Overview On December 17 , Laxmi Hebbalkar , the Women and Child Development Minister, apologized in the Karnataka Assembly for providing incorrect information regarding the payment of installments under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme . This occurred after protests from BJP members who demanded an apology for the misleading statement. Key Developments The Misleading Statement The Minister had previously stated that the government had cleared all pending installments for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme until August 2025 . This statement was made in response to a query from BJP member Mahesh Tenginakayi . However, opposition members pointed out that installments for February and March had not been paid. Opposition's Response The Opposition members urged Speaker U. T. Khader to seek clarification from the Minister. They insisted that the Minister clarify the situation immediately and apologize to the 1.26 crore beneficiaries . The unpaid installments for February and March amounted to approximately ₹5,000 crore . The Opposition questioned the whereabouts of the funds and staged a dharna, leading to a temporary adjournment of the House. Minister's Apology and Explanation Upon the House re-assembling, Ms. Hebbalkar admitted that she had learned about the unpaid installments after checking with officials. She stated that she had no intention of misleading the House and expressed regret for any hurt caused by her reply. She also committed to checking with the Finance Department regarding the unpaid funds. Scheme Status So far, 23 installments totaling ₹46,000 crore had been paid through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) under the scheme. Payments had been made until August . Political Fallout The Opposition demanded an apology, which the Minister eventually tendered. The Minister then accused the Opposition of targeting her because she was a woman, leading to further contention. BJP member V. Sunil Kumar suggested that the government skipped installments due to financial constraints. Counter-Arguments and Accusations Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar pointed out that the Centre had not released funds for the Upper Bhadra Project (₹5,300 crore) , MGNREGA , and Jaljivan mission . He questioned whether the Centre was financially bankrupt. D.K. Shivakumar accused the BJP of copying Congress's guarantee schemes. RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge accused the BJP of "vote chori," leading to heated exchanges. Opposition Walkout The Opposition members staged a walkout, expressing dissatisfaction over the Minister's failure to announce when the February and March installments would be paid. UPSC Relevance This news highlights several areas relevant to the UPSC Civil Services exam: GS2: Government Policies and Interventions : The Gruha Lakshmi scheme is a significant government initiative. GS2: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services : The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to women. GS3: Economy : Discussions about state finances and fund allocation are relevant. Centre-State Relations : The issue of delayed fund releases from the Centre to the State is important. Important Facts Gruha Lakshmi Scheme : A DBT scheme providing financial assistance to women heads of households in Karnataka. ₹5,000 crore : Approximate amount for the unpaid installments of February and March. ₹46,000 crore : Total amount disbursed under the scheme so far. Upper Bhadra Project : An irrigation project in Karnataka. MGNREGA : Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.