Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana: Rs 1,500 a Month for Women in Maharashtra (2026)

It is the 10th of the month in a small town in Maharashtra. Sunita wakes before six, gets the children ready for school, and while the tea boils she checks her phone. A message from the bank has arrived overnight. Rs 1,500 has been credited to her account under the Ladki Bahin Yojana. She does not run a business and she has no salary of her own, so this is the one payment each month that is fully hers to decide. Some months it pays for school notebooks and a gas refill. Some months it goes into a small tin box she keeps for the daughter's future. Today she walks to the ration shop, then to the chemist for her mother-in-law's blood-pressure tablets, and the money that used to mean a difficult conversation with her husband is now something she can manage on her own.

That quiet, ordinary morning is the whole idea behind the scheme. This page walks through a real day around the benefit, then explains who qualifies, what the current amount comes to in 2026, how to apply through the Nari Shakti Doot app or a camp, what documents you need, and what to do when a payment stops.

The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a direct cash-transfer scheme run by the Government of Maharashtra. It pays a fixed monthly sum into the personal bank account of an eligible woman, every month, so that she has money of her own to spend on her household and herself. The scheme was announced in the state budget of June 2024 and the first installments were paid from August 2024. It is administered by the Women and Child Development Department of Maharashtra through the official portal at ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in.

The scheme sits in a growing family of state-level cash-transfer programmes for women across India. Madhya Pradesh runs the Ladli Behna Yojana, West Bengal runs the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, Tamil Nadu runs the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, Karnataka runs the Gruha Lakshmi payment, and Assam runs the Orunodoi cash transfer. Maharashtra's version follows the same core logic: a modest but predictable monthly amount, paid directly, that gives a woman financial agency she may not otherwise have.

The scheme is not a loan and it is not a one-time grant. It is a recurring monthly benefit that continues as long as the beneficiary remains eligible. There is no application fee, and no agent is needed. If someone demands money to add your name to the list, that is a scam — report it.

The confirmed, paid benefit is Rs 1,500 per month, which comes to Rs 18,000 per year. The money is transferred by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the woman's own Aadhaar-linked bank account. In Maharashtra, this often means an account opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana or a standard savings account with a public-sector bank.

You will hear a lot about Rs 2,100. During the 2024 election campaign, the amount was promised to rise from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 a month. As of mid-2026, that increase has not been rolled out. The confirmed, paid amount is still Rs 1,500. If you receive a message or watch a video claiming Rs 2,100 is now being credited, treat it with care and check the official portal at ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in before you believe it. The rule of this page is simple: state what is being paid, not what was promised.

One more thing worth knowing. The scheme went through a large clean-up in 2026. After an eligibility re-check and eKYC drive, the government moved a significant number of names off the paid list, and the count of active beneficiaries settled at roughly 1.77 crore women. If your payment stopped this year, the re-verification is the most likely reason, and the section below on stopped payments tells you how to push back.

The benefit is for women, but eligibility is decided at the level of the whole family, not the individual alone. You may be eligible if all of the following are true:

• You are a woman aged 21 to 65 as on the qualifying date set by the scheme.
• You are a resident of Maharashtra. Domicile or long residence in the state is required. Married women who have moved to Maharashtra may qualify through the husband's domicile — check the current rule on the portal.
• Your family income is up to Rs 2.5 lakh a year. This is a family test, not a personal one, so it counts every earner in the household.
• You have an Aadhaar-linked bank account in your own name, since the money comes only by Direct Benefit Transfer.

The scheme gives weight to married, widowed, divorced, abandoned, and destitute women. In a family, one unmarried woman may also apply. The income certificate or relevant proof should reflect the current financial year — guidance on obtaining one is available on the Women and Child Development Department, Maharashtra website.

The exclusions are strict, and most rejections come from one of the following. A family is generally not eligible if any of these apply:

• A member of the family pays income tax. An income-tax filer in the household usually disqualifies the entire family.
• A member holds a permanent government job (state or central) or draws a government pension. Contractual and outsourced staff are treated differently — check the exact wording on the portal.
• The family owns a registered four-wheeler. A tractor used for agriculture is not counted for this purpose, but a car, SUV, or similar four-wheeler is.
• The Rs 2.5 lakh family income ceiling is crossed once every earner in the household is added up.

