Ladki Bahin Beneficiary Count Rises To 1.77 Crore After E-KYC Drive
The e-KYC drive was launched after irregularities were detected during a cross-departmental verification exercise initiated by the Information Technology (IT) Department in February 2025: Reports
MUMBAI: Around 20 lakh women beneficiaries corrected errors in their e-KYC details under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (MMLBY) before the April 30, 2026 deadline, enabling them to continue receiving benefits under the scheme. With the completion of the correction process, the total number of eligible beneficiaries is expected to reach nearly 1.77 crore women across the state. Officials said these beneficiaries are likely to receive their monthly financial assistance without interruption.
A senior official from the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department said pending stipends for March and April would be disbursed together from this week, with eligible women expected to receive Rs 3,000 in a single instalment.
To bring transparency to the scheme, the BJP-led Mahayuti government had made e-KYC mandatory for MMLBY beneficiaries in September 2025, initially providing a two-month window for verification. The deadline was subsequently extended multiple times, allowing beneficiaries to complete the process until March 31, 2026.
The e-KYC drive was launched after irregularities were detected during a cross-departmental verification exercise initiated by the Information Technology (IT) Department in February 2025. During the process, many beneficiaries selected incorrect responses, leading to the suspension of their financial assistance. The WCD Department later allowed such beneficiaries to rectify their responses until April 30, 2026.
Officials said installments had been halted for around 24 lakh beneficiaries who submitted incorrect responses during the e-KYC process. Of these, nearly 20 lakh beneficiaries have now corrected their details.
“The exact number of beneficiaries will be known after the March and April stipends are disbursed,” the official said.
According to officials, 2.43 crore women were initially eligible for assistance under the scheme, of whom 1.88 crore completed e-KYC verification. “Out of these, 1.57 crore women received the February 2026 benefits. The remaining 31 lakh beneficiaries were discontinued due to various issues, including incorrect e-KYC responses and ownership of four-wheelers by their families. However, around 20 lakh beneficiaries have now corrected their e-KYC details. Therefore, we expect the total number of beneficiaries to reach 1.77 crore,” the official said.
The government is expected to spend around Rs 2,655 crore every month to provide stipends to 1.77 crore beneficiaries.
The MMLBY was introduced in June 2024 by the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government after its setback in the Lok Sabha elections. The scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to married, divorced and destitute women aged between 21 and 65 years. It later emerged as a key electoral plank for the BJP-led Mahayuti, which returned to power with a decisive majority in the Assembly elections held in November 2024.
However, the scheme’s financial burden has remained a concern for the state administration and finance department. After taking oath as Chief Minister in December 2024, Devendra Fadnavis announced a review of ineligible beneficiaries. Subsequently, the WCD Department carried out scrutiny with assistance from multiple departments, including IT, Agriculture, Social Justice and Transport, along with district collectors across the state.
