The Ladki Bahin Yojana is a flagship welfare initiative by the Maharashtra government aimed at empowering women financially and socially. Under this program, eligible women receive a monthly stipend of ₹1,500, which helps them manage household expenses, support children’s education, and meet personal or medical requirements. The scheme mainly targets women aged 21 to 65 years from families whose annual income does not exceed ₹2.5 lakh, although there are additional provisions for women from marginalized communities. The program represents a significant step toward reducing gender inequality and providing women with financial independence.
To streamline the benefit distribution and eliminate fraudulent claims, the government has made Aadhaar-based eKYC mandatory for all beneficiaries. This process allows authorities to verify the identity of women, confirm their eligibility, and link bank accounts directly for secure fund transfer. In 2025, eKYC has become a critical step to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the welfare program, ensuring that funds reach the intended beneficiaries without any disruption.
Why eKYC Is Crucial for Transparency and Fraud Prevention
The eKYC process is vital for maintaining transparency and preventing misuse of public funds. By linking the scheme with Aadhaar, the government can verify the identity of beneficiaries, eliminate duplicate entries, and prevent individuals who do not meet eligibility criteria from receiving benefits. This step also ensures that the government’s resources are efficiently utilized to support deserving women.
In recent months, audits have revealed some cases where ineligible individuals received funds, including men or beneficiaries outside the specified age or income limits. Implementing eKYC ensures that such irregularities are corrected, and women who genuinely deserve support can continue to receive their monthly stipend. Beyond fraud prevention, eKYC also strengthens record-keeping, enables faster grievance redressal, and provides a digital trail for all transactions, which is essential for future planning and accountability.
Official Portal and Live Updates: Using ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in
The only official platform to complete eKYC and access scheme benefits is ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in. This portal is designed to provide a secure, user-friendly interface where beneficiaries can verify their details, complete eKYC, and track the status of their monthly allowance. It also provides guidelines, FAQs, and instructions for beneficiaries to resolve common issues without visiting government offices physically.
For 2025, the government initiated the eKYC process on September 18 and initially set the completion deadline as November 18. However, recognizing challenges faced by beneficiaries, particularly in remote regions, the deadline has been extended to December 31, 2025. This extension ensures women have sufficient time to complete the process, access help if required, and continue receiving uninterrupted financial support. Beneficiaries are encouraged to act promptly, as delays may result in temporary suspension of payments.
Step‑by‑Step Guide: How to Complete the Online eKYC
Completing the eKYC process for Ladki Bahin is straightforward, but following each step carefully is critical to avoid errors or rejections.
- Step 1: Visit the official portal and click on the eKYC section. This section provides detailed instructions for first-time users.
- Step 2: Enter your Aadhaar number and verify the CAPTCHA to confirm human authentication. This step ensures security and prevents automated fraud.
- Step 3: An OTP (one-time password) is sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter this OTP to verify your identity and link your account.
- Step 4: Married women may need the Aadhaar number of their husband or father, along with OTP verification, to confirm family income or household eligibility. This step ensures accurate verification and prevents duplicate claims.
- Step 5: Once all details are submitted and verified, the portal will display a confirmation message. Your eKYC status will show as “completed,” ensuring that future monthly payments are not disrupted.
This process is designed to work on both smartphones and desktop computers, making it accessible even in regions with limited infrastructure. In case of network issues, beneficiaries can retry multiple times or visit nearby government service centers for support.
What Happens If You Miss the eKYC Deadline
Failure to complete eKYC by December 31, 2025, can lead to temporary suspension of the ₹1,500 monthly benefit. The government has explicitly warned that beneficiaries who miss the deadline may not receive payments until their eKYC is successfully completed.
It’s important to note that this is not a permanent denial. Women can complete eKYC after the deadline but should expect a delay in fund disbursement. In addition, the government requires annual renewal of eKYC to continue receiving benefits, typically before June each year. Timely completion ensures uninterrupted financial assistance, which is especially important for women who rely on this support for household expenses, children’s education, and small entrepreneurial activities.
