NEW DELHI — The Delhi government on Monday, November 9, notified the Delhi (Right of Citizens to Time-Bound and Easy Delivery of Services) Act, 2026, making delivery of government services within fixed timelines a statutory right and putting a personal fine on officials who delay without a valid reason, an official statement said.

Source: IANS

The Act, notified under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, replaces Delhi's existing time-bound service delivery law of 2011 with what the government called a more modern and accountable system. It covers Delhi government departments, local bodies and notified institutions, IANS reported.

Source: IANS

Under the law, the government will notify which services are covered, the maximum number of days in which each must be delivered, and the designated official responsible for each service — so, the statement said, responsibility can be fixed whenever an application stays pending and citizens know which officer is responsible for their application and what the deadline is.

Source: IANS

If a service is delayed without a valid reason, the official concerned may be fined Rs 250 for each day of delay, up to a maximum of Rs 5,000. An officer may also face a one-time penalty of Rs 250 to Rs 5,000 for rejecting an application without proper or sufficient grounds. Before any penalty is imposed, the official will be given an opportunity to present their case and give an explanation, the statement said — a detail also carried in ANI's report of the notification.

Source: ANI

Applications are to move online with digital monitoring: every application will be assigned a unique application number so applicants can track its status online, the government said.

Source: IANS

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the move is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Nagrik Devo Bhava' and the mantra of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance', and that the government is committed to making Delhi's governance citizen-centric, responsive and accountable so every eligible citizen receives services on time and without difficulty.

Source: IANS

What happens next: the government will issue the notifications listing the covered services, their timelines and their designated officers. The Act's practical test will be that list — how many services it covers, and whether penalties are actually imposed when deadlines are missed.