Government Schemes for Transgender Persons in India 2026–27: Complete State-Wise Guide to Financial Help, Healthcare, Jobs, Skill Training & Shelter
Last verified: August 2026
Being transgender should never mean being denied education, healthcare, employment, housing or dignity.
Yet many transgender people face practical difficulties such as:
- Difficulty finding stable employment
- Family rejection
- Homelessness
- Discrimination
- Difficulty accessing healthcare
- Lack of formal identity documents
- Interrupted education
- Financial insecurity
- Difficulty starting a business
- Lack of safe accommodation
The Government of India has created a number of programmes specifically intended to address these issues.
The most important starting point is the National Portal for Transgender Persons, operated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The current Central Government SMILE scheme includes comprehensive rehabilitation measures for transgender persons covering healthcare, counselling, education, skill development, livelihood and economic linkages.
Start Here: National Portal for Transgender Persons
If you are transgender and don't know where to begin, start here.
Official National Portal for Transgender Persons
The portal provides access to:
- Transgender Certificate
- Transgender Identity Card
- Welfare schemes
- Skill development
- Medical-health information
- Garima Greh information
- Other support services
The Government Services Portal confirms that transgender individuals can apply online for a nationally recognised Transgender Certificate and Identity Card.
1. Transgender Certificate and Identity Card
This should be one of the first things a transgender person investigates.
The National Portal allows eligible transgender persons to apply online for their certificate and identity card.
The certificate and ID card are nationally recognised and the Government Services Portal states that the certificate is a mandatory document for accessing welfare measures under SMILE.
Important
The current National Portal says district authorities are required to issue transgender certificates and ID cards within 30 days of receiving the application.
If there is an unexplained delay, keep your application number and use the official grievance/contact mechanism.
2. SMILE Scheme
The Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise — SMILE scheme is the major Central Government umbrella programme to know about.
Its transgender component is called:
Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons.
It focuses on:
- Medical facilities
- Counselling
- Education
- Skill development
- Livelihood
- Economic linkages
- Shelter
- Other welfare measures
The current Ministry page lists the revised guidelines as active from 10 June 2025 through 31 March 2028.
This is why a transgender person should not search only for:
“transgender pension.”
The available support is much broader.
3. Garima Greh — Shelter Homes for Transgender Persons
If someone has been abandoned, is homeless or has nowhere safe to stay, Garima Greh is one of the most important programmes to know about.
Garima Greh provides transgender persons in need with support including:
- Shelter
- Food
- Clothing
- Medical care
- Counselling
- Recreation
- Skill development
- Capacity building
- Assistance accessing social-security schemes
The official Garima Greh portal specifically describes the homes as providing shelter and basic amenities to destitute and abandoned transgender persons.
The National Portal has a geotagged Garima Greh directory, allowing transgender persons to locate participating shelters.
Examples currently listed by the Government include Garima Greh facilities in:
- Delhi
- Odisha
- Tamil Nadu
- Bihar
- Maharashtra
- Chhattisgarh
- West Bengal
- Gujarat
- Rajasthan
- Karnataka
- Assam
- Punjab
- Andhra Pradesh
The official directory should be checked for the latest list rather than relying on an old social-media post.
4. Healthcare Support
Healthcare is another major area.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment states that SMILE includes Composite Medical Health for transgender persons and that the Ministry has an MoU with the National Health Authority for convergence with Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
Therefore, transgender persons should investigate:
- Ayushman Bharat eligibility
- State health insurance
- Government hospitals
- SMILE medical-health support
- Mental-health/counselling services
- Gender-affirming healthcare available through authorised facilities
Important
Don't assume that healthcare support means every treatment is automatically free.
Check the current scheme, hospital and treatment eligibility.
5. Skill Development
If you are unemployed or earning very little, skill development may be more useful in the long term than a one-time financial payment.
The National Portal currently provides an online route for skill-development applications.
Potential areas can include:
- Computer skills
- Data entry
- Accounting
- Digital marketing
- Tailoring
- Beauty and wellness
- Handicrafts
- Retail
- Food businesses
- Entrepreneurship
- Other vocational skills
The appropriate training depends on the programme available in your location.
