Delhi Lakshmi Yojana Faces High Court Scrutiny Over Mandatory Endorsements

Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, a state government welfare scheme, has hit a legal problem. Delhi High Court told the government to explain why women need a sign-off from a local MP or MLA to get the monthly ₹2,500 cash payment. The court gave the administration ten days to submit an affidavit justifying this rule, as it could make the scheme unfair and block eligible people.

Scheme rollout and budget details

Even with this legal issue, the government plans to send the first payment on August 28, 2026. Since the portal opened on August 1, nearly 500,000 people have registered. Applicants must show they have lived in Delhi for 10 years. Government has set aside ₹5,100 crore for this scheme in the 2026-27 budget. Opposition parties have questioned the residency rules and reported possible corruption in buying bicycles for Vidya Vahini Yojana.