Inter-Caste Marriage Scheme: How to Claim Financial Assistance in India (2026)

If you got married across caste lines in the past year, there is a good chance you are eligible for financial assistance from the government — and an equally good chance you have not claimed it yet. Most eligible couples miss this benefit not because they are disqualified, but because they simply did not know the rules, missed the deadline, or did not submit the right documents in time.

This guide covers every scheme — central and state-wise — with the exact official websites, full eligibility conditions, documents required, and how to apply.

Why Does the Government Offer This?

Inter-caste marriages — particularly those involving a Scheduled Caste (SC) partner — have been encouraged by the Indian government as a measure to reduce caste-based discrimination and promote social integration. The idea is that financial incentives help reduce the social and economic pressures that often discourage such marriages.

The central government runs the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation Inter-Caste Marriage Scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. In addition, most state governments run their own parallel schemes with separate eligibility rules and benefit amounts. You can potentially claim from both — the central scheme and your state scheme — if you meet the conditions for each.

Central Scheme: Dr. Ambedkar Foundation — Complete Details

The Dr. Ambedkar Foundation's Inter-Caste Marriage Scheme is the most significant at the national level. It is run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, an autonomous body under the Ministry.

The financial assistance under this scheme is paid directly to the couple's bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme is designed to incentivise inter-caste marriages where one partner belongs to a Scheduled Caste, as recognition of the couple's social contribution to eliminating caste barriers.

Eligibility — Central Scheme

• At least one spouse must belong to a Scheduled Caste as listed in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950
• The other spouse must belong to a non-SC caste (the marriage must be genuinely inter-caste)
• The marriage must be the first marriage for both partners
• The couple's combined annual income must not exceed the prescribed ceiling (verify at socialjustice.gov.in — the limit has been revised periodically)
• Marriage must be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or the Special Marriage Act, 1954
• Application must be submitted within the prescribed period from the date of marriage
• Both spouses must be Indian citizens residing in India

How to Apply — Central Scheme

1. Visit the official Dr. Ambedkar Foundation website or Ministry of Social Justice website to download the application form
2. Fill the form completely — any blank field can result in rejection
3. Attach all required documents (see Documents section below)
4. Submit the application to your District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) — do not send directly to the Foundation
5. The DSWO forwards it to the State Social Welfare Department, which verifies and sends to the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation in Delhi
6. Upon approval, the amount is credited directly to the couple's bank account via NEFT/DBT

State-wise Schemes — Complete Guide with Official Portals

Every major state has its own inter-caste marriage incentive scheme running parallel to the central one. Below is a state-by-state breakdown with official portal links, amounts (as publicly available — verify current figures before applying), and the department to contact.

Haryana — Up to ₹2.5 Lakh

Haryana runs one of the most generous inter-caste marriage schemes in North India. The benefit is provided under the Inter-Caste Marriage Scheme administered by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Haryana. Applications are submitted online through the Saral Haryana portal.

• Benefit: Up to ₹2.5 lakh (subject to eligibility and prevailing order)
• Condition: One spouse must be from SC; both must be Haryana domicile
• Apply online: saralharyana.gov.in
• Department: Social Justice & Empowerment, Haryana
• Department portal: haryanascbc.gov.in

Punjab — ₹50,000

Punjab provides financial assistance for inter-caste marriages under the Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Department. The benefit is delivered via DBT. Online applications can be submitted through the Sewa Punjab portal.

• Benefit: ₹50,000
• Condition: One spouse from SC; both must be Punjab domicile; first marriage
• Apply online: sewa.punjab.gov.in
• Department: Social Justice, Empowerment & Minorities, Punjab
• Department portal: socialjusticepunjab.gov.in

Tamil Nadu — ₹25,000 to ₹50,000

Tamil Nadu provides incentives for inter-caste marriages involving SC partners under the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department. The scheme is also supported by additional incentive amounts in certain categories. Applications are submitted at the district level through the Department's offices.

