Dr. Ambedkar Inter Caste Marriage Scheme 2026: Rs 2.5 Lakh Incentive for SC Couples

Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter Caste Marriage is a central government scheme run by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It offers a cash incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh to couples where one spouse belongs to a Scheduled Caste (SC) community and the other does not. The aim is to encourage marriages across caste lines and help the couple settle down in the early years of married life.

Earlier, this scheme was run separately by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation. From 31 March 2023, the government merged it with the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Now the incentive is given through the state and Union Territory governments under this merged scheme.

Inter Caste Marriage Scheme 2026 - Rs 2.5 Lakh Incentive

The important features and highlights of this inter caste marriage incentive are given below.

1. The scheme gives a total incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh to an eligible inter caste couple.
2. Half of the amount (Rs 1.25 lakh) is paid at once as a Demand Draft in the joint name of the couple. The remaining half is released after five years.
3. One of the spouses must belong to a Scheduled Caste community and the other to a different, non-SC community.
4. The marriage must be the first marriage for both the bride and the groom.
5. The marriage must be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and the application must be submitted within one year of the marriage.
6. The combined annual income of the couple must not exceed Rs 5 lakh. This income limit is still active and has not been removed.
7. A couple that has already received a similar incentive from a state or Union Territory government is not eligible again.

Highlights of the Scheme

Here is a quick look at the main details of the inter caste marriage incentive scheme.

Merger of the Scheme from 31 March 2023

The government merged the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter Caste Marriages and the Dr. Ambedkar National Relief to SC/ST Victims of Atrocities Scheme with the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. This was done from 31 March 2023 to avoid duplication in the running of schemes.

After the merger, fresh applications are no longer accepted separately by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation. The incentive for inter caste marriages is now given through the state and Union Territory governments, which process the applications and release the money as per the rules of the merged scheme.

To clear the pending cases that came up before the merger, the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation took up a special exercise. Under this, incentives were released in 385 inter caste marriage cases, amounting to about Rs 9 crore.

Eligibility Criteria

To get the incentive, the couple has to meet the following conditions.

• One spouse must belong to a Scheduled Caste community and the other to a different community.
• The marriage must be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
• It must be the first marriage for both the bride and the groom.
• The combined annual income of the couple must not be more than Rs 5 lakh.
• The application must be submitted within one year of the marriage.

Documents Required

These documents are needed while applying for the incentive.

• Caste certificate of the SC spouse issued by the competent authority.
• Marriage certificate registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
• Income certificates of both the husband and the wife.
• Aadhaar card of both the spouses.
• First page of the joint bank passbook that is linked to Aadhaar.
• A declaration that it is the first marriage for both the bride and the groom.

How to Apply for the Incentive

Since the scheme is now part of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the application is made through the state government or the district administration. The steps are given below.

STEP 1 - Collect all the required documents such as the caste certificate, marriage certificate, income certificate, Aadhaar card and the joint bank passbook.

STEP 2 - Get the application form from the district administration or the state welfare department, or from the official website of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

STEP 3 - Fill the form and submit it with the recommendation of a sitting MP or MLA, or through the state government and district administration, which will forward it to the concerned authority.

STEP 4 - After approval, the incentive amount is transferred to the joint bank account of the couple through RTGS.

Central Govt. Data on Inter Caste Marriages

As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data, the rate of inter caste marriages in India is about 11%. In some states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, most couples marry within their own caste. In other states such as Punjab, Sikkim, Goa and Kerala, the share of couples marrying in their own caste is lower.

The central government does not release data on the basis of caste in the Socio-Economic and Caste Census. So the exact number of inter caste marriages in India is not available.

Official Links

For the latest details of the merged scheme, visit the official page of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at socialjustice.gov.in/schemes/39. The merger order of the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation schemes can be checked from the official merger order PDF.

For more details on the inter caste marriage incentive, eligible couples can also check with the state welfare or Social Justice department of their state.