West Bengal women have something worth paying attention to. The state government is shutting down Lakshmir Bhandar and replacing it with a new scheme — Annapurna Bhandar Yojana — that pays double the previous amount. Eligible women get ₹3,000 every month, transferred directly to their bank account. The scheme went live on June 1, 2026. Applications close on August 25, 2026.
What Is Annapurna Bhandar Scheme?
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched this scheme after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections. It was earlier called the Matru Shakti Bharosa Scheme — the official name is now Annapurna Bhandar Yojana.
Eligible women receive ₹3,000 per month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), credited directly to an Aadhaar-linked bank account.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Annapurna Bhandar Yojana |
| Earlier Name | Matru Shakti Bharosa Scheme |
| Launch Date | June 1, 2026 |
| Monthly Benefit | ₹3,000 (via DBT) |
| Application Period | May 27 – August 25, 2026 |
| Nodal Department | Women and Child Welfare Dept., West Bengal |
| Official Portal | socialsecurity.wb.gov.in |
| Application Mode | Online + Offline |
How Is It Different from Lakshmir Bhandar?
The core difference is the amount. Lakshmir Bhandar paid ₹1,500 to ₹1,700 per month, and the benefit varied by category. Annapurna Bhandar pays a flat ₹3,000 — no category distinction.
| Lakshmir Bhandar | Annapurna Bhandar Yojana | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Amount | ₹1,500 – ₹1,700 | ₹3,000 (fixed) |
| Age Eligibility | 25–60 years | 25–60 years |
| Transfer Mode | DBT | DBT |
| Status | Closing | Active from June 1, 2026 |
| Existing Beneficiaries | — | Auto-migrated |
The cabinet approved this on May 11, 2026. The official notification came out on May 19, 2026.
Eligibility — Who Can Apply?
Three conditions apply:
- The applicant must be a woman
- She must be a permanent resident of West Bengal
- Her age must be between 25 and 60 years
Who does not qualify:
- Women who pay income tax
- Permanent or retired government employees
- Women drawing a regular salary or pension from State/Central government, Panchayat, Municipality, or a government-aided educational institution
- Women in teaching or non-teaching roles at a government-aided school
What Happens to Lakshmir Bhandar Beneficiaries?
They do not need to apply again. Existing Lakshmir Bhandar registrations will be auto-migrated to Annapurna Bhandar Yojana.
About 2.20 crore women are currently enrolled in Lakshmir Bhandar. The government ran a re-verification process and found 30 lakh of them ineligible — due to deletion from voter lists or citizenship-related issues. The final Annapurna Bhandar beneficiary count will be around 2 crore.
Categories that were removed:
- Women found dead, shifted, deleted, or absent during SIR 2026
- Women deleted after the draft voter list
- Women removed after adjudication
- ASDD cases (Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate) identified during voter slip distribution
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card (mandatory — DBT requires an Aadhaar-linked bank account)
- Voter ID Card
- Residence Proof
- Bank Passbook or Account Statement
- Passport-size Photographs
How to Download the Application Form
Forms are available from May 27, 2026. The deadline to submit is August 25, 2026.
Online:
- Visit socialsecurity.wb.gov.in
- Click "Download Annapurna Scheme Form"
- Choose your language — English, Bengali, or Hindi
- Print, fill, and submit at your nearest Block/Municipal/Panchayat Office
Offline: Walk into the nearest Block Office, Municipal Office, or Panchayat Office. Staff will help you fill the form. BDO teams will also do door-to-door outreach. A Jankalyan Shivir (community camp) runs from June 15–17, 2026, where you can submit forms directly.