If your family crosses one of these lines, applying anyway wastes time and the application will be rejected at verification. The exclusion rules are published on the official portal and were reinforced during the 2026 re-verification drive.

Gather these before you start the application. A mismatch between the name on your Aadhaar card, your bank passbook, and your ration card is the single most common reason a payment bounces or an application stalls — so make sure the spelling is identical everywhere.

Name-match rule: The Aadhaar name, the bank account name, and the ration-card name must be spelled the same way. Even a small spelling difference can cause the DBT to fail. If your Aadhaar name needs correction, see the eSHRAM registration guide for linked document tips.

You can apply free of cost. There are more ways in than most people realise, so pick the one that suits you:

1. Apply online on the official portal. Go to ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in, register with your mobile number, and fill the application form with your personal, family, and bank details.
2. Use the Nari Shakti Doot app. The state's Nari Shakti Doot mobile app (available on Android) lets you register and upload documents from your phone, which suits women who cannot travel to an office.
3. Go to a camp or a centre. Applications are also accepted at Anganwadi centres, at Setu or Suvidha Kendras, and at the special application camps that the district administration runs from time to time. A worker there can help you fill and submit the form.
4. Complete the eKYC. An Aadhaar-based eKYC ties your record to your bank account. This step is what makes the money reach you, so do not skip it. If your Aadhaar details need updating first, see the accepted documents for Aadhaar update.
5. Track the status. After you submit, note your application number and check the status on the portal or the Nari Shakti Doot app. Approved applicants are informed and the monthly credit begins.

There is no fee to apply and no agent is needed. If someone asks you to pay to get your name added, that is a scam — refuse and report it to the helpline at 181.

The single biggest reason payments stopped in 2026 was the annual re-verification and eKYC exercise. The government asked all beneficiaries to re-confirm their details within a set window. Names that were not verified in time, or that failed the eligibility re-check (income, vehicle ownership, government job in family), were moved off the paid list.

If your credit has stopped, work through this order:

• Step 1 — Check your status on the portal or the Nari Shakti Doot app. It will often show whether your case is pending eKYC, held for verification, or removed. Log in at ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in.
• Step 2 — Complete any pending eKYC within the current re-verification window. A missed eKYC is the easiest problem to fix and the most common cause of a stopped payment.
• Step 3 — Confirm your bank account is active and Aadhaar-linked. A closed, dormant, or de-linked account makes the DBT fail even when you are eligible. Check with your bank branch or through the Jan Dhan / bank account guide.
• Step 4 — Keep a record. Note the dates you checked, any reference number, and what the portal said. You will need this if you escalate.

If you complete every step and the money still does not come, and no clear reason is given, the next tool is a Right to Information request.

When the portal shows nothing useful and the helpline leads nowhere, a written Right to Information (RTI) request forces the department to put the reason in writing. The public authority — in this case, the Women and Child Development Department or the district-level officer handling your application — is then legally bound to answer within 30 days (48 hours if the matter concerns life or liberty).

Effective RTI questions to ask about a Ladki Bahin payment:

• What is the present status of application number [your number]?
• Who is the officer handling my application, and what is their designation?
• What is the exact reason for any rejection, hold, or delay?
• By what date will my application be settled or my payment resumed?
• Has my eKYC been completed successfully? If not, what is the deficiency?

You can file the RTI with the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Women and Child Development Department at the district or state level. Maharashtra has its own State Information Commission — see the Maharashtra SIC second appeal guide if your first RTI goes unanswered.

Tools to help you file:

• Draft your RTI in minutes: AI RTI Drafter
• Full filing and appeal process: The RTI Playbook
• RTI for government scheme delays: RTI for stuck government schemes
• RTI specifically for women: RTI for Women — Complete Guide

The RTI fee in Maharashtra is Rs 10 for BPL card holders it is free. You can also file online through the Maharashtra RTI online portal or the central RTI Online portal.

Maharashtra is one of several states that now pay a monthly cash benefit directly to women. Here is how the major schemes compare:

The amounts and rules change frequently — always confirm the current figure on the respective state's official portal. You can browse the full list on the All Sarkari Yojana index.

