Government schemes for women in Punjab, from ₹1,000 a month to free buses

Also called Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana, Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojana, Punjab women Rs 1,000 scheme

₹1,000 a month; ₹1,500 a month for Scheduled Caste women

A monthly cash transfer to women of Punjab, paid into the bank account. Women from Scheduled Castes get ₹1,500 and other women get ₹1,000.

Status

Paying in 2026: announced in the 8 March 2026 budget, registration began in April 2026, and news reports say about 68 lakh women had been paid by 1 August 2026. Checked 10 October 2026.

Who can apply

• Women above 18 years of age (budget analysis wording)
• Scheduled Caste women get ₹1,500 a month; all other women get ₹1,000 a month

Documents

• Aadhaar linked to a bank account (news reports; official guideline not opened)

How to apply

1. Take Aadhaar and bank account details to a registration centre (Sewa Kendra, Anganwadi centre or municipal office, as reported in news)
2. Wait for verification; payment comes into the bank account by direct transfer

In person: Sewa Kendra, Anganwadi centre or municipal office (news reports; confirm locally)

Run by

Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development, Punjab

The amount is ₹1,000, not the ₹1,100 once promised. Rules beyond age 18 (voter ID, exclusions) were not found on an official page, so check at the centre before relying on them.

Checked 10 October 2026 against Punjab Budget Analysis 2026-27, Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development, Punjab CM to release funds under Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana (news, 1 Aug 2026), Women to get Rs 1,000 in Punjab, cabinet clears new scheme (news, 29 Mar 2026) · Official page to apply

Also called PRTC PUNBUS free travel for women, Punjab Roadways free travel women

Free travel for women in ordinary buses of Punjab Roadways and PUNBUS

Women in Punjab can travel free in ordinary government buses. AC and Volvo buses are not covered, per news reports.

Status

Running in 2026: the official Punjab Roadways page still lists free travel for women in ordinary buses from 1 April 2021. Checked 10 October 2026.

Who can apply

• All women in the Punjab area, in ordinary buses (official Punjab Roadways page)
• PRTC, PUNBUS, Punjab Roadways and city buses run by local bodies; AC, Volvo and HVAC buses are excluded (news reports)

Documents

• Aadhaar, voter card or other proof of residence in Punjab (2021 news report; the official page lists no document)

How to apply

1. No application. Show an ID to the conductor if asked

In person: Any ordinary government bus; helpline 1100

Run by

Department of Transport, Punjab (Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS, PRTC)

News reports say the state owes the bus companies large sums for this travel. The official page does not list an ID rule, so carry Aadhaar anyway.

Checked 10 October 2026 against Concessional Services (free for women from 1 April 2021), Free bus travel for women drains Punjab transport budget (news) · Official page to apply

Also called Widow pension Punjab, Destitute women pension Punjab, Vidhwa pension Punjab

₹1,500 a month

A monthly pension for widows and destitute women under 58, and for unmarried women above 30, whose family income is low.

Status

Paying in 2026 at ₹1,500 a month; applications taken through the year. Checked 10 October 2026 on the department page.

Who can apply

• Widows and destitute women below 58 years
• Unmarried women above 30 years
• Total annual income not more than ₹60,000, including business, rent or interest income

Documents

• Proof of age: Aadhaar, voter card or voter list, matriculation certificate or birth certificate
• Signed self-declaration
• Husband's death certificate (for widows)

How to apply

1. Collect the form from the DSSO, CDPO, Sewa Kendra, SDM, Anganwadi, panchayat or BDPO office, or the department website
2. Fill it in with the documents and a self-declaration
3. Submit it where you got it; the CDPO verifies within one month and the DSSO sanctions the pension

In person: District Social Security Officer, CDPO office, Sewa Kendra or Anganwadi centre

Run by

Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development, Punjab

The self-declaration says you have no job, no business, no commercial property and pay no income tax, VAT or professional tax. The amount went from ₹750 to ₹1,500 on 1 July 2021 and the official page shows no change since.

Checked 10 October 2026 against Pensions/Financial Assistance, Widows/Destitute Women pension scheme, Punjab Budget Analysis 2026-27 · Official page to apply

Also called Budhapa pension Punjab, Punjab old age pension

₹1,500 a month

A monthly pension for women aged 58 and above with low family income and small landholding.

Status

Paying in 2026 at ₹1,500 a month per the department page. Checked 10 October 2026.

