The failed ‘Delhi model’

As Delhiites prepare to elect a new government, the Aam Aadmi Party government has been pushing its welfare-based governance model, called the ‘Delhi model,’ on the campaign trail. The share of revenue expenditure in the total spending of Delhi increased significantly from 58.27% on average in the pre-AAP regime to 77.63% in the AAP regime. As a percentage of GSDP, expenditure on social services declined from 3.60% in the pre-AAP regime to 3.41% in the AAP regime. The capital expenditure on social services declined from 0.82% of GSDP in the pre-AAP regime to 0.56% in the AAP regime. On average, Delhi’s total revenue receipts declined from 7.42% of GSDP in the pre-AAP regime to 5.82% in the AAP regime.