Delhi MLAs get iPhone 16 pro for official work, Opposition says Wastage of Public Money

MLAs in Delhi have received iPhone 16 pro for doing official work. The Delhi Legislative Assembly has provided iPhone 16 Pro to all 70 MLAs including those from the opposition parties. With this, the government aims to move towards using digital tools instead of paper in the Assembly.

iPhone 16 pro (128 GB) is available on Flipkart at a starting price of Rs.1,07,900.

In addition to smartphones, each MLA, including Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and all other ministers, has also received a new tablet or iPad. These devices will help them read documents, make notes, and participate in sessions without the need for printed materials.

Interestingly, before distributing these phones, the Delhi General Administration Department revised the budget limit for buying mobile phones for ministers. The new budget for Chief Minister is ₹1.50 lakh and budget for Ministers is ₹1.25 lakh.

Earlier the limit was only Rs.50,000. This new limit was set in July 2025. This has led to political debates and controversy over the use of expensive mobiles.

The opposition has raised questions over the government’s decision to provide expensive iPhone 16 Pro devices to MLAs for official work. They argue that instead of opting for such high-end and costly smartphones, the government could have chosen more economical alternatives. In today’s market, several Android phones in the price range of ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 offer excellent performance and features that are more than sufficient for carrying out official duties. The opposition claims that selecting such cost-effective options would have been a more sensible use of public funds.

National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)

This tech upgrade is linked to the launch of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), a digital platform meant to make legislative work completely paperless. This was the first Assembly session where all legislators attended with their new gadgets.

NeVA is a part of the central government’s “One Nation, One Application” plan. It aims to bring uniformity in how legislatures function across India using technology.

To support this digital shift, the Delhi Assembly has installed several high-tech features:

• Smart delegate units with microphones and voting panels
• RFID/NFC access for secure logins
• Multilingual support for all members
• Real-time document access through iPads
• HD cameras and an automated AV system
• Secure power-backed networking

All MLAs were trained last month on how to use this new digital system.