Delhi Lakshmi Yojana eligibility: Check who can apply for Rs 2,500 monthly aid, who will not qualify and registration starting date

Delhi government has approved a monthly cash assistance scheme for women in the capital, clearing one of the BJP's most prominent promises from last year's assembly election campaign.

Delhi cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, under which eligible women will receive Rs 2,500 per month. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the online registration portal will go live on August 1, with the government targeting August 28, Raksha Bandhan, for the release of the first instalment.

"We have approved the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, a scheme designed to empower the sisters of Delhi by providing them with financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month," Delhi CM said after the cabinet meeting.


The scheme has a budget of Rs 5,110 crore for the 2026-27 financial year and is expected to cover over 17 lakh women across the city.

Who is eligible for Delhi Lakshmi Yojana?

Women between the ages of 18 and 60 whose annual family income does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh are eligible to apply. The scheme will initially run for three years, after which a review will determine whether it continues.

Cash transfer schemes targeting women have become a defining feature of state-level politics across India in recent years. Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana, Maharashtra's Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin, and Telangana's Gruha Lakshmi are among the schemes that have been credited with influencing electoral outcomes in their respective states. Delhi's version follows the same template, and the BJP specifically campaigned on it ahead of the assembly polls.

How the money will be paid under Delhi Lakshmi Yojana?

Beneficiaries will have two options for receiving the monthly amount.

The first option splits the payment: Rs 1,500 will go into a recurring deposit or fixed deposit account, while the remaining Rs 1,000 will be credited to a digital rupee wallet that can only be spent on approved goods and services.

The second option deposits the entire Rs 2,500 into an RD or FD account.

The digital rupee wallet component is notable. It limits how part of the money can be spent, which has been a point of discussion in similar schemes elsewhere, with some arguing it restricts beneficiary autonomy while others say it ensures the funds are used for household needs.

Who does not qualify under Delhi Lakshmi Yojana?

The scheme comes with a fairly detailed exclusion list. Women already receiving benefits under another financial assistance scheme or pension are not eligible. Neither are income tax payers, GST return filers, or women employed by the government, a public sector undertaking, or any other government organisation. Families with a member in any such organisation are also excluded.

On the asset side, families that own a four-wheeler are not eligible, nor are those whose annual electricity consumption exceeds 2,400 units. Women with more than three living children and those with a criminal record are also excluded from the scheme.

Delhi Lakshmi Yojana Registration Starting Date

Registrations open August 1 through the online portal. The government has set itself a tight timeline, with less than four weeks between the portal launch and the Raksha Bandhan target date for the first payout. Whether that deadline holds will be one of the first tests of the scheme's rollout.

(With TOI inputs)