Last Updated: 30 Dec 2023

Delhi MLA salary is 4th lowest among all state MLAs in India^[1]

MIND YOU!! Delhi is 2nd most expensive city to live in India!!^[2]

Delhi MLA Salary^[3]

2011 - 2023: ₹54,000 per month (₹12,000 base + Office allowances)
After Feb 2023: ₹90,000 per month (₹30,000 base + Office allowances)

¶ Details^[4]

Point to Ponder: After office expenses, how much they might have for family expenses?

¶ Comparison with other States

Average India MLA Salary is 1.52 Lakh; 67% higher than Delhi^[5]

• MLA Salary Comparison Average MLA Salary is 1.52 Lakh

¶ Case in Point^[6]

2013: AAP MLA Som Dutt left his job at a bank to take a plunge into politics. He earned ₹45,000 a month at the time

Feb 2023: 10 years later, 3 time MLA still earned only ₹54,000 and that included his constituency expense allowances

July, 2022: He lives in his father’s 2-storeyed house and doesn’t own a vehicle — not even the two-wheeler he had when he was still working at the bank

¶ Timeline

December 2015^[4:1]
Delhi Assembly passed Bill to increase base salary from ₹12,000 to ₹54,000; which would have increased their monly emoluments to ₹2.10 lakh per month but Bill wasn't approved by Center Govt

Huge controversy was created because of this Bill, though MLAs received nothing till Feb 2023, that too only modest hike

July 2021^[4:2]
MHA "restricted the proposal" of the Delhi government and capped the salary to only ₹30,000 Base

Aug 2021^[4:3]
Delhi Cabinet accordingly approved & sent to center for approval the New Hike with cap at ₹30,000 Base per month i.e. Total ₹90,000 per month and added below note in statement

"The BJP and Congress ruled states are currently paying 1.5 to 2 times higher salaries and allowances. The restriction imposed by the Centre has forced Delhi's MLAs to be amongst the lowest earning MLAs in the country,"

04 Jul 2022^[7]
Delhi Assembly passed bills with cap at ₹30,000 Base per month

March 2023^[3:1]
Notification for MLA salary ₹30,000 Base per month finally published, effective from Feb 2023

References:

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1. https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/jharkhand-delhi-kerala-mla-salaries-surprises-8939761/ ↩︎

2. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/most-expensive-cities-in-india-for-a-living/new-delhi/slideshow/102206089.cms ↩︎

3. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/salary-hike-for-delhi-mlas-heres-how-much-they-will-earn-now-8493793/ ↩︎ ↩︎

4. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-govt-approves-66-salary-hike-for-mlas-11628000907497.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

5. https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/jharkhand-delhi-kerala-mla-salaries-surprises-8939761/ ↩︎

6. https://theprint.in/india/governance/delhi-pays-rs-90000-per-month-telangana-rs-2-3-lakh-mlas-arent-millionaires-in-all-states/1042294/ ↩︎

7. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-assembly-clears-bills-to-hike-salaries-of-lawmakers-101656928692359.html ↩︎