This initiative is a fulfillment of the party’s key 2022 pre-poll “guarantee” and is designed to provide direct financial autonomy to nearly 97% of adult women in the state.
In the historic Punjab Budget 2026-27, presented on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2026), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government officially launched its flagship Mahila Samman Initiative, officially named the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satikar Yojana.
This initiative is a fulfillment of the party’s key 2022 pre-poll “guarantee” and is designed to provide direct financial autonomy to nearly 97% of adult women in the state.
Key Details of the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satikar Yojana
| Feature | Details |
| Monthly Benefit | Rs 1,000 for General category women; Rs 1,500 for SC/Dalit women. |
| Eligibility Age | All women aged 18 years and above. |
| Budget Outlay | Rs 9,300 crore earmarked for the 2026-27 financial year. |
| Coverage | Approximately 97% of adult women in Punjab (over 1 crore beneficiaries). |
| Mode of Payment | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. |
Who is Eligible?
The scheme is designed to be near-universal, but the Finance Minister outlined specific exclusions to ensure the funds reach those who need them most:
- Excluded: Existing/former regular government employees, sitting or former MPs and MLAs, and income tax payers.
- Included: Importantly, women already receiving social security pensions (such as old-age, widow, or disability pensions) are eligible to receive this additional amount.
Why it Matters
- By putting cash directly into the hands of women, the government aims to increase their household decision-making power.
- Presenting this on a Sunday (International Women’s Day) was a symbolic move to highlight women’s empowerment as the central theme of the final full budget before the 2027 elections.
- To fund this Rs 9,300 crore project, the government utilized savings from a reduction in electricity subsidy costs (due to lower power generation costs) and a record 86.7% growth in excise revenue.
