The Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, approved the Driving Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender Green E-Auto (DURGA) scheme on September 23, 2026, to promote economic empowerment, safer transport and self-employment opportunities for women and transgender persons. Under the first phase, 1,300 pink electric autos will be allocated, including 1,170 for women and 130 for transgender beneficiaries.
Applications will be accepted through a dedicated online portal, with applicants required to meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. The scheme also aims to strengthen last-mile connectivity, increase the participation of women and transgender persons in the transport sector, and promote cleaner urban mobility.
1,300 E-Autos In First Phase
The DURGA scheme is designed to give women and transgender persons an opportunity to become owners and drivers of electric autos, providing them with a source of livelihood through self-employment. The first phase will see 1,300 pink electric autos allocated across Delhi’s revenue districts, with 1,170 reserved for women and 130 for transgender beneficiaries. A maximum of 90 autos for women and 10 for transgender persons will be allocated in each district.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative would open a new chapter of dignity, safety and economic empowerment for women and transgender persons. She said the scheme would provide opportunities for dignified self-employment while encouraging greater participation of transgender persons in the transport sector. The government also intends to improve last-mile connectivity and provide commuters with additional transport options, particularly during early morning and late evening hours.
The government has stated that applications will be invited through a dedicated online portal. However, the portal’s opening date and the timeline for the first vehicles to begin operating have not been announced in the reports available as of September 27, 2026.
Eligibility And Scheme Rules
The scheme lays down specific eligibility conditions for applicants. Women applying must be between 20 and 40 years old, residents of Delhi, and hold a valid voter identity card, a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving licence and a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badge. Their combined family income for the 2025–26 financial year must not exceed ₹5 lakh. Women with more than three children will not be eligible, and neither the applicant nor her family can own a registered transport vehicle or three-wheeler.
Transgender applicants must also meet the age, residency and driving licence requirements and possess a valid transgender certificate issued by the office of a District Magistrate in Delhi. The autos will have a mandatory three-year lock-in period, during which beneficiaries will not be permitted to sell or transfer the vehicles. The vehicles will carry distinct DURGA branding and identification features.
The government has also highlighted the scheme’s potential to create employment beyond driving, including work in vehicle repair, servicing, charging infrastructure and battery recycling. According to officials, the socio-economic impact of the initiative will be assessed periodically. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has reportedly made space for electric vehicle charging facilities available in parking areas at 70 metro stations.
Background And Wider Impact
The DURGA scheme builds on the Delhi government’s broader efforts to expand electric mobility and create livelihood opportunities for women and transgender persons. The initiative was previously announced in the Delhi government’s 2026–27 Budget in March 2026, with an initial proposal to provide 1,000 autos for women and 100 for transgender persons. The Cabinet-approved first phase has increased the proposed allocation to 1,300 vehicles.
The scheme also seeks to address gaps in representation within the transport sector by creating dedicated opportunities for women and transgender persons to own and operate electric autos. By combining livelihood generation with cleaner transport, the government aims to support a more inclusive mobility system in the capital. However, the scheme’s actual impact will depend on implementation, access to vehicles and charging facilities, and the ability of beneficiaries to sustain their livelihoods.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The DURGA scheme offers an opportunity to connect economic empowerment with dignity, inclusion and safer mobility. Creating avenues for women and transgender persons to own and operate electric autos can help widen access to livelihoods and encourage greater representation in a sector where opportunities may be limited. However, meaningful empowerment requires more than allocating vehicles.
Transparent selection, accessible application procedures, reliable charging infrastructure, financial support and safeguards against discrimination will be essential to ensure that the intended beneficiaries can build sustainable livelihoods. The scheme’s success should ultimately be measured by the opportunities it creates and the difference it makes to people’s everyday lives. What additional steps do you think are needed to make public transport safer and employment opportunities more inclusive for women and transgender persons?
Also Read: Air India AI-171 Crash: Pilots’ Body Seeks Seat On Panel Reviewing Draft Final Investigation Report
Delhi’s journey towards inclusive growth, financial independence and clean mobility is gaining new momentum with the Durga E Auto Yojana.
— Delhi Government (@DelhiGovDigital) September 25, 2026
In the first phase, 1,300 Pink E Autos will be allocated:
1,170 for women and 130 for transgender persons.
The initiative will turn… pic.twitter.com/hQIqzfKEvF
