Delhi Lakshmi Yojana: ₹2500 Monthly Aid for Women, Eligibility and Payment Options
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Schemes
Why in news
The Delhi government has approved the Lakshmi Yojana, a scheme providing ₹2,500 monthly financial assistance to eligible women. The online application portal will launch on August 1, with the first payment expected around Raksha Bandhan, making it a timely topic for current affairs.
Background
The scheme was cleared by the Delhi Cabinet, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announcing the details. It is a women-centric welfare scheme aimed at providing direct financial support.
Key facts
The Delhi government approved the Lakshmi Yojana, offering ₹2,500 per month to eligible women.
Eligibility: women aged 21-60 years with annual family income up to ₹2.50 lakh.
Exclusions: women with more than three living children, households with annual electricity consumption over 2,400 units, income taxpayers, government employees, families owning four-wheelers, and those already receiving other financial assistance or pensions.
The online application portal will launch on August 1.
First instalment is expected around Raksha Bandhan.
Beneficiaries can choose between two payment options: Option 1 - ₹1,500 into a recurring deposit (RD) or fixed deposit (FD) account and ₹1,000 into a CBDC Digital Rupee Wallet; Option 2 - details not specified in the source.
Money in the CBDC Digital Rupee Wallet can only be used for goods and services permitted by the government under a designated negative list.
The scheme was announced by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta after Cabinet approval.
Prelims pointers
- Scheme: Lakshmi Yojana
- Launched by: Delhi government
- Benefit: ₹2,500 per month
- Eligibility: women aged 21-60, annual family income up to ₹2.50 lakh
- Exclusions: more than three children, electricity consumption >2,400 units, income taxpayers, government employees, four-wheeler owners, other assistance recipients
- Payment options: RD/FD + CBDC Digital Rupee Wallet
- Portal launch: August 1
- First payment: around Raksha Bandhan
- Chief Minister: Rekha Gupta
Mains angles
- Discuss the role of direct benefit transfer schemes in women's empowerment and financial inclusion.
- Critically examine the exclusion criteria in welfare schemes and their impact on intended beneficiaries.
- Analyze the use of CBDC Digital Rupee Wallet in government schemes and its implications for digital currency adoption.