Ladli Behna: MP CM to transfer ₹2,148 crore to 1.25 crore women
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh will push ₹2,148 crore into the accounts of 1.25 crore women in a single day — the 39th instalment of Ladli Behna, sweetened with a ₹250 Raksha Bandhan bonus. With cumulative disbursements now at ₹63,248 crore and a ₹23,882 crore budget line for 2026-27, this scheme has become the BJP's most expensive and politically consequential bet in the state.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Yadav will transfer ₹2,148 crore to over 1.25 crore Ladli Behna beneficiaries on 18 August at a programme in Maihar .
The 39th instalment of ₹1,835.46 crore is disbursed at ₹1,500 per woman ; an additional ₹312.83 crore is a special Raksha Bandhan gift of ₹250 per beneficiary .
Each eligible woman receives ₹1,750 directly via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) .
Cumulative disbursements under the scheme have crossed ₹63,248 crore across 39 instalments since June 2023 .
The state has budgeted ₹23,882.81 crore for the scheme in 2026-27 .
Development projects worth ₹256 crore in Maihar district will also be inaugurated at the same event.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will transfer more than ₹2,148 crore to the bank accounts of over 1.25 crore beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana at a state-level programme in Maihar on Wednesday, 18 August. The disbursement covers the scheme's 39th instalment along with a special Raksha Bandhan bonus, making it one of the larger single-day transfers under the flagship welfare scheme.
Instalment Breakdown
The 39th instalment amounts to ₹1,835.46 crore, disbursed at ₹1,500 per beneficiary. An additional ₹312.83 crore has been earmarked as a special Raksha Bandhan gift of ₹250 per woman. Combined, each eligible beneficiary will receive ₹1,750 directly into her bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), according to the Chief Minister's Office.
Development Projects in Maihar
Beyond the financial transfer, Chief Minister Yadav will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth approximately ₹256 crore in Maihar district during the same programme. The event underscores the government's effort to combine welfare delivery with infrastructure visibility at the district level.
Scheme Background and Growth
The Ladli Behna scheme was launched in June 2023 by the then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to provide monthly financial assistance to women and promote their economic independence. The monthly payout began at ₹1,000, was subsequently raised to ₹1,250, and now stands at ₹1,500. The scheme continued uninterrupted after the BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh in the 2023 Assembly elections and has since grown into one of the state's most prominent women-centric welfare programmes.
Cumulative Outlay and Budget Provision
With this latest transfer, the state government will have disbursed a cumulative ₹63,248 crore to beneficiaries across 39 instalments since the scheme's launch, according to the CMO. For the financial year 2026-27, the government has made a budgetary provision of ₹23,882.81 crore for the scheme — signalling its continued priority status in state finances. The sheer scale of the cumulative outlay positions Ladli Behna among the largest state-run direct-benefit programmes in India.
What Comes Next
The Maihar event is expected to draw large participation from beneficiaries across the region. As the scheme approaches its third year of operation, analysts and opposition leaders have periodically questioned its fiscal sustainability, though the government maintains it is fully budgeted. Future instalment increases, if any, are likely to be announced around major calendar events as has been the pattern so far.
Point of View
248 crore disbursed and a ₹23,882 crore annual budget line, the fiscal commitment is substantial, yet independent assessments of its impact on women's economic independence remain sparse. The monthly payout of ₹1,500 is meaningful but falls well short of a living wage, raising the question of whether the scheme builds lasting economic agency or primarily consolidates electoral loyalty. The real test will be whether future governments — of any stripe — can sustain or exit it without political cost.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana?
The Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana is a Madhya Pradesh government scheme launched in June 2023 to provide monthly direct cash transfers to eligible women in the state. It started at ₹1,000 per month and has since been raised to ₹1,500 per month per beneficiary.
How much will each woman receive in the 18 August transfer?
Each eligible woman will receive ₹1,750 directly in her bank account — ₹1,500 as the regular 39th instalment and an additional ₹250 as a special Raksha Bandhan gift announced by the state government.
How much has the Madhya Pradesh government disbursed under Ladli Behna so far?
The state government will have disbursed a cumulative ₹63,248 crore to beneficiaries across 39 instalments since the scheme's launch in June 2023, according to the Chief Minister's Office.
Who launched the Ladli Behna scheme and when?
The scheme was launched in June 2023 by the then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of the BJP. It continued after the BJP retained power in the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, with CM Mohan Yadav now overseeing its implementation.
What is the budget allocated for Ladli Behna in 2026-27?
The Madhya Pradesh government has made a budgetary provision of ₹23,882.81 crore for the Ladli Behna scheme in the financial year 2026-27, reflecting its status as a high-priority welfare programme in the state.