Who can apply

• Women aged 58 and above
• Total annual income not more than ₹60,000
• Land limits apply (the department page caps irrigated and rain fed land, husband and wife counted together)

Documents

• Proof of age (Aadhaar, voter card, matriculation or birth certificate)
• Signed self-declaration

How to apply

1. Collect the form at the DSSO, CDPO, Sewa Kendra, Anganwadi or panchayat office
2. Submit it with documents; the Patwari checks land

In person: District Social Security Officer or Sewa Kendra

Run by

Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development, Punjab

Ask the office for the exact acreage limit; the acre figures were not confirmed from the page text directly.

Checked 10 October 2026 against Pensions/Financial Assistance, Punjab Budget Analysis 2026-27 · Official page to apply

Also called PGRKAM, Punjab Rozgar portal, Ghar Ghar Rozgar, Job seeker registration Punjab

Job seeker registration, job listings and job fairs; no cash benefit

The state's job portal. A job seeker registers and can see government and private vacancies and job fairs.

Status

Listed as a live job seeker registration service on the department pages on 10 October 2026.

Who can apply

• Job seekers in Punjab (the department lists Job Seeker Registration as a service)

Documents

• Aadhaar and education certificates (typical; official list not opened)

How to apply

1. Open the portal and register as a job seeker
2. Fill in your details and education
3. Apply to listed jobs or job fairs

In person: District employment office

Run by

Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, Punjab

Registration does not give a job or an allowance. Any site that asks you to pay to register on this portal should be treated as suspect.

Checked 10 October 2026 against Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training · Official page to apply

Also called PM Internship Yojana, PMIS 9000 stipend, pminternship

₹9,000 a month (minimum, subject to attendance) plus a one-time joining grant of ₹6,000

A paid internship in a large company for young people aged 18 to 25 who are not in a full-time job. Since April 2026 final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students can also apply with a college NOC.

Status

Round 3 of the pilot is running in 2026 with companies posting internships on an ongoing basis (PIB, 22 Apr and 21 May 2026). Checked 1 Oct 2026.

Who can apply

• Indian youth aged 18 to 25 years
• Not in full-time employment
• Final-year UG and PG students may apply with a No Objection Certificate from their institution
• Applicants must meet the other existing eligibility criteria of the scheme

Documents

• Aadhaar
• Aadhaar-linked bank account
• College NOC (final-year students only)

How to apply

1. Register on the PMIS portal or app with Aadhaar
2. Fill your profile and pick internships
3. Accept an offer if selected

In person: Helpline 1800 11 6090

Run by

Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Still a pilot. The 2024 pilot rules excluded anyone whose family member earned over ₹8 lakh a year, had a government job, or who held degrees such as CA, MBA, MBBS or from IITs and IIMs; check the current rules on the portal.

Checked 1 October 2026 against MCA expands eligibility of PMIS to final-year students (22 Apr 2026), PMIS: MY Bharat awareness campaign, ₹9,000 plus ₹6,000 joining grant (21 May 2026), A Pathway to Professional Growth: PM's Internship Scheme (pilot rules, Oct 2024) · Official page to apply

Also called NCS job portal, Jobs for Women, employment exchange online, ncs.gov.in

Free job search, job fairs, career counselling and a 'Jobs for Women' section

The government's free job portal for private and government jobs, job fairs and career guidance. It has a 'Jobs for Women' link on the home page and connects to e-Shram and Skill India.

Status

Running in 2026; over 6.02 crore jobseekers and 8.17 crore vacancies as of 20 Nov 2025 (PIB, 4 Dec 2025). Checked 1 Oct 2026.

Who can apply

• Any jobseeker in India

How to apply

1. Open ncs.gov.in and sign up as a Jobseeker
2. Complete your profile and open 'Jobs for Women' or search jobs
3. e-Shram card holders can register using their UAN

In person: District Employment Exchange / Model Career Centre

Run by

Ministry of Labour and Employment (Directorate General of Employment)

NCS never charges a fee at any stage. Anyone asking for money in NCS's name is a fraud. Many listings are low-paid, so check the employer.

