NEW DELHI — In a major push for women’s empowerment and social welfare, President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to launch two landmark schemes for the national capital on Monday, March 2, 2026. The initiatives, titled “Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi,” include the rollout of the Pink National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) for free bus travel and a new scheme providing two free LPG cylinders annually to ration card-holding families. The formal launch will take place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The Pink NCMC represents a digital evolution of Delhi’s public transport system, specifically designed for women residents. Replacing the traditional paper-based pink tickets, the smart card will offer seamless, touch-free travel across Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses at no cost to the commuter. Furthermore, the card is integrated with the wider NCMC network, allowing it to be used for paid travel on the Delhi Metro, Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and other public transport services. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that the initiative aims to reduce daily travel costs, thereby improving women’s access to education, employment, and healthcare.
In tandem with the transport initiative, the President will launch the “Mukhya Mantri LPG Sahayata Yojana,” providing two free cooking gas cylinders per year to approximately 1.55 million families on the occasions of Holi and Diwali. The benefit will be delivered via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), where an amount equivalent to the prevailing market price of a cylinder will be credited directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank account of the ration cardholder. This move is expected to significantly ease the financial burden of cooking fuel for low-income households during major festive seasons.
To facilitate the rollout, the Delhi government has authorized Airtel Payments Bank and Hindon Mercantile Limited (MufinPay) to issue the new mobility cards. In the initial phase, both Pink cards for women and Blue cards for general commuters will be available at 50 designated centres, including District Magistrate (DM) and SDM offices. Each Pink Card will be linked to the beneficiary’s mobile number and Aadhaar to verify residency and gender, ensuring a transparent and digital record of every journey. The government has confirmed that the Pink Card itself will be provided free of charge, with all issuance expenses borne by the state exchequer.