6. Livelihood and Employment Support
The SMILE programme specifically includes livelihood and economic linkages.
That means transgender persons should look beyond traditional employment.
Investigate:
- Skill training
- Job placement
- Self-employment
- Entrepreneurship
- Government livelihood schemes
- MSME registration
- Small-business loans
- State entrepreneurship programmes
- Vendor/business opportunities
If you want to start a small business, also investigate general schemes such as Udyam registration, MUDRA, PMEGP and applicable state MSME programmes, provided you meet their eligibility conditions.
7. Education
Transgender students should not search only for a scheme labelled “transgender scholarship.”
Also investigate:
- General government scholarships
- State scholarships
- National Scholarship Portal
- Institution-specific scholarships
- Scholarships based on income
- Scholarships based on academic merit
- Skill-development programmes
- Higher-education assistance
A transgender student may qualify for a general scholarship based on income, merit, course or other criteria even when a transgender-specific scholarship isn't available.
8. Protection Against Discrimination
India has a specific legal framework for transgender persons under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and the associated Rules.
The Ministry's current transgender division identifies the Act and Rules among the governing framework for transgender welfare and rights.
Issues involving discrimination, denial of services or violations of rights should be taken seriously.
The appropriate authority depends on the particular situation.
9. Transgender Welfare Boards
This is particularly important for the state-wise section.
The Ministry states that, under Rule 10(1) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, every State is required to establish a welfare board for transgender persons to protect their rights and interests and facilitate access to schemes and welfare measures.
Therefore, your state-level search should include:
State Transgender Welfare Board + Social Welfare Department + Women/Child/Social Justice Department where applicable
State-Wise Government Support for Transgender Persons
1. Andhra Pradesh
Transgender persons should check:
- State transgender welfare programmes
- Social Welfare Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- National Transgender Portal
- SMILE
- Garima Greh where available
- Healthcare schemes
- Skill development
- Self-employment
- Education assistance
- State social-security schemes
The Central Government's Garima Greh directory currently includes a facility in Andhra Pradesh.
2. Arunachal Pradesh
Check:
- State Social Welfare Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- National Transgender Portal
- SMILE
- Healthcare
- Skill development
- Education
- Livelihood programmes
- Self-employment
- Central welfare schemes
People in remote areas should specifically ask the district administration about available services.
3. Assam
Check:
- State transgender welfare services
- Social Welfare Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Skill development
- Healthcare
- Education
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
The Central Garima Greh directory currently lists a facility in Assam.
4. Bihar
Transgender persons should investigate:
- State welfare programmes
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Social Welfare Department
- Skill development
- Healthcare
- Education
- Livelihood assistance
- Shelter
A Garima Greh is currently listed in Patna in the official Central directory.
5. Chhattisgarh
Check:
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Social Welfare
- Skill training
- Healthcare
- Education
- Livelihood assistance
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
The Central directory currently lists a Garima Greh in Raipur.
6. Goa
Check:
- State transgender welfare services
- Social Welfare
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- National Transgender Portal
7. Gujarat
Check:
- Social Justice Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Skill development
- Healthcare
- Education
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
The official Garima Greh directory currently lists a facility in Vadodara.
8. Haryana
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- State welfare schemes
- Skill development
- Healthcare
- Education
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- National Transgender Portal
9. Himachal Pradesh
Check:
- Social Welfare Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Skill development
- Education
- Livelihood support
- Self-employment
- Central schemes
10. Jharkhand
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Skill development
- Healthcare
- Education
- Livelihood programmes
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Central schemes
11. Karnataka
Karnataka transgender persons should check:
- Social Welfare Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Skill-development programmes
- Healthcare
- Education
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
A Garima Greh is currently listed in Karnataka in the official Central information.
