Qualification Bar Eased After 113 Applicants Denied Marriage Aid in J&K – Alfaaz – The Words

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has eased the eligibility criteria for its Marriage Assistance Scheme after 113 applicants were denied benefits between April and October 2025 for not meeting the educational qualification requirement.

According to a written reply by the Minister in charge of the Social Welfare Department, the applicants were found ineligible as they had not passed the minimum required qualification of Class 8, as stipulated in the existing guidelines.

In a move to make the scheme more inclusive, the government has decided to relax the qualification bar up to March 31, 2028, allowing greater access to assistance. The relaxation will be applicable retrospectively from April 1, 2025, thereby extending the benefit to those earlier rendered ineligible.

The Marriage Assistance Scheme provides financial support to economically weaker sections of society to help them meet wedding-related expenses.