Ladki Bahin Yojana Highlights
| Key Point | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Ladki Bahin Yojana Official Portal | Only ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in is valid. Avoid third-party or fake websites to prevent scams. |
| Ladki Bahin Yojana Monthly Benefit | ₹1,500 per month continues after successful eKYC verification. |
| Ladki Bahin Yojana eKYC Mandatory & Time‑bound | Started September 18, 2025, with an extended deadline of December 31, 2025. |
| Annual Renewal | After 2025, eKYC must be renewed yearly (typically by June) to maintain eligibility. |
| Fraud Prevention | Aadhaar-based verification eliminates fake claims and duplicate beneficiaries, ensuring funds reach deserving women. |
Challenges and Common Issues Reported by Beneficiaries
While the portal is user-friendly, beneficiaries, especially in rural and tribal areas, have faced challenges. Common issues include delays in OTP delivery, poor internet connectivity, lack of digital literacy, and confusion around verification steps involving the Aadhaar numbers of family members. These challenges have made it difficult for some women to complete eKYC promptly, causing stress and delays in receiving financial assistance.
Additionally, certain regions with remote connectivity issues reported repeated failures during OTP verification, requiring women to visit local government centers for manual assistance. Authorities have acknowledged these difficulties and emphasized that support services are available to help women complete the process efficiently.
Government Response: Extensions and Assurance
Recognizing the challenges faced by beneficiaries, the Maharashtra government extended the eKYC deadline to December 31, 2025, giving women additional time to complete verification. Officials have assured that women who successfully complete eKYC after initial delays will still receive arrears for missed months, ensuring they are not financially penalized for temporary issues.
The government has also emphasized the importance of completing eKYC through the official portal and warned against relying on third-party websites or agents that may attempt to exploit beneficiaries. Awareness campaigns, helpline numbers, and support centers have been strengthened to ensure maximum compliance and smooth execution of the scheme.
What Women Should Do Right Now (Action Steps)
- Visit ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in and complete the eKYC steps before December 31, 2025.
- Ensure that your Aadhaar-linked mobile number is active to receive OTPs. Also, keep your husband/father Aadhaar-linked mobile number ready if needed for verification.
- In case of technical difficulties such as OTP delays or network issues, retry at different times or visit nearby Common Service Centers (CSC) for offline support.
- After successful eKYC, confirm that your status on the portal shows “completed” to guarantee uninterrupted payments.
- Keep documentation handy, including Aadhaar, bank passbook, and income certificate, to avoid delays during verification or future audits.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Update Matters
The 2025 eKYC update is a critical step toward strengthening the integrity of the Ladki Bahin Yojana. By verifying identities and eliminating fraudulent claims, the government ensures that financial assistance reaches those who need it most. This initiative not only secures public funds but also empowers women by providing them with direct access to resources without intermediaries.
For many women across Maharashtra, the ₹1,500 monthly stipend is a lifeline that enables them to maintain household stability, invest in children’s education, and pursue small-scale entrepreneurship. Timely eKYC completion ensures uninterrupted support, builds confidence in digital welfare delivery systems, and creates a sustainable model for women’s financial inclusion and independence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is Aadhaar mandatory to complete eKYC for Ladki Bahin Yojana?
Yes. Aadhaar is mandatory. OTP verification will be sent to the mobile number linked with Aadhaar, and for married women, the Aadhaar of husband or father may also be required for eligibility confirmation.
Q2: What is the last date for eKYC for 2025?
The extended deadline for completing eKYC is December 31, 2025. Beneficiaries are advised not to delay to avoid disruption of monthly payments.
Q3: What happens if I don’t complete eKYC by the deadline?
Failure to complete eKYC will result in temporary suspension of the ₹1,500 monthly benefit. Payments will resume only after successful verification.
Q4: Can I complete eKYC on my phone or do I need to visit an office?
Yes, eKYC can be completed online via smartphone or desktop. However, if technical issues occur, beneficiaries can visit government help centers or Common Service Centers (CSC) for assistance.
