In what can be seen as the BJP government in Delhi turning a key election promise into reality — and for over 15 lakh poor families, this is just more than expected at a time when the crisis related to LPG cylinders is far from being over.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has formally launched the Delhi Free LPG Cylinder Scheme 2026, announcing that all ration card-holding families in the capital will receive financial assistance equivalent to the cost of one LPG cylinder each on Holi and Diwali every year. The scheme, approved by the Delhi Cabinet and formally launched at a special event titled Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium by President Droupadi Murmu, marks one of the most direct and tangible welfare deliveries by any state government in recent memory.
For two free LPG cylinders to every household — one each on the Hindu festivals of Holi and Diwali — the Delhi government has allocated ₹260 crore in its budget, the chief minister Rekha Gupta announced on Tuesday as she presented the financial statements and plans for the National Capital Territory (NCT).A significant highlight of the budget is the green allocation, with 21.44 per cent of the total budget, amounting to ₹22,236 crore, dedicated to environmental initiatives, including pollution control, expansion of green areas, waste management, and clean energy.
In terms of sectoral allocation, education received the highest share at ₹19,326 crore, accounting for 18.64 per cent of the budget, followed by health at ₹13,034 crore (12.57 per cent). Transport and roads have been allocated ₹12,613 crore, housing and urban development ₹11,572 crore, social security ₹10,537 crore, and water and sanitation ₹9,000 crore.
For water and sanitation, ₹9,000 crore has been allocated to the Delhi Jal Board to improve water supply, expand pipelines, and increase sewage treatment capacity from 707 MGD to 814 MGD.In the health sector, ₹12,645 crore has been earmarked, including ₹150 crore for ICU and hospital projects, ₹787 crore for medicines and equipment, and ₹202 crore for the expansion of the Ayushman scheme. More than 750 new health centres will be established, and ₹25 crore has been allocated for the ANMOL scheme for newborn screening.
The education sector has been allocated ₹19,148 crore, with ₹200 crore for new school buildings and ₹275 crore for expansion. Other initiatives include ₹90 crore for providing bicycles to girl students, ₹10 crore for laptops to meritorious students, ₹150 crore for smart classrooms, and ₹720 crore for technical education.
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