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Govt hikes phone allowance budget for CM, ministers; AAP slams initiative
The Morning Standard
|July 15, 2025
The Delhi government has revised its policy on mobile handset allowances, significantly increasing the sanctioned amount for its top office bearers.
According to a directive issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) on July 9, the chief minister can now purchase a mobile handset worth up to ₹1.5 lakh, while cabinet ministers will be allowed to spend up to ₹1.25 lakh.
This marks a threefold increase from the earlier provision under a 2013 order, which had capped the maximum cost of mobile phones at ₹50,000 for the chief minister and ₹45,000 for the other ministers.
The directive comes after the recent controversy over the extravagant renovation of a bungalow for the CM. The proposal triggered backlash from opposition parties and was eventually withdrawn.
This story is from the July 15, 2025 edition of The Morning Standard.
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