The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged major financial irregularities in the implementation of the Maharashtra government's flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, pointing to excess expenditure of ₹3,541.16 crore, the parking of funds worth thousands of crores in deposit accounts, and shortcomings in budget planning and financial management.
The observations are part of the CAG's State Finances Audit Report 2024-25, which was tabled in the Maharashtra Legislature on Friday.
According to the audit, the Women and Child Development Department spent ₹3,541.16 crore more than the sanctioned amount allocated for the scheme without providing any specific justification for the excess expenditure.
The report said a total of ₹29,693.09 crore was made available for the scheme. Of this, ₹26,200 crore came through supplementary budgetary provisions, while another ₹3,490.75 crore was re-appropriated from the Lek Ladki Yojana.
The audit also questioned the manner in which funds were handled. It found that ₹15,586 crore withdrawn from the state treasury between January and March 2025 was transferred to Virtual Personal Deposit Accounts (VPDAs) rather than used immediately for the scheme.
The CAG observed that such large-scale withdrawals indicated the money was not required for immediate expenditure and should not have been drawn from the treasury in advance. It termed the practice a serious financial irregularity, stating that parking funds in VPDAs without an immediate requirement was contrary to the principles of budgetary discipline and financial propriety, and that it weakened legislative oversight over public finances.
The report further stated that the implementation of the scheme suffered from significant deficiencies in budget estimation, expenditure control and overall financial management.
It also highlighted a sharp increase in spending on women's welfare schemes during the year. Expenditure rose from ₹261.78 crore in the previous financial year to over ₹33,500 crore, reflecting a substantial shift towards direct welfare transfers rather than the creation of capital assets.
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was approved by the Maharashtra Cabinet on June 28, 2024, to promote the economic independence of women. Under the scheme, eligible women between the ages of 21 and 65 receive ₹1,500 every month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
In its recommendations, the CAG said the Women and Child Development Department should carry out a realistic assessment of beneficiary numbers and fund requirements while preparing the budget for large DBT schemes such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana.
The audit also advised the government not to park funds in VPDAs or similar accounts and stressed that withdrawals from the treasury should be made only when there is an actual and immediate requirement for expenditure.