• Benefit: ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 (subject to eligibility category)
• Condition: One spouse from SC/ST; Tamil Nadu domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: adwelfare.tn.gov.in
• Submit at: District Adi Dravidar Welfare Office

Rajasthan — State-Specific Benefits

Rajasthan provides inter-caste marriage incentives through the Social Justice and Empowerment Department. Applications are submitted through the Rajasthan SSO (Single Sign-On) portal for eligible couples. Rajasthan also provides benefits under the Dr. Savita Ben Ambedkar Inter-Caste Marriage Assistance Scheme.

• Benefit: Subject to prevailing state government order (check sjed.rajasthan.gov.in for current figures)
• Condition: One spouse from SC; Rajasthan domicile; first marriage
• Apply online: sso.rajasthan.gov.in
• Department portal: sje.rajasthan.gov.in

Maharashtra — Approx. ₹50,000

Maharashtra provides inter-caste marriage incentives under the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department. The scheme covers SC, Vimukta Jati (VJ), and Nomadic Tribe (NT) partners marrying into non-SC/VJ/NT families. Applications go through the district Social Welfare Office.

• Benefit: Approximately ₹50,000 (subject to current government resolution)
• Condition: One spouse from SC/VJ/NT; Maharashtra domicile; first marriage; income limit applies
• Department portal: sjsa.maharashtra.gov.in
• Online services: aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in

Karnataka — Approx. ₹50,000

Karnataka provides inter-caste marriage incentives through the Department of Social Welfare (SC/ST wing). Applications are submitted at the district Social Welfare Office. The state also supports these couples under the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Inter-Caste Marriage Assistance Scheme.

• Benefit: Approximately ₹50,000 (subject to state budget and prevailing G.O.)
• Condition: One spouse from SC/ST; Karnataka domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: sw.kar.nic.in
• Online services: sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh provides support for inter-caste marriages through the Department for the Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens / SC Welfare Department. Eligible couples can apply through the designated district office or MeeSeva portal.

• Condition: One spouse from SC/ST; AP domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: apewalfa.ap.gov.in
• Online services: meeseva.ap.gov.in

Telangana

Telangana provides inter-caste marriage incentives under the SC, ST, BC & Minority Welfare Department. Eligible couples apply at the mandal or district level through the Dharani/MeeSeva system.

• Condition: One spouse from SC/ST; Telangana domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: scbc.telangana.gov.in
• Online services: ts.meeseva.telangana.gov.in

Gujarat

Gujarat runs the inter-caste marriage scheme under the Social Justice and Empowerment Department (SJED). Applications are submitted through the state's e-Samaj Kalyan portal online.

• Condition: One spouse from SC; Gujarat domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: sje.gujarat.gov.in
• Online application: esamajkalyan.gujarat.gov.in

Uttar Pradesh

UP provides inter-caste marriage incentives under the Social Welfare Department. Eligible couples must apply through the district Social Welfare Officer. UP also implements the central Dr. Ambedkar scheme actively.

• Condition: One spouse from SC; UP domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: swd.up.gov.in

Madhya Pradesh

MP provides assistance through the SC Welfare Department under the state's inter-caste marriage incentive scheme. Applications go through the District Collector / Social Justice Department at district level.

• Condition: One spouse from SC/ST; MP domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: mpscwelfare.com
• E-services: mp.gov.in

Bihar

Bihar implements the scheme through the Social Welfare Department. Applications are submitted at the District Social Welfare Office. Bihar also actively implements the central Dr. Ambedkar scheme for eligible inter-caste couples.

• Condition: One spouse from SC/ST; Bihar domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: socialwelfare.bih.nic.in

Odisha

Odisha provides inter-caste marriage incentives through the SC & ST Development Department. Applications are submitted at district level SC/ST Development offices.

• Condition: One spouse from SC/ST; Odisha domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: scstodisha.nic.in

Kerala

Kerala administers inter-caste marriage assistance through the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department. Kerala also has additional support schemes under the state's social welfare umbrella. Applications go through the District SC/ST Development Office.

