DEEN DAYAL LADO LAKSHMI YOJANA 2025: ASSESSING WOMEN’S INCOME SUPPORT IN HARYANA

Policy Update
Karnavi Shende

BACKGROUND

Women’s economic insecurity in India is shaped not only by low incomes but also by unpaid care work, limited control over household resources, dependence on family members and unequal access to employment. State governments have increasingly responded through direct cash-transfer programmes that place money directly into women’s bank accounts. Haryana’s Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana (DDLLY) is part of this wider shift toward women-focused income support.

The scheme was announced in Haryana’s 2025–26 Budget and formally notified in September 2025. It came into operation on 25 September 2025 (Chief Minister’s Office, Haryana, 2025). Its stated objective is to strengthen women’s financial independence, provide social security and encourage their participation in household and social decision-making.

Under the original scheme design, an eligible woman receives ₹2,100 per month through direct benefit transfer. Eligibility is linked to age, family income and residence. A woman must generally be at least 23 years old, belong to a family with verified annual income of not more than ₹1 lakh, and either be a resident of Haryana or be married to a man who has been residing in Haryana for at least 15 years (Directorate of Social Justice and Empowerment, Haryana, 2025). The income information is verified through the Family Information Database Repository (FIDR).

The scheme does not impose a restriction on the number of eligible women within one family who may receive the benefit. At the same time, it excludes women already receiving assistance under several other social-security programmes, including old-age allowance, widow and destitute-women assistance, disability assistance and Ladli Social Security Allowance.

The scheme was initially presented as a large-scale intervention. At its launch, the state government made a budgetary provision of ₹5,000 crore and indicated that approximately 20 lakh women would benefit in the first phase (Finance Department, Haryana, 2025; Chief Minister’s Office, Haryana, 2025). The allocation was subsequently increased to ₹6,500 crore in the 2026–27 Budget, reflecting the continuing fiscal expansion of the programme (Finance Department, Haryana, 2026).

The policy question is therefore broader than whether Haryana is transferring ₹2,100 to women. It is whether this transfer can provide meaningful income security, whether the scheme reaches the women it intends to cover and whether its design is financially and administratively sustainable.

FUNCTIONING

Institutional design and eligibility

The Directorate of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal department for the scheme. The programme relies on Haryana’s existing digital governance systems, particularly the Parivar Pehchan Patra and FIDR databases, to identify households and verify income and residence details. This design allows the government to use existing administrative information instead of requiring every applicant to submit a completely new set of documents.

However, database-based targeting also makes the quality of the underlying records important. Errors in family income, address, bank-account details or identity information can delay approval or prevent payments. The scheme’s reliance on the FIDR and other digital records may improve administrative efficiency, but it also creates the possibility of exclusion where a woman’s information is incomplete or incorrectly recorded.

The original eligibility ceiling of ₹1 lakh per year was comparatively restrictive. In January 2026, the government expanded eligibility for certain additional categories of women and raised the income ceiling to ₹1.80 lakh for those categories (The Tribune, 2026). These included mothers whose children performed well in government schools, mothers whose children achieved grade-level competency under the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat Mission) and mothers who helped rehabilitate children affected by severe or moderate acute malnutrition.

The January 2026 revisions also introduced an important change in the payment mechanism. From the second month onward, ₹1,100 of the ₹2,100 assistance would be credited to the beneficiary’s savings account, while ₹1,000 would be deposited into a government-operated recurring or fixed-deposit account and released upon maturity. This preserved the nominal value of the benefit but reduced the amount immediately available for household spending.

Application and payment

The scheme is implemented through digital registration and verification. The process requires applicants to have accurate identity, residence, income and bank-account information. Reports indicate that Aadhaar or e-KYC-related issues prevented some approved or eligible women from receiving the initial instalment. Around 1.75 lakh women (Navbharat Times, 2025) were reportedly waiting for the first payment because of verification and related problems.

Payment is made through DBT, which reduces dependence on intermediaries and creates a traceable transaction record. It can also reduce leakage, provided that bank accounts are active and correctly linked. The revised notification allows beneficiaries to update or correct bank-account information through the Lado Lakshmi application after due verification.

