Punjab Budget 2026: AAP Government Announces Monthly Cash Support Scheme for Women

Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has unveiled a new financial assistance programme for women as part of the state budget for 2026–27. The scheme aims to provide a monthly cash benefit to eligible women across the state, with higher assistance planned for women from Scheduled Caste (SC) communities. The announcement was made during the presentation of the Punjab Budget in the state Assembly and marks a major welfare initiative by the Bhagwant Mann-led government.

The budget, which totals approximately ₹2.60 lakh crore, includes the launch of the “Mukhyamantri Maavaan Dhiyaan Satkar Yojana”, a scheme designed to strengthen financial support for women and promote greater economic independence. Under the programme, the state government will transfer money directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Monthly Financial Assistance for Women

According to the announcement, eligible women in Punjab will receive ₹1,000 per month under the new scheme. However, women belonging to the Scheduled Caste category will receive a higher monthly assistance of ₹1,500. The government says this step has been taken to support economically vulnerable groups and promote financial inclusion among women.

The scheme fulfills one of the key promises made by the AAP during the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, when the party pledged monthly financial support for women if it came to power. Nearly four years after forming the government, the Bhagwant Mann administration has now formally launched the initiative.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema presented the budget in the Assembly and highlighted the importance of the programme for women’s empowerment. The announcement also coincided with International Women’s Day, making it a symbolic step toward recognizing women’s contribution to society and strengthening their economic participation.

Who Will Be Eligible for the Scheme?

The government has stated that all women aged 18 years and above living in Punjab will be eligible for the financial assistance scheme. However, certain categories have been excluded from the benefits.

Women who are current or former government employees, current or former Members of Parliament (MPs) or Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and income tax payers will not be eligible for the programme.

Despite these exclusions, the finance minister claimed that the initiative would still benefit the vast majority of women in the state. According to the government’s estimates, around 97 percent of adult women in Punjab are expected to qualify for the scheme.

Importantly, women who already receive social security pensions—including old-age pension, widow pension, or disability pension—will still be able to avail the benefits under this new programme.

Government’s Vision Behind the Initiative

The Punjab government has described the programme as one of the first “universal cash transfer schemes” for women in the world. Officials say the objective goes beyond financial support and aims to create broader social and economic benefits.

The scheme is expected to:

• Strengthen women’s financial independence

• Increase women’s role in household decision-making

• Improve health and nutrition levels within families

• Encourage higher education and aspirations among girls

• Promote greater gender equality and social empowerment

By ensuring regular financial assistance, the government believes that women will have more resources to support their personal and family needs.

Budget Allocation for the Scheme

To ensure smooth implementation of the initiative, the Punjab government has allocated ₹9,300 crore for the financial year 2026–27. The funds will be used to transfer monthly payments directly to eligible women’s bank accounts.

Officials have also emphasised that the scheme will be implemented in a transparent and timely manner, with proper monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the benefits reach the intended recipients without delays.

Political Significance of the Budget

The 2026–27 budget holds political importance as well. It is expected to be the last full budget presented by the AAP government before the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027. The introduction of this welfare scheme is seen as a significant step by the government to fulfil its electoral promises and strengthen its social welfare agenda.

By focusing on women’s economic empowerment, the Punjab government hopes to create a lasting impact on household incomes and social development across the state.

The new scheme is likely to benefit millions of women and could become one of the largest financial assistance programmes for women at the state level in India. As the implementation begins, its effectiveness in improving financial stability and empowerment among women will be closely watched.