The ₹1.5 Lakh Payday: Chhattisgarh’s ‘Rani Durgavati’ Gamble

Townhall Times, New Delhi

Reporter: Bhavika Kalra

By: Regional Desk | Raipur, Chhattisgarh Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Today, Finance Minister OP Choudhary didn’t just present a budget; he threw a financial lifeline to every newborn girl in the state. Amidst the larger ₹1.72 lakh crore fiscal plan for 2026-27, the Rani Durgavati Scheme is the undisputed headline-grabber.

Here is the no-nonsense breakdown of how this scheme works and why it’s being launched now.

1. The Math: Birth to 18

This isn’t a monthly handout. It’s a long-term Assurance Certificate.

The Trigger: The scheme kicks in at birth. When a girl child is born into an eligible family, the state issues a certificate in her name.
The Payout: Upon turning 18, that certificate matures into a direct cash transfer of ₹1.50 lakh (150,000) into her bank account.
The Catch: While full eligibility rules are being drafted, the focus is squarely on BPL (Below Poverty Line) families and those currently covered under the Mahtari Vandan umbrella.

2. Why Rani Durgavati? The Legacy Play

Naming the scheme after the 16th-century Gond queen isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a strategic move to connect with the tribal heartland of Bastar and Surguja. By invoking a symbol of female resistance and power, the government is framing this not as “charity,” but as an “inheritance” for the daughters of the soil.

3. The Hidden Agenda: Social Engineering

The government isn’t just giving away money; they are buying social change.

Killing the Child Marriage Cycle: By locking the payout to the age of 18, the state is creating a massive financial incentive for families to keep their daughters in school and unmarried through their teens.
Education vs. Marriage: The ₹1.5 lakh is designed to be a “choice” fund. Whether she wants to start a small business, pay for a nursing degree, or (traditionally) cover marriage expenses, the capital is hers.

The 2026 ‘Women-First’ Budget At A Glance

Scheme	The Benefit	The Goal
Rani Durgavati	₹1.5 Lakh at age 18.	Financial independence & Anti-Child Marriage.
Lakhpati Didi Parikrama	Pilgrimage for successful self-help groups.	Rewarding female entrepreneurship.
Mahtari Vandan	₹1,000 monthly (Continued).	Immediate liquidity for 70 lakh women.
Mahatari Sadan	250 new community centers.	Infrastructure for women’s gatherings.

4. The Political Heat

Coming on the heels of the Governor’s speech about eradicating Naxalism, this scheme is the “soft power” side of the state’s strategy. The goal is to fill the vacuum left by receding insurgency with aggressive, high-value welfare.