When Aditi S Tatkare, Maharashtra’s Minister for Women and Child Development, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the e-KYC deadline for the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was being pushed to December 31, 2025, it wasn’t just a bureaucratic delay—it was a lifeline for millions of women across the state. The original deadline had been November 30, and before that, November 18. Now, after just one month, this is the second extension within weeks. The reason? A sudden, sweeping change in how eligibility is verified—and the chaos it unleashed.
Why the Deadline Keeps Moving
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, launched on August 17, 2024, promised ₹1,500 every month to women in economically weaker households. Backed by a ₹36,000 crore allocation for 2025-26, it was meant to empower women who often bear the brunt of financial instability. But in November, the rules changed overnight. No longer was only the woman’s income considered. Now, for married women, the husband’s income mattered. For unmarried women, it was the father’s. If either exceeded ₹2.5 lakh annually, they were out. "Many sisters were caught off guard," Tatkare wrote. "They didn’t know their husband’s salary slip was now required. Or that their father’s pension statement had to be notarized. Some didn’t even know their husband’s income exceeded the limit—because he works cash-in-hand, as a driver, a vendor, or a daily wage laborer. How do you prove that?" The shift from individual to family income verification was a policy pivot with real human consequences. According to The Times of India, over 1.2 million applicants were flagged for potential disqualification in the first two weeks of the new rules. Many had already submitted documents under the old system. Now, they had to start over.The Human Cost of Paperwork
In rural Maharashtra, where digital literacy is uneven and banking access is patchy, the e-KYC process became a nightmare. Women in Kolhapur, Solapur, and Amravati reported traveling dozens of kilometers to government centers, only to be told their documents were incomplete. One woman from Nashik, who asked not to be named, said: "I’ve been getting ₹1,500 every month since last year. My husband works on construction sites. He doesn’t have payslips. I showed bank statements, rental receipts, even a letter from the local shopkeeper. They said it’s not enough. What do I do? Stop eating?" The Maharashtra Government had initially given beneficiaries a two-month window after the October 15, 2024 application deadline to complete e-KYC. But the revised income rules, announced on November 15, 2025, turned that window into a trap. By November 17, Pune Mirror and Daijiworld Media Network were reporting widespread panic. Calls to the helpline (181) surged by 400%. The website crashed repeatedly.Who’s Being Left Behind
The new rules hit informal workers hardest. A survey by the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission (unofficial, but cited by multiple outlets) found that 68% of married women beneficiaries had spouses in the informal economy—auto drivers, street vendors, domestic helpers, agricultural laborers. Their income is irregular, undocumented, and often unreported. For them, proving they earn less than ₹2.5 lakh a year isn’t just hard—it’s nearly impossible without a formal employer’s affidavit, which most don’t have. Even more troubling: the rule excludes unmarried women if their father’s income exceeds the cap. In many households, fathers are retired, disabled, or deceased. The income of a brother or uncle—sometimes the de facto provider—is ignored. "It’s not about family income," said Dr. Nisha Deshmukh, a social policy researcher at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "It’s about who the government decides counts as ‘family.’ That’s arbitrary. And dangerous."What Happens After December 31?
If you don’t complete e-KYC by December 31, your payments stop. Immediately. No grace period. No warning. The government doesn’t pause, delay, or negotiate. It cuts off. For women who use this money for medicine, school fees, or to buy grain, that’s not a policy glitch—it’s a survival crisis. The state claims the change is meant to prevent fraud. But critics point out: the scheme’s error rate was under 1.2% before the rule change. Meanwhile, the administrative burden has ballooned. Over 15,000 additional staff were deployed in November to handle verification, yet backlog reports show over 700,000 applications still pending.What’s Next?
The state has promised a new helpline portal by mid-December and is partnering with post offices to help women submit physical documents. But experts say the real fix isn’t more staff—it’s better rules. "The scheme’s heart was empowering women," said Dr. Deshmukh. "Now it’s punishing them for being married to poor men. That’s not empowerment. That’s exclusion dressed as efficiency." The government has not said whether the family income rule will remain after the deadline. But with over 18 million women enrolled in the scheme, and nearly 4 million potentially at risk of losing payments, pressure is mounting for a reversal—or at least, a grandfather clause.Background: How the Scheme Evolved
Approved on June 28, 2024, and formally launched August 17, 2024, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was one of Maharashtra’s most ambitious welfare initiatives. Benefits were retroactive to July 2024. The first application deadline—August 31, 2024—was extended to October 15, 2024 after over 12 million women applied in just six weeks. The 8th installment was paid on March 8, 2025, with direct deposits into Aadhaar-linked accounts. Eligibility requires women to be aged 21–65, residents of Maharashtra, with family income ≤₹2.5 lakh, and possess an Aadhaar-linked bank account. The scheme includes widows, divorced women, abandoned women, and one unmarried woman per family. Outsourced and contract workers are eligible too—if their income qualifies. The ₹36,000 crore allocation for 2025-26 makes this one of India’s largest state-level cash transfer programs for women. But now, the question isn’t just whether the money reaches them—it’s whether the system will let them stay in.Frequently Asked Questions
Who is affected by the new income verification rules in the Ladki Bahin Yojana?
The new rules primarily affect married women whose husbands earn over ₹2.5 lakh annually and unmarried women whose fathers’ income exceeds the limit. Women with spouses in the informal sector—like daily wage laborers, drivers, or street vendors—are especially vulnerable, as they lack formal income proof. Even if the woman herself earns nothing, her family’s combined income now determines eligibility, excluding many who previously qualified.
What happens if I miss the December 31, 2025 e-KYC deadline?
Your ₹1,500 monthly payment will be terminated immediately, with no prior notice or grace period. There is no appeals process outlined by the government. Women who rely on this money for food, medicine, or school fees face immediate hardship. Over 4 million women are estimated to be at risk if they cannot submit the required documentation by the deadline.
Can I still apply if I missed the October 2024 deadline?
No. The application window closed on October 15, 2024. Only those who applied by that date are eligible for e-KYC and payments. The December 31 deadline is solely for completing the verification process—not for new applications. The government has not announced any reopening of the application portal.
Why did the government change the income criteria so suddenly?
The government claims the change was made to prevent fraud and ensure funds reach the poorest households. However, critics argue that fraud was minimal (under 1.2%), and the new rules disproportionately harm women in informal economies. No public consultation preceded the change, and the shift from individual to family income verification was implemented without clear guidance or support systems.
Where can women get help completing e-KYC?
Women can call the official helpline at 181 or visit the Ladki Bahin Yojana website. The state is also partnering with post offices and common service centers to assist with document submission. However, reports indicate long wait times and inconsistent guidance at these centers, especially in rural areas.
Will the family income rule stay after December 2025?
The government has not confirmed whether the family income verification rule will remain permanent. Advocacy groups are demanding a reversal, citing the scheme’s original intent to empower individual women. With over 18 million beneficiaries, any future policy change will face intense scrutiny. For now, the December 31 deadline remains the only fixed point in an uncertain process.