The announcement was made during the presentation of the Budget for 2025-26.
Tihar Jail, officially known as Tihar Prisons, is India’s largest and most high-security prison complex, located in Delhi. Tihar Jail houses gangsters, politicians and even VIPs. The jail was started with a capacity to house 1,273 prisoners which has been increased to 5,000-6,000. However, the jail houses over 13,000 inmates, an Indian Express report said.
It was established in 1958 and it was originally started as a small prison in Tihar village, near Delhi. It was designed to accommodate criminals from the Delhi region, as the existing jail infrastructure was inadequate.
In 1966, Tihar was transferred from Punjab administration to the Delhi government and it became the main prison for the capital. The Tihar complex comprises nine jails.
It was in 1980 that overcrowding became a major issue due to the increasing crime rate in Delhi. In 1994, the prison adopted a reformative approach under Kiran Bedi, the first woman Inspector General of Prisons. Her initiatives, such as literacy programmes, vocational training, and meditation for inmates, gained international attention.
Tihar also runs a prison industry where inmates produce goods such as bakery items, furniture, and textiles, sold under the Tihar brand.
First Published:Â Mar 25, 2025 3:04 PM IST