• Condition: One spouse from SC/ST; Kerala domicile; first marriage
• Department portal: scstdd.kerala.gov.in

Complete State-wise Comparison Table

State	Approx. Benefit	Administering Department	Official Portal
Central (Dr. Ambedkar Foundation)	Up to ₹2.5 lakh	Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment	ambedkarfoundation.nic.in
Haryana	Up to ₹2.5 lakh	Social Justice & Empowerment Dept	saralharyana.gov.in
Punjab	₹50,000	Social Justice, Empowerment & Minorities	sewa.punjab.gov.in
Tamil Nadu	₹25,000 – ₹50,000	Adi Dravidar & Tribal Welfare Dept	adwelfare.tn.gov.in
Rajasthan	State-specific	Social Justice & Empowerment Dept	sje.rajasthan.gov.in
Maharashtra	~₹50,000	Social Justice & Special Assistance Dept	sjsa.maharashtra.gov.in
Karnataka	~₹50,000	Department of Social Welfare	sw.kar.nic.in
Andhra Pradesh	State-specific	SC Welfare Department	apewalfa.ap.gov.in
Telangana	State-specific	SC, ST, BC & Minority Welfare Dept	scbc.telangana.gov.in
Gujarat	State-specific	Social Justice & Empowerment Dept	esamajkalyan.gujarat.gov.in
Uttar Pradesh	State-specific	Social Welfare Department	swd.up.gov.in
Madhya Pradesh	State-specific	SC Welfare Department	mpscwelfare.com
Bihar	State-specific	Social Welfare Department	socialwelfare.bih.nic.in
Odisha	State-specific	SC & ST Development Department	scstodisha.nic.in
Kerala	State-specific	SC & ST Development Department	scstdd.kerala.gov.in

Note: Benefit amounts are subject to revision by state governments. Always verify the current amount on the official state portal or at your District Social Welfare Office before applying.

Eligibility: The Rules That Trip People Up

1. First Marriage Requirement

Most schemes — both central and state — require that the application is for the first marriage of both partners. If either spouse was previously married (divorced or widowed), check the specific scheme rules carefully. Some state schemes have exceptions for widowed persons, but the central Dr. Ambedkar scheme generally applies only to first marriages. Hiding a previous marriage is considered fraud and can lead to recovery of the paid amount plus legal action.

2. The One-Year Deadline

This is the most common reason couples lose out. Applications must typically be submitted within one year of the date of marriage. The clock starts from your marriage date — not from when you registered it, not from when you learned about the scheme. If your wedding was in August 2025, your window closes around August 2026. Do not wait.

3. Caste Certificate of the SC Partner

The application requires a valid caste certificate issued by a competent authority (tehsildar or Sub-Divisional Magistrate) for the SC partner. Many couples find that getting this certificate takes 15–30 days, and they delay starting — by which time the deadline is uncomfortably close. Apply for the caste certificate immediately after marriage.

4. Income Limit

The central Dr. Ambedkar scheme and several state schemes have an annual income ceiling for the couple combined. This limit is revised periodically. An income certificate must be obtained from the tehsildar — not a self-declaration. Check the current income limit on the official portal at the time of applying.

5. Domicile / Residency

For state schemes, both partners must generally be domiciles of that state. If you recently moved to a different state for work, check whether you qualify under your home state scheme or your current state scheme. For the central Dr. Ambedkar scheme, domicile of one state is sufficient.

Documents You Will Need — Complete List

Requirements vary slightly by scheme, but this covers everything needed across all major central and state inter-caste marriage schemes:

Document	Issued By	Notes
Marriage Certificate	Sub-Registrar	Under Hindu Marriage Act 1955 or Special Marriage Act 1954 — religious ceremony alone is not sufficient
Caste Certificate (SC/ST partner)	Tehsildar / SDM	Must be valid; some states require it to be issued within 3–6 months of application
Caste/Community Certificate (other partner)	Tehsildar / Gram Panchayat	To establish that the marriage is genuinely inter-caste
Income Certificate	Tehsildar / Revenue Officer	For both partners combined; must reflect current year income
Aadhaar Card	UIDAI	Both partners; must reflect current address
Joint Photograph	Self	Passport-size photograph of both spouses together; attested copy
Bank Account Details	Bank (cancelled cheque / passbook copy)	Joint account preferred; IFSC and account number must be clearly readable
Residential Proof	Aadhaar / Voter ID / Ration Card	To prove domicile in the applying state
Self-Declaration / Affidavit	Notary / Magistrate	Stating that the marriage is the first for both partners; must be on stamp paper in some states
Recommendation Letter	MLA / MLC / Gazetted Officer	Required in some states (Haryana, UP, MP); check your state's specific form
Age Proof	Birth Certificate / 10th Marksheet	Both partners; confirms legal marriage age was met
Domicile Certificate	Tehsildar	Required by some states to confirm state residency

