The Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana, launched by President Droupadi Murmu on March 2, 2026, is a comprehensive financial roadmap designed to replace the old “Ladli” scheme. Its primary goal is to ensure that girls from economically weaker backgrounds do not drop out of school or college due to lack of funds.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the scheme, families must meet the following four specific requirements:
First is residency; the family must have been residing in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi for at least the last three years. Second is birth; the girl child must have been born within Delhi. Third is the income Limit, the annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹1.20 lakh. Fourth is family size; the benefit is restricted to a maximum of two living girl children per household.
The government does not give a lump sum upfront; instead, it invests a total base amount of ₹56,000 in a phased manner through SBI Life. This investment grows with interest and is expected to exceed ₹1 lakh by the time the beneficiary reaches adulthood.
The funds are released in installments at key milestones: ₹11,000 at birth, followed by ₹5,000 each time the girl reaches a new educational stage (Class 1, 6, 9, 10, and 12). A final ₹20,000 is provided in phases during her graduation or professional diploma.
The “Lakhpati” status is contingent on two major factors. First, the girl must remain unmarried until at least the age of 18. Second, she must complete her higher education; the full maturity amount is typically accessible once she turns 21, provided she has finished her graduation or diploma. If these educational milestones are not met, the accumulated funds are returned to the government.
This scheme will play a major role in transforming women’s educational and financial involvement in the society. There are many choke points existing in the societal attitudes towards women and their education, which this initiative seeks to ameliorate.
Currently, most girls dropout at transition points, classes 10th and 12th , in their education, causing an education leakage. This is mainly attached to the narrative of regarding a girl child as a ‘burden’, which further devolves into her early marriage, low investment in her education and health. Through the mechanism and design of this initiative, such as, the phased installments and Direct Benefit Transfer, not only would the women beneficiaries gain agency, they would be positioned as a financial strength of the family and eventually of the state.