Himachal: Women with an annual income exceeding this will not receive ₹1,500 stipend

April 18, 2026

The State Government of Himachal Pradesh has revised the ‘Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana’. At the time of implementing this electoral guarantee, the government had not imposed any conditions regarding annual income. However, during the scheme’s rollout in Kinnaur district on April 15, marking the occasion of Himachal Day, an annual income criterion was incorporated into the scheme. Following this amendment, women will now be required to apply afresh to receive the monthly stipend of ₹1,500. Applications submitted previously will no longer be considered valid.

The government, which had pledged to extend financial support to women in every household across the state, has effectively narrowed the scope of the scheme by introducing this annual income stipulation. Women with an annual income exceeding ₹200,000 will no longer receive the monthly assistance of ₹1,500. The promise of a monthly stipend of ₹1,500 for women over the age of 18 was initially hailed as a significant stride toward economic self-reliance; however, driven by the surge in applications, the mounting financial burden, and the necessity to identify targeted beneficiaries, the government has now tightened the eligibility criteria.

The Entire Process to Start Afresh

The government had previously announced a monthly stipend of ₹1,500 for young women and women aged 18 and above. Consequently, the scheme received hundreds of thousands of applications. Now, following the issuance of the new order, which sets the annual income ceiling at ₹200,000, the entire application process will have to be conducted anew.

Applicants will be required to submit a certificate verifying that their family’s annual income is less than ₹200,000. Additionally, women belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households will also be included in the scheme; the new application forms will feature a dedicated column specifically for this category. Sumit Khimta, Director of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, stated that the filling of new application forms under the scheme would commence immediately upon the receipt of formal orders from the government.

Eligibility Criteria Women Must Fulfill

To qualify for the monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 under this scheme, women must also fulfill several other eligibility conditions. Only permanent residents of the state of Himachal Pradesh are eligible to participate in the scheme. Applicants must fall within the age bracket of 18 to 59 years. Furthermore, Buddhist nuns who permanently reside in Buddhist monasteries are also deemed eligible for the scheme.

Who Will Not Receive the Benefit?
If any member of the female beneficiary’s family is an employee or a pensioner of the Central or State Government, the benefit will not be granted. Furthermore, contractual, outsourced, daily-wage, or part-time employees; ex-servicemen; widows of soldiers; Anganwadi workers, helpers, ASHA workers, Mid-Day Meal workers, and Multi-Task workers; employees of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies; as well as employees and pensioners of Public Sector Undertakings, Boards, Councils, or Agencies will also be ineligible.