How to Apply — Step by Step

The application process differs between the central scheme and state schemes, but the general path is similar for most states:

1. Register your marriage legally — Visit the local Sub-Registrar's office with two witnesses. Get the Marriage Certificate under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or Special Marriage Act, 1954. A court affidavit alone is not enough for most schemes.
2. Apply for caste certificate — Go to your tehsil or SDM office with identity proof, residence proof, and old caste documents (if available) for the SC partner. Processing time: 15–30 days in most states.
3. Obtain income certificate — Apply at the same tehsil office for a combined income certificate for both partners. Bring salary slips or IT returns if salaried.
4. Download application form — For the central scheme: visit ambedkarfoundation.nic.in or socialjustice.gov.in. For state schemes: visit the state portal linked in the state-wise section above, or collect the form physically from the District Social Welfare Office.
5. Fill the form completely — Leave no field blank. Use black ink. Sign in all required places. Any incomplete field is grounds for rejection.
6. Self-attest all photocopies — Sign across all photocopied documents. Where the state requires notarised copies, get them notarised.
7. Submit to prescribed authority — Central scheme: submit to District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) → they forward to State → State forwards to Dr. Ambedkar Foundation. State scheme: submit at District Social Welfare Office or online through your state portal. Keep acknowledgement receipt.
8. Follow up after 30–60 days — If no communication, visit or call the DSWO office with your receipt number. For state portals, track status using application ID.

Common Reasons Applications Get Rejected

Even eligible couples sometimes get their applications rejected. Here is what to avoid:

• Expired caste certificate — some states require it to have been issued within the last 3–6 months of the application date
• Mismatched names across documents — name on Aadhaar vs. marriage certificate vs. caste certificate must match exactly; if there is a spelling variation, get it corrected before applying
• Application submitted after the 1-year deadline — no exceptions in most states
• Income above the prescribed limit — submit the latest income certificate; an old one showing lower income when current income is higher is a declaration of false information
• Marriage not legally registered — a religious ceremony, temple marriage, or court affidavit alone is not the same as a marriage certificate from the Sub-Registrar; get the legal certificate
• Previous marriage not disclosed — withholding this leads to rejection and can result in recovery of funds already paid plus criminal proceedings
• Wrong authority for submission — submitting directly to the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation instead of through the DSWO will result in return of the application unprocessed
• Missing recommendation letter — in states where this is mandatory (UP, MP, some districts in Haryana), forgetting this document causes outright rejection

"The scheme exists to help you — but the paperwork must be correct. One wrong document or a missed deadline means the entire benefit is forfeited."

Can You Apply for Both Central and State Scheme?

In most cases, yes. The central Dr. Ambedkar Foundation scheme and your state's inter-caste marriage scheme are separate programs with separate budgets. Applying to one does not disqualify you from the other. However, some states have clauses that say the combined assistance received should not exceed a certain ceiling — check your state's rules to confirm.

Filing both applications simultaneously (with the correct documents) is the smart move, as it maximises what you receive while keeping you within both deadlines. The DSWO can accept both applications at the same time and route them to the respective authorities.

What If You Missed the Deadline?

If you have crossed the one-year window, you generally cannot apply under the standard scheme. However, some states allow applications with a condonation of delay if there is a valid reason (medical emergency, natural disaster, administrative failure on the officer's part). This requires:

• A written application to the District Collector explaining the reason for delay
• Supporting documents (medical certificate, proof of emergency, etc.)
• The District Collector may forward to the state department for consideration

Condonation is not guaranteed — it is entirely at the discretion of the authority. But if the delay was genuinely beyond your control, it is worth trying before giving up.