New Delhi, February 10 – Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Tuesday that her government will launch the "Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana" in April to replace the 2008 Ladli scheme, aimed at providing financial security and promoting academic growth for girls from economically weaker sections.
This scheme will be an upgraded version of the existing "Delhi Ladli Scheme," which was launched by the Department of Women and Child Development in 2008, Gupta stated during a press conference.
"We will launch the upgraded scheme on April 1, and discontinue the old Ladli scheme," the CM said.
Under the new scheme, the government will provide financial assistance of up to ₹56,000 per beneficiary, deposited in installments linked to education and age-related milestones, starting from birth and continuing through graduation or diploma-level studies, Gupta said.
The accumulated amount, invested through a structured financial instrument, will grow over time and be directly released into the beneficiary's Aadhaar-linked bank account upon maturity, she explained.
A separate digital portal will be developed by the government for this scheme, she added.
The financial cost of implementing the upgraded scheme is estimated to be around ₹160 crore, and financial support will be provided to two girls per family, she added.
"When we came into power, we found that funds for this scheme were lying unutilized in banks," the chief minister said. "Our government identified almost 41,000 girl beneficiaries to whom we plan to distribute ₹100 crore."
"This is an investment in the future of our girls and the future of this country," she stated, adding, "No girl will be forced to leave education due to lack of funds."
She noted that when the present government assumed office, a large number of maturity accounts of the Ladli scheme remained unclaimed.
"More than 1.86 lakh maturity accounts were lying unclaimed, which means that the money meant for our daughters did not reach them on time," she said.
In 2025, around 30,000 beneficiaries under the Ladli scheme were identified, and an amount of ₹90 crore, which was previously unaccessed, has already been disbursed to them. Now, the government has identified another 41,000 beneficiaries, and ₹100 crore will be released to them shortly, she said.
"This scheme is very close to my heart," said Gupta. "It reflects our commitment to ensuring that every girl, every daughter of Delhi, has the opportunity to reach her full potential."
As the girls reach educational milestones, the government will deposit up to ₹56,000 directly into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, which, upon maturity, will exceed ₹1 lakh, including interest, she said.
The Ladli scheme will now be known as the "Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana," reflecting its strengthened and long-term impact, the Chief Minister stated.
The eligibility conditions for the Delhi "Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana" have been slightly modified from the earlier Ladli Scheme.
The scheme is applicable to girls born in Delhi, whose families have resided in the city for at least three years, with an annual family income not exceeding ₹1.20 lakh.
Benefits are limited to two surviving girl children per family. Girls may be registered under the scheme within one year of birth, or at later stages of admission to Class 1, 6, 9, 11, or upon admission to a recognised graduation or diploma course.
The new scheme will also cover girls pursuing graduation or professional diploma courses in government-recognised institutions anywhere in India, including universities and colleges affiliated with the UGC or other statutory bodies.
Many conditions regarding girls residing in child care institutions under government protection have been relaxed, ensuring the inclusion of vulnerable beneficiaries, according to a Delhi CMO statement.
Under the scheme, ₹11,000 will be deposited as the initial installment at the birth of the girl child, followed by ₹5,000 each upon admission to Class I, and subsequent progression to Class 6, 8, 10, and 12.
Another ₹20,000 will be credited to the accounts of beneficiaries in phases upon completion of diploma or graduation. The amount deposited in the name of the beneficiary will accrue interest over time, forming a substantial maturity value, it said.
The maturity amount can be claimed once the beneficiary has either passed Class 12 and attained 18 years of age, or completed graduation/diploma and attained 21 years of age. Unclaimed amounts will be forfeited and credited back to the government, it added.
However, the benefit will not be available if a beneficiary fails to meet educational milestones, such as passing Class 12 by the age of 21, and the amount will be credited back to the government, it added.
