CM Rekha Gupta holds dialogue with shareholders on upcoming budget 2026

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday hosted a special ‘Samvad’ (dialogue) at the secretariat, to discuss on making the upcoming Delhi Budget 2026 more people-centric and practical, with working women, teachers, sportspersons and students sharing their experiences, expectations, and suggestions with her.

Gupta heard all the stakeholders with keen attention to understand what each of them has to say and noted their inputs. She assured them that all of their suggestions reflect in the upcoming budget, emphasizing that public participation is the strongest pillar for a developed Delhi, and her government’s aim is to ensure that the budget caters to the needs of people coming from all sections of the society.

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During the interaction, the students present on the occasion put forward crucial suggestions on strengthening the education system and to improving opportunities in the presence of Education Minister Ashish Sood. They proposed extending the Mid-Day Meal scheme up to Class 12 to ensure continued nutritional support.
The students also called for a structured sports training in the government schools, better academic and sports infrastructure, and increased industry exposure which will enable them to have real-world work environment exposure and suggested that there should be dedicated career counselling sessions and availability of competitive exam resources in the libraries.

The working women and teachers, who were also part of the dialogue, drew attention to several day-to-day challenges faced by them at the workplace. They stressed safer commuting options through more foot overbridges and number of underpasses across the city.
The women drew her attention to the issue of waterlogging and sought long-term solution for the other persistent civic issues as well.

The working women asked for setting up creche facilities in schools, while teachers called for AI-based training programmes for upgrading skills, addressing teacher shortages, and other factors.

Additionally, several women emphasized the need for special schemes to promote women drivers and provisions at workplaces to support women during their menstrual cycles.
Sportspersons have come up with suggestions to bolster the sports culture in the city, and proposed to make sports mandatory in schools, and also setting up residential sports academies.

The Chief Minister said her government aims to present a budget that reflects the needs of all the sections of the society. “This budget will not just be a financial document, but a comprehensive roadmap to improve the lives of Delhi’s people,” she added.
She expressed confidence that the suggestions received by her during the dialogue would be clearly visible in Budget 2026.

Gupta also held a detailed meeting with industry representatives as part of preparations for the 2026 budget.
The aim, she said, is to make the budget more industry-friendly, boost investment, and generate employment.

Entrepreneurs from various industrial sectors attended the meeting and shared their demands, suggestions, and expectations.
Delhi’s Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa was also present, while industry leaders emphasized the need for several policy and structural reforms to speed up industrial development.

They suggested revising capital expenditure norms in industrial areas, converting industrial plots to freehold, and ensuring adequate drinking water supply for industries.
Earlier on Tuesday, she had interacted with doctors and women commercial drivers as part of this outreach. She said the government is working to bring governance closer to the people, ensuring that policymaking is shaped by real experiences and peoples’ feedback.
Gupta added that her discussions with medical professionals focused on making healthcare services stronger, more accessible and people-centric.