Canada alleges was conducted by Indian intelligence agencies (WD Vol 1, Issue 1, Story 1). A video circulated after Nijjar’s killing showed the consulate attack with the message ‘violence begets violence.’ However, despite the US Federal Bureau of Investigation prioritising the investigation, no significant progress has been made in identifying or prosecuting the perpetrators. India has consistently called on the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia to curb Khalistani activities.

On India’s Republic Day, 26 Jan, women took center stage during tractor marches organised by farmer unions in Panjab and Haryana highlighting their growing role in farming and activism. Sehajpreet Kaur, a 23-year-old BEd student from Sangrur, led a 40-km tractor march, while Harjinder Kaur, a 62-year-old from Ludhiana, also led a march demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price and the scrapping of the National Policy Framework for Agricultural Marketing. Monika Nain, a 38-year-old farmer from Haryana, organised a march in Rohtak, supporting the ongoing farmer protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. These marches, organised by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and other farmer bodies, saw participation by thousands of tractors across Panjab, Haryana and some other states of India. Meanwhile, Panjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann addressed the state’s Republic Day function in Patiala, criticising the Union government’s indifference towards farmers’ demands, including the release of USD 636M in pending Rural Development Fund dues. Mann highlighted Panjab’s sacrifices during Partition and its contribution to India’s food security, urging the Union government to stop its ‘step-motherly treatment’ of the state. The Republic Day celebrations in Panjab were marked by heightened security due to threats from pro-Khalistan elements, including a video by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs For Justice, who urged youth to wave Khalistan flags instead of the tricolour and threatened Mann at the event proposed at Faridkot. A red alert was issued, with over 15K police personnel deployed across the state. Increasingly, Pannun’s threats—whether to Air India flights, senior police officials conference, Indian CMs and so on—have been hollow, but force the state to up their security. Despite the tensions, Panjab’s Republic Day tableau made a comeback at the parade in Delhi after a two-year gap, showcasing the state’s rich heritage, including inlay art, traditional music, and the legacy of Sheikh Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar, popularly Baba Farid.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is leveraging its power in Panjab to campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections on 5 Feb. Panjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and other AAP leaders have been highlighting achievements like 300 units of free electricity, Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics, and job creation. While many Panjab government employees blame AAP for reneging on promises such as restoring the Old Pension Scheme, the party insists it is different from ‘traditional parties’ and hopes to maintain control of Delhi. The election results will be declared on 8 Feb. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress have accused AAP of unfulfilled promises in Panjab, such as failing to provide financial aid to women or eradicate the drug menace. The BJP also alleged misuse of Panjab government resources in Delhi, claiming thousands of Panjab-registered vehicles being used for campaigning. CM Mann dismissed these claims, accusing the BJP of questioning Panjabis’ patriotism. Meanwhile, four of the seven Rajya Sabha (Upper House) MPs from Panjab—Balbir Singh Seechewal, Ashok Mittal, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Sanjeev Arora—were excluded from AAP’s star campaigners list hinting at the AAP leaderships’ lack of faith in these leaders though nominated by AAP. Simultaneously, upon Delhi police’s request, Panjab police withdrew additional security for AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, sparking protests from AAP functionaries who allege that Kejriwal's safety was compromised. The BJP also took aim at AAP leader Rituraj Jha for ‘insulting’ Sikhs by referring to Bangladeshis and Rohingyas as Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s ‘relatives,’ demanding an immediate apology. In contrast, Afghan Sikhs in Tilak Nagar who recently received Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act are preparing to vote for the first time (WD Vol 2, Issue 11, Story 1).

In the first week of January 2025, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government released the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) election voter lists. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has raised concerns about irregularities in the voter lists alleging the registration of ‘bogus’ voters, including non-Sikhs, and the deletion of genuine voters. A delegation led by SAD ex-president Sukhbir Singh Badal and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami met the Gurdwara Elections chief commissioner, Justice (retd) Surinder Singh Saron, to demand an extension of the voter registration deadline to 31 Mar and the removal of ineligible voters. The Akal Takht (Eternal Throne; AT) Jathedar (leader), Giani Raghbir Singh, had called a meeting of the Panj Singh Sahiban (five loved ones) on 28 Jan to discuss the SAD’s non-compliance with the Hukamnama (decree) issued on 2 Dec 2024, which demanded Badal’s resignation as party president and the formation of a committee to elect new leadership within six months (WD Vol 3, Issue 2, Story 4). While the SAD completed the religious penance, Badal’s resignation was accepted, SAD delayed implementing the other political directives. On 25 Jan, SAD expelled their national general secretary Gurjeet Singh Talwandi and grandson of former SGPC president and leader Jagdev Singh Talwandi. Gurjeet had earlier written to the AT to ensure that the new membership drive takes place under the leadership of the seven-member committee set up by the AT. On 26 Jan, Giani Raghbir Singh deferred the meeting prompting Giani Harpreet Singh to allege that efforts are on to terminate him from being Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib. Amid these developments, tensions within other Sikh camps have surfaced with Simranjit Singh Mann of SAD (Amritsar) criticising Amritpal Singh’s camp of diluting the Khalistan agenda and aligning with constitutional frameworks.

