Delhi Government Revives Economic Survey Tradition After One-Year Hiatus
In a significant administrative move, the Delhi government has formally initiated preparations for tabling the Economic Survey in the legislative assembly, marking a return to this crucial fiscal practice after a gap of one year. The finance department issued an official communication on January 29, directing various divisions and allied offices to submit comprehensive data for the 2025-26 survey.
Urgent Call for Economic Data Collection
The communication, marked "urgent" and circulated by Deputy Secretary (Finance) Mangej Singh, requires all concerned departments to furnish chapter-wise information covering growth trends, sectoral achievements, and key indicators related to Delhi's economic, social, and financial landscape. This consolidated material will be forwarded to the planning department for compilation of the comprehensive Economic Survey 2025-26.
Breaking from Tradition and Political Implications
This development comes after the Economic Survey 2024-25 was notably not presented before the Delhi Assembly budget session in March last year, breaking a long-standing convention where the survey typically precedes the annual budget by one or two days. The absence of the survey document triggered political controversy in 2025, with Aam Aadmi Party functionary Atishi criticizing the BJP government for "skipping" this important presentation.
Critical Role in Evidence-Based Governance
The Economic Survey serves multiple crucial functions in Delhi's governance framework:
- Provides the analytical foundation for budgetary decisions and fiscal planning
- Helps assess the impact of previous policies and government initiatives
- Flags emerging economic risks and opportunities for timely intervention
- Serves as a reference document for MLAs to evaluate government performance
- Offers credible, data-backed insights for investors, researchers, and policymakers
Delhi's Strong Economic Position
According to state domestic product estimates released by the government in June 2025, Delhi's economic fundamentals remain robust. The capital's per capita income continues to significantly outpace the national average, underlining its strong economic position. The first revised and advance estimates indicate:
- Per capita income at current prices estimated at ₹4.9 lakh in 2024–25
- This represents an increase from ₹4.6 lakh in 2023–24
- Marking a healthy growth rate of 7.3% year-on-year
The revival of the Economic Survey process signals the Delhi government's commitment to evidence-based policymaking and transparent governance. As preparations gain momentum, stakeholders across political, economic, and research domains await the comprehensive data that will shape Delhi's fiscal strategy for the coming year.
