Delhi CM Rekha Gupta raises crop loss ex-gratia to ₹75,000 per hectare
Synopsis
Delhi's Cabinet has more than doubled crop-loss relief — from roughly ₹49,421 to ₹75,000 per hectare — after a Revenue Department assessment found 100 per cent crop failure across over 4,400 hectares hit by the August–September 2025 deluge. It is the first rate revision in over a decade, and the full-rate payout rule marks a structural shift from the old proportional model.
Key Takeaways
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced enhanced ex-gratia of ₹75,000 per hectare on 1 June 2025 .
The relief covers crop damage from heavy rainfall and waterlogging during August–September 2025 .
Approximately 10,000 farmers across 10,977.44 acres (~ 4,442.41 hectares ) are expected to benefit.
The previous rate, set in 2015 , was ₹20,000 per acre (~₹49,421 per hectare) — the first revision in over 10 years .
The Revenue Department assessed crop loss at 100 per cent ; full-rate assistance will be paid to all eligible recorded landowners.
Land held by companies, Gram Sabha land, and walled farmhouse plots are excluded from the scheme.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, 1 June 2025, announced that the Cabinet has approved enhanced ex-gratia assistance of ₹75,000 per hectare for farmers whose crops were damaged by heavy rainfall and waterlogging during August–September 2025. The decision is expected to benefit approximately 10,000 Delhi farmers and marks the first upward revision of crop-loss relief rates in over a decade.
Scale of Agricultural Damage
A detailed assessment by the Revenue Department found that 10,977.44 acres (approximately 4,442.41 hectares) of agricultural land across Delhi was affected by the extreme rainfall event. Crop loss in impacted areas was assessed at 100 per cent, prompting the Cabinet to disburse assistance at the full rate rather than proportionally.
What Changed and Why
The previous ex-gratia rate, set in 2015, stood at ₹20,000 per acre — equivalent to roughly ₹49,421 per hectare. Chief Minister Gupta said the revision to ₹75,000 per hectare reflects the steep rise in agricultural input costs over more than ten years. Under the earlier framework, assistance was paid proportionally for losses up to 70 per cent, with the full rate triggered only beyond that threshold. The Cabinet has now approved full-rate disbursement given the total crop failure recorded this season.
Who Is Eligible
The assistance will be provided exclusively to recorded landowners. According to the Chief Minister, land held by companies, land vested in Gram Sabhas, and farmhouse plots enclosed by permanent boundary walls will not be covered. The relief is specifically tied to losses arising from the August–September 2025 rainfall event and the consequent disruption of natural drainage systems in agricultural fields.
Impact on Farmers
Gupta said the enhanced payout is designed not merely as compensation but as a bridge that will allow affected farmers to finance inputs for the next sowing cycle and maintain continuity of agricultural activity. This comes amid broader concerns about urban farming viability in Delhi, where cultivable land has steadily shrunk due to encroachment and infrastructure expansion.
What Happens Next
The Revenue Department is expected to process disbursements to eligible landowners based on its completed damage assessment. No timeline for actual payment has been officially announced, but officials indicated that the Cabinet approval clears the last administrative hurdle before funds are released.
Point of View
The government also needs a longer answer on drainage infrastructure — ex-gratia is a patch, not a fix.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new ex-gratia rate for crop loss in Delhi?
The Delhi Cabinet has approved an enhanced ex-gratia assistance of ₹75,000 per hectare for farmers who suffered crop damage due to heavy rainfall and waterlogging during August–September 2025. This replaces the earlier rate of approximately ₹49,421 per hectare set in 2015.
How many farmers will benefit from this relief?
Approximately 10,000 Delhi farmers are expected to benefit, covering around 10,977.44 acres (roughly 4,442.41 hectares) of agricultural land assessed as damaged by the Revenue Department.
Who is not eligible for the crop loss ex-gratia?
Land owned by companies, land vested in Gram Sabhas, and farmhouse plots enclosed by permanent boundary walls are excluded. Only recorded landowners whose crops were damaged by the August–September 2025 rainfall are eligible.
Why was the ex-gratia rate revised after 10 years?
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta cited a significant rise in agricultural input costs over more than a decade as the primary reason. The previous rate of ₹20,000 per acre was last set in 2015 and had not been revised since.
How was the extent of crop damage determined?
The Revenue Department conducted a detailed field assessment and found that crops suffered 100 per cent loss in areas affected by heavy rainfall and waterlogging during August–September 2025. This finding led the Cabinet to approve disbursement at the full rate rather than the earlier proportional model.