On 22 Jan 2025, the Supreme Court of India asked the Union government to decide by 18 Mar 2025 on clemency for Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted of assassinating former Panjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995, else the court will decide the matter on the basis of evidence and arguments. Rajoana, a former Panjab police constable, was sentenced to death in 2007 for his involvement in the assassination. He has spent 29 years in prison, with his mercy petition pending for over a decade (WD Vol 2, Issue 48, Story 4). In another high-profile case, on 27 Jan, the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Baljinder Singh Sran awarded life terms to the three shooters involved in the killing of Youth Akali Dal leader Vicky Middukhera. The guilty Anil Kumar, alias Latth; Ajay Kumar, alias Lefty; and Sajjan Singh, alias Bhola, are members of the Kaushal-Bambiha gang. It must be recalled that Lawrence Bishnoi had owned up to planning Sidhu Moosewala's murder in May 2022 claiming Moosewala had ordered Middukhera's killing. Separately, a court in Amritsar acquitted Sarabjit Singh Kirat of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act charges tied to an alleged Khalistan conspiracy, convicting him only under the Arms Act for two years—time he already served after his 19 Dec 2020 arrest. Sarabjit, who is from a marginal caste background, claims he was tortured, and says he was also booked in four other cases across Panjab but was discharged or acquitted in each. Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency raided sites in Panjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Chandigarh, seizing incriminating materials from suspects linked to Babbar Khalsa International in the 9 Sep 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack. Investigators discovered Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda and US-based Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, had funded, armed, and guided a module targeting a retired police officer.

Panjab power minister Harbhajan Singh announced a 13% increase in electricity supply by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), which delivered 66,914M units from 1 Apr 2024 to 19 Jan 2025. Highlighting robust coal stocks—42 days at Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant (GGSTP), Roopnagar; 28 at Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP), Bathinda; and 40 at Guru Amardas Thermal Plant (GATP), Goindwal Sahib—he attributed the growth to continuous infrastructure improvements. Even as Singh prepared for a 21 Jan review meeting on Public Works Department projects, a separate controversy erupted at Patiala’s Rajindra Hospital, where a video of a power outage during surgery went viral on social media. The incident drew criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravneet Singh Bittu, who questioned Aam Aadmi Party claims about healthcare reforms. Panjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh, however, called the outage a momentary local fault and said the patient was safe. He noted that CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had earlier provided funds for extra hotlines, though doctors recalled another outage in July 2024. Meanwhile, Panjab’s industries are increasingly embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI), with Ludhiana-based manufacturers integrating AI sensors for quality checks and businesses exploring AI-driven chatbots, voice biomarkers for mental health, and AI-enabled water supply systems. According to Investment Promotion Secretary DPS Kharbanda, the government is facilitating AI adoption across Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), aided by a USD 13.8M allocation under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance initiative. Rini Singh, a consultant and strategist says, ‘AI-driven solutions increase productivity by 15–20% in sectors like textiles and food processing. AI monitoring equipment health, reducing downtime and operational costs by offering a reduction of 20-30 per cent in operation costs.’

Panjab’s horticulture coverage rose 42% in a decade, from 688K acres in 2011–12 to 1.2M acres in 2023–24, with the sector’s value quadrupling to USD 3.1B and constituting 17.03% of the state’s agricultural GDP at USD 18.1B. Many small and marginal farmers now opt for fruits and vegetables, drawn by assured high returns and reduced water usage compared to paddy and wheat. Several innovators—like engineer-turned-farmer Raman Salaria, who grows strawberries and dragon fruit for USD 6.9K per acre profit—showcase the lucrative potential of high-value crops. Key crops include kinnow, mango, lychee, guava, and various vegetables, which require significantly less water and offer higher profitability. Meanwhile, on 24 Jan, at its national level meeting in New Delhi, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) unanimously rejected the Union government’s National Policy Framework for Agricultural Marketing, labeling it a disguised reincarnation of the ‘three black farm laws’ aimed at favoring multinational corporations and undermining government-run grain markets (WD Vol 3, Issue 4, Story 3). SKM has pledged to initiate pakka morchas (permanent sit-in protests) across state capitals from 5 Mar and mobilize farmers to pressure chief ministers into passing assembly resolutions opposing the framework. Additionally, SKM plans Mahapanchayats (big gatherings) and conventions, and intends to gather at MPs’ residences on 8–9 Feb to seek parliamentary support against the proposed marketing overhaul. At the same time, a new study from Punjab Agricultural University indicates that substituting conventional urea with nano-urea reduces rice and wheat yields and lowers grain protein by up to 35%. While Panjab’s horticultural advancements promise a more sustainable and profitable agricultural future, ongoing debates over fertilizer innovations like nano-urea and contentious marketing policies highlight the delicate balance between enhancing productivity, ensuring food security, and safeguarding farmer welfare in a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape.