India today takes pride in being the world’s largest democratic republic. With the long and historic struggle fought for independence and the adoption of a unique Constitution on 26 January 1950, the country truly became a republic. This day is extremely significant because our Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950 after the continuous efforts of great national leaders and eminent personalities. Our Constitution reflects the importance of a prosperous life in an equality-based society and establishes the core principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.
The unparalleled sacrifices made by Punjabis during the national freedom struggle can never be forgotten. Today, the nation proudly remembers thousands of unsung heroes, especially the brave sons of Punjab, who not only played a leading role in the national movement but whose courageous actions inspired millions of others to join the “war for freedom.” Despite constituting only two percent of the country’s total population, Punjabis accounted for 80 percent of those who were hanged or exiled during the freedom struggle.
Along with the Kuka Movement, the Ghadar Movement, the farmers’ movements, and other freedom movements, Punjab produced brave sons such as Lala Lajpat Rai and Diwan Singh Kalepani, who sacrificed their lives to free the country from the clutches of British imperialism. The heroic deeds of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Rajguru, Shaheed Sukhdev, Shaheed Udham Singh, and Kartar Singh Sarabha inspired the nation to rise against British rule and infused new energy into the freedom movement. Similarly, the brutal massacre of innocent people at Jallianwala Bagh proved to be the final nail in the coffin of British rule.
In the same way, Indians—especially Punjabis—have foiled every conspiracy that threatened the sovereignty of the nation. Apart from defending the country during the wars of 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971, and Kargil, our brave patriots have made supreme sacrifices to protect the honor, dignity, and sovereignty of the nation. Recently, our courageous armed forces gave a befitting reply to rising tensions at the borders, which were a clear attack on national sovereignty. Our brave soldiers thwarted the nefarious intentions of anti-national elements operating across the border.
Likewise, Punjabis have always been at the forefront in maintaining peace and law and order and in safeguarding the nation from internal threats. In addition, Punjabis have consistently led the efforts to ensure national prosperity and overall development while protecting the country’s borders from external aggression. Even in times of crisis, brave Punjabis have never allowed their morale to weaken. Instead, they have strengthened democratic principles by placing full faith in the Constitution of the country.
Despite limited natural resources, the farmers of the state worked tirelessly and shed their sweat to make the country self-sufficient in food grain production. In doing so, they even sacrificed Punjab’s precious natural resources—water and the fertility of its soil.
Although, as a republic, we have successfully achieved several milestones despite various challenges, much still remains to be done. The dreams of the framers of the Constitution have not yet been fully realized, as a large section of our population continues to struggle with poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and hunger. Even after more than seven decades of planned development, we have not been able to ensure basic services for our people, as inequalities between states and communities continue to widen.
To usher in an era of unprecedented development in the state and place Punjab on a fast track of growth, our government has taken bold initiatives to make Punjab a leading state on the national map.
Chief Minister Sehat Scheme
To provide quality healthcare services, the state government has launched the “Chief Minister Sehat Scheme,” the first of its kind in the country. This scheme provides cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family for every family in Punjab.
It is a matter of pride and satisfaction that Punjab is the first state in India to offer such healthcare services, which will significantly reduce the financial burden on people. The objective of this historic step is to provide comprehensive health security to all families in the state. All government employees, pensioners, and other citizens are eligible for a health card, which can be obtained through online registration using Aadhaar or voter ID cards.
War Against Drugs
The Punjab Government has launched “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” (War Against Drugs) as a decisive battle to make Punjab a drug-free state. Under this campaign, drug supply chains have been broken, kingpins of drug trafficking have been sent to jail, properties of drug traffickers have been demolished using bulldozers, and treatment and rehabilitation of victims has been ensured. From 1 March 2025 to 17 January 2026, 31,441 cases were registered under the NDPS Act.
War Against Gangsters
After the major success of the anti-drug campaign, the Punjab Government has now launched the “Gangsteran Te War” campaign to make Punjab a gangster-free state. This is a decisive war against gangsters. Under this massive operation, 2,000 police teams comprising more than 12,000 police personnel were formed.
Aam Aadmi Clinics
To provide quality healthcare services, the state government has established 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics across Punjab, revolutionizing the state’s healthcare sector. Approximately 70,000 patients benefit from these clinics every day.
Roshan Punjab
To make Punjab the country’s first power-cut-free state, the government launched the “Roshan Punjab” campaign with an investment of over ₹5,000 crore.
Rural Link Roads
The Punjab Government has launched the largest road construction campaign in the state’s history, aiming to construct 44,920 kilometers of roads at a total cost of ₹16,209 crore. All roads will be built with a five-year maintenance guarantee and world-class road safety features, ensuring high quality standards. The objective is to improve connectivity and strengthen rural infrastructure in Punjab. So far, 19,373 kilometers of rural link roads have already been constructed at a cost of ₹4,092 crore.
Jobs and Employment
Continuing efforts to provide government jobs strictly on merit, my government has ensured fairness and efficiency in the recruitment process. So far, 63,027 regular jobs have been provided to the youth of Punjab purely on merit, enabling them to actively participate in the state’s socio-economic development.
Zero Tolerance Policy Against Corruption
As promised by the Aam Aadmi Party government at the time of assuming office, a vigorous campaign to eradicate corruption is being carried out. The state government has launched an anti-corruption helpline number 9501200200. Any person can register a complaint on this number if someone demands a bribe.
₹1 Crore for Families of Martyrs
Honoring the unparalleled contribution of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, police, and Agniveer personnel in safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation, the state government provides financial assistance of ₹1 crore to the family in case a soldier is martyred in the line of duty.
We will take Punjab to new heights where everyone will feel proud to be Punjabi. The dream of a “Rangla Punjab” can be realized through hard work, dedication, and commitment. For this, we must all tighten our belts and devote our limitless energy with full sincerity toward this goal.