Checked 1 October 2026 against National Career Service home page ('Jobs for Women', 'NCS services are free of cost'), Over 6 crore jobseekers registered on NCS (4 Dec 2025) · Official page to apply

Also called eShram, e Shram card, shramik card, UAN card

Free e-Shram card with a Universal Account Number (UAN) that links you to 14 central welfare schemes, NCS jobs, Skill India and the PM-SYM pension (₹3,000 a month from age 60 if you join between 18 and 40)

A free ID card for informal workers such as domestic workers, home-based workers, farm labourers and vendors. It does not pay money by itself, but makes it easier to reach insurance, pension, housing and job schemes.

Status

Registration open and free; over 31.48 crore workers registered by 26 Jan 2026 (PIB, 2 Feb 2026). Checked 1 Oct 2026.

Who can apply

• Unorganised workers aged 16 to 59: home-based, self-employed or wage workers in the unorganised sector
• Not a member of EPFO or ESIC

Documents

• Aadhaar number
• Aadhaar-linked mobile number (or biometric at a CSC)

How to apply

1. Self-register on eshram.gov.in or the e-Shram app with Aadhaar and OTP
2. Or go to a Common Service Centre (it must not charge you)
3. Download the card and use the One-Stop-Solution page to see linked schemes

In person: Common Service Centre (CSC) or State Sewa Kendra

Run by

Ministry of Labour and Employment

The card has no cash benefit of its own; messages promising money 'on your e-Shram card' are not from the government. Registration is totally free.

Checked 1 October 2026 against e-SHRAM cards for unorganised workers (2 Feb 2026), e-Shram FAQs (age 16 to 59, free registration), Benefits under e-Shram card (PM-SYM pension) · Official page to apply

Also called PSDM, Punjab skill training

Skill training courses; fees and stipend not verified

The state skill mission that runs job training for young people. Courses and fees change by centre.

Status

Listed as a running mission under the department on 10 October 2026; course lists and intake dates were not found on an official page.

Who can apply

• Young people of Punjab; exact eligibility not verified

Documents

• Aadhaar (typical; not verified)

How to apply

1. Ask the district employment office or the PGRKAM portal about open courses

In person: District employment office

Run by

Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, Punjab

Only the mission's existence was confirmed, so no fee, stipend or job placement is stated here.

Checked 10 October 2026 against Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training (lists PSDM) · Official page to apply

Also called PSRLM, Punjab SHG support, Revolving fund for SHG, Punjab Aajeevika

Revolving fund of ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 for an eligible women's SHG (older interim guide), then loans through a micro credit plan

Helps poor rural women form self help groups, gives eligible groups seed money, and links them to bank loans.

Status

Mission active in 2026 (website copyright 2026) across 108 blocks; the funding note is an older interim guide, so amounts need local confirmation. Checked 10 October 2026.

Who can apply

• Women's self help groups of poor households in mission blocks
• Group follows the five principles, has 90 percent attendance, regular savings, 95 percent loan recovery, a book keeper and a bank account

Documents

• Group bank account
• Group books
• Member training records

How to apply

1. Join or form an SHG through the block mission staff
2. Ask the block mission team about the revolving fund once the group meets the norms

In person: Block office of the mission; head office phone 0172-5035300

Run by

Rural Development and Panchayats Department, Punjab

The mission runs under the central DAY-NRLM. The ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 figure is from a 2021 upload marked interim, so confirm it before planning on it.

Checked 10 October 2026 against Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission, Guidelines on funds to community institutions (interim) · Official page to apply

Also called Mudra loan, PM Mudra, Shishu Kishor Tarun loan, Tarun Plus

Business loan without collateral up to ₹20 lakh: Shishu up to ₹50,000, Kishor ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh, Tarun ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, Tarun Plus ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh

A loan from a bank or other lender to start or grow a small non-farm business, with no property needed as security. It is open to men and women; about 60% of Mudra loan accounts in 2024-25 belonged to women.

Status

Running in 2026: PIB reported loans disbursed to 27 March 2026 and the scheme completed 11 years on 8 April 2026. Checked 1 Oct 2026.

