Ladli Behen Yojana: Women to Get ₹1,500 After Diwali, Govt to Audit Beneficiaries

The instalment of the Ladli Behen Yojana will be credited today to eligible women across Madhya Pradesh. Ahead of Diwali 2025, the state government has announced that the monthly assistance will be increased from ₹1,250 to ₹1,500.

At the same time, the government has decided to conduct a two-stage audit to weed out ineligible beneficiaries from the scheme. Officials said the exercise aims to ensure that the benefits reach only genuine recipients.

Two-Stage Audit Before Diwali

The audit will be carried out in two phases. In the first phase, women who do not meet the eligibility criteria will be asked to voluntarily withdraw their names. In the second phase, a departmental inquiry will be conducted to identify and remove those who continue to draw benefits despite being ineligible.

Over 1.26 Crore Beneficiaries

At present, more than 1.26 crore women are enrolled under the Ladli Behen Yojana. The scheme costs the state exchequer nearly ₹1,550 crore every month, making it Madhya Pradesh's largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme.

Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya had earlier acknowledged that complaints were received regarding ineligible women being included in the list of beneficiaries. He reiterated that the government is determined to ensure fairness and transparency.

Launched in 2023, the scheme has been described as a game-changer in state politics. Analysts believe it was a decisive factor in the BJP's 2023 Assembly election victory. Following its success, several states introduced similar women-centric welfare schemes inspired by the model.

Scheme's Evolution

The Ladli Behen Yojana was initially launched with a monthly payment of ₹1,000. On August 27, 2023, the instalment was raised to ₹1,250. On June 19, 2025, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced a further hike to ₹1,500, which will come into effect after Bhai Dooj. The government has also promised to gradually increase the assistance to ₹3,000 per month in the coming years.

What's Next

With the Diwali instalment, beneficiaries will see an increase in financial aid. However, the audit exercise will play a crucial role in determining the final beneficiary list for future instalments.