The Maharashtra government has removed more than 92 lakh beneficiaries from the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana following a statewide verification exercise, reducing the scheme's beneficiary base by nearly 38%.
The number of beneficiaries has fallen from around 2.43 crore at its peak to over 1.5 crore, making it one of the largest beneficiary verification exercises undertaken for a welfare scheme in the state.
Officials said the verification was carried out to ensure that financial assistance reaches only eligible women. The exercise also revealed that many ineligible beneficiaries had already received payments before discrepancies were identified.
The verification drive found that the largest number of removals resulted from beneficiaries failing to complete the mandatory e-KYC process. Others were declared ineligible after their applications were reviewed against the scheme's eligibility criteria.
| Reason | Beneficiaries Removed | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| e-KYC not completed | 62 lakh | 67% |
| Annual family income above ₹2.5 lakh | 16 lakh | 17% |
| Government employee or family member | 4.42 lakh | 4.8% |
| Already receiving Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana benefits | 3.6 lakh | 3.9% |
| More than two beneficiaries from one family | 2.5 lakh | 2.7% |
| Above the age limit of 65 years | 1.8 lakh | 2% |
| Flagged during district-level verification | 1.7 lakh | 1.8% |
Authorities also identified nearly 29,000 men and around 8,000 government employees who had received benefits despite being ineligible under the scheme.
Government estimates indicate that beneficiaries who were later found to be ineligible had collectively received around ₹14,000 crore before payments were discontinued.
On average, these beneficiaries received financial assistance for nearly 10 months, although the duration varied depending on when irregularities were detected during the verification process.
| Parameter | Details |
| Monthly financial assistance | ₹1,500 |
| Eligible age group | 21–65 years |
| Annual family income limit | Below ₹2.5 lakh |
| Current beneficiaries | Over 1.5 crore |
| Peak beneficiaries | Around 2.43 crore |
| Estimated amount paid to removed beneficiaries | ₹14,000 crore |
| Total allocation since launch | Over ₹60,000 crore |
The Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was introduced ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections to provide financial support to eligible women. The scheme excludes income-tax payers, government employees, and beneficiaries of certain other government welfare programmes.
Following the verification drive, the Maharashtra government has reduced the scheme's allocation for 2025-26 from ₹36,000 crore to ₹26,500 crore.
The government's pre-election promise to increase the monthly financial assistance from ₹1,500 to ₹2,100 has not yet been implemented.
Officials said beneficiaries were given around eight months to complete the mandatory e-KYC process. Despite the extended deadline, a large number failed to comply, making e-KYC the single biggest reason for the reduction in beneficiaries.
Apart from incomplete e-KYC, verification also found applicants whose annual family income exceeded the prescribed limit, beneficiaries who had crossed the maximum eligible age, government employees, and women already receiving benefits under other welfare schemes.
The government has stated that beneficiaries who believe their names were removed by mistake can submit grievances, and such cases will be reviewed through a re-verification process before the final beneficiary list is prepared.
The recent verification comes amid financial concerns raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
In a report released last week, the CAG warned that the expenditure on the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana could place significant pressure on Maharashtra's finances. The audit also observed that expenditure of ₹3,541 crore under the scheme could not be adequately justified.
According to the report, spending on women's welfare programmes in Maharashtra increased sharply from ₹261.78 crore in 2023-24 to ₹33,554.36 crore in 2024-25, following the government's approval of the scheme on June 28, 2024.