Maharashtra Offers Financial Incentives for Marriages Involving Persons with Disabilities; Assistance Up to Rs 2.5 Lakh
Pune, 3rd July 2026: The Maharashtra government has announced enhanced financial assistance to encourage marriages involving persons with disabilities under its Marriage Incentive Scheme, aimed at promoting social inclusion and empowering persons with disabilities.
Implemented by the Department of Disability Empowerment under the Social Security programme, the scheme provides financial assistance of ₹1.50 lakh for marriages between a person with a disability and a non-disabled person, and ₹2.50 lakh for marriages where both spouses are persons with disabilities.
The scheme has been expanded in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which guarantees the rights of persons with disabilities to family life, reproduction, and independent living. The Social Justice and Special Assistance Department revised the earlier Government Resolution (GR) dated June 17, 2014, and issued a new GR on December 18, 2025, extending the benefits to marriages where both partners are persons with disabilities.
Under the scheme, the entire financial assistance is transferred directly to the couple’s joint bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. However, 50 per cent of the sanctioned amount must be deposited in a fixed deposit for a period of five years.
To be eligible, either the bride or groom must have at least 40 per cent disability and possess a valid Aadhaar-linked Unique Disability ID (UDID) card or disability certificate. At least one of the spouses must be a resident of Maharashtra. The marriage must be the first marriage for the applicants, or if either spouse is divorced, they should not have availed of the scheme earlier.
The marriage must also be legally registered, and the application should be submitted to the concerned District Disability Empowerment Officer within one year of the marriage.
Applicants are required to submit a valid Aadhaar-linked UDID card or disability certificate, marriage registration certificate, Aadhaar cards, details of the couple’s Aadhaar-linked joint bank account, and a Maharashtra domicile certificate along with the prescribed application form.
The applications will be scrutinised by the district authorities before being forwarded to the selection committee for approval.
Couples married on or after December 18, 2025, are eligible to apply online through the Divyang Sahayak Portal. For further information, applicants may contact the offices of the Assistant Commissioner, Department of Disability Empowerment, at the respective Zilla Parishads or the offices serving Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts.
Appealing eligible couples to avail themselves of the scheme, Maharashtra Minister for Disability Empowerment Atul Save, Department Secretary Dr. Manik Gursal (IAS), and Commissioner for Disability Empowerment Satyajit Bade (IAS) urged beneficiaries to submit their applications within the stipulated time.
