Nearly 68 lakh accounts under the Maharashtra government’s Ladki Bahin Yojana have been closed after beneficiaries failed to complete the mandatory e-KYC process within the stipulated deadline, officials said on Wednesday.
Out of a total 2.43 crore registered beneficiaries, the number of active accounts has now reduced to around 1.75 crore following the closure. However, the state government has extended the e-KYC deadline from March 31 to April 30, indicating that some accounts may be restored if compliance is completed within the new timeframe.
The verification drive was initiated after complaints surfaced that ineligible individuals, including male members and government employees, had availed benefits under the scheme. The Ladki Bahin Yojana provides a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 to eligible women from economically weaker sections.
Officials said the e-KYC process has been extended multiple times since November 2025 to ensure maximum compliance.
With fewer active beneficiaries, the government’s monthly expenditure—currently around ₹3,700 crore—is expected to undergo changes. The scheme has been allocated ₹26,000 crore in the 2026–27 state budget, compared to ₹36,000 crore in the previous financial year.
During the verification process, over 24 lakh beneficiaries were initially flagged as government employees due to confusion caused by a Marathi-language question in the form. After scrutiny, around 20 lakh of these accounts were found to be eligible, while verification of the remaining cases is still underway.
The Ladki Bahin Yojana, launched by the Mahayuti government ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections, remains a key welfare initiative. The state government has clarified that funds will not be recovered from those later found ineligible, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have assured that the scheme will continue.
