What’s new
Bihar has highlighted a state-run incentive that gives up to ₹1,00,000 to newly married couples where at least one partner is a person with disability (PwD). The Social Welfare Department says beneficiaries may deploy the money not only for wedding-related expenses but also to kickstart self-employment or meet essential household needs—an explicit push to make couples economically self-sustaining. The latest update, carried by IANS, underlines the scheme’s intent and the real-life use cases reported by recipients.
What the scheme offers
Under the Mukhyamantri Divyangjan Vivah Protsahan Anudan Yojana, eligible applicants receive a lump-sum grant up to ₹1 lakh. Official scheme listings reiterate the amount and the purpose—social security and encouragement of marriage for PwDs—with flexibility to use funds for livelihoods and essentials.
Who can apply (at a glance)
- Disability threshold: At least one spouse must be a resident of Bihar and have ≥40% disability (the “benchmark disability” standard in Indian policy).
- Marriage & age: Applications must be made within one year of marriage; minimum age 18 (bride) and 21 (groom)
- Basic conditions: Applicants should belong to poor families and be domiciled in Bihar. (Legacy scheme forms and notices carry the ₹1 lakh figure and similar conditions.
Tip: In practice, couples use a UDID card or disability certificate to establish benchmark disability. The Union government confirms the UDID platform is the standard rails for disability certification and scheme access.
How it links to livelihoods
Bihar has stacked multiple measures around disability inclusion this year. Most notably, the Cabinet approved the Mukhya Mantri Divyangjan Udyami Yojana, which offers ₹5 lakh interest-free loan + ₹5 lakh subsidy to help PwDs start micro-enterprises. This sits naturally alongside the marriage incentive, turning a one-time grant into a stepping stone to entrepreneurship for eligible couples who want to expand.
A wider safety net: pensions & identity coverage
Beyond start-up support, Bihar has raised the monthly social-security pension to ₹1,100, which includes the disability category, with the first tranche disbursed to over 1.11 crore beneficiaries statewide. That predictable monthly income can stabilize cash flow for newly married PwD households experimenting with self-employment.
On identity and access, the latest Lok Sabha reply shows Bihar had issued 6,44,259 UDID cards by 13 August 2025, with 1,18,916 applications pending; 152 hospitals in the state are integrated with the UDID system—evidence that the admin rails for disability benefits are steadily widening.
Why this matters
Census-linked profiles show Bihar has a higher share of children in its disabled population and historically low workforce participation among PwDs—constraints that a cash grant plus enterprise support can ease by funding tools, inventory or shop improvements. The state’s focus on last-mile documentation (UDID), pension adequacy, and credit-plus-subsidy lowers the classic barriers that stall micro-businesses in their first year.
How beneficiaries say they’re using it
Recent field reports collected by the press describe couples upgrading or reopening small shops and planning to diversify inventory using the incentive money—an early sign that households are treating the grant as seed capital rather than a one-off windfall.
What to watch next
- Operational circulars & timelines: District Social Welfare Offices typically publish application windows and document checklists; the scheme requires filing within one year of marriage.
- Convergence with Udyami loans: Tracking how many grant recipients step up to the ₹10 lakh Udyami package (loan + subsidy) will reveal whether the ladder from incentive to enterprise is working.
- Inclusion via UDID: With issuance and hospital integration rising, watch for camp drives and faster certification so eligible couples don’t miss the one-year window.
