CAG Audit Finds Rs 3,544 Crore Excess Expenditure on Ladki Bahin Yojana
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, launched in June 2024, provides Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women aged 21-65 from economically weaker households in Maharashtra. The scheme aims to enhance women's economic independence through direct financial assistance.
However, a recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed that the state government spent Rs 33,237.24 crore on the scheme against an authorised budget of Rs 29,693.09 crore, resulting in an excess expenditure of Rs 3,541.16 crore. This overspend has raised questions about the scheme's financial management.
The audit also noted that the state's gender budget—which aggregates all schemes benefiting women across departments—has surged from Rs 3,672 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 64,008 crore in the 2025-26 budget estimate. The Ladki Bahin Yojana accounts for the largest share of this increase.
Meanwhile, the number of beneficiaries under the scheme has dropped significantly. The government has removed over 92 lakh beneficiaries, reducing the count from about 2.43 crore in FY25 to just over 1.5 crore—a nearly 38% decline. Officials attribute most deletions to failure to complete mandatory e-KYC or non-compliance with eligibility criteria such as income and age limits.
Despite the focus on the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the state continues to fund other women-focused programmes, including the Lek Ladki Yojana (budget: Rs 690 crore for FY26), the Manodhairya Yojana for survivors of violence (Rs 15 crore), one-stop centres, working women hostels, and self-help group initiatives.
