The government led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta completed its first year in office in Delhi with a focus on initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment, safety, education, health, and economic self-reliance.
Rekha Gupta assumed office in February 2025. After the completion of one year, the government’s policies and initiatives concerning women’s empowerment are being reviewed. Several new measures were introduced in the national capital addressing women’s safety, education, healthcare, and economic independence.
The Chief Minister stated that during its first year, the government prioritised schemes and programmes intended to directly benefit women, referring to them as ‘half the population’. According to the government, significant steps were taken to strengthen women’s empowerment and security.
Under the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, the government promised direct financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month to women from economically weaker families. The Cabinet approved the scheme in March 2025 and allocated Rs 5,100 crore for its implementation. A committee was constituted to determine eligibility criteria. The launch of the scheme was delayed due to the absence of a comprehensive database. The government stated that procedures are being followed to ensure transparency and accurate identification of beneficiaries. The scheme’s portal is expected to be launched shortly, and registration is anticipated to begin next week.
The Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana was introduced after upgrading the previous Ladli Yojana. Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs 56,000 will be provided in instalments from birth until graduation to promote girls’ education. The Chief Minister announced the scheme in February 2026, with a target to launch it in April 2026. Last year, 30,000 beneficiaries were identified under the scheme and Rs 90 crore was released. An additional Rs 100 crore is expected to be released shortly. The scheme stipulates that benefits will not be provided if a girl is married before the age of 18.
The government also introduced the Pink Saheli Smart Card for women and transgender citizens. The card allows free and unlimited travel on DTC and cluster buses. The pension scheme for widowed, divorced, and abandoned women has also been implemented through the card. More than 19,000 women have benefited from the initiative so far.
The government stated that additional programmes focusing on women’s health, safety, and self-employment were also prioritised during the year. It said that women-led development has been placed at the centre of policy efforts and that women are being encouraged to play a significant role in the development of the capital.
The Chief Minister stated on multiple occasions that women’s participation is essential to the development of Delhi.
