The outstanding debt of Punjab was Rs 2.82 lakh crore at the end of the financial year 2021-22. By the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, the outstanding debt is expected to reach an alarming Rs 3.74 lakh crore.
Review - DEKHO
Where is Punjab heading with alarming levels of government debt?
The Union Budget 2026–27 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shows an increase in health allocation to ₹1.04 Lakh Crores, yet public health spending remains around 0.29% of GDP, with reports of large unspent funds and continued gaps in primary care and public hospitals. With Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda now responsible for strengthening delivery and execution, the key issue is whether higher allocations will translate into real improvements on the ground. Is the health push under Modi Government building a stronger public health system or does the gap between announcements, fund utilisation and ground capacity show that structural reform is still falling short ?
वित्त मंत्री निर्मला सीतारमण द्वारा प्रस्तुत केंद्रीय बजट 2026–27 में स्वास्थ्य बजट बढ़ाकर ₹1.04 लाख करोड़ किया गया है, लेकिन सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य पर खर्च अभी भी जी.डी.पी. का लगभग 0.29% ही है। साथ ही बड़ी राशि के खर्च न हो पाने और प्राथमिक स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं व सरकारी अस्पतालों में कमियों की रिपोर्ट भी सामने आई हैं। अब केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जे.पी. नड्डा पर इस बढ़े हुए बजट को जमीन पर बेहतर सेवाओं में बदलने की जिम्मेदारी है। क्या मोदी सरकार का स्वास्थ्य पर बढ़ा फोकस वास्तव में सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य व्यवस्था को मजबूत कर रहा है या घोषणाओं, बजट उपयोग और जमीनी क्षमता के बीच का अंतर अभी भी बड़े सुधारों की जरूरत दिखाता है ?
After Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal shared a video alleging open drug activity in the city and questioned the effectiveness of the Punjab Government’s ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, the issue has once again put the ground reality of the anti-drug drive under scrutiny. While the police say action was taken hours after the video surfaced, the larger debate is now about response versus prevention. If drug activity is allegedly happening in public spaces despite repeated anti-drug campaigns, is the system acting only after political pressure and viral exposure or is there a deeper gap between announcements and consistent ground enforcement ?
