Goa, March 11 -- Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar surprised many on Monday by stating that he never committed to raising the payout for the Ladki Bahin Scheme from Rs.1,500 to Rs.2,100. This announcement came shortly after he presented his eleventh budget as the state's Finance Minister for 2025-26.

While Pawar did acknowledge that such a promise was included in the manifestos of the parties that make up the ruling Mahayuti coalition, he pointed to the state's financial situation as the reason for not increasing the payout. Nevertheless, a substantial allocation of Rs.36,000 crore has been set aside for this popular scheme, which played a significant role in helping Mahayuti secure victory last November.

Before Ajit Pawar ...