Delhi Lakshmi Yojna to provide ₹2,500 monthly to eligible women from Raksha Bandhan

The Delhi government has renamed its women‑welfare scheme to the Delhi Lakshmi Yojna and approved a monthly cash assistance of ₹2,500 for each eligible woman. Beneficiaries must be aged 21‑60, have lived in Delhi for at least ten years, belong to the economically‑weak‑section with a family income of ₹2.5 lakh or less, and have no criminal record. Only one woman per family can receive the benefit, with priority given to the eldest eligible woman.

The scheme is slated to launch around the Raksha Bandhan festival, possibly in August 2026, and the Delhi cabinet has earmarked ₹5,100 crore for its implementation. In parallel, the government will make the digital “Pink Saheli Smart Card” mandatory from 1 August 2026 for free DTC bus travel, ending the paper ticket system.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented the plan as part of the promise made during the Delhi assembly election campaign, linking it to the central government’s vision for women’s financial empowerment.