Can a wife claim maintenance?

Yes. A wife can claim maintenance from her husband if she is unable to maintain herself and satisfies the conditions under the applicable law. She has multiple legal routes to claim maintenance from her husband under Section 18 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA), during divorce proceedings under Sections 24–25 of the Hindu Marriage Act, and even under Section 144 of the BNSS (Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita). The idea behind all these provisions is quite simple, if the husband has the means to support her and she cannot support herself, the law steps in. That said, this right isn't absolute, things like proven unchastity or her converting away from Hinduism can take it away.