Who can apply

• Non-corporate, non-farm micro and small enterprises in manufacturing, trading, services and activities allied to agriculture
• Shishu loans are open to new entrepreneurs with no credit history or collateral
• Tarun Plus (₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh) is only for borrowers who took and fully repaid a Tarun loan

How to apply

1. Go to any bank branch, small finance bank, NBFC or microfinance lender, or apply online on the JanSamarth portal
2. Ask for a loan under PMMY and choose the category that fits the amount
3. Never pay an agent or a 'processing fee' to anyone outside the lender: MUDRA Ltd does not give loans directly

In person: Any bank branch or registered NBFC / microfinance lender

Run by

Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance (through banks, NBFCs and MFIs; MUDRA Ltd refinances)

MUDRA Ltd itself never lends to individuals. PIB Fact Check has flagged fake 'Mudra loan approval letters' asking for fees almost every month from 2024 to September 2026. The loan must be repaid with the bank's normal interest; there is no subsidy.

Checked 1 October 2026 against 11 Years of Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (8 Apr 2026), PMMY loan limit raised to ₹20 lakh (Tarun Plus), PIB Fact Check: fake website onlinemudraindia.co.in (19 Mar 2026), Mudra FAQ · Official page to apply

Also called PMEGP loan, KVIC loan subsidy, margin money subsidy

Subsidy of 25% to 35% of the project cost on a bank loan for a new unit (women: 35% in villages, 25% in towns); project cost up to ₹50 lakh (manufacturing) or ₹20 lakh (service)

Helps a person start a new small factory or service unit outside farming. The bank gives the loan and the government pays part of the project cost as a one-time subsidy. Women count as a special category, so they get the higher subsidy and put in only 5% of their own money.

Status

Portal open and scheme active in 2026 (PIB, 12 Mar 2026). Its last Cabinet approval ran to 2025-26; a formal 2026-27 extension notice was not found. Checked 1 Oct 2026.

Who can apply

• Any individual above 18 years of age
• No income ceiling
• At least VIII standard pass for projects above ₹10 lakh in manufacturing or above ₹5 lakh in business/service
• Only one person per family (self, spouse, unmarried children)
• Existing units, and units that already took a government subsidy under another scheme, are not eligible
• Projects without capital expenditure are not eligible

Documents

• Aadhaar

How to apply

1. Apply online on the PMEGP portal (New Application)
2. Pick KVIC, KVIB or DIC as the agency and choose a bank
3. Complete the short EDP training (not needed for projects up to ₹2 lakh)
4. The bank sanctions the loan and the subsidy is routed through the bank

In person: District Industries Centre (DIC) or KVIC / KVIB office

Run by

Ministry of MSME (KVIC, State KVIBs and District Industries Centres)

It is a subsidy on a bank loan, not a grant: you must get a bank loan and put in 5% (special category) or 10% (general) yourself.

Checked 1 October 2026 against PMEGP FAQ (eligibility), Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (subsidy rates, women as special category), Initiatives to strengthen rural and semi-urban MSMEs (12 Mar 2026), Continuation of PMEGP 2021-22 to 2025-26 · Official page to apply

Also called Lakhpati Didi Yojana, Aajeevika, NRLM SHG loan, self help group

Through your self-help group: a Revolving Fund of about ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 per group, up to ₹2.5 lakh per group from the Community Investment Fund, bank loans with interest subvention (loans up to ₹3 lakh at 7%), a ₹5,000 Jan-Dhan overdraft, and free livelihood and enterprise training

Rural women join a self-help group (SHG) of neighbours, save together and get group funds, cheap bank loans and training to build a business or farm income. A 'Lakhpati Didi' is an SHG member whose household earns over ₹1 lakh a year.

Status

Active in 2026: over 3 crore Lakhpati Didis reached; target doubled to 6 crore by March 2029 (PIB, 13 Feb 2026). Checked 1 Oct 2026.

Who can apply

• Rural women who join a DAY-NRLM self-help group
• To be picked as a potential Lakhpati Didi: SHG member for at least two years, has used the Community Investment Fund, and runs at least two livelihood activities

How to apply

1. Ask the village SHG, Village Organisation or Community Resource Person to join a group
2. Save regularly in the group and keep records
3. Ask the block mission office about training and loans for your activity

In person: Block office of the State Rural Livelihoods Mission, or the Gram Panchayat

Run by

Ministry of Rural Development

There is no direct cash payment to become a Lakhpati Didi. Money comes as group funds and loans that must be repaid. Interest subvention rates vary by district.

Checked 1 October 2026 against How do I become a Lakhpati Didi, Financial Assistance, Doubling of target of Lakhpati Didis to 6 crore (13 Feb 2026), National Campaign on Entrepreneurship: EDP training for 50 lakh SHG members (14 Jan 2026) · Official page to apply