NITI Aayog report reveals Punjab’s poor financial condition: Pargat Singh

Chandigarh, March 13, 2026: Former Education Minister and MLA Pargat Singh targeted the government over Punjab’s poor financial condition highlighted in a report by NITI Aayog. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party government, which often raises the slogan of making Punjab “No. 1,” has fulfilled its promise by making Punjab No. 1 from the bottom.
He said the AAP government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who speak of building a “Rangla Punjab,” should clarify their position on the issue and apologize to the people of Punjab for the state’s poor financial condition. Along with the deteriorating law-and-order situation, the government should also accept the worsening financial condition and present a white paper in the Assembly.
He added that instead of making Punjab “Rangla,” the AAP government seems determined to make it “Kangla” (impoverished), and the NITI Aayog report has exposed this reality. The 2023–24 report of NITI Aayog covering 18 states places Punjab at the 18th position, the lowest rank. According to him, this is the result of poor policies, weak financial management, and hollow slogan-based politics. He alleged that the government is misleading not only Punjab but the entire country by portraying itself as No. 1 through advertisements and posters.
Pargat Singh said the Financial Health Index shows Punjab’s situation is extremely poor. The state has scored only 12.4 out of 100, placing it 18th and last among the states, whereas Haryana has improved its economic position. In the attempt to fulfill guarantees of free facilities, Punjab is sinking deeper into a debt trap. Currently, the state’s debt has reached about ₹4.25 lakh crore, and it is expected to rise to ₹5 lakh crore by the end of 2026.
He said that before forming the government, the AAP leadership had repeatedly claimed that Punjab would be made economically strong and had spoken about a ₹54,000 crore plan, but after coming to power, all those claims proved hollow. Instead of reducing debt, the government has allegedly doubled the existing debt of about ₹2.25 lakh crore.
He further said that Punjab’s debt index of only 2.1 reflects a very poor financial position and is a matter of serious concern. The commission’s report also shows that Punjab’s Quality of Expenditure score is only 8.1, which means that only a very small portion of the state’s income is being spent on development works. He alleged that during its four years in power, the government has carried out virtually no development work, and even the Invest Punjab events have proved to be mere showpieces.
The former Education Minister warned that Punjab no longer needs the absurd and hollow claims of the AAP government. The state requires a strong economy, domestic and foreign investment, better employment opportunities for youth, and responsible governance to run the state effectively. He also said that the Indian National Congress is the only party capable of saving Punjab from being ruined by debt and that the Congress has the vision to strengthen the state’s economy and ensure the welfare of its people.