LUCKNOW — To ease financial strains on underprivileged households, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has provided direct financial assistance to over 53,000 economically weaker Other Backward Classes (OBC) families during the 2026-27 financial year under its flagship Marriage Grant Scheme.
According to official figures released by the state government, more than 1 lakh applications—1,09,697 to be precise—have been submitted by eligible households so far this fiscal year. Out of these, 53,546 applicants have already received a direct benefit transfer (DBT) of ₹20,000 each into their bank accounts, amounting to a total disbursement of ₹107.092 crore.
The state has earmarked an annual budget target of ₹210 crore for the current financial year, with an overall goal of assisting 1,05,000 beneficiaries across Uttar Pradesh.
Under the rules governing the Marriage Grant Scheme, families earning up to ₹1 lakh annually are eligible to apply. Statutory age limits mandate that the bride must be at least 18 years old and the groom at least 21 years old at the time of marriage. Director of Backward Class Welfare Asmita Lal emphasized that the program prioritizes vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, widows, landless families, and victims of natural disasters, ensuring that financial constraints do not compromise the dignity of daughters’ weddings in marginalized communities.
