By Satnam Singh Chahal
The performance of the Punjab government in 2025 must be examined beyond official claims and press statements. While the government highlighted select administrative actions as achievements, the broader picture reveals a troubling gap between promises made and results delivered. The year underscored Punjab’s deepening financial crisis, policy stagnation, and an overreliance on political messaging instead of governance outcomes.
One of the most frequently cited “achievements” of the government was its active legislative posture. Several special sessions of the Punjab Legislative Assembly were convened in 2025, and multiple resolutions were introduced and passed. However, data shows that none of these resolutions translated into measurable policy implementation or structural reform. According to estimates, each special session cost the state exchequer close to ₹1 crore, covering logistics, security, allowances, and administrative expenses. Despite this expenditure, no resolution reached a stage where citizens could see real impact. As political analyst observers remarked, “Passing resolutions without execution reduces the Assembly to a debating hall, not a decision-making institution.”
Punjab’s financial condition deteriorated further during the year. By 2025, the state’s outstanding debt had crossed ₹3.5 lakh crore, with debt servicing alone consuming a major portion of annual revenue receipts. Budget documents show that over 20% of the state’s revenue was spent on interest payments, severely limiting spending on health, education, and infrastructure. Despite repeated assurances of fiscal discipline, borrowing continued unabated, raising serious concerns about economic sustainability. A senior economist bluntly stated, “Punjab is borrowing not for development, but to survive.”
Employment generation remained another major failure point. The government had promised large-scale job creation, particularly for educated youth. However, official recruitment figures indicate that actual job creation fell far short of announced targets. Competitive exams were delayed, results were contested, and contractual employment continued to replace permanent posts. Youth unemployment remained high, forcing many to migrate abroad in search of opportunities. As one student protest slogan captured the mood: “Announcements don’t feed families—jobs do.”
The fight against drugs, a central electoral promise, also showed limited progress in 2025. While arrests and seizures were highlighted in official briefings, no credible data suggested a decline in drug availability or addiction levels. Rehabilitation infrastructure remained inadequate, and major supply networks continued to operate. Social activists repeatedly warned that enforcement without rehabilitation and accountability would fail to solve the crisis.
Farmers, despite being repeatedly assured of support, continued to struggle. Crop diversification schemes lacked funding depth, MSP concerns remained unresolved, and compensation mechanisms were slow and inconsistent. Rising input costs and unstable market prices pushed many farmers deeper into debt. The government’s response was largely reactive, often triggered by protests rather than policy foresight.
Perhaps the most damaging aspect of governance in 2025 was the growing trust deficit. Grand announcements, symbolic resolutions, and frequent political messaging created expectations that were not matched by delivery. Transparency regarding the status of promises and resolutions was minimal. As a retired bureaucrat observed, “Governments are remembered not for what they announce, but for what they finish.”
In conclusion, the Punjab government’s record in 2025 reflects more noise than results. While minor administrative actions can be acknowledged, they are outweighed by rising debt, policy paralysis, and unfulfilled commitments. Punjab does not suffer from a lack of ideas or resolutions—it suffers from a lack of execution. Unless governance shifts from optics to outcomes, the cost will continue to be borne by the people of Punjab.