Terming it ‘historic’ Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday presented her first Budget of Rs  One Lakh Crore ( Rs  One Trillion) for the year 2025-26 marking a 31.5 per cent increase from the previous year, with 10 focus area. They include Yamuna cleaning, economic empowerment of women, infrastructure, water and connectivity, asserting that it is a roadmap for making the national capital self-reliant.

The last Delhi Budget was presented by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in March 2023 with an allocation of Rs 76,000 Crore.

The Budget also unveiled plans for the branding of Delhi as a tourism and cultural hub. This is first budget presented by a BJP-led government in Delhi after 27 years, following the party’s victory over the AAP in last month’s Assembly elections.

In her 138-minute speech, Gupta called the maiden Budget of the BJP-led Delhi government “historic”, for a “Viksit Dilli” (developed Delhi), emphasising that the era of “corruption and inefficiency” was over and Delhi is entering a new era of Traffic-Free Expressways, Seamless Connectivity, Elevated Corridors and Smart Surveillance System.

“The Budget Estimates in 2025-26 of Rs One Lakh Crore is 31.5 per cent more than the Budget estimates 2024-25 of Rs 76,000 Crore and 44 per cent higher than the revised estimates 2024-25 of Rs 69,500 Crore. The proposed Budget of Rs  One Lakh Crore for the year 2025-26 is to be financed from the Tax Revenue of Rs 68,700 Crore, Non-Tax Revenue of Rs 750 Crore, Small Savings Loan of Rs 15,000 Crore from, Central Road Funds of Rs 1,000 Crore from, Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Rs 4,128 Crore, Grant in Aid from Government of India of Rs 7,348 Crore and the remaining amount from the opening balance. Of them 72 per cent of the proposed Budget 2025-26 has been allocated for revenue expenditure and 28 per cent for capital expenditure,” said Rekha Gupta while presenting the Budget.

The Chief Minister said that corruption and inefficiency in the government will be weeded out and they will make efforts to utilise all Budget provisions, as well as the central aids and grants that it receives.

This is the first Budget presented by a BJP-led government in Delhi after 27 years, following the party’s victory over the AAP. Highlighting the focus on infrastructure development in the city, the Chief Minister announced the government has doubled capital expenditure to Rs 28,000 Crore in its 2025-26 Budget as against AAP government’s Rs 15,000 Crore, saying days of corruption, inefficiency are over now.

This increased spending will be directed towards infrastructure development, including roads, sewer systems, and water supply.

“This is not an ordinary Budget. The new government which has come to power with a historic mandate is presenting its first Budget. The Budget is the first step towards making the city left in a bad shape by the previous government a developed city. The Budget is based on Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and Sabka Pryash,” she said

Delivering on the crucial poll promise, she announced an outlay of Rs 5,100 Crore to provide Rs 2,500 per month to eligible women. Additionally, the government will install 50,000 CCTV cameras across the city to enhance women’s safety.

Taking a dig at the AAP which ruled the city for over 10 years, Rekha Gupta recited lines of renowned poet Bashir Badr, “Dil ki basti puraani dilli hai, jo bhi guzra hai usne lootaa hai” (The locality of my heart is old Delhi, whoever has passed through it has looted it).

Gupta said that the Budget is the first step to develop the national capital. “Delhi went down in every aspect of development in the past decade. The previous government ruined the economic health of the national capital like termites,” she said.

A major focus of the Budget is the cleaning and rejuvenation of the Yamuna River, inspired by the Sabarmati river-front project. The government has allocated Rs 500 Crore for Yamuna cleaning, ensuring that only treated water enters the river through the decentralisation of 40 sewage treatment plants (STPs).

Additionally, Rs 500 Crore has been earmarked for the repair and upgradation of STPs, and Rs 250 Crore for replacing old sewer lines. A major focus has also been placed on clean drinking water and sanitation, with Rs 9,000 Crore allocated for related projects.

The health sector has been allocated Rs 6,874 Crore, with a focus on setting up health and wellness centres and expanding the Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative. The Delhi government has also allocated Rs 210 Crore for providing nutrient kits and an allowance of Rs 21,000 to expecting mothers.

The Delhi government has allocated Rs 1,000 Crore for improved transport links connecting NCR and a total of Rs 12,952 Crore for the transport sector.

To curb corruption in the free-bus ride scheme for women, the government will replace pink tickets with cards.

To combat pollution in Delhi, Rs 300 Crore has been set aside by the BJP government. The Chief Minister announced that the government aims to make Delhi an investment- and innovation-friendly city. To achieve this, a new industrial policy and a new warehouse policy will be introduced. A Traders’ Welfare Board will also be established.

Furthermore, Delhi will host its first-ever ‘Global Investment Summit’, which will be held every two years. To support small-scale industries, Rs 50 Crore has been earmarked for skill development programs, including bee-keeping. In a major cultural initiative, the Delhi government will host an ‘International Film Festival’ with a Budget allocation of Rs 30 Crore.

The government has also allocated Rs 696 Crore for the development in slum clusters and Rs 100 Crore has been set aside for opening 100 Atal Canteens across the national capital.

“There is a lot of difference between us and them (AAP). You (AAP) made ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for yourself, we will build houses for the poor. You installed pot toilets worth lakhs, we will make toilets for the people in slum areas,” she said.

On education, Gupta attacked the previous AAP government, accusing it of misleading people about the quality of education. “The AAP government has failed many students in 9th and 11th standard so that their 10th and 12th results appear better,” she alleged. To reform the education system, the government will set up ‘CM SHRI Schools’, inspired by ‘PM SHRI Schools’ and aligned with the New Education Policy 2020. The FY26 Budget has allocated Rs 100 Crore for these schools.

Additionally, the Delhi government will provide free laptops to 1,200 students passing class 10th and has allocated Rs 7.5 Crore for this.

The Chief Minister also announced a new education hub in the Narela area. The government has allocated Rs 100 Crore for a pilot project to remove overhead electrical lines and shift high-tension power lines. The environment and forest department will receive Rs 506 Crore.

In a key infrastructural move, the Delhi government has set aside Rs 6,897 Crore for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. A new jail will also be set up on the city’s outskirts to shift Tihar Jail.

For animal welfare, the government will set up modern cow shelters in Delhi’s Ghummanhera area with an allocation of Rs 40 Crore. “This is not just a Budget but a vision for the future of Delhi. We have set some objectives in this Budget-now Delhi will be the city of trust, not void promises,” Rekha Gupta said.

Key takeaways

• Rs 19,291 crore (19.29 per cent) in Education Sector
• Rs 12,893 crore (12.89 per cent) in Health Sector
• Rs 12,952 crore (12.95 per cent) in Transport Sector including roads and bridges
• Rs 10,694 crore (10.69 per cent) in Housing & Urban Development Sector
• Rs 9,000 crore (9.00 per cent) in Water Supply & Sanitation Sector
• Rs 10,597 crore (10.59 per cent) in Social Welfare & Social Security Sector
• Rs 3,843 crore (3.84 per cent) in Power Sector
• Rs 1,758 crore (1.76 per cent) in Agriculture, Rural Development & I&FC
• Rs 4,642 crore (4.64 per cent) in Repayment of loan
• Rs 2,246 crore (2.25 per cent) in Interest payment