What Will Delhi Get In Union Budget 2025?

The Union Budget 2025 comes just days ahead of the scheduled elections in Delhi on February 5. Bihar is also expected to conduct the assembly elections later this year.

The Union Budget will be presented on February 1.

Source : એબીપી અસ્મિતા

All eyes are on the Union Budget 2025, set to be presented before the Parliament on Saturday. This year's budget, which is the second budget of the NDA 3.0 government, holds significance not only for common citizens or businesses but also for states and Union Territories.

The Union Budget 2025 comes just days ahead of the scheduled elections in Delhi on February 5. Meanwhile, Bihar is also expected to conduct the assembly elections later this year.

Last year, the centre had allocated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Rs 1,168 crore. The transfer to Delhi from the Union Home Ministry included Rs 1,168 crore under the revenue head and Rs 0.01 crore under the capital head. The Centre had allocated the same amount to the capital in 2023-24.

However, this year, when Delhi is in the middle of polls, expectations are high that Delhi could receive a greater share of budgetary allocations and developmental schemes.

What Delhi Received In 2024 Budget?

While the government's allocation to Delhi remained constant at Rs 1,168 crore, there were no grants in lieu of its share in central taxes and duties for Delhi. 

The Budge allocation under central assistance to Delhi in the 2024-25 budget estimates was Rs 951 crore, the same as the budget for 2023-24. 

Meanwhile, the AAP government's Finance minister Atishi had slammed the BJP saying that the Delhi government had demanded Rs 20,000 crore for infrastructure development and for the MCD, but not a single rupee was given in the budget.

In the 2022-23 budget, the allocation to Delhi was Rs 960 crore. It was increased to Rs 1,168 crore in 2023-24 and remained the same for 2024-25.

Exclude Delhi-Specific Provisions From Budget: EC

The Election Commission, while announcing the election schedule earlier this month, has directed the Centre to exclude Delhi-specific provisions from the February 1 budget. 

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said that the poll body would notify the cabinet secretary to ensure that the upcoming Union Budget includes no Delhi-specific provisions that could disrupt the level-playing field ahead of the Assembly elections.

"We will write to the Cabinet Secretary to ensure that no Delhi-specific provisions are included in the Union Budget that could disturb the level-playing field," Kumar said while responding to a question on the Budget announcement ahead of the Delhi polls.

The Election Commission's directive aligns with enforcing the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) which requires governments at both the Union and state levels to avoid actions that could influence voter sentiment or provide an undue advantage to any party. 

Therefore, the Union Budget to be announced tomorrow (Saturday) is likely to see any specific budgetary allocations or new schemes targetting Delhi.