Delhi Lakshmi Yojana to create restricted CBDC spending pool for eligible women

Eligible Delhi women would receive ₹2,500 a month through CBDC-linked accounts under Lakshmi Yojana, with spending blocked for alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, lottery tickets, gambling and betting. The restrictions create a targeted digital-payment channel for permitted local merchants.

— Source published Tue, 18 Aug, 2026, 20:46 IST · First seen Tue, 18 Aug, 2026, 20:54 IST · Source Mint · Money

What happened

Delhi Lakshmi Yojana · Delhi’s Lakshmi Yojana provides eligible women ₹2,500 monthly through CBDC-linked accounts and deposits. CBDC spending is barred for

Key facts

  • ₹2,500 monthly assistance
  • ₹1,500 default deposit into RD/FD
  • ₹2.5 lakh annual family-income cap
  • 10 years Delhi residency requirement
  • 2,400 units annual electricity-consumption threshold
  • July 31, 2029 lock-in
  • 2 years unclaimed-death period

Why this matters

Explore partnerships with CBDC infrastructure, payment processors and compliant neighborhood merchant networks to capture welfare-linked transaction volume and build category-restricted payment capabilities.