Indian women are protected by laws and helped by schemes. A law gives a right that a court can enforce. A scheme gives money or services that a government offers.
This lesson covers three laws and the main schemes. It also updates the old lists, because several schemes have been merged or renamed.
- Law against home violence: the 2005 Act lets a Magistrate order protection, a home to stay in, and money.
- Law against dowry: the 1961 Act punishes giving, taking and demanding dowry.
- Schemes today: Mission Shakti and Poshan 2.0 now hold many older schemes.
- Mothers: PMMVY gives cash for a first child and a second girl child.
- Homes and land: NFHS-5 shows 43.3% of women own a house or land.
Laws You Can Enforce
What does the Domestic Violence Act cover?
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, is a civil law. It is meant to protect victims and to give them support.
The Act says abuse is not only physical. It also names sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse, and economic abuse.
A woman can go to a Magistrate, who hears both sides before passing an order.
Sources (card 0): PIB, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence · Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (India Code).
What can a Magistrate order?
After a hearing, the Magistrate can pass a protection order if domestic violence has taken place or is likely to take place. Section 18 gives this power.
Section 19 lets the Magistrate pass a residence order. It stops the respondent from disturbing the woman’s possession of the shared household.
Section 20 covers monetary relief. It includes the loss of earnings, medical expenses, and the loss from damage to property.
Official notes also list custody, compensation, shelter and medical facilities among the reliefs.
Sources (card 1): Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (India Code) · PIB, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence.
| Order | Section | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Protection order | 18 | Stops the respondent from further violence after a hearing |
| Residence order | 19 | Protects her possession of the shared household |
| Monetary relief | 20 | Covers lost earnings, medical costs and damaged property |
Check 1
A woman can get a residence order only if her husband legally owns the house.
Show the answer
It works through orders that protect and support the woman. Its aim is protection and relief, not only punishment.
What counts as dowry?
Dowry means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given, directly or indirectly, in connection with a marriage.
It can be given by one party to the other, or by parents or others. It can be given before, at, or at any time after the marriage.
The Act does not count dower or mahr under Muslim Personal Law as dowry.
Sources (card 3): Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (India Code).
What are the punishments?
Giving, taking or abetting dowry carries a prison term of at least five years. The fine is at least ₹15,000 or the value of the dowry, whichever is more.
The court may give a shorter term only for adequate and special reasons recorded in the judgment.
Demanding dowry carries six months to two years in prison. The fine may go up to ₹10,000.
Sources (card 4): Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (India Code).
Who must prove the case?
Section 8A reverses the usual rule. Where a person is prosecuted for taking, abetting or demanding dowry, the burden of proving innocence is on that person.
This helps the bride’s family, who often have no written proof of a demand.
Sources (card 5): Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (India Code).
Who enforces the Act?
Section 8B lets each State Government appoint Dowry Prohibition Officers. The officer’s job is to see that the Act is followed and to prevent dowry as far as possible. Officers also collect evidence for prosecutions.
By 2013, all States and UTs except Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim had appointed them.
Sources (card 6): Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (India Code) · PIB, Dowry Prohibition Act (2013).
| Dowry Act section | Subject | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Giving or taking | At least five years and a fine |
| 4 | Demanding | Six months to two years |
| 8A | Burden of proof | On the accused person |
| 8B | Officers | Appointed by the State Government |
Check 2
Under section 8A of the Dowry Prohibition Act, the accused must prove they did not commit the offence.
Schemes You Can Receive
What is Mission Shakti?
Mission Shakti has two sub-verticals. Sambal is for the safety and security of women. Samarthya is for their empowerment.
Several older schemes now sit inside Samarthya. These include PMMVY, Ujjwala, Swadhar Greh, the Working Women Hostel, the National Hub for Empowerment of Women and the National Creche Scheme.
Some got new names. Swadhar Greh became Shakti Sadan, the Working Women Hostel became Sakhi Niwas, and the creche scheme became Palna.
Sources (card 7): PIB, Mission Shakti and Poshan 2.0.
Where do adolescent girls’ schemes fit now?
Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyaan and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls have been reorganised.
They now form three sub-verticals under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. So if an older note lists these as separate schemes, treat the list as out of date.
Sources (card 8): PIB, Mission Shakti and Poshan 2.0.
Check 3
Ujjwala and Swadhar Greh still run as fully separate schemes outside Mission Shakti.
How much does PMMVY pay?