12. Kerala
Check:
- State Social Justice Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Education assistance
- Healthcare
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- State welfare programmes
- SMILE
13. Madhya Pradesh
Check:
- Social Justice Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Skill training
- Education
- Livelihood
- Self-employment
- National Transgender Portal
- SMILE
14. Maharashtra
Maharashtra transgender persons should investigate:
- State Social Justice/Social Welfare programmes
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Skill development
- Education
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
The official Central directory currently lists multiple Garima Greh facilities in Maharashtra, including locations in Thane, Mumbai City and Raigad.
This makes the Garima Greh directory particularly useful for someone in Maharashtra who needs safe accommodation.
15. Manipur
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
16. Meghalaya
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Livelihood support
- Self-employment
- Central schemes
17. Mizoram
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Skill development
- Education
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
18. Nagaland
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Livelihood programmes
- Self-employment
- Central schemes
19. Odisha
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Skill development
- Education
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
The Central directory currently lists a Garima Greh in Khordha/Bhubaneswar.
20. Punjab
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
The official Central information lists a Garima Greh in Punjab.
21. Rajasthan
Check:
- Social Justice and Empowerment Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
A Garima Greh is currently listed in Jaipur.
22. Sikkim
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Central welfare programmes
23. Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu transgender persons should check:
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Social Welfare Department
- Education assistance
- Healthcare
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
A Garima Greh is currently listed in Chennai.
24. Telangana
Transgender persons in Telangana should check:
- State Social Welfare Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- State healthcare schemes
- Skill development
- Education
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- National Transgender Portal
- General social-security schemes for which they separately qualify
Particularly important
Don't search only:
Telangana transgender pension
Instead search across:
identity + healthcare + skill development + livelihood + education + housing + general welfare
A transgender person may qualify for a general government benefit based on income, disability, age or another criterion independently of their transgender identity.
25. Tripura
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
26. Uttar Pradesh
Check:
- Social Welfare Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- State welfare programmes
- SMILE
- National Transgender Portal
27. Uttarakhand
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- Central schemes
28. West Bengal
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
The Central directory currently lists Garima Greh facilities in Kolkata.
Union Territories
29. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender welfare services
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
30. Chandigarh
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender welfare services
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- Central programmes
31. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender welfare services
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
32. Delhi
Delhi transgender persons should check:
- Social Welfare Department
- Transgender Welfare Board
- Healthcare
- Skill development
- Education
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Garima Greh
The official Garima Greh directory lists a facility in South-West Delhi/Uttam Nagar.
33. Jammu and Kashmir
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender welfare services
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Central schemes
34. Ladakh
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender welfare services
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- Central schemes
35. Lakshadweep
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender welfare services
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- Central schemes
36. Puducherry
Check:
- Social Welfare
- Transgender welfare services
- Healthcare
- Education
- Skill development
- Employment
- Self-employment
- SMILE
- Central schemes
If You Are Homeless or Have Been Abandoned
Don't wait until the situation becomes dangerous.
Step 1
Apply for the transgender certificate and ID card.
Step 2
Check the official Garima Greh directory.
Step 3
Contact the nearest Garima Greh.
Step 4
If you cannot find one, contact the National Transgender Portal.
The Garima Greh programme specifically provides shelter, food, medical care, counselling and skill-development support to transgender persons requiring care and protection.
If You Don't Have a Transgender Certificate
Use the official National Portal.
The application can be completed online without requiring a physical interface with the authorities, according to the Government Services Portal.
Keep:
- Application number
- Submitted documents
- Screenshots/acknowledgement
- Registered email
- Registered mobile number
If your application is delayed, don't simply submit multiple duplicate applications.
First check the existing application's status.
If You Need a Job
Start with:
Certificate → Skill training → Employment → Self-employment
The National Transgender Portal currently provides skill-development facilities and the SMILE scheme includes livelihood/economic-linkage measures.
Also investigate general employment schemes that are open based on:
- Education
- Income
- Skill
- Age
- Location
- Business category
If You Want to Start a Business
You don't necessarily need a transgender-specific loan.
Investigate general MSME programmes too.
