India, Aug. 11 -- The Delhi Assembly on Monday witnessed a busy legislative agenda with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta tabling two Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports highlighting the capital's fiscal and economic performance, while the government introduced three significant Bills aimed at reforming public service delivery, slum rehabilitation and higher education. Ministers also defended the BJP government's flagship Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, saying it reflected the government's commitment to women's economic empowerment. CAG flags slower growth, declining capital spending The CAG's report on the finances of the Government of NCT of Delhi for 2024-25 showed that Delhi's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew by 9.17 per cent to Rs.12.15 lakh crore, accounting for 3.67 per cent of India's GDP. Also Read - Delhi Assembly passes bill to amend Fire Service Act to streamline fire safety regulations However, it noted that Delhi's long-term economic growth had lagged behind the national average. The per capita GSDP registered a compound annual growth rate of 6.39 per cent between 2015 and 2025, compared to 8.14 per cent for the country's per capita GDP. "This reflects the slightly slower economic growth of the Delhi government compared to the rest of the country," the report observed, noting that Delhi's per capita GSDP, which was 177.07 per cent higher than the national average in 2015-16, narrowed to 135.34 per cent by 2024-25. The report said revenue receipts increased by 9.57 per cent, mainly due to higher GST collections, while non-tax revenue fell by 11.04 per cent and grants from the Centre also declined. Revenue expenditure constituted 88.38 per cent of total expenditure, with subsidies increasing by Rs.3,222 crore over the decade, largely because of higher power subsidies. Capital expenditure declined sharply from Rs.6,855 crore in 2023-24 to Rs.3,695 crore in 2024-25, primarily due to lower spending on roads, bridges and transport infrastructure. Also Read - Delhi CM, Speaker, ministers take out Tiranga Yatra in Assembly Most grants spent on day-to-day expenditure A separate CAG report on grants-in-aid found that only 6 to 27 per cent of financial assistance extended to local bodies and institutions between 2015-16 and 2024-25 was meant for creation of capital assets, while 73 to 94 per cent was spent on routine expenditure. Total assistance stood at Rs.16,449 crore in 2024-25, a decline of 3.5 per cent over the previous year. Municipal corporations remained the biggest beneficiaries, receiving Rs.9,282 crore, followed by Delhi Transport Corporation (Rs.2,620 crore), Delhi Jal Board (633 crore) and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (Rs.162 crore). Grants earmarked for capital asset creation fell to Rs.1,110 crore, accounting for only 6.75 per cent of the total assistance during the year. Also Read - CM distributes bicycles to 200 girl students under 'Vidya Vahini' Three key Bills introduced The Assembly also saw the introduction of three important Bills. IT Minister Pankaj Singh introduced the Delhi (Right of Citizens to Time Bound and Ease of Delivery of Services) Bill, 2026, which seeks to replace the 2011 legislation and provide citizens with a legal right to receive notified government services within a stipulated timeframe. The proposed law provides for online applications, a unique application number for tracking every request, automatic escalation of delayed cases and a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism. It also fixes accountability for officials who delay services without valid reasons or wrongly reject applications. Such officials can be fined Rs.250 per day, up to a maximum of Rs.5,000, with the amount recoverable from their salaries after due process. Also Read - Labourer dies after being run over by crane The Bill also proposes the establishment of a Delhi Right to Service Commission, empowered to inspect government offices, summon officials, examine records and recommend disciplinary action. It will apply to services provided by the Delhi government, MCD, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and other notified bodies. Pankaj Singh said the government aimed to build "a simple and transparent system in which citizens do not have to make repeated visits to government offices." He added that "through time-bound service delivery, online application and tracking, auto-escalation, and clear accountability of officials, the Bill will strengthen citizens' rights and reinforce a transparent, accountable and citizen-centric system of governance." Training and Technical Education Minister Ashish Sood introduced the Delhi Private Universities Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish a legal framework for setting up and regulating private universities in the national capital. The House also took up the DUSIB Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing to shift the jhuggi jhopri basti recognition cut-off from January 1, 2006 to January 1, 2025, enabling more clusters to qualify for rehabilitation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.