The Delhi Lakshmi Yojana (DLY), the Delhi government's women's financial empowerment scheme, crossed 5 lakh registrations on its portal by Saturday afternoon, 8 August, just seven days after its launch, according to an official statement. The surge underscores the scale of demand among women residents of the capital for structured financial assistance.

Registration Numbers at a Glance

By 8 pm on Friday, the DLY portal had logged 4.87 lakh registrations, with 1.99 lakh applications formally submitted. Overnight activity and an early-morning rush on Saturday pushed the total past the 5-lakh mark, officials confirmed. The pace of sign-ups — averaging well over 70,000 registrations per day — points to significant grassroots outreach across Delhi's neighbourhoods.

How the Scheme Was Renamed and Why

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the Delhi Cabinet had originally cleared the scheme under the name 'Mahila Samriddhi Yojana' before renaming it Delhi Lakshmi Yojana. The rebranding, she explained, was intended to better reflect the government's broader vision of women's dignity, prosperity, and economic empowerment — moving beyond the framing of conventional cash-transfer programmes.

Two Financial Options for Beneficiaries

The scheme offers eligible women a choice between two disbursement structures. Under the first option, ₹1,000 per month is credited to a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallet for day-to-day expenses, while the remaining ₹1,500 is deposited into a recurring deposit or fixed deposit (RD/FD) account. Under the second option, the full ₹2,500 per month goes into an RD/FD, enabling beneficiaries to accumulate savings along with interest over time.

This dual-track design is notably different from flat cash-transfer models seen in similar state schemes, blending immediate liquidity with long-term wealth building.

CBDC Wallet Restrictions

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also announced that a digital negative list will govern spending from the CBDC wallet. Funds credited to the wallet cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, narcotic substances, lottery tickets, or to participate in gambling or betting. The restriction list may be expanded by the government from time to time. 'The financial assistance is utilised for the welfare of families,' Gupta said, explaining the rationale behind the spending controls.

What Comes Next

With over 1.99 lakh applications already submitted for processing, the government faces the task of verification and timely disbursal. The scheme's design — particularly the CBDC wallet component — will be an early test of Delhi's digital financial infrastructure at scale. How quickly the first payments reach verified beneficiaries will determine whether the strong registration numbers translate into sustained public trust.