Delhi maintains revenue surplus despite dent in liquor taxes since 2022-23

The new excise policy, introduced in Delhi in November 2021, made sweeping changes to the city's liquor trade

Tax revenues of the Delhi government were dented after it abandoned the new excise policy on liquor in August 2022, so much so that recovery is not even projected in 2024-25.

However, the state government managed to maintain its revenue surplus over the years.

The state had projected Rs 9,454 crore from taxes on country spirits and foreign liquor as Budget Estimates (BE) during 2022-23. That was a substantial 73 per cent increase over the Rs 5,463 crore earned from this a year earlier due to the new excise policy.

The new excise policy, introduced in November 2021, made sweeping