The objective of "Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana" implemented in entire Madhya Pradesh, in addition to economic self-reliance is :
- (a)Women's political participation
- (b)Women's marriage-related expenses
- (c)Women's health and nutrition
- (d)Women's rights in criminal justice system
Correct — C, women's health and nutrition. The Madhya Pradesh government's own statement of purpose for Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana pairs economic self-reliance with improving the health and nutrition level of women and the children dependent on them, and strengthening their role in family decision-making. The instrument matches the stated aim: a small, recurring, unconditional cash transfer — ₹1,000 a month when the scheme was launched on 5 March 2023, raised to ₹1,250 from the October 2023 instalment — paid by DBT into the woman's own bank account rather than into a household account.
- (a)Women's political participation — Not an objective of this scheme. Political representation for women runs through reservation in panchayats and urban local bodies (73rd/74th Amendments) and the women's reservation law for legislatures — not through a monthly cash transfer.
- (b)Women's marriage-related expenses — That is the job of Madhya Pradesh's Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah/Nikah Yojana, a one-time marriage-assistance grant. Ladli Behna pays a recurring monthly amount to women who are already married.
- (d)Women's rights in criminal justice system — No component of the scheme touches criminal justice. That field belongs to the State Women's Commission, one-stop centres, police helplines and legal-aid services.
Ladli Behna is an unconditional direct benefit transfer: married women of Madhya Pradesh aged 21-60, from families with an annual income below ₹2.5 lakh, receive a fixed monthly sum in their own Aadhaar-linked, DBT-enabled bank account. The design encodes the objective — money placed in a woman's own hands, month after month, is meant to raise her bargaining power inside the household and to be spent on food, health and children, which is exactly why the stated aim is health and nutrition alongside self-reliance.
Do not let the word 'Ladli' collapse the two MP schemes into one. Ladli Laxmi Yojana (2007) is for the girl child — a corpus/certificate that matures for her education and marriage. Ladli Behna (2023) is an income transfer to adult married women; 'behna' (sister) is the clue that the beneficiary is a grown woman, not an infant. Once you see it is a recurring monthly income, options about marriage grants, political seats or legal rights all fall away.
- Launched on 5 March 2023 at ₹1,000 per month (first instalment paid in June 2023), raised to ₹1,250 per month from the October 2023 instalment.
- Eligibility: married (including widowed, divorced or deserted) women of MP aged 21-60, family annual income below ₹2.5 lakh; income-tax-paying families and families with a regular government servant are excluded.
- Payment is by Direct Benefit Transfer into the woman's own Aadhaar-linked, DBT-enabled bank account.
- Stated objectives: economic self-reliance, improvement in the health and nutrition level of women and their dependent children, and a stronger role for women in family decisions.
- Reading 'Ladli' and answering with the girl-child scheme (Ladli Laxmi Yojana)
- Assuming any women's scheme carrying money must be marriage assistance (that is Kanya Vivah Yojana)
- Mixing up the launch amount (₹1,000 a month) with the revised amount (₹1,250 a month)
MPPSC asks the amount, the age/income eligibility and the stated objective of State schemes; UPSC asks the design question — what a scheme is for, how DBT targets it, and why transfers to women differ in effect from transfers to the household.
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: List I I. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh II. Mahila Samriddhi Yojana III. Indira Mahila Yojana IV. Mahila Samakhya Programme List II A) Empowerment of women B) Education for Women’s Equality C) Promotion of savings among rural women D) Meeting credit needs of the poor women Codes:
- (a) I-C, II-B, III-A, IV-D
- (b) I-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
- (c) I-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B
- (d) I-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C
Answer(c) I-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B
The same skill this MPPSC question tests — matching a women-focused scheme to its stated objective rather than to its name.
Two of the schemes launched by the Government of India for Women’s development are Swadhar and Swayam Siddha. As regards the difference between them, consider the following statements: 1. Swayam Siddha is meant for those in difficult circumstances such as women survivors of natural disasters or terrorism, women prisoners released from jails, mentally challenged women etc., whereas Swadhar is meant for holistic empowerment of women through Self Help Groups. 2. Swayam Siddha is implemented through Local Self Government bodies or reputed Voluntary Organizations whereas Swadhar is implemented through the ICDS units set up in the states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Also turns on knowing what each women's scheme is actually for — the objective, not the label, decides the answer.
What amount will be given to eligible women under "Ladli Bahna Yojana" of the Madhya Pradesh Government?
- (a) ₹ 1,000 p.m.
- (b) ₹ 2,000 p.m.
- (c) ₹ 500 p.m.
- (d) ₹ 2,500 p.m.
Answer(a) ₹ 1,000 p.m.
The same scheme, asked on its money figure — MPPSC has now tested both the amount (2022) and the objective (2025).
What is the objective of Tantya Mama Economic Welfare Scheme (New Scheme)?
- (a) Providing free education to Tribal women
- (b) Supplying low-cost equipment and working capital for new industries/business to BPL category beneficiaries of Scheduled Tribes
- (c) Funding infrastructure development in Tribal regions
- (d) Promoting sports among Tribal youth
Answer(b) Supplying low-cost equipment and working capital for new industries/business to BPL category beneficiaries of Scheduled Tribes
The identical question format for MP welfare schemes — 'what is the objective of scheme X' — which MPPSC repeats every year.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The first upward revision of the monthly amount under Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana took it from ₹1,000 to:
- (a)₹1,100
- (b)₹1,250
- (c)₹1,800
- (d)₹2,000
Answer(b) ₹1,250 — effective from the October 2023 instalment.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Cash transfers under women-focused welfare schemes are routed into the woman's own bank account mainly because:
- (a)the Constitution requires separate accounts for women
- (b)income controlled by women is more likely to be spent on food, health and children, improving household welfare
- (c)banks levy lower charges on accounts held by women
- (d)such transfers are then exempt from income tax
Answer(b) income controlled by women is more likely to be spent on food, health and children — the standard rationale behind women-targeted transfers.