The Delhi Government has decided to continue its current liquor policy for another year, as work on a new excise framework is still underway.
According to officials, the excise department has approved the extension of the existing policy for the 2026–27 financial year. This means that retail liquor licences will be renewed, and new licences will also be issued under the same rules and conditions already in place.
The extension applies to multiple licence categories, including those for the sale of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), foreign liquor, beer, and country liquor. Separate instructions for different licence types will be issued by the department.
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Earlier, the government had already extended excise licences for hotels, clubs, and restaurants until March 2027 under the same policy framework.
At present, around 725 liquor shops in Delhi are operated by government-run agencies such as the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, and Delhi Consumers’ Cooperative Wholesale Stores.
The current excise system has been in place since 2022–23 and has continued after the earlier policy—which allowed private players in liquor retail—was scrapped in 2022 amid allegations of irregularities.
Meanwhile, the government is working on a new excise policy aimed at ensuring better transparency and quality in liquor supply. A group of ministers has already submitted its recommendations, and a draft policy is expected to be introduced in the future.
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