Delhi Launches Lakshmi Yojana Monthly Payouts for Women

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the Lakshmi Yojana on August 1, 2026, a direct bank transfer scheme providing eligible women in Delhi with monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500. During the start of the Delhi Assembly session on August 7, Gupta stated the government is fulfilling election promises to empower and secure women.

Eligibility is restricted to the eldest woman aged 21-60 in households with an annual income under Rs 2.50 lakh and at least 10 years of Delhi residency. Women owning a four-wheeler or those with more than three children are ineligible. While nearly 400,000 women registered, including 1.47 lakh on the first day, only 116,650 successfully submitted applications as of August 5.

The rollout has faced hurdles, including long queues at district magistrate offices and confusion over mandatory online registration and recommendation letters from MPs or MLAs. MLA Kapil Mishra established facilitation centers to assist applicants, while MLA Harish Khurana denied claims that his office required income certificates for recommendations.

The Aam Aadmi Party has challenged the initiative, with leader Saurabh Bharadwaj arguing that the 10-year residency requirement may unfairly exclude Purvanchali women. In response, Power Minister Ashish Sood defended the governance model of the scheme.