The Kejriwal government is gearing up to unveil the 10th financial budget of Delhi in February 2024. In a recently convened meeting, Delhi’s Cabinet headed by CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal approved the proposal to convene a budget session for the fiscal year 2024-25 in February, commencing from February 15th to 20th. The file to convene this proposed budget session has been sent to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) for his approval, this reflects the government’s priorities and vision for the capital city. Notably, this marks Finance Minister Atishi’s first budget presentation as the Finance Minister of Delhi. During the preparation of the budget, the government has sought suggestions from all stakeholders in Delhi, and good recommendations from them have been included in the budget.
The Delhi Government will also present the ‘Outcome Budget’ for the financial year 2023-24, showcasing the achievements and progress made in the previous fiscal year. Delhi is the only state in the entire country where the Kejriwal government presents the Outcome Budget every year. Through the Outcome Budget, complete transparency is provided to the people of Delhi regarding the public expenditure of the previous budget. In a way, the Outcome Budget serves as a report card of the performance of various departments based on the allocated funds in the previous fiscal year.
This time, the Delhi government is presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in February instead of March. The budget session will commence on February 15 and conclude on February 20. Similar to the previous fiscal year, there is an expectation that this year’s budget will also be substantial.
Under the leadership of CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government has consistently kept common people at the centre of its budget. In the forthcoming budget, the Kejriwal government is set to address several significant issues, placing particular emphasis on education, health, electricity, water, roads, and infrastructure. Demonstrating a clear commitment, the government has highlighted education and health as key priorities for the upcoming financial year, emphasizing their importance for all residents of Delhi, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds. Notably, Delhi’s education and health models have gained recognition not only in India but also internationally.
Additionally, the budget allocates special attention to crucial areas such as water, roads, urban development, and various developmental projects. These aspects have been identified as top priorities for the forthcoming fiscal year, reflecting the government’s proactive approach towards addressing the diverse needs of the city and its residents. There is also an expectation of substantial allocation of funds for various developmental projects within Delhi.
Funds may be allocated for entrepreneurship programs in colleges
CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal believes that education should serve a purpose, leading to employment. Therefore, the Delhi government has initiated the Business Blasters program for students in 11th and 12th grades, allowing them to start their businesses after completing their studies. The positive outcomes of this program have encouraged the government to consider implementing entrepreneurship programs in colleges as well. It is being considered to start this program for final-year and pre-final-year students in colleges, aiming to enable them to start their businesses after leaving college, thereby increasing employment opportunities. With this goal in mind, the Kejriwal government may allocate funds for entrepreneurship programs in this year’s budget.
In the financial year of 2023-24, the Kejriwal government unveiled a whopping ₹78,800 crore budget, embodying the vision for a ‘Clean, Beautiful, and Modern’ Delhi. This comprehensive budget meticulously addressed the diverse needs of Delhi’s populace, emphasizing initiatives like road beautification, flyover construction, the introduction of electric buses, electrification of buses and depots, the establishment of bus shelters, and tackling the challenge of garbage mountains. Allocation of ₹21,000 crores was made for Delhi’s infrastructure. It’s noteworthy that in 2014-15, Delhi’s budget was only ₹37,450 crores, which has now increased to ₹78,800 crores, more than double in the last fiscal year. The Kejriwal government provides several free conveniences to its citizens, yet Delhi’s budget has consistently remained in surplus. This year’s budget is also anticipated to yield profits.
Budget preparation ongoing for the past 20 days
The Delhi government has been preparing the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 for the past 20 days. On January 6, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal chaired the first high-level meeting regarding the budget. During the meeting, the CM held detailed discussions with all ministers on the upcoming budget’s priorities. The CM directed each minister to specify their priorities. He explicitly stated that the budget should be aligned with the concerns of the common people to bring more happiness into their lives.
In essence, the Kejriwal government is committed to the holistic development of Delhi. The government has undertaken several commendable initiatives to make Delhi the most beautiful city in the country. Additionally, while formulating the budget, the government consistently pays special attention to the concerns of its citizens. By including issues relevant to the general public in the budget, solutions are provided. The Delhi government has always focused on education, health, electricity, water, and infrastructure. This year too, there will be a special emphasis on these areas.
