Delhi Government Hikes Mobile Phone Allowance: CM Gets ₹1.5 Lakh, Ministers ₹1.25 Lakh
Delhi Government Hikes Mobile Allowance for CM and Ministers After 12 Years, Triggers Political Row
New Delhi, July 16, 2025 — The Delhi government has significantly raised the mobile phone allowance for its top office-bearers, increasing the handset budget to ₹1.5 lakh for the Chief Minister and ₹1.25 lakh for ministers, according to an official memo issued on July 9 by the General Administration Department (GAD).
The decision, made after a 12-year gap, has triggered a fresh round of political slugfest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with both sides accusing each other of misplaced priorities and extravagance.
Revised Mobile Budget: What’s Changed?
The last revision in mobile phone reimbursement in Delhi was in 2013, with an upper limit capped between ₹45,000 and ₹50,000 for handsets. Now, citing evolving technological needs and inflation, the GAD’s memo updates these ceilings:
- Chief Minister: ₹1.5 lakh
- Ministers: ₹1.25 lakh
- Monthly call/data charges: Reimbursed based on actual bills
The memo also lays down that phones cannot be replaced within two years, except in cases where repair costs exceed 50% of the phone’s original price, in which case replacement would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Officials justified the decision by pointing to the “increased dependency on digital tools” for official communication, data storage, and secure governance apps.
AAP vs BJP: Political War of Words Begins
While the memo was an administrative update, it quickly became fodder for political confrontation. In a press conference, AAP MLA Anil Jha accused the BJP-led Centre of being “anti-poor” and misusing taxpayer money.
“Instead of giving ration and improving healthcare, they are celebrating by gifting ₹1.5 lakh phones to ministers,” said Jha.
AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj also took a sarcastic jab, “Congratulations to the BJP. Hope this phone helps in improving governance.”
BJP Hits Back, Defends Decision
The Delhi BJP fired back, defending the hike as standard government procedure and not unique to the current administration.
BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said:
“Even municipal councillors and MLAs use high-end smartphones because governance today requires handling official records, digital apps, and media. A ₹1.25 lakh phone is not luxury—it’s necessity.”
Kapoor further alleged that AAP ministers already use iPhones and premium Android phones, and were feigning outrage for headlines.
Justification: Modern Governance Needs Modern Tools
Government officials argue that the increased usage of digital governance platforms like e-office apps, real-time dashboards, secure messaging tools, and video conferencing platforms has made smartphones indispensable.
Additionally, cybersecurity and app compatibility often require the use of latest-gen phones with stronger encryption, especially in high-level offices like that of the Chief Minister.
Public Reaction:
The announcement has sparked strong reactions from the public, with some arguing that such expenses are not justified from public money some feel the money could be better spent on education, infrastructure, or welfare schemes.
Social media platforms saw trending hashtags like #PhonePolitics and #TaxpayerMoney, with citizens sharing memes, criticism, and support in equal measure.