In a landmark move, the Punjab government passed a Bill with a framework to regulate and settle agriculture debts.

• The House also passed the Punjab Gau Sewa Commission Bill to protect cows. Neighbouring Haryana had passed a cow protection Bill earlier, after the BJP government had come to power.
• According to a Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) study of 2013, rural indebtedness in Punjab was around Rs 35,000 crore. This was the main reason for the death of more than 5,000 farmers in the past 10 years.
• According to the Bill, the interest payable on the debt shall be calculated at such rate as may be notified by the government.
• The interest payable on the debt shall be simple interest calculated on a yearly basis.
• The government would establish a District Agriculture Debt Settlement Forum at every district of the state to implement the Act.
• The chairman of the forum would be a retired district and sessions judge or a retired additional district and sessions judge.