Why State Women Schemes Are Important
Several state governments now provide regular monthly cash transfers to women as a way of improving household financial security and recognising the unpaid work women do at home. Three of the most discussed schemes are the Ladki Bahin Yojana of Maharashtra, the Mahila Samman Yojana of Delhi and the Gruha Lakshmi Yojana of Karnataka. Each gives a fixed amount every month to eligible women, but the eligibility conditions and benefit amounts differ. This comparison will help you understand which scheme applies to you and what you need to apply.
Scheme Comparison Table
| Scheme | State | Monthly Amount | Who Can Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladki Bahin Yojana | Maharashtra | ₹1,500 | Women aged 21-65, family income below prescribed limit |
| Mahila Samman Yojana | Delhi | ₹2,500 | Women above 18 years, Delhi resident, within income criteria |
| Gruha Lakshmi Yojana | Karnataka | ₹2,000 | Woman head of household with ration card |
Detailed Comparison
Maharashtra Ladki Bahin Yojana
The Ladki Bahin Yojana provides ₹1,500 per month to women between 21 and 65 years of age who are residents of Maharashtra and whose family income is below the limit prescribed by the state government. Women who are income tax payers or government employees are generally not eligible. The scheme is one of the largest monthly transfer schemes in the country in terms of beneficiary numbers. For the full guide, see our Ladki Bahin Yojana article.
Delhi Mahila Samman Yojana
The Mahila Samman Yojana of Delhi gives ₹2,500 per month to eligible women above 18 years of age who reside in the capital and meet the income criteria notified by the Delhi government. At ₹30,000 per year, this is among the highest monthly transfers among state women schemes. The application is made on the official Delhi portal. For the full guide, see our Mahila Samman Yojana article.
Karnataka Gruha Lakshmi Yojana
The Gruha Lakshmi Yojana gives ₹2,000 per month to the woman head of eligible households in Karnataka. The scheme is linked to the ration card system and applications are made on the Seva Sindhu portal. Unlike the age-based schemes of Maharashtra and Delhi, Gruha Lakshmi is household-based and targets the woman who manages the home. For the full guide, see our Gruha Lakshmi Yojana article.
Which Scheme Should You Apply For?
Since each scheme is limited to residents of its own state, the first check is your place of residence. If you live in Maharashtra, apply for Ladki Bahin. If you live in Delhi, apply for Mahila Samman. If you live in Karnataka, apply for Gruha Lakshmi. Check the income limit and other conditions before applying, because wrong applications get rejected. You cannot receive two similar monthly benefits under the same state, but you can always check whether any central scheme like the ones listed under Ujjwala Yojana or other women-focused programmes also applies to your family.
Documents Common to All Three Schemes
- Aadhaar card of the applicant.
- Residence proof of the respective state.
- Bank account linked with Aadhaar.
- Ration card where applicable.
- Mobile number linked to Aadhaar.
Which state scheme gives the highest monthly amount to women?
Among these three, the Delhi Mahila Samman Yojana gives the highest monthly amount at ₹2,500 per month, followed by Gruha Lakshmi at ₹2,000 and Ladki Bahin at ₹1,500.
Can I apply for more than one state women scheme?
Each scheme requires residence in its own state, so you can only apply for the scheme of the state where you live.
Are these schemes available to women in all age groups?
Ladki Bahin is for women aged 21-65, Mahila Samman is for women above 18 years and Gruha Lakshmi is for the woman head of the household without a specific age limit as per the official rules.
Do these schemes affect other government benefits?
The schemes have their own exclusion rules, and households receiving a similar monthly benefit under another scheme may not be eligible. Check the rules of your state before applying.
How do I check the status of my application?
Status can be checked on the official portal of the respective state using the application number or Aadhaar number.