Possible starting points include:
- Udyam Registration
- MUDRA
- PMEGP
- Credit-guarantee programmes
- State MSME schemes
- Skill development
- Entrepreneurship programmes
- Self-employment schemes
If you are eligible for a special-category benefit under a particular scheme, use it—but never assume transgender identity alone guarantees a loan or subsidy.
If You Are a Transgender Student
Check three separate routes:
Route 1 — General scholarships
Based on:
- Income
- Merit
- Course
- Category
- State
Route 2 — State scholarships
Check your state's education/social-welfare portal.
Route 3 — Transgender welfare programmes
Check the National Transgender Portal and SMILE.
This is important because a transgender student should not limit their search to schemes explicitly labelled transgender scholarships.
If You Also Belong to SC/ST/OBC or Another Eligible Category
Check whether you qualify for schemes under that category as well.
For example, a transgender student may separately investigate:
Transgender welfare + SC scholarship
or
Transgender welfare + ST scholarship
or
Transgender welfare + disability benefit
Eligibility and whether benefits can be combined depend on the individual scheme.
If You Have a Disability
Also investigate disability-related schemes.
This can include:
- Disability certificate
- UDID
- Disability pension
- Assistive devices
- Disability scholarships
- Skill development
- Employment assistance
Don't assume transgender-specific schemes are your only source of support.
If You Are a Senior Citizen
If you are both transgender and elderly, also check:
- Old-age pension
- Ayushman Bharat
- Senior-citizen welfare
- Assistive devices
- Senior-citizen homes
- Elderly healthcare
Again, eligibility depends on each scheme.
Important Documents to Keep Ready
Create one secure folder containing:
- Aadhaar
- Transgender Certificate
- Transgender Identity Card
- Bank account details
- PAN where applicable
- Residence proof
- Income certificate where required
- Educational certificates
- Skill certificates
- Disability certificate if applicable
- Caste certificate if applicable
- Application numbers
- Government correspondence
- Medical documents where relevant
Never give your banking PIN or OTP to someone claiming to process a welfare application.
Official Contact for the National Transgender Portal
The current National Transgender Portal lists:
General helpdesk: 14427
Email: nisdtghelp@gmail.com
The portal lists technical support hours as 10 AM–5 PM, Monday to Friday.
Because contact details can change, readers should verify them on the official portal before calling or emailing.
One Important Warning About Scams
Be careful if somebody says:
Pay me and I'll get your transgender certificate.
Pay me and I'll guarantee a government job.
Send your OTP and I'll get your welfare payment.
Give me your bank PIN so I can process your SMILE application.
Don't do it.
Use the official National Portal.
The Government provides an online application system for transgender certificates and IDs.
The Best Action Plan for a Transgender Person
If you don't know where to start, follow this order:
1. Get your Transgender Certificate and ID Card
2. Register on the National Transgender Portal
3. Check SMILE welfare measures
4. Check the Garima Greh directory if you need safe accommodation
5. Check healthcare support
6. Apply for skill development if you need employment skills
7. Check education scholarships
8. Check state-level welfare schemes
9. Check general schemes based on your income/category/age/disability
10. Investigate self-employment and entrepreneurship support
11. Save every application number
12. Contact the official helpdesk if you get stuck
Most Important Official Links
National Portal for Transgender Persons
Government Services Portal
SMILE — Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Garima Greh
A Message to Transgender Persons
If you are struggling financially, have been rejected by your family, cannot find work or are worried about where you will sleep tonight, don't assume there is nowhere to turn.
Start with the official transgender portal.
Get your certificate and ID.
Check SMILE.
Look for skill training.
Check healthcare.
Look for livelihood opportunities.
If you need a safe place to stay, check Garima Greh.
And check your state's welfare programmes as well.
You should not have to choose between dignity and survival.
Government welfare is not a substitute for equality and opportunity, but legitimate schemes can provide practical support while you work toward education, employment, financial independence and a secure life.
The most important thing is to use official channels, avoid agents demanding money, and keep records of every application you make.
*This article is for information and navigation. Eligibility, availability and state-level benefits can change. Always verify the latest government notification and official portal before applying.*
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