Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Yojana Beneficiary Count Drops Following CAG Audit

The beneficiary database for Maharashtra's flagship welfare program, the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, has recorded a significant drop in verified registrants. The reduction, announced on 16 July 2026 in Mumbai, follows a performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, which identified duplicate applications, missing documents, and ineligible registrations across several districts.

Context & Background

The Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched by the Maharashtra government to provide direct financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month to women from economically weaker sections, aiming to improve nutritional standards and support financial independence. The scheme experienced rapid enrollment, with millions of applications submitted through online portals and local helpdesks. However, due to the rapid rollout, initial verification processes faced gaps. The CAG initiated a performance audit of the welfare scheme's database to evaluate the efficiency of public fund utilization and prevent leakages.

The audit report highlighted that thousands of applications shared identical bank accounts, Aadhaar numbers, or mobile contacts, indicating duplicate registrations. Additionally, several applicants did not meet the income and asset criteria, leading to the suspension of payments pending verification.

Database Verification & Public Accountability

Following the CAG's findings, the Maharashtra Department of Women and Child Development has initiated a state-wide verification drive. The administration is utilizing Aadhaar-enabled verification checks to match applicant profiles with income tax databases and land record registries. Ineligible applications, such as those from families owning commercial vehicles or receiving multiple state pensions, are being removed from the system. This database cleaning is estimated to reduce the state's welfare expenditure by approximately 15%, ensuring that public funds are targeted to genuine beneficiaries. The government has also updated the registration portal, mandating biometric or OTP-based verification for all future applicants to prevent duplicate entries.

Exam Relevance & Syllabus Connection

This welfare policy issue is highly relevant for competitive examinations under UPSC GS Paper 2 (Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections; Role of CAG in auditing and public accountability). Candidates should study the functions of the CAG, the role of direct benefit transfers (DBT) in reducing leakages, and the fiscal management of state-level social security nets.

Key Takeaways & Figures

• Audit Action: CAG performance audit leads to a drop in verified beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin Yojana.
• Announcement Date: Verification drive details released by the state government on 16 July 2026.
• Monthly Benefit: Scheme transfers ₹1,500 monthly directly to the bank accounts of eligible women.
• Audit Findings: Identified duplicate applications, identical bank records, and income criteria violations.
• Corrective Measure: Mandatory Aadhaar-linked biometric verification introduced for all database profiles.

Source & Attribution

According to the official audit brief released by the Office of the Accountant General, Maharashtra, and statements by the state WCD minister on 16 July 2026, the database cleanup is underway. The development was reported by major national dailies, including the Indian Express and the Times of India.