The state will incur an additional debt of Rs 20,823 crore in the 2021-22 fiscal on account of the populist schemes, including Rs 9,000 crore for implementing the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, filling 48,989 vacancies and free transportation for women and college students in government buses. There is a provision for assured buy-back of potato and kinnow, doubling of social security pensions and Rs 11,000 crore for free power to various sections. Manpreet dedicated the Budget to the farmers and set aside Rs 17,051 crore for agriculture-related schemes. The state’s outstanding debt is estimated to reach Rs 2,73,703 crore by next March, an increase of over Rs 91,000 crore since the Congress government took over in March 2017.