Rekha Gupta Launches Delhi Lakshmi Yojana for Women

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta officially launched the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana on August 26 at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. During the event, the government distributed verification and approval letters to the first 2,500 beneficiaries of the program. The scheme provides eligible women with monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 via Direct Benefit Transfer, with the first payments scheduled to be credited on September 1.

Originally approved by the Delhi Cabinet in March 2025 as the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, the initiative was a key election promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Government of Delhi has allocated approximately Rs 5,110 crore for the program in the 2026-27 Budget. Eligibility is limited to the eldest female member of a household aged 21 to 60, with an annual family income under Rs 2.5 lakh and a minimum 10-year residency in Delhi. Income-tax payers, government employees, and households owning a four-wheeler are excluded.

Since the registration portal opened on August 1, nearly 9.5 lakh women have registered. Gupta stated that there is no limit to the number of beneficiaries and no deadline for registration. Despite the rollout, the program faces legal challenges from petitioners contesting eligibility requirements, including the 10-year residency rule and the necessity of an MP or MLA endorsement.