Delhi Budget 2025: CM Rekha Gupta announces Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women

While presenting the Delhi Budget 2025, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta identified ten focus areas of the government, among which one of the key poll promises of the BJP was women's monthly financial assistance, to which CM highlighted by stating the budget set aside Rs 5,100 crore to pay Rs 2,500 per month to poor women beneficiaries.

Also read: Delhi Budget 2025 Key Takeaways: Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women; Rs 5 lakh top-up under Ayushman Yojana, free laptops to Class X students

Delhi Budget 2025-26: Important focus areas and expenditure

The Delhi government has allocated 72 per cent of its proposed budget for revenue expenditure and 28 per cent for capital expenditure. Here are the top 10 focus areas of the government:

• Infrastructure Development: Building a stronger, more efficient Delhi
• Health and Education for All: Ensuring everyone has access to quality healthcare and education
• Expanding Social Security and Development: Supporting the vulnerable and promoting social development
• Access to Water, Sanitation, and Yamuna Cleaning: Improving living conditions and cleaning the Yamuna River
• Industrial Development and Investment Promotion: Boosting industries and attracting investments
• Seamless Connectivity: Enhancing transportation and connectivity
• Power, Sustainable Development, Green Growth, and Pollution Control: Promoting sustainable growth and reducing pollution
• Smart and Good Governance: Ensuring efficient and transparent governance
• Efficient Irrigation and Flood Control, and Tourism, Art, Language, and Culture Promotion: Supporting irrigation, flood control, and promoting Delhi's culture. 

Delhi's Budget Highlights: Women's security, education, and sustainability

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has presented a comprehensive budget that prioritises women's security, education, and sustainability. Here are the key highlights:

• Women's Security: The sanctioned strength of Home Guard Volunteers has been increased to 25,000 from 10,285, which may boost the bus marshal scheme for women's security.
• Education: Rs 7.5 crore has been allocated to provide free laptops to 1,200 top-performing students of Class 11 based on Class 10 board results.
• Public Transport: Rs 12,952 crore has been allocated to improve Delhi's public transport system, including the addition of over 5,000 electric buses in FY 2025-26.
• Metro Development: Rs 2,929.66 crore has been allocated for the Delhi Metro's Phase-4 projects, including three new corridors.
• Social Security: Rs 10,047 crore has been allocated for the Social Security sector, with Rs 9,780 crore dedicated to schemes and projects for social welfare, women and child development, and SC/ST/OBC welfare.
• Environmental Sustainability: Rs 506 crore has been allocated to the Environment and Forest departments to tackle air and water pollution, waste management, and environmental monitoring. Rs 300 crore has been allocated for "Pollution Control and Emergency Measures" to implement environmental reforms in Delhi.

Delhi's Health Budget: Boost to Ayushman Bharat and critical care

The Delhi government has allocated a crucial amount for the health sector in its latest budget. Here are the key highlights:

Ayushman Bharat Allocation: Rs 2,144 crore has been allocated for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) health insurance scheme. This initiative aims to provide health coverage to economically vulnerable families.

PM-ABHIM Scheme: An additional Rs 1,666.66 crore has been proposed for the PM-ABHIM scheme. This scheme focuses on strengthening critical care blocks and diagnostics, ensuring better healthcare facilities for the citizens of Delhi.