Government Schemes for Women in India — Complete 2026 Benefits Guide
📘 Women’s Government Benefits — Know What You’re Entitled To
India’s government has created a comprehensive ecosystem of financial schemes, savings instruments, entrepreneurship support, and statutory rights specifically for women. From the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’s 8.2% EEE returns for girl children to the Maternity Benefit Act’s 26-week paid leave protection, from MUDRA loans for women entrepreneurs to Ayushman Bharat’s ₹5L health cover — the benefits available are substantial. The challenge: most women don’t know what they’re entitled to. This guide covers every major government scheme for women with eligibility criteria and how to apply.
📊 Women’s Schemes Data — India 2025-26
- Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2026: Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: 3.8 crore accounts, ₹1.4 lakh crore corpus. 8.2% rate — highest among government small savings schemes. PM Matru Vandana Yojana: ₹10,000+ crore disbursed to 3.2 crore beneficiaries.
- MUDRA, FY 2024-25: Women borrowers under PM MUDRA Yojana: 68% of all MUDRA loans. ₹4.3 lakh crore disbursed to women. Average loan size ₹46,000. Women’s entrepreneurship is the largest use case for MUDRA.
- Ministry of Labour, 2025: Maternity Benefit Act coverage: 11 lakh women availed 26-week paid maternity leave in FY 2024-25 (formal sector). ESIC maternity benefit: paid to eligible women with Basic+DA ≤₹21,000. Enforcement complaints: 28,000 filed in FY 2024-25.
- Stand-Up India, 2025: Loans sanctioned to women since 2016: 1.84 lakh loans amounting to ₹43,000 crore. 100% of bank branches mandated to have at least 1 women borrower under Stand-Up India.
1. Savings Schemes for Women — Rates and Features 2026
| Scheme | Rate | Tenure | Max Deposit | Tax | Who Can Invest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sukanya Samriddhi (SSY) | 8.2% | 21 years (girl’s age) | ₹1.5L/year | EEE | Parents of girl child (under 10) |
| Mahila Samman Savings Cert. | 7.5% | 2 years | ₹2L | Taxable | Women and girls (verify availability) |
| SCSS (Senior Citizen) | 8.2% | 5 years | ₹30L | Interest taxable | Women above 60 |
| POMIS (Monthly Income) | 7.4% | 5 years | ₹9L single/₹15L joint | Interest taxable | All women |
| NSC | 7.7% | 5 years | No limit | 80C (investment); interest taxable | All women |
| PPF | 7.1% | 15 years | ₹1.5L/year | EEE | All women |
| NPS (women) | 10-14% (E fund) | Till 60 | No limit | 80CCD tax benefit | All women (salaried or self-employed) |
2. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana — The Gold Standard for Girl Child Savings
SSY is India’s best long-term savings scheme for families with daughters. Critical details:
- Open before age 10: Account must be opened before the girl child’s 10th birthday. Opened at age 5: 16 years of contributions. Opened at age 9: only 6 years of full contributions — significantly less corpus.
- Contribution discipline: Minimum ₹250/year must be deposited to keep the account active. Lapsed accounts can be revived by paying ₹250/year × lapsed years + ₹50 penalty per year.
- Withdrawal at 18: 50% of balance can be withdrawn after daughter turns 18 — ideal timing for college admission. Remaining 50% matures at 21.
- Projections: ₹1,000/month from birth to age 15 (15 years contributions) at 8.2% → ₹5.9 lakh balance. ₹5,000/month → ₹29.3 lakh. ₹12,500/month (max ₹1.5L/year) → ₹73.1 lakh by maturity at 21.
3. Entrepreneurship Schemes for Women
| Scheme | Loan Amount | Interest Rate | Collateral | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM MUDRA — Shishu | Up to ₹50,000 | 8-12% | None | Micro enterprises, home businesses |
| PM MUDRA — Kishore | ₹50,001-5L | 9-14% | None | Small business expansion |
| PM MUDRA — Tarun | ₹5L-10L | 10-16% | Minimal | Established small business scale-up |
| Stand-Up India | ₹10L-1 crore | Base rate + 3% | Required | Greenfield (new) manufacturing/services |
| PM Vishwakarma | Up to ₹3L (2 tranches) | 5% | None | Traditional artisan women |
| SHG (NABARD) loans | ₹10,000-5L (group) | 7-12% | Group guarantee | Rural women Self-Help Groups |
How to apply for MUDRA: visit any scheduled commercial bank (SBI, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank), NBFC, or Microfinance Institution (MFI). Submit: business plan, identity/address proof (Aadhaar), bank statements 6 months, income proof. No collateral for Shishu and Kishore. Women get priority processing and 0.25% rate concession at most public sector banks.
4. Maternity Rights — Your Legal Entitlements
| Entitlement | What You Get | Who Is Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Paid leave | 26 weeks (1st/2nd child); 12 weeks (3rd+) | All establishments with 10+ employees |
| Full salary during leave | 100% salary — no deductions | All covered employees |
| ESIC maternity benefit | 100% daily wages for 26 weeks, paid directly by ESIC | Women with Basic+DA ≤₹21,000/month |
| Creche access | Within 500m of workplace, 4 visits/day with break | Employers with 50+ employees |
| Work from home option | Employer must consider if work type permits | Post-maternity leave |
| No termination protection | Cannot be terminated during maternity leave | All covered employees |
| PM Matru Vandana Yojana | ₹5,000 cash in 3 instalments (1st live birth) | First-time mothers, all income levels |
5. Health Schemes Covering Women
- Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: ₹5L/family/year for BPL and specified groups. Check eligibility on pmjay.gov.in. Covers pregnancy, maternity, and women’s reproductive health.
