Delhi Laxmi Yojana: BJP govt to launch Rs 2,500 monthly assistance scheme for women - Who is eligible, launch date, required documents and application processon

The Delhi government is preparing to launch its flagship financial assistance scheme for women, the Times of India has reported. Under the proposed Delhi Laxmi Yojana, eligible women will receive Rs 2,500 every month through direct financial assistance. The scheme is expected to replace the earlier proposed name, Mahila Samridhi Yojana.

Officials said preparations are in the final stage, with discussions underway with banks for fund disbursement and the online application portal ready to go live once the eligibility criteria are finalized.

Delhi Laxmi Yojana launch date

The Delhi government is expected to officially roll out the Delhi Laxmi Yojana on August 28, the day of Raksha Bandhan. Authorities expect all preparations to be completed by the middle of August.


The scheme was allocated Rs 5,100 crore in the Delhi Budget presented in March 2025 under the name Mahila Samridhi Yojana. The proposed renaming to Delhi Laxmi Yojana is aimed at giving the programme a distinct identity linked to the national capital while highlighting its focus on women.

Delhi Laxmi Yojana: How will the money be transferred?

The government is considering multiple options for transferring the monthly assistance to beneficiaries.

The preferred method is Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into beneficiaries' bank accounts. Officials are also examining whether a portion of the monthly assistance should be deposited as a fixed deposit in the beneficiary's name.

Another proposal under discussion is the use of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), also known as the digital rupee, for making payments. However, officials said no final decision has been taken on this option.

If CBDC is adopted, beneficiaries will be required to have a CBDC wallet, which can be obtained through participating banks or other RBI-authorised platforms.

"It has been discussed with banks, but this mode of payment has not been finalised. It is likely to be part of the proposal when it is prepared," an official said.

Delhi Laxmi Yojana eligibility criteria

The eligibility norms are yet to receive final approval, but draft criteria suggest the scheme may be available to:

Women aged 21 to 60 years
Permanent residents of Delhi
Women from families with an annual income of up to Rs 2.5 lakh

Certain categories are expected to remain ineligible for the scheme, including:
Government employees
Income-tax payers
Pensioners
Individuals owning a four-wheeler

Officials also indicated that women holding valid ration cards are likely to be eligible if they satisfy the age requirement, as their income records have already undergone verification.

"It has been discussed that women who have ration cards and meet the age criteria will be eligible for applying for the scheme because there is little doubt over their income. The govt has already conducted a comprehensive verification drive to remove ineligible, duplicate and deceased ration card holders," an official told TOI.

Delhi Laxmi Yojana application process

The application process will be conducted through an online portal, which has already been developed and is awaiting the final eligibility criteria before being launched.

Applicants are expected to submit:
Aadhaar card details
Aadhaar-linked bank account details
Proof of residence in Delhi
Self-declaration as required under the scheme

"The portal is complete, we just need to update the eligibility criteria before it can be taken live," an official said.

Why was the scheme delayed?

The launch of the scheme has been delayed by nearly a year as the government worked on finalising the eligibility criteria through a panel of ministers.

The scheme was a major election promise of the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said that eligible women would receive the first instalment on March 8, 2025. A similar financial assistance programme had also been promised by the previous AAP government, which had announced Rs 1,000 per month for women but did not implement the scheme during its second term.

With the launch now expected on August 28, the Delhi government is focusing on completing the remaining administrative formalities, including the final disbursement mechanism and approval of eligibility norms, before opening registrations for eligible women.