Delhi excluded from state-specific budget
Providing much-needed relief to the middle class, the India Budget 2025-26 has introduced a zero-tax policy for annual incomes up to ₹12 lakh. Additionally, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that one crore gig workers will be covered under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana healthcare scheme. These measures have unsettled the opposition and the leftist ecosystem.
Reacting to this, leftist journalist Ravish Kumar shared an advertisement clipping and claimed on X that the Election Commission had advised against extending any benefits to Delhi in the budget. However, the Modi government disregarded this advice and went ahead with the ₹12 lakh income tax exemption for Delhi residents and health insurance coverage for gig workers in the city. He asserted, “The Chief Election Commissioner had said that there will be no announcement for Delhi in the budget. BJP’s advertisement is telling what announcement has been made in the budget for the people of Delhi.” (Archived link)
Other accounts, such as Rakesh Kumar Singh (Archived link), Manoj Karwasra (Archived link), AAP ka Alam (Archived link), and Vivek Laata (Archived link), also shared the same claim.
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In the Union Budget 2025-26, significant measures were announced by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the income tax structure across India to provide tax relief and social security benefits. It was announced that the government has increased the tax exemption limit, which will provide relief to individuals earning up to Rs 12 lakh annually by exempting them from tax. Taking into account the standard deduction of Rs 75,000, the limit for salaried taxpayers will effectively be Rs 12.75 lakh, notes Scroll.in.
In another significant measure, health coverage was provided for gig workers. The budget introduced a provision to provide health insurance coverage to gig workers under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). It was announced that the government will arrange for identity cards of gig workers, their registration on the e-Shram portal, and healthcare under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana. The initiative is expected to benefit around 100 million gig workers across India, giving them access to essential healthcare services.
However, in another development, the Election Commission of India (ECI) intervened regarding the state-specific budget allocation to Delhi. According to The Hindu, ECI chief Rajiv Kumar has instructed the government to exclude Delhi from any state-specific provisions in the Union Budget to avoid any potential bias during the election process. This has been done to ensure that the Union Budget does not favour any political party ahead of the elections.
Delhi has received its regular allocation, also known as the devolution of taxes, for development purposes, similar to other states. According to The Times of India, New Delhi has been allocated ₹1,348 crore. In comparison, Uttar Pradesh has received ₹1.5 lakh crore, Karnataka ₹51,876 crore, Tamil Nadu ₹58,021.50 crore, and Andhra Pradesh ₹57,566.31 crore as part of the budget allocation.
State-specific budget allocation refers to the money given by the central government to a particular state or region to meet the development needs of that state. For example, in the Union Budget 2025-26, the state of Bihar has received Rs 26,000 crore for infrastructure development reports the Indian Express.
According to Frontline (The Hindu), the Union Budget offers special benefits to almost every state. Uttar Pradesh will see an expansion in medical colleges and major investments in rural tap water connectivity. Maharashtra is expected to benefit from a ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund, social security for gig workers, and a nuclear energy mission. Tamil Nadu will receive incentives for shipbuilding and funding for Chennai Metro expansion. Gujarat’s ports and shipping industry will gain from a ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund, while its nuclear energy sector will also see growth. Karnataka will host a Centre of Excellence in AI for education, along with key research fellowships at IISc Bengaluru.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will see investments in urban water and sanitation, as well as a push for digital books in Telugu. Rajasthan will receive support for cotton productivity and an expansion of medical colleges. Punjab and Haryana farmers will benefit from increased support for pulse cultivation and higher credit limits. The North-East will get a new urea plant in Assam and incentives for marine fishing. West Bengal is set to see infrastructure and export promotion, along with a focus on heritage tourism. However, the budget does not mention any special provisions for Delhi.
Therefore, the claim that the Modi government announced a tax exemption of up to ₹12 lakh per annum specifically for the people of Delhi and health insurance exclusively for gig workers in Delhi is inaccurate and misleading. In the Budget 2025-26, in line with the Election Commission’s advice, the government has not introduced Delhi-specific schemes. The announced income tax exemption and health insurance for gig workers are nationwide initiatives, applicable uniformly across all states.
| Claim | Despite the EC’s order to exclude Delhi from state-specific budgets, the Modi government proceeded with the ₹12 lakh income tax exemption and health insurance for gig workers in the city. |
| Claimed by | Ravish Kumar and others |
| Fact Check | The claim that the tax exemption of up to ₹12 lakh per annum was announced for the people of Delhi and health insurance exclusively for gig workers in Delhi is inaccurate and misleading. These announcements are nationwide initiatives. |
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