New Delhi: Delhi govt has initiated the process for preparing the budget 2026-27, directing departments to submit their estimates by the last week of Aug, officials said on Monday. It has directed the submission of the revised estimates for 2025-26 and Budget estimates for 2026-27 to the director (budget), finance department, by Aug 25. Pre-budget and revised estimate meetings will begin in the first week of Sept. Departments have been asked to ensure estimates are based on a realistic assessment of the requirement of funds that can be utilised by the department during the financial year.It has been observed, the circular noted, that actual expenditure incurred was less than the original budget estimates for a given financial year. Audit has also pointed out unnecessary supplementary demands without a realistic assessment of the budget, it stated. In some instances, departments sought re-appropriation of funds despite not utilising their original allocations.There were also cases where the actual expenditure at the close of the financial year was found either in excess or short of the budget provision, it added. The departments have also been directed that the budget proposals should be examined by the integrated financial advisors posted with them, for correct accounting classification before submitting the estimates to the finance department.BJP govt presented in March an ambitious Rs 1 lakh crore budget for 2025-26, a sharp increase of 31.6% over last year’s outlay of Rs 76,000 crore. Revving up the double engine that now runs the capital, it got valuable support from the Centre in the form of grants and loans, doubling the capital expenditure and allocating funds for various schemes and projects that were promised in the run-up to the assembly polls in Feb this year.CM Rekha Gupta’s administration gave education the lion’s share—Rs 19,291 crore, followed by Rs 12,952 crore for transport, and Rs 12,893 crore for health.