Under PMMVY, a cash incentive of ₹5,000 is paid in two instalments for the first child. For a second child who is a girl, ₹6,000 is paid in one instalment after birth.
These amounts follow the Mission Shakti guidelines.
Sources (card 9): PIB, PMMVY.
How does the Janani Suraksha Yojana work?
JSY is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme. It joins cash help with delivery care and care after delivery.
It was launched with effect from 12 April 2005, and it took in the cash benefits of the older National Maternity Benefit Scheme.
The link between the government and poor pregnant women is the ASHA, the accredited social health activist.
Sources (card 10): NHM, JSY guidelines.
What does STEP do?
STEP aims to give women skills that lead to jobs. It also helps them become self-employed or run their own business.
Women aged 16 years and above can take part. Training can be in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, food processing and handlooms.
Sources (card 11): PIB, STEP scheme.
| Scheme | Purpose | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Shakti | Safety and empowerment | Two sub-verticals: Sambal and Samarthya |
| Poshan 2.0 | Nutrition for children and adolescent girls | Three sub-verticals |
| PMMVY | Cash for mothers | ₹5,000 first child; ₹6,000 second girl |
| JSY | Safe delivery | 100% centrally sponsored; ASHA link |
| STEP | Skills and jobs | Women aged 16 and above |
Show the answer
The ASHA lives in the village and knows the pregnant woman. She can guide her to a health centre for delivery.
Money, Property and Numbers
How much of the budget is for women?
The Gender Budget Statement for FY 2026-27 has three parts. Part A holds schemes that are 100% for women. It reports Rs 1,07,688.42 crore, or 21.50% of the total.
Part B holds schemes with 30–99% for women. It reports Rs 3,63,412.37 crore, or 72.54%.
Part C has schemes with below 30% for women.
Sources (card 12): PIB, Gender Budget FY 2026-27.
Do women own PMAY-G houses?
Under PMAY-G, houses are allotted jointly in the names of husband and wife, except for a widow, an unmarried or a separated person. A State may also allot a house to the woman alone. An advisory says every house should include women’s names.
By 28 July 2023, 2.41 crore houses were complete. Of these, 64,31,304 were in women’s names alone and 1,02,52,451 were joint.
Together that is 1,66,83,755 houses, or 69.08% of the total.
Sources (card 13): PIB, Women owners under PMAY-G.
What does NFHS-5 say about ownership?
NFHS-5 asks women whether they own a house or land, alone or jointly. In NFHS-5, 43.3% said yes, up from 38.4% in NFHS-4.
Owning is not the same as controlling. These numbers count ownership, not who decides how the property is used.
Sources (card 14): PIB, Status of women (NFHS-4 and NFHS-5).
What is CEDAW?
CEDAW is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The UN General Assembly adopted it on 18 December 1979.
The UN describes it as an international bill of rights for women. It is also an agenda for action by countries to guarantee those rights.
Sources (card 15): UN, CEDAW text.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Women owning a house or land, NFHS-5 | 43.3% |
| Same measure, NFHS-4 | 38.4% |
| Rural, NFHS-5 | 45.7% |
| Urban, NFHS-5 | 38.3% |
Check 4
In NFHS-5, 43.3% of women reported owning a house or land alone or jointly.
Must Know
- The Domestic Violence Act is a civil law with protection, residence and monetary orders.
- The Dowry Act punishes giving or taking with five years or more.
- Mission Shakti has Sambal and Samarthya.
Good to Know
- PMMVY pays ₹5,000 and ₹6,000 in the two cases.
- JSY is 100% centrally sponsored and uses ASHA workers.
- STEP is open to women aged 16 and above.
Great to Know
- Section 8A puts the burden of proof on the accused.
- 69.08% of completed PMAY-G houses had a woman’s name.
- NFHS-5 ownership is 43.3%.
Exam trap
Do not treat old scheme lists as current. Ujjwala and Swadhar Greh now sit inside Samarthya, and Swadhar Greh is Shakti Sadan.
Also keep the two Acts apart. The Domestic Violence Act is a civil law. The Dowry Act sets prison terms.
Quick Q&A
- Which section gives residence orders? 19.
- Minimum jail for giving or taking dowry? Five years.
- Mission Shakti sub-verticals? Sambal and Samarthya.
- PMMVY for a second girl child? ₹6,000.
- Share of women owning house or land, NFHS-5? 43.3%.
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