Punjab has tightened its laws against organised begging, introducing prison terms and fines for people who arrange or force others to beg. The changes were made through the Punjab Vagrancy (Amendment) Act 2025, published in the Punjab Gazette on March 24, 2025.
Under the amended law, a person who employs or causes another person to beg from one individual can face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs. 300,000. If the fine is not paid, an additional prison term can apply.
The penalties become higher when begging involves multiple people. Those found employing five or more people for begging can face three to five years in prison and fines ranging from Rs300,000 to Rs500,000. The law also provides tougher punishment for organised begging networks and cases involving children.
The amendment also changed the legal status of beggary by making related offences cognisable and non-bailable. This allows police to take action without a prior court order in applicable cases. Trials for offences carrying severer punishments are handled by the Sessions Court.
