Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana: UP Cracks Down on Fraud in Mass Marriage Scheme: Aadhaar-Based Biometric Attendance Mandatory Before Vows

 In a bid to curb rising instances of fraud under the Chief Minister's Mass Marriage Scheme (Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana), the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has announced strict new measures to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of government funds.

Going forward, brides and grooms will be required to undergo Aadhaar-based biometric attendance before taking the wedding vows at mass marriage ceremonies. This step aims to verify the physical presence and identity of couples on the wedding day and eliminate cases of paper-only marriages for the sake of financial grants.

Biometric Verification Before Seven Vows

Under the new protocol, the biometric attendance of both the bride and groom will be recorded at the event venue. Only after successful Aadhaar verification will the couple be allowed to proceed with the marriage rituals. This is expected to instantly flag any individual who has previously received benefits under the scheme, thereby preventing duplicate claims.

District officials, especially the District Magistrate, will now be mandatorily present at events with over 100 couples. The presence of District Social Welfare Officers is also compulsory to oversee and ensure the integrity of the verification process.

Accountability for Officials

The entire responsibility for error-free verification will lie with the concerned officials. If any discrepancies are found or frauds are detected later, the officials involved will be held accountable. In such cases, direct reports must be sent to the Directorate or Zonal Deputy Director for immediate action.

These steps are aimed at ending the misuse of the scheme, where fake grooms and brides were often presented just to claim the monetary benefits.

Increased Grant Under the Scheme

In a major boost to the beneficiaries, the Yogi Adityanath government increased the financial assistance under the scheme from ₹51,000 to ₹1,00,000 per couple earlier this year (April 2025).

The revised grant breakdown is as follows:

₹60,000 will be directly transferred to the bride’s bank account

₹25,000 will be used to provide gifts to the newlywed couple

₹15,000 will cover ceremony-related expenses

Additionally, the eligibility income cap has been raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh per annum, enabling a larger number of economically weaker families to avail of the scheme.

Yogi Government’s Push for Transparent Welfare

The UP government's decision is part of a broader push to make public welfare schemes fraud-proof, transparent, and technology-driven. With Aadhaar-based tracking, real-time monitoring, and direct benefit transfer (DBT) mechanisms, the state aims to ensure that only genuine and eligible beneficiaries receive aid.

The biometric requirement, combined with higher financial support, seeks to promote dignity in marriage ceremonies for the underprivileged while eliminating loopholes that previously allowed exploitation.