If you’re a woman in West Bengal, your monthly bank deposit just got a serious upgrade. The state’s flagship welfare scheme has been replaced with a bigger, better-funded successor — and here’s exactly who qualifies and how much lands in your account.
What Changed?
Launched on June 3, 2026 by the Suvendu Adhikari-led state government, the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme (also called Annapurna Yojana) replaces the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme, nearly doubling the payout via Direct Benefit Transfer straight to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Old scheme | Lakshmir Bhandar (₹1,500–1,700/month) |
| New scheme | Annapurna Bhandar (₹3,000/month) |
| Annual value | ₹36,000 per woman |
| Age eligibility | 25–60 years |
| Nodal authority | Women and Child Welfare Dept. |
| Application window | 27 May – 25 August 2026 |
Who Qualifies
You need to be a woman, a permanent resident of West Bengal, and aged between 25 and 60. Income taxpayers, government employees, and pensioners drawing a regular salary from government or government-aided institutions are excluded. Existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries don’t need to reapply — they’re automatically migrated, provided their Aadhaar-linked bank account is active and their voter records weren’t flagged during the 2026 Special Intensive Revision.
How To Apply for Annapurna Bhandar 2026?
Applications run both online through the Social Registry West Bengal portal and offline via Block Development Offices, municipal offices, and Panchayat camps. Field teams are also doing door-to-door outreach, and the state ran special “Janakalyan Shibir” camps in June to help women submit forms directly. If your bank account details are outdated or your account is jointly held, you’ll need to fix that first — mismatched accounts are one of the most common causes of delayed or rejected payouts.
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