New Delhi
The Delhi government is preparing to roll out a fresh excise policy aimed at overhauling the city’s liquor trade system while placing social welfare at the core of its governance agenda. The upcoming policy, expected to be unveiled by the end of June 2025, is being carefully designed to balance revenue generation with regulatory transparency and public health safeguards.
Officials close to the matter say the new excise framework will focus on eliminating loopholes in the current system, improving the quality control of alcoholic beverages, and introducing a more digitized tracking system for sales and distribution. The move follows a tumultuous period for the excise department, with the previous policy facing both administrative and legal challenges.
Goals
One of the key goals of the upcoming excise reforms is to ensure that all stakeholders from consumers to vendors operate within a clear, fair, and accountable ecosystem. Measures such as standardized quality testing, better licensing mechanisms, and firm action against bootlegging are expected to be cornerstones of the revised policy.
Simultaneously, the Delhi government is doubling down on its commitment to social welfare. In a move welcomed by many, officials have announced the clearance of over 80,000 pending applications for the senior citizens’ pension scheme. This long awaited step aims to bring immediate relief to thousands of elderly residents who have been awaiting financial support.
As part of a broader cleanup effort, the Social Welfare Department will conduct a comprehensive door-to-door verification of existing pensioners. This is being done to weed out ineligible recipients and make room for genuinely needy applicants. An independent verification agency will handle the task using a dedicated mobile app linked to government systems to ensure accuracy and transparency.
Under current norms, senior citizens between 60 and 69 years of age receive ₹2,000 per month, while those 70 and above are entitled to ₹2,500. Eligibility requires Delhi residency of at least five years and an annual income under ₹1 lakh. The scheme is a significant budget item, with over ₹1,200 crore allocated annually to support more than four lakh beneficiaries.
Together, the new excise policy and the social security push represent a broader shift in governance one that combines economic reform with human-centric development. As Delhi navigates its post-pandemic recovery, these initiatives signal a government keen on ensuring both fiscal responsibility and social justice.
