Besides being a political powerhouse, Delhi has the highest per capita income, highest life expectancy and the highest number of doctors per 100,000 people. At a time when growth is slipping - India grew 5.7 per cent during the April-June quarter down from 6.1 per cent from January to March - the national capital managed to beat the slowdown through some progressive policies. For instance, the government tweaked its excise policy by cancelling the renewal system of excise licences for hotels, restaurants and clubs; instead payment of an annual fee automatically renewed the licence.

In the area of health, the Delhi government introduced a mobile health scheme, taking basic healthcare to underserved areas - the focus being on raising awareness and participation in national health schemes like Pulse Polio, measles immunisation, dengue control, etc. Among the targets were those working at construction sites, living in night shelters. A mobile dispensary makes weekly or bi-weekly visits and provides basic services such as free check-ups, medicines etc. Life expectancy in Delhi at 73.2 in 2014 averaged higher than the national average of 68.9. The number of doctors per 100,000 people increased from 22.5 to 50.5 between 2009 and 2014, an increase of 126 per cent. The Delhi Government Employees Health Scheme was expanded to include senior citizens.

Delhi has also reinvented itself as a start-up city-state; 86 per cent of its residents are open to starting a new business compared to the national average of 74.5 per cent. There are 13 start-ups per 1 million people, as compared to the national average of 1.4. In 2016, the Delhi government launched an incubation policy to promote entrepreneurship among youth in the city, and distributed seed money of Rs 1.5 crore each to six higher educational institutions to set up incubation centres.