The scheme therefore operates through a combination of:

digital beneficiary identification;
income and residence verification;
online application;
e-KYC and bank-account authentication;
approval by the relevant administration;
and periodic DBT transfers.

The arrangement is administratively efficient in principle, but its success depends on the accuracy of databases, the accessibility of the application process and the capacity of local officials to resolve errors.

PERFORMANCE

Growth in beneficiary coverage

The scheme’s implementation has expanded considerably since the first payment. The first major disbursement in November 2025 reportedly reached more than 5.22 lakh women. By December, the second installment was reported to have reached 7,01,965 women (Chief Minister’s Office, Haryana, 2025). In January 2026, the government was reported to be assisting approximately 8.5 lakh women under the scheme (Chief Minister’s Office, Haryana, 2026) . The number increased further during the subsequent installments. In February 2026, approximately 9.22 lakh women reportedly received ₹193 crore (Chief Minister’s Office, Haryana, 2026a).

The seventh installment in May involved ₹205 crore for approximately 9.76 lakh women (Chief Minister’s Office, Haryana, 2026b). By July 2026, the ninth installment had reached approximately 9.98 lakh women, with ₹209.69 crore transferred through DBT. The cumulative amount disbursed through nine instalments was reported at ₹1,832.69 crore (Chief Minister’s Office, Haryana, 2026c).

The figures indicate a substantial expansion in coverage, but they also reveal a gap between the initial target of 20 lakh women and the approximately 9.98 lakh women receiving the ninth installment. This difference does not necessarily mean that the scheme has failed. It may reflect ongoing verification, exclusion criteria, incomplete applications and the gradual addition of new beneficiaries. Nevertheless, the gap should be clearly reported because it shows that announced coverage and operational coverage are not the same.

Figure 1: Reported beneficiary-coverage milestones under the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana

Source: Compiled by the author from Chief Minister’s Office, Haryana press releases, 2025-2026

Fiscal performance

The increase from ₹5,000 crore in 2025–26 to ₹6,500 crore in 2026–27 signals the scale of the state’s commitment. At the same time, a recurring transfer of ₹2,100 per woman creates a continuing expenditure obligation. The fiscal cost will increase further if the government expands eligibility or brings the scheme closer to the initial target of 20 lakh women.

The scheme’s budget should therefore be assessed alongside actual expenditure and beneficiary numbers. A budget provision does not automatically mean that the full amount has been transferred. Future budget documents should clearly distinguish between allocation, revised estimates, actual expenditure and pending liabilities.

Figure 2: Budget provision for the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, 2025–26 and 2026–27

Source: Compiled by the author from the Haryana Finance Department’s official Budget 2025–26 and Budget 2026–27 documents.

IMPACT

The immediate impact of DDLLY is its creation of a predictable source of income for eligible women. Even a modest monthly transfer can help households manage food expenses, transport costs, school-related expenditure, medicines and routine consumption. For women who do not have independent earnings, receiving money in their own bank account may also increase their ability to participate in household decisions.

However, the scheme’s impact should not be overstated. A bank transfer by itself does not establish that women have gained greater bargaining power, entered employment or achieved financial independence. Those outcomes depend on whether beneficiaries control the money, whether the amount is sufficient in relation to household costs and whether the transfer is accompanied by access to skills, employment, credit and public services.

The scheme’s design has a potentially positive gender dimension because the transfer is directed to women rather than to the household generally. Yet the revised payment structure complicates this feature. While the nominal assistance remains ₹2,100, only ₹1,100 is immediately available from the second month onwards, with the remaining ₹1,000 placed in a deposit arrangement. The deposit may encourage savings, but it also limits the woman’s short-term control over the full benefit. This trade-off deserves greater public discussion.

There is also a possible social-protection effect. By covering women who may not qualify for pensions or other assistance, the scheme can fill a gap between traditional social-security programmes and employment-linked welfare. Its exclusion of women already receiving other social-security benefits is intended to reduce duplication, but it may also create difficult choices for women whose existing assistance is lower than ₹2,100.

