Summary
India's top audit body, the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG), has found that the Maharashtra government spent Rs 3,541 crore more than allowed on its flagship Ladki Bahin scheme for women. The CAG report, released on July 10, 2026, says the state spent Rs 33,237 crore against an approved budget of Rs 29,693 crore. The audit also flagged that large sums of money were moved to special accounts without immediate need, raising questions about financial discipline.
Main Impact
The CAG's findings put the Devendra Fadnavis-led government under fresh pressure over its handling of public money. The Ladki Bahin scheme, which gives direct cash transfers to eligible women, was a key reason for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's big win in the 2024 state elections. Now, the audit report raises serious questions about how the scheme was managed, especially since the women and child development department could not explain why it spent so much more than planned.
Key Details
What Happened
The CAG's State Finances Audit Report for 2024-25 was tabled in the Maharashtra legislature on Friday. It pointed out that the women and child development department spent Rs 33,237.24 crore on the Ladki Bahin scheme, but the approved budget was only Rs 29,693.09 crore. This means the department overspent by Rs 3,541.16 crore without giving any clear reason.
Important Numbers and Facts
The CAG report says the total grant for the scheme came from two sources: Rs 26,200 crore through supplementary provisions and Rs 3,490.75 crore moved from another scheme called Lek Ladki Yojana. The audit also found that Rs 15,586 crore was taken out of the treasury between January and March 2025 and put into virtual personal deposit accounts (VPDAs). The CAG said this large withdrawal suggests the money was not needed right away and was drawn without actual spending needs.
Separately, a state-wide verification drive removed over 92 lakh beneficiaries from the scheme. This is higher than the nearly 80 lakh deletions the government had earlier admitted. Of those removed, about 62 lakh did not complete mandatory e-KYC checks. Others were found ineligible because they earned too much, were government employees, got benefits from other schemes, or were above the age limit. In nearly 29,000 cases, the beneficiaries were men.
Background and Context
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a direct cash transfer scheme for women in Maharashtra. It was launched by the state government as a flagship welfare program. The scheme is widely seen as a major reason for the Mahayuti alliance's victory in the 2024 assembly elections. However, questions about its implementation have been growing. Earlier, the government had to remove nearly 80 lakh beneficiaries after a verification drive. Now, the CAG report adds financial mismanagement to the list of concerns.
Public or Industry Reaction
Opposition leaders have strongly criticized the government over the CAG findings. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said around Rs 14,000 crore of taxpayer money has been spent on the scheme. She asked whose money it is and said taxpayers expect benefits to reach the right people. Congress general-secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala called the report a "masterclass in fiscal bungling." He said spending Rs 3,541 crore beyond the approved budget without any justification shows a complete failure of financial governance and accountability.
What This Means Going Forward
The CAG report puts the Maharashtra government in a difficult spot. It already faces questions over the Rs 7,000-crore 'missing link' infrastructure project, part of which was damaged in the first rains. Now, the Ladki Bahin scheme's financial management is under scrutiny. The government will need to explain why it overspent and why large sums were moved to accounts without immediate need. The opposition is likely to use this issue to attack the government in the coming months. The scheme itself may face tighter controls and more audits to ensure funds are used properly.
Final Take
The CAG report on the Ladki Bahin scheme reveals serious gaps in how the Maharashtra government manages public money. Overspending by over Rs 3,500 crore without clear reasons, combined with large withdrawals of funds, points to weak financial controls. For a scheme that helped the government win elections, these findings could become a political liability. The government must now act quickly to fix these issues and restore trust in its handling of welfare programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ladki Bahin scheme?
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a direct cash transfer scheme for eligible women in Maharashtra. The state government gives money directly to women's bank accounts as financial assistance.
How much did the CAG find was overspent?
The CAG found that the state spent Rs 33,237 crore on the scheme, which is Rs 3,541 crore more than the approved budget of Rs 29,693 crore. The women and child development department could not explain why it overspent.
Why were so many beneficiaries removed from the scheme?
A state-wide verification drive removed over 92 lakh beneficiaries. Most failed to complete e-KYC checks. Others were found ineligible because they earned too much, were government employees, got other benefits, or were above the age limit. In nearly 29,000 cases, the beneficiaries were men.
