Mangalya Bhagya – Mass Weddings for Simplicity and Dignity
The Mangalya Bhagya initiative, launched in 2020, supports economically disadvantaged families in conducting simple, debt-free weddings. These ceremonies are held at district-level temples and coordinated by the Hindu Religious Institutions Department in collaboration with local administration. In May 2025, twenty-four couples tied the knot at Sri Kanteshwara Temple in Nanjangud under this scheme, with officials aiming to scale it up to cover at least one hundred couples in future editions The Times of India.
Shaadi Bhagya – Empowering Minority Brides
The Shaadi Bhagya Scheme, introduced in 2013, provides financial assistance of ₹50,000 for women from minority communities—including Muslim, Christian, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist, and Parsi—who meet eligibility criteria. Eligible brides must be at least 18 years of age, the groom must be at least 21, and the family’s annual income must be below ₹1.5 lakh. Widows or divorcees remarrying can also avail this once-in-a-lifetime benefit GyanABCWikipedia.
Assistance for Scheduled Tribe (ST) Communities
Karnataka offers several targeted schemes to enhance marriage equity among ST communities. The ST Simple Marriage Assistance gives ₹50,000 to brides from ST families whose annual income is below ₹2 lakh, provided the marriage takes place after August 11, 2015, and the application is submitted within one year Govt Schemes India.
For ST Intra-Caste Marriages, married couples receive ₹2 lakh. Those who previously received the simple marriage assistance may be eligible for an additional ₹1.5 lakh Govt Schemes India. The ST Inter-Caste Marriage Assistance extends ₹2.5 lakh to men and ₹3 lakh to women. The compensation is disbursed partly in cash and partly as a three-year fixed deposit, supporting socially progressive alliances Govt Schemes India.
Construction Workers’ Marriage Assistance
Under the KBOCWWB (Karnataka Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board), registered construction workers or their dependents can receive ₹60,000 per marriage. The scheme applies to the worker’s first marriage or that of their dependent child, limited to two claims per family. Eligibility requires at least one year of active board membership, a monthly income below ₹15,000, and application submission within six months of the marriage. It can be accessed both online and offline for added convenience Government schemesKPSC Karnataka+1Kannada digital.
Saptapadi Vivah Yojana – Temple Mass Weddings with Added Support
The Saptapadi Vivah Yojana, reintroduced in 2024, organizes mass marriages at designated temples for low- and middle-income families. Beneficiaries receive ₹55,000 overall, along with an 8-gram gold mangalsutra valued around ₹40,000, ₹10,000 for the bride, and ₹5,000 for the groom. Applications must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the event Yojana Parivar.