At present, however, there is limited independent evidence on longer-term outcomes. The available public data is stronger on the number of beneficiaries and money transferred than on changes in women’s employment, consumption, savings, health, education or decision-making. The next phase of evaluation should therefore move beyond payment statistics.

EMERGING ISSUES

Eligibility and exclusion

The original income ceiling of ₹1 lakh and the 15-year residence requirement significantly narrow eligibility. These conditions may exclude women who are economically vulnerable but unable to establish the required documentation. Opposition criticism of the conditions led the government to review the eligibility framework in January 2026.

The later inclusion of mothers linked to children’s educational performance and nutritional rehabilitation also raises questions about the internal logic of the scheme. The programme began as an income-support measure for women, but it is increasingly being connected to education and nutrition outcomes. Such convergence may be useful, but the government should clearly explain whether DDLLY is a universal women’s income-support scheme or a targeted incentive programme.

Administrative barriers

Reports of delayed approvals and non-receipt of instalments suggest that digital delivery has not removed administrative difficulties. Some women may face problems with Aadhaar authentication, bank-account linking, income verification or incorrect information in family databases. In January 2026, reports from Panipat indicated that women who believed they were eligible were still waiting for their applications to be approved (Amar Ujala, 2026). The government must therefore distinguish between fraud prevention and unnecessary exclusion. Verification is important, but beneficiaries should receive clear reasons for rejection and a simple appeal mechanism.

Payment design and women’s agency

The decision to split ₹2,100 into ₹1,100 immediately and ₹1,000 through a government-operated deposit arrangement may reduce the state’s immediate cash burden and promote savings. However, it also changes the character of the promised benefit. The government should publish clear information about the maturity period, account ownership, interest, withdrawal rules and the beneficiary’s legal control over the deposited amount.

Fiscal sustainability and transparency

The increase in budget allocation demonstrates political and policy commitment, but it also raises questions regarding long-term sustainability. The state should publish regular data on:

approved beneficiaries;
active beneficiaries;
rejected applications;
pending applications;
instalments released;
actual expenditure;
and district-wise coverage.

Without such information, it is difficult to assess whether increasing allocations are translating into proportional improvements in coverage.

WAY FORWARD

First, Haryana should publish a monthly DDLLY dashboard showing district-wise applications, approvals, rejections, pending cases, active beneficiaries and payments released. The dashboard should clearly distinguish between registered, approved and paid beneficiaries.

Second, the government should establish a time-bound grievance mechanism. Women whose applications are rejected or whose payments are delayed should receive a written reason and have access to an appeal through local offices, helplines and Gram Sabhas or ward committees.

Third, digital delivery should be supported by assisted access. Common service centres, Anganwadi workers, self-help groups and local bodies can help women complete applications, correct bank details and complete e-KYC. A digital scheme cannot be fully inclusive if beneficiaries must navigate it without human assistance.

Fourth, the government should clarify the revised payment structure. Beneficiaries need clear information about the ₹1,100 direct transfer, the ₹1,000 deposit, maturity, interest and early withdrawal. If the deposit is intended to promote savings, its impact should be evaluated rather than assumed.

Fifth, the scheme should be linked with wider economic opportunities. Women receiving the transfer could be offered financial-literacy programmes, skill training, employment counselling, entrepreneurship support and access to self-help-group credit. Cash support can provide immediate relief, but long-term empowerment requires pathways to independent and sustainable income.

Finally, Haryana should commission an independent evaluation after the scheme has operated for a reasonable period. The evaluation should study consumption, savings, debt, women’s decision-making, employment and exclusion. The programme has already demonstrated that the state can transfer substantial sums to women at scale. Its next test is whether that transfer produces durable improvements in women’s economic security.

In conclusion, the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana is an important experiment in state-led women’s income support. Its expansion from 5.22 lakh women in the first major instalment to nearly 10 lakh women by the ninth instalment indicates growing administrative reach. Yet its actual contribution to women’s empowerment will depend on the quality of targeting, the reliability of payments and the extent to which beneficiaries have control over the assistance. The scheme has moved beyond announcement and entered the more difficult phase of implementation. Its future credibility will depend on transparent reporting, accessible grievance redressal and evidence of outcomes beyond the amount transferred.