The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was announced in the Maharashtra state budget of June 2024 and launched in August 2024 by the Government of Maharashtra, with the first installments paid from August 2024. It is run by the Women and Child Development Department of the state. The announcement was widely covered, including by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Government of Maharashtra portal.

The scheme was inspired by the success of similar programmes in other states, particularly Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana, which demonstrated that a direct monthly payment to women could deliver both welfare and political dividends. Maharashtra's version adapted the model to its own demographic and fiscal context. The central government's broader women-welfare framework, including schemes listed on socialjustice.nic.in and the myScheme portal, provides additional context for how state-level cash transfers fit into the national welfare architecture.

For more on related Maharashtra and central government schemes, see the Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Yojana (Maharashtra youth employment) and the PM Ujjwala Yojana (LPG connection for women).

Rs 1,500 a month, or Rs 18,000 a year, by Direct Benefit Transfer. A rise to Rs 2,100 was promised in 2024 but has not been rolled out as of mid-2026. Check the official portal for the current figure before believing any Rs 2,100 message.

A woman aged 21 to 65 who is a resident of Maharashtra and whose family earns up to Rs 2.5 lakh a year, with an Aadhaar-linked bank account in her own name.

The state ran an eligibility re-check and eKYC re-verification. Names that were not verified in time, or that failed the income or exclusion rules, were moved off the paid list. Complete your eKYC in the current window and check your status on the portal.

A registered four-wheeler such as a car in the family usually disqualifies you. A tractor used for farming is not counted for this purpose.

Yes. You can apply online at ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in or through the Nari Shakti Doot mobile app, or take help at an Anganwadi centre or a district camp.

No. The application is completely free and no agent is needed. If anyone asks for money to add your name, refuse and report it to 181.

The money cannot reach you. Visit your bank branch and ask them to link your Aadhaar to your account. This is usually done instantly. An account opened under PM Jan Dhan Yojana can also be used.

Check your status on the portal or the Nari Shakti Doot app. If it shows pending eKYC, complete it immediately. If it shows no clear reason, file an RTI with the district Women and Child Development officer. See the RTI for government scheme delays guide for a template.

Possibly, through the husband's domicile. The exact rule is on the portal — check it before applying, as the domicile requirement is enforced strictly during re-verification.

Once your application is approved and eKYC is complete, the monthly credit typically begins from the next payment cycle. The government credits payments around the 10th of each month.

It is the official mobile app for the scheme, available free on the Google Play Store. It lets you register, upload documents, complete eKYC, and track your payment status from a smartphone.

Yes. Use the AI RTI Drafter to generate a ready-to-file application in minutes, or read How to File an RTI in India for the full process.

• Ladli Behna Yojana — cash support for women in Madhya Pradesh
• Lakshmi Bhandar — monthly aid for women in West Bengal
• Gruha Lakshmi — payment for women heads of household in Karnataka
• Kalaignar Magalir Urimai — monthly aid in Tamil Nadu
• Orunodoi — cash transfer for women in Assam
• PM Matru Vandana Yojana — maternity benefit
• Mahila Samman Savings Certificate for women
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana for a girl child
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana — bank account for the unbanked
• PM Ujjwala Yojana — LPG connection for women
• Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Yojana — Maharashtra youth employment
• All Sarkari Yojanas — Complete Index

• Official scheme portal: ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in — eligibility, application, and payment status
• Women and Child Development Department, Government of Maharashtra: wcd.maharashtra.gov.in
• Government of Maharashtra: maharashtra.gov.in
• Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India: pib.gov.in — scheme announcement and budget coverage
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India: socialjustice.nic.in — broader women-welfare framework
• myScheme (National Scheme Finder): myscheme.gov.in — central scheme database listing
• Maharashtra State helpline for scheme queries: 181

Last reviewed: 11 July 2026.

Authored and maintained by Dr. Shrawan Kumar Pathak, RTI researcher and contributor to RTI Wiki. This page is reviewed regularly to reflect the latest scheme rules and payment status. If you spot an error or an outdated figure, please edit the page or contact the editorial team.