WB Annapurna Bhandar Scheme 2026: ₹3,000 Monthly Aid, New Rules & Full Application Process Explained
The West Bengal government has introduced the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme, offering ₹3,000 monthly assistance to eligible women. Here’s everything about eligibility, documents, application process, Aadhaar linking, and the Lakshmir Bhandar transition.
May 27, 2026: The West Bengal government has officially launched the process for the new Annapurna Bhandar Scheme, which will gradually replace the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. The main objective behind the move is to bring more transparency into the system and identify ineligible beneficiaries. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari released the application form for the scheme from Navanna in the presence of Women and Child Welfare Minister Agnimitra Paul.
The Chief Minister announced that all women, including current Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries, will have to submit fresh applications under the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme. Officials from the Finance Department, district administration, BDO offices, municipalities, and Aadhaar-related services will be involved in the verification and registration process. The government claimed that around 2.2 crore women are currently receiving Lakshmir Bhandar benefits, but nearly 30 lakh beneficiaries were allegedly receiving benefits illegally.
Annapurna Bhandar Scheme: Benefits, Eligibility & Application Process
Under the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme, eligible women will receive ₹3,000 every month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The application process will remain open for the next 90 days through both online and offline modes.
According to the announcement, women who complete the application process by June 2 will start receiving ₹3,000 from June 3 onwards. Those who fail to complete the process within the deadline will continue to receive ₹1,500 under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme until their verification is completed. Once the Annapurna Bhandar benefits begin, the Lakshmir Bhandar assistance will automatically stop.
The government clarified that income taxpayers, government employees, government-sponsored employees, and non-Indian citizens will not be eligible for the scheme. In urban areas, forms can be submitted through municipal offices, ward offices, and borough offices, while in rural areas, panchayat-level camps and door-to-door collection systems will be arranged.
Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari says forms are being distributed to avail Annapurna Bhandar (₹3,000 monthly cash aid to eligible women).
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) May 27, 2026
Proper verification will be conducted for beneficiaries. pic.twitter.com/tCKeRnRuLz
Documents Required For Annapurna Bhandar Scheme
Applicants will need the following documents during registration:
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID Card
- Residence Proof
- Bank Passbook or Bank Statement
- Passport-size Photographs
Online Application Process
- Visit the official Annapurna Bhandar Scheme portal.
- Register and log in using your mobile number.
- Verify your account through OTP.
- Fill in personal and family details.
- Upload required documents.
- Submit the application and save the reference number.
- Wait for verification and approval.
Offline Application Process
- Visit the nearest government camp, municipality office, block office, or service centre.
- Collect and fill out the application form.
- Submit the form along with self-attested documents.
- Collect the acknowledgement receipt for future tracking.
Aadhaar Linking, Bank Update Process & Key Differences From Lakshmir Bhandar
The government has also stressed the importance of Aadhaar-linked bank accounts for receiving DBT payments under the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme. Existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries who are automatically migrated to the new scheme must ensure that their bank account is active and correctly linked with Aadhaar.
Applicants can check or update their Aadhaar-linked bank account through the NPCI portal under the Bharat Aadhaar Seeding Enabler (BASE) section. Beneficiaries can verify the linked bank account, update account details, or switch to another bank account using OTP verification.
The Annapurna Bhandar Scheme will offer significantly higher monthly financial support compared to the Lakshmir Bhandar. While Lakshmir Bhandar currently provides ₹1,500 to ₹1,700 per month, the new scheme promises ₹3,000 monthly assistance for eligible women aged between 25 and 60 years.
The state government also announced that West Bengal has now been included under the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme. Registration work for Ayushman Bharat has already started, and health cards are expected to be issued from July onwards. The Chief Minister assured that no citizen would be denied healthcare services during the transition process.
With higher financial support, stricter verification, and Aadhaar-based transparency measures, the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme is expected to become one of West Bengal’s biggest welfare initiatives for women beneficiaries.