New Delhi | July 30, 2026
Delhi Lakshmi Yojana Row: AAP, Congress Raise Questions Over ₹2,500 Eligibility Rules; BJP Defends Women’s Welfare Scheme
The Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, under which eligible women are to receive ₹2,500 per month, has sparked a political controversy in the national capital. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has described the initiative as a significant step toward women’s economic empowerment and the fulfillment of an election promise, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress have criticized the scheme’s eligibility conditions, claiming they could exclude a large number of beneficiaries.
The opposition alleges that stringent qualification criteria undermine the original promise of universal financial assistance, while the BJP has dismissed the criticism as misleading.
AAP Questions Eligibility Conditions
AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal accused the Delhi government of excluding women with more than three children from receiving the monthly financial assistance.
He questioned the policy by contrasting it with public statements encouraging larger families, arguing that women with more than three children should not be denied benefits under the scheme.
Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bharadwaj also criticized several eligibility requirements during a press conference. He alleged that before the Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP had promised ₹2,500 per month to every woman, but the final scheme now includes conditions that could significantly reduce the number of beneficiaries.
According to Bharadwaj, the concerns include:
- Exclusion of women above 60 years of age
- Requirement of 10 years of residence in Delhi
- Disqualification based on certain legal cases
- Eligibility linked to electricity consumption
- Other financial and administrative conditions
He claimed the government has projected 17 million (1.7 crore) beneficiaries, whereas only around 5 lakh women may ultimately qualify under the current criteria. He described the scheme as a “betrayal” of the promises made to women voters.
BJP Defends the Scheme
The Delhi BJP welcomed the launch of the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, calling it a major initiative aimed at strengthening women’s financial independence.
West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat and New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj said the previous AAP government had delayed the implementation of several Central welfare schemes in Delhi.
They stated that after the BJP assumed office, pending schemes were implemented and the promise of providing ₹2,500 per month to eligible women was now being fulfilled through the Lakshmi Yojana.
According to Bansuri Swaraj, nearly 17 lakh eligible women aged between 21 and 60 years are expected to benefit from the scheme, describing it as an extension of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Women-Led Development.”
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor rejected AAP’s allegations, stating that the opposition was presenting distorted facts.
He also disputed the claim that all women above 60 years of age had been excluded and maintained that the first phase of the scheme would benefit more than 17 lakh women.
Congress Seeks Removal of Eligibility Conditions
The Delhi Congress has also opposed several provisions of the scheme.
Senior Congress leader and spokesperson Dr. Naresh Kumar submitted a memorandum to Lieutenant Governor Tarunjit Singh Sandhu, urging the government to withdraw what he described as restrictive eligibility conditions and extend benefits in line with the BJP’s election promise.
According to Dr. Kumar, several conditions may prevent many women from receiving assistance, including:
- Mandatory investment of ₹1,500 from the monthly assistance into a Recurring Deposit (RD) or Fixed Deposit (FD)
- Annual family income below ₹2.5 lakh
- Electricity consumption below 200 units
- Exclusion of women with more than three children
- Exclusion of income tax and GST return filers
- Exclusion of pension beneficiaries
- Exclusion of individuals with criminal records
- Exclusion of families of government employees
Congress claimed that out of nearly 75 lakh women in Delhi, only about 17 lakh may ultimately qualify under the current framework.
Political Debate Continues
The Delhi Lakshmi Yojana has become the latest flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the opposition.
While the BJP maintains that the scheme is a targeted welfare initiative designed to support economically eligible women, AAP and Congress argue that the eligibility conditions contradict the broader promises made during the election campaign.
The effectiveness of the scheme and its eventual reach will likely remain a key political issue as implementation progresses.
Key Highlights
- Delhi Lakshmi Yojana promises ₹2,500 per month for eligible women.
- AAP claims women with more than three children are excluded from the scheme.
- Congress has demanded the removal of several eligibility conditions.
- BJP says the scheme fulfills its election promise and promotes women’s economic empowerment.
- The government estimates 17 lakh beneficiaries, while opposition parties dispute the figure.
- The eligibility criteria have become the center of a political debate in Delhi.