What the Form Asks For
| Section | What You Need to Fill |
|---|---|
| Family Identity | Head of family details, Household ID, Digital Ration Card, family members' bank and EPIC details |
| Ration Card | Whether you have a digital ration card, whether you collect monthly ration, card type |
| Assets | Home, land, vehicle, insurance |
| Income / Profession | Income tax status, government pension, GST registration, employment and literacy status |
| Other Documents | CAA application status, other ID cards, SIR 2026 tribunal case details if applicable |
| Social Status | School-going children, vaccination status |
| Govt Schemes | Whether you receive any other government scheme |
| Declaration | Signature or thumb impression |
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Write your name exactly as it appears on your Aadhaar card
- Enter date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format
- Double-check your bank account number and IFSC code — it must be an active, Aadhaar-linked account
- Read the declaration before signing
- Review the entire form once before submitting
How to Apply Online
- Go to socialsecurity.wb.gov.in
- Register or log in
- Click "New Application" or "Apply Online"
- Enter your mobile number and verify via OTP
- Fill in your personal and family details
- Upload the required documents
- Submit — save the Application Reference Number that appears after submission
- Wait for verification and approval
How to Apply Offline
- Visit the nearest government camp, Block Office, Municipal Office, or designated service centre
- Submit your filled form along with self-attested documents
- Collect your Acknowledgement Receipt — keep it safe
- Wait for departmental verification
How to Check Application Status
Online:
- Go to socialsecurity.wb.gov.in
- Find "Track Application" or "Check Status"
- Enter your Application Reference Number
- Verify via OTP
- Your status shows up — Pending, Approved, or Rejected
Offline: Visit your nearest Block or Municipal Office with your Acknowledgement Receipt.
You will need:
- Application Reference Number (given at submission)
- Registered Mobile Number
- Aadhaar Number
- Acknowledgement Receipt (for offline check)
If your status shows "Rejected," meet your local Block Officer.
How to Update Your Bank Account
DBT payments only go to Aadhaar-linked active bank accounts. If your linked account is inactive, closed, or incorrect, update it before the payment cycle starts.
Step 1 — Check which bank account is linked to your Aadhaar:
- Go to npci.org.in
- Under Customer, select "Bharat Aadhaar Seeding Enabler (BASE)"
- Click "Aadhaar Mapped Status"
- Enter your Aadhaar number and the captcha
- Verify via OTP — your linked bank details appear on screen
Step 2 — Change or update the linked account:
- Go to the BASE section on npci.org.in
- Click "Aadhaar Seeding/Deseeding"
- Select "Seeding"
- Choose your new bank
- Select the seeding type: Fresh Seeding, Same Bank Different Account, or Different Bank
- Enter the new account number, accept the declaration, fill the captcha, and submit
- Verify via OTP — the update is complete
Check "Aadhaar Mapped Status" again on NPCI to confirm the new bank is showing.
West Bengal vs Rajasthan — Two Different Schemes
The name "Annapurna Bhandar" causes confusion because Rajasthan had a scheme by the same name. They are unrelated.
| Annapurna Bhandar (West Bengal) | Annapurna Bhandar (Rajasthan) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Direct cash support for women | Fair price shop upgrade |
| Type | DBT cash transfer | PPP model — subsidised consumer goods |
| Beneficiaries | Women of West Bengal | BPL / NFSA card holders |
| Benefit | ₹3,000/month | Subsidised oil, dal, ghee, etc. |
| Launch | June 1, 2026 | October 2015 |
| Status | Active | Discontinued, relaunch expected in 2026 |
There is also a Central Government Annapurna Scheme under NSAP, launched on April 1, 2000, for destitute senior citizens aged 65 and above. It provides 10 kg of free food grains per month. It has no connection to the West Bengal scheme.
Latest Updates — June 2026
- Official notification issued: May 19, 2026
- Application form available from: May 27, 2026
- Scheme live from: June 1, 2026
- Application deadline: August 25, 2026 (90 days)
- Jankalyan Shivir camp: June 15–17, 2026
- Around 2 crore Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be auto-migrated
FAQs
Q1. How much money does Annapurna Bhandar Scheme give?
₹3,000 per month, transferred directly to your bank account via DBT.
Q2. When did the scheme start?
June 1, 2026. The application form has been available since May 27, 2026.
Q3. Do Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries need to fill a new form?
No. Existing registrations will be auto-migrated. Just make sure your Aadhaar-linked bank account is active.
Q4. What is the official website? Only socialsecurity.wb.gov.in.
Do not enter personal or bank details on any other website.
Q5. What do I need to check my application status?
Your Application Reference Number and registered mobile number. Use the "Track Application" section on the official portal.
Q6. What if my bank account is inactive?
Your DBT payment will not go through. Update your Aadhaar-linked account on npci.org.in through the BASE section.
Q7. What is the last date to apply? August 25, 2026.
Apply before this date.
Summary
Annapurna Bhandar Yojana gives West Bengal women a straightforward financial support — ₹3,000 every month, directly into their account, no middlemen. If you are eligible and not already registered under Lakshmir Bhandar, the application window closes on August 25, 2026.
The official website is socialsecurity.wb.gov.in. Use only this portal to apply and check status.
This article was written for legalpehchan.com/ and is accurate as of June 2026.