5 Lakh Women Dropped from Ladki Bahin Scheme: What Are the Eligibility Criteria?

The Maharashtra government has declared over 5 lakh beneficiaries ineligible for the Ladki Bahin Scheme, citing violations of the eligibility criteria. The scheme, aimed at providing financial support to women from low-income families, has specific rules regarding income, vehicle ownership, and family background.

Let’s take a look at the eligibility criteria and why these beneficiaries were removed from the program.

What is Ladki Bahin Yojana ?

The Maharashtra government’s Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a popular government welfare scheme, was launched to offer financial assistance to women from low-income families in the state. The scheme aimed to provide ₹1,500 per month to eligible women with an annual family income of under ₹2.5 lakh.

However, in February 2025, the state government declared over 5 lakh beneficiaries ineligible, citing violations of the scheme’s criteria.

Key Eligibility Criteria for the Ladki Bahin Scheme

1. Age and Family Income: Women up to 65 years of age and with a family income below ₹2.5 lakh annually were eligible.
2. No Government Employee in Family: The beneficiary should not have a family member employed in a government position.
3. Vehicle Ownership: Beneficiaries were required not to own a four-wheeler.
4. No Assistance from Other Government Schemes: Applicants must not be receiving any other form of financial assistance from government schemes like the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Scheme or Namo Shetkari Scheme.

Reasons for Ineligibility

The Maharashtra government discovered that many women receiving benefits under the scheme did not meet the established criteria, leading to their removal from the program.

1. Double Benefits: About 2.30 lakh women were found to be beneficiaries of both the Ladki Bahin Scheme and the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Scheme, which provides financial support to senior citizens.
2. Age Factor: 1.10 lakh women over the age of 65 were disqualified because they exceeded the age limit.
3. Vehicle Ownership: 1.60 lakh women were found to own four-wheelers, violating one of the key requirements for eligibility.

What Happens to the Money Deposited in Ineligible Beneficiaries’ Accounts?

Despite the ineligibility, the state government has clarified that the money already deposited in the accounts of these women between July 2024 and December 2024 (approximately ₹450 crore in total) will not be reclaimed.

The women will no longer receive payments from January 2025 onward, but the funds deposited in the prior months will not be reversed.

The scheme was initially launched in the lead-up to the 2024 state elections, with a total of 2.46 crore beneficiaries enrolled.

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