A source-led record of the national capital’s constitutional design, elected governments, parliamentary mandates, people, economy, World Heritage, urban environment and accountability.
The capital is understood only when power, place and public responsibility are recorded separately.— Rahul Gautam
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 · Delhi Legislative Assembly.
| Chief Minister / administration | Period | Political frame |
|---|---|---|
| Chaudhary Brahm Prakash | 1952–1955 | INC; first Chief Minister |
| Gurmukh Nihal Singh | 1955–1956 | INC |
| No Chief Minister | 1956–1993 | Union Territory administration; Metropolitan Council from 1966 |
| Madan Lal Khurana | 1993–1996 | BJP |
| Sahib Singh Verma | 1996–1998 | BJP |
| Sushma Swaraj | Oct–Dec 1998 | BJP |
| Sheila Dikshit | 1998–2013 | INC; three terms |
| Arvind Kejriwal | Dec 2013–Feb 2014; Feb 2015–Sep 2024 | AAP |
| President’s Rule | Feb 2014–Feb 2015 | Direct constitutional administration |
| Atishi | Sep 2024–Feb 2025 | AAP |
| Rekha Gupta | 20 Feb 2025–present | BJP |
Vinai Kumar Saxena is Lieutenant Governor and Rekha Gupta is Chief Minister. Their powers arise from the Constitution, parliamentary law and judicial interpretation rather than a conventional State model.
The official council lists Pravesh Sahib Singh, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Singh (Indraj), Kapil Mishra and Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh, with portfolios including public works, home, power, environment, social welfare, law, health and transport.
| Election | Mandate | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | AAP 67; BJP 3 | Arvind Kejriwal returned with a large majority. |
| 2020 | AAP 62; BJP 8 | AAP retained office. |
| 2025 | BJP 48; AAP 22 | BJP formed government under Rekha Gupta. |
Delhi elects 70 MLAs and seven Lok Sabha members. Assembly, parliamentary, Municipal Corporation, NDMC and cantonment mandates cover different institutions.
| Measure | Figure / frame | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,787,941 | Census 2011 |
| Area | 1,483 km² | National Capital Territory |
| Urban share | 97.5% | Census 2011 |
| Economic frame | Services, trade, public administration, transport, construction and manufacturing | NCT output and wider NCR activity are different measures |
GSDP, budget outlay, municipal finance and Union-controlled expenditure are separate. Water, electricity, schools, hospitals, housing, transport and sanitation cross multiple governments and agencies.
Humayun’s Tomb, the Qutb Minar complex and the Red Fort complex are UNESCO World Heritage properties. Delhi’s many other protected and living sites have separate national, State and local statuses.
Air pollution, heat, the Yamuna floodplain, groundwater and the Delhi Ridge cross jurisdictional boundaries. Source apportionment, exposure, weather and enforcement data answer different questions.
Refugee resettlement after 1947, successive migration, informal settlements and planned colonies reshaped the capital. Census categories do not capture every displacement or livelihood.
Anti-corruption mobilisation, women’s-safety protests, citizenship-law demonstrations, farmers’ border encampments and neighbourhood campaigns had distinct claims, legal orders and timelines.
UNESCO India properties · Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
CAG reports for the Government of NCT, Union bodies and municipal institutions are tied to audited periods and replies. Excise, transport, health, education, utilities, land and municipal services require institution-specific records.
Constitution and governance: Constitution, India Code, MHA, Assembly and courts · offices: LG and GNCTD portals · elections: ECI · people and economy: Census India, Planning and Finance · heritage and environment: UNESCO, ASI, DPCC and competent authorities · accountability: CAG, Parliament and legislatures. Checked 3 September 2026.