- Janani Suraksha Yojana: ₹1,400-1,800 cash incentive for institutional (hospital) delivery at government hospitals. Encouraging institutional childbirth over home delivery.
- Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): Free prenatal check-up on 9th of every month at government health facilities.
- CGHS (for government employees): Comprehensive health coverage including all women’s health procedures, maternity, and family planning at CGHS-empanelled hospitals.
6. Pension and Social Security for Women
- NPS for women: National Pension System open to all Indian citizens 18-70. Budget 2025 employer deduction of 14% makes corporate NPS especially beneficial. At retirement: 60% tax-free lump sum + 40% annuity.
- Atal Pension Yojana (APY): For unorganised sector workers (domestic workers, agricultural labourers). ₹1,000-5,000/month guaranteed pension at 60. Premium: ₹42-210/month depending on age and pension amount chosen.
- PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Free LPG connection for BPL women — reduces dependence on biomass fuels and improves household health. 9.5 crore connections provided.
- PM Awas Yojana (PMAY): Subsidised home loans for EWS/LIG. Housing in woman’s name or joint ownership mandated — driving property ownership for women.
7. How to Access and Apply for Women’s Schemes
| Scheme | Where to Apply | Documents Needed |
|---|---|---|
| SSY | Post Office or any scheduled bank | Aadhaar, birth certificate (child), photograph |
| SCSS / POMIS / NSC | Post Office or SBI/nationalised bank | Aadhaar, PAN, photograph |
| MUDRA loan | Any bank, NBFC, or MFI | Business plan, Aadhaar, PAN, bank statements |
| Stand-Up India | Bank branch (every branch has quota) | Business plan, DPR (Detailed Project Report), caste certificate if SC/ST |
| PM Matru Vandana | Anganwadi centre or health facility | Aadhaar, bank account, mother and child health card |
| Ayushman Bharat | Online (pmjay.gov.in) or nearest government hospital | Aadhaar; eligibility checked online |
| APY (Atal Pension) | Any bank branch or online via net banking | Aadhaar, bank account, mobile number |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Top government savings schemes for women (by rate and benefit): (1) Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY): 8.2% EEE, girl child under 10, ₹250-1.5L/year — best for daughter’s education. (2) Mahila Samman Savings Certificate: 7.5% interest, 2-year tenure, ₹2L maximum per woman, EEE treatment — one-time special scheme (check current availability). (3) Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS): 8.2% quarterly payout, ₹30L maximum, for women above 60 — best income scheme for senior women. (4) Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS): 7.4% monthly payout, ₹9L maximum single, ₹15L joint — regular monthly income for women without pension. (5) National Savings Certificate (NSC): 7.7%, 5 years, 80C deductible — safe medium-term savings with tax benefit.
The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) was introduced in Budget 2023 as a two-year, one-time special savings scheme for women and girl children. Key features: interest rate 7.5% compounded quarterly, 2-year tenure, maximum deposit ₹2 lakh per woman, partial withdrawal after 1 year. Tax: interest is taxable at slab rate (not EEE — unlike SSY). Original availability: April 2023 to March 2025. As of June 2026: the scheme’s original window has closed — verify current status with your nearest post office or India Post website as the scheme may have been extended or made permanent. The Ministry of Finance may have announced continuation — check official India Post (indiapost.gov.in) for current availability before visiting.
Key government schemes for women entrepreneurs: (1) MUDRA Loan (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency): collateral-free business loans up to ₹10 lakh. Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishore (₹50,001-5L), Tarun (₹5,00,001-10L). Apply at any bank or NBFC. Women get priority — interest rate discount of 0.25% at many banks. (2) Stand-Up India: loans of ₹10L-1 crore for at least 1 SC/ST and 1 woman borrower per bank branch. For setting up greenfield (new) businesses. (3) PM Vishwakarma Yojana: for traditional artisans and craftspeople — many women in textile, pottery, handicraft sectors eligible. Training + tool support + credit access. (4) Stree Swabhiman Initiative: CSC (Common Service Centre) for women entrepreneurs. (5) NITI Aayog WEP (Women Entrepreneurship Platform): connects women to mentorship, networks, and government scheme access.
Maternity benefits under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017: (1) Paid leave: 26 weeks (6.5 months) for first two children; 12 weeks for third child onwards. (2) Full salary during leave: employer cannot deduct salary during maternity leave period. (3) ESIC benefit: women with Basic+DA ≤₹21,000/month receive 100% of daily wages for 26 weeks directly from ESIC. (4) Work from home: employer must consider WFH post-leave if nature of work permits. (5) Creche: employers with 50+ employees must provide creche within 500m; women can visit 4 times/day including breaks. (6) Adoption leave: 12 weeks for women adopting a child below 3 months. (7) No termination: employer cannot terminate an employee during maternity leave — illegal under the Act. Non-compliance: criminal action under the Act. File complaint with the Enforcement Officer under Ministry of Labour.
Government health coverage for women: (1) Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: health cover of ₹5 lakh per family/year for BPL and specified income groups. Covers pregnancy, maternity, and women’s health conditions. Check eligibility at pmjay.gov.in or Ayushman app. (2) Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): cash incentive for institutional delivery in government hospitals. ₹1,400 for urban, ₹1,400-1,800 for rural. Targets BPL women but available to all in high-focus states. (3) ASHA and Anganwadi workers: provide prenatal/postnatal support, immunisation, and nutritional support for pregnant and lactating women. (4) PM Matru Vandana Yojana: ₹5,000 in three instalments for first live birth — cash benefit to support nutritional needs during pregnancy. (5) Free treatment at government hospitals: CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) covers government employees and families including all women’s healthcare.