‘Ladki Bahin’ Beneficiaries Face Two-Month E-KYC Deadline or Risk Losing ₹1,500 Monthly Aid

The Maharashtra government has mandated that all beneficiaries of its flagship welfare program, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, must complete the electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification within a strict two-month deadline. This critical directive, issued via a Government Resolution (GR) on Thursday, is aimed at purifying the scheme’s recipient list and ensuring transparency.

Key Highlights:

Mandatory Verification: All approximately 2.25 crore women receiving the monthly \text{₹}1,500 benefit must undergo Aadhaar-based e-KYC on the official portal, ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in.
Two-Month Deadline: Beneficiaries have been given two months from the date of the circular (mid-September 2025) to successfully complete the verification process.
Consequence of Non-Compliance: The GR explicitly states that the monthly financial assistance will be withheld from any beneficiary who fails to complete the Aadhaar authentication within the given timeframe.
Reason for the Move: The decision follows a state audit that found nearly 26.34 lakh ineligible individuals, including men, had enrolled and were incorrectly drawing the monthly allowance meant for women aged 21-65 with an annual family income below \text{₹}2.5 lakh.
Ministerial Appeal: Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare emphasized that the online process is “simple and convenient” and urged all eligible women to comply immediately to ensure their payments continue without disruption.
The government has also made this an annual requirement, stating that beneficiaries must carry out the e-KYC process compulsorily every year. While the move is intended to weed out fraudulent beneficiaries, some women, particularly from low-income and digitally illiterate backgrounds, have raised concerns about technical glitches and the difficulty of navigating the online process.