Introduction
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (often called Ladki Bahin Yojana) is an initiative by the Government of Maharashtra, aiming to provide financial assistance to women aged between 21 to 65 years, belonging to households with limited income. From mid-2025, completing an electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification has become mandatory for beneficiaries to continue receiving the monthly assistance.
This article explains the scheme, who is eligible, what e-KYC entails, how to complete it, and important cautions to ensure safety and protect beneficiaries from fraud.
What is Ladki Bahin Yojana?
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Launched in July 2024 by the Women & Child Development Department, Maharashtra. (Pune District Government)
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Purpose: To economically empower women, improve their health & nutrition, and strengthen their role in families. (Pune District Government)
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Benefit: ₹1,500 per month via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to eligible women. (Pune District Government)
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for Ladki Bahin Yojana, women must satisfy certain requirements:
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Gender / status | Female. Includes married, widowed, divorced, abandoned/destitute women, or one unmarried woman per family. (Pune District Government) |
| Age range | Between 21 and 65 years. (Pune District Government) |
| Residency | Must be a permanent resident of Maharashtra. (Pune District Government) |
| Bank account + Aadhaar link | Must have a bank account linked with Aadhaar. (Pune District Government) |
| Income limit | Annual family income should not exceed ₹2.5 lakh. (Pune District Government) |
| Exclusions | Among others: if any family member is an income taxpayer, a regular state/government employee, owns a four-wheeler (excluding a tractor), is a present/former MP/MLA, or the woman already receives ₹1,500 or more from another government scheme per month. (ClearTax) |
Why is e-KYC Mandatory?
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In August 2025, the Maharashtra government issued a resolution making e-KYC mandatory for all beneficiaries. (Moneycontrol Hindi)
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Deadline: Beneficiaries must complete e-KYC within two months from the notification to continue receiving the monthly ₹1,500 assistance; failure to do so may lead to benefits being suspended. (Business Standard)
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Purpose: To verify beneficiary identity, minimize fraud, ensure only eligible women receive benefits, and maintain transparency. There have been instances of ineligible beneficiaries (including men) getting benefits, which prompted stricter verification. (The Times of India)
How to Complete e-KYC
Here are the steps and documents needed for the e-KYC process:
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Visit official portal
Go to the official Ladki Bahin website:ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.inand find the e-KYC banner/link. (ClearTax) -
Fill in Aadhaar details
Enter your Aadhaar number, captcha or verification code. Consent to Aadhaar authentication. (Times Bull) -
OTP verification
An OTP (one-time password) will be sent to the mobile number linked with Aadhaar. Enter the OTP to confirm. (Times Bull) -
Submit & confirm
After successful OTP verification, your e-KYC should be completed. Make sure all info (name, bank account, Aadhaar, etc.) is accurate. (Times Bull) -
Ensure eligibility remains valid
The government may use income tax data, other govt databases to cross-check eligibility. Beneficiaries failing checks could lose benefits. (The Times of India)
What Happens if e-KYC is Not Done?
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Without completing e-KYC in the given 2-month window, beneficiaries may not get the ₹1,500 monthly assistance. (Business Standard)
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Government has suspended payments for ineligible cases where verification failed. (The Times of India)
Important Cautions & Fraud Alerts
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Fake Websites: Several fraudulent websites have surfaced that mimic the official site. Government warns not to complete e-KYC via unverified or non-official websites. Only use the official portal. (Navbharat Times)
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Protect your data: Don’t share OTPs with anyone. Aadhaar/DOB/bank details are sensitive. Verify URL before entering personal details. (Jagranjosh.com)
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Verification checks: Government is using tax data, other databases to weed out fraud. Some beneficiaries are being removed if criteria are not met. (The Times of India)
Impact & Issues
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Large number of ineligible beneficiaries were found: ~26.3 lakh (2.63 million) women were identified as failing eligibility criteria. Their benefits have been suspended pending verification. (The Times of India)
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Transparency efforts are underway: using Income Tax department data, Aadhaar verification etc., to ensure rightly targeted disbursal of benefits. (The Times of India)
Conclusion
The Ladki Bahin Yojana is a significant step towards empowering women who are economically vulnerable in Maharashtra. e-KYC helps ensure the right people get the benefits and prevents misuse of public funds. For beneficiaries, acting promptly to complete e-KYC via the official portal is essential to continue receiving support.
