Government Schemes for Women in 2026: Central and State Yojanas

Which government schemes are there for women in 2026?

Schemes for women fall into two layers. Central schemes run across India and cover motherhood, a daughter’s savings, cooking gas, safety, loans and rural work. State schemes add monthly cash transfers and free bus travel, and these differ a lot from state to state. Most women can get something from both layers.

This list covers the schemes most people search for. Each name links to a page in our scheme finder with the full eligibility, documents and official links, checked on 30 October 2026.

Central government schemes for women (mahila yojana list)

Two more are worth knowing. The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension gives poor widows aged 40 to 79 a central share of ₹300 a month, and states add their own amount, so the total you get depends on your state. And PM Mudra gives collateral-free business loans (Shishu up to ₹50,000, Kishor up to ₹5 lakh, Tarun up to ₹10 lakh) to anyone starting or running a small business, which many women use for tailoring, beauty parlours, shops and dairy.

State schemes for women: Ladli Behna, Ladki Bahin, Gruha Lakshmi and more

Several states pay women a fixed amount every month. These are the ones with the most searches. The amounts below are what the official portals showed at our last check, and some have changed recently, so confirm on the portal before you rely on a number.

Watch outAmounts change. Maharashtra has promised a raise to ₹2,100, but it was not confirmed as paid at our last check. Tamil Nadu’s new government (from May 2026) has spoken of a higher amount. West Bengal’s Annapurna Yojana is new, so check the state portal for start dates. Always check the official portal linked on each scheme page.

For daughters, states also run savings and cash schemes: Uttar Pradesh’s Kanya Sumangala pays ₹25,000 in six instalments from birth to college, Gujarat’s Vahli Dikri pays ₹1,10,000 in stages up to age 18, and Madhya Pradesh’s Ladli Laxmi pays in stages until the girl turns 21.

Rural work for women: what changed from MGNREGA to VB-G RAM G?

Women do a large share of rural guaranteed work. From 1 July 2026, MGNREGA (100 days of work a year) was replaced by VB-G RAM G, the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin). It offers up to 125 days of paid work a year to every rural household whose adults are willing to do unskilled manual work, at the wage rate notified for your state.

• Existing MGNREGA job cards carry over, so you do not need a new card.
• Ask for work in writing at the gram panchayat and keep the dated receipt.
• Wages are paid to your bank account, so keep it active and linked.

Mahila yojana ke liye apply kaise kare?

1. Check which schemes fit you in the scheme finder. It asks about age, state, income and family, and runs in your browser.
2. Open each scheme page and note the documents. Most need Aadhaar, a bank account (often Aadhaar-seeded with DBT enabled), a mobile number, and sometimes a ration card or income certificate.
3. Apply only through the official route: the portal named on the scheme page, your Anganwadi worker or ASHA, the gram panchayat or ward office, or a Common Service Centre.
4. Finish e-KYC where it is asked for. Ladki Bahin, for example, stops payments if e-KYC is not done.
5. Keep the application number and check status on the official portal. Payments come by DBT to your own bank account.

TipState cash schemes often open new registrations only for a few weeks. If your state’s portal says registration is closed, ask the Anganwadi or ward office when the next round opens.

How do I avoid fake scheme forms and agents?

Scheme names are popular bait for fraud. Messages that promise “₹5,000 for all women, fill this form” or ask for a registration fee are not from the government. Official schemes never charge to apply and never ask for your UPI PIN or OTP over a call. If you get such a message, paste it into our Scam Checker, and if money is lost, call 1930.