REFERENCES

Amar Ujala. (2026, January 26). लाडो लक्ष्मी योजना में पात्र होते हुए भी महिलाओं को नहीं मिल रहा लाभ, आवेदन स्वीकृति में हो रही देरी [Eligible women are not receiving benefits under the Lado Lakshmi Yojana; delay in application approvals]. https://www.amarujala.com/haryana/panipat/despite-being-eligible-for-the-lado-laxmi-yojana-women-are-not-receiving-benefits-and-there-is-a-delay-in-approving-their-applications-panipat-news-c-244-1-pnp1011-151179-2026-01-26

Chief Minister’s Office, Haryana. (2026, July 10). Press release—10 July 2026. https://haryanacmoffice.gov.in/press-release/cmo-haryana-press-release-10-july-2026

Directorate of Social Justice and Empowerment, Haryana. (2025). Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana. https://socialjusticehry.gov.in/deen-dayal-lado-lakshmi-yojana-ddlly/

Finance Department, Government of Haryana. (2025). Budget 2025–26. https://finhry.gov.in/budget-2025-26/

Finance Department, Government of Haryana. (2026). Budget 2026–27. https://finhry.gov.in/budget-2026-27/

Government of Haryana. (2025, September 17). Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, 2025 [Government notification]. Directorate of Social Justice and Empowerment, Haryana. https://socialjusticehry.gov.in/document/regarding-notification-of-deen-dayal-lado-lakshmi-yojana-2025/

Hindustan Times. (2025, December 5). Haryana releases second tranche of Lado Lakshmi Yojana. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-releases-second-tranche-of-lado-lakshmi-yojana-101764875995035.html

Hindustan Times. (2026, February 11). Haryana: ₹1,431 crore disbursed to 56 lakh beneficiaries under 18 welfare schemes, says Saini. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/haryana-1-431cr-disbursed-to-56l-beneficiaries-under-18-welfare-schemes-says-saini-101770750538861.html

Indian Express. (2025, September 26). Saini formally launches Lado Lakshmi Yojana, says 20 lakh women to benefit in the first phase. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/nayab-saini-haryana-lado-lakshmi-yojana-women-benefit-10272032/

Navbharat Times. (2025, November 3). Lado Laxmi Yojana: Aadhaar e-KYC required for the first instalment of ₹2,100. https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/government-schemes/haryana/aadhar-ekyc-must-in-final-step-to-get-deen-dayal-lado-lakshmi-yojana-1st-installment-of-2100-rupees-know-hot-to-do-it/articleshow/125049555.cms

The Print. (2025, September 16). Haryana notifies Lado Lakshmi scheme, but criteria for ₹2,100 aid are far from BJP’s Sankalp Patra. https://theprint.in/india/governance/haryana-notifies-lado-lakshmi-scheme-but-criteria-for-rs-2100-aid-far-cry-from-bjps-sankalp-patra/2744658/

The Print. (2026, January 2). Haryana tweaks Lado Lakshmi rules again: Cash payout halved, mothers of bright students now eligible. https://theprint.in/india/haryana-tweaks-lado-lakshmi-rules-again-cash-payout-halved-mothers-of-bright-students-now-eligible/2816897/

The Tribune. (2026, January 2). Haryana government expands Lado Lakshmi scheme and raises income ceiling. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/govt-expands-lado-lakshmi-scheme-raises-income-ceiling-to-rs-1-8-lakh/

The Tribune. (2026, January 5). Haryana government to review Lado Lakshmi Yojana eligibility after opposition criticism. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/govt-to-review-lado-lakshmi-yojana-eligibility-after-oppositions-criticism/

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

Karnavi Shende is a Research and Editorial Intern at IMPRI (Impact and Policy Research Institute). She holds a Master’s degree in Politics with specialization in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. His academic and research interests include International Relations, Defence and Strategic Studies, Public Policy, Gender, and Human Rights. She aims to deepen her understanding of policy research, contribute to evidence-based policymaking, and engage with contemporary governance and development challenges.