Annapurna Bhandar Scheme 2026 – Eligibility, Benefits, How to Apply and Status Check: The Annapurna Bhandar Scheme, also referred to as Annapurna Yojana, is a major welfare programme launched by the West Bengal government to provide eligible women with a monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000. The money is transferred directly into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. The scheme aims to strengthen women’s financial independence and ease the burden of household expenses across the state. Download Annapurna Bhandar Application Form English and Bengali language.
Annapurna Bhandar Scheme 2026 Highlights at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Annapurna Bhandar / Annapurna Yojana |
| Nodal Department | Women and Child Welfare Department |
| Launch Date | 1 June 2026 |
| Monthly Benefit | ₹3,000 |
| Who Can Apply | Women residing in West Bengal |
| Application Mode | Online and Offline |
| Form Available From | 27 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 25 August 2026 (90 days) |
| Official Portal | socialsecurity.wb.gov.in |
What Is the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme?
Earlier known as the Matri Shakti Bharosa Scheme, Annapurna Bhandar was a key promise made by the BJP during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections. Once in power, the newly formed government took up the matter in its very first cabinet meeting on 11 May 2026 and formally announced the scheme through an official notification on 19 May 2026.
The scheme will replace the existing Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme and is set to benefit approximately 2 crore women across West Bengal. Its core purpose is to give women a steady monthly income to help them handle everyday needs — from food and healthcare to children’s schooling.
Benefits of the Scheme
Enrolled women will receive ₹3,000 per month, credited directly into their Aadhaar-linked bank account via DBT. No cash distribution is involved — the amount goes straight to the beneficiary’s account every month.
Who is eligible for the Annapurna Bhandar?
To qualify for the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme, an applicant must meet all of the following conditions:
- She must be a woman
- She must be a permanent resident of West Bengal
- She must be between 25 and 60 years of age
Who Is NOT Eligible?
The following categories of women will not qualify:
- Those who pay income tax
- Permanent or retired government employees
- Anyone drawing a regular salary or pension from the state or central government, panchayats, local bodies, municipalities, statutory bodies, or government-aided educational institutions
- Those employed in teaching or non-teaching roles in any government-aided school or college in West Bengal
What Happens to Lakshmir Bhandar Beneficiaries?
Women currently receiving payments under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will be automatically moved to the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme — they do not need to apply separately, provided they remain eligible.
However, the following groups will not be carried over:
- Electors identified as dead, shifted, absent, or deleted during the SIR 2026 verification
- Those removed from the voter list after the draft list was published
- Those deleted following adjudication
- Beneficiaries marked as ASDD (Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate) during voter slip distribution
Out of the 2.20 crore women enrolled under Lakshmir Bhandar, around 30 lakh were found ineligible — either because they were non-Indian citizens, their names had been removed from the voter roll, or they had not applied to an SIR-linked tribunal or under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The remaining approximately 2 crore women will be covered under Annapurna Bhandar.
Annapurna Bhandar Documents Required
Keep the following documents ready before applying:
- Aadhaar Card — for identity and DBT linking
- Voter ID Card — as proof of residency and citizenship
- Residence Proof — any document confirming your West Bengal address
- Bank Passbook or Account Statement — first page showing account number and IFSC code
- Passport-size Photographs — recent colour photos
How to Download the Annapurna Bhandar Application Form
Online
- Visit the official portal at socialsecurity.wb.gov.in
- Click on the “Download Annapurna Yojana Form” button
- Choose your preferred language — English, Bengali, or Hindi
- Save and print the form on A4 paper
Offline
Visit your nearest block office, municipal office, or Panchayat office to collect a printed copy of the form. MLAs will also be assisting beneficiaries, and teams under Block Development Officers (BDOs) will conduct door-to-door visits to help applicants.
Additionally, the government will hold “Janakalyan Shibir” camps across the state from 15 to 17 June 2026, where people can both get help with filling out the form and submit their completed applications.
What Does the Application Form Ask For?
The Annapurna Yojana application form collects the following information:
- Family Identity — details of the head of family, Household ID from the Digital Ration Card, and bank and EPIC details of all family members
- Ration Card Details — whether the family holds a Digital Ration Card and collects monthly ration
- Assets — information on house, land, vehicles, and insurance owned by the family
- Income and Profession — whether any member pays income tax, holds a constitutional post, is a government pensioner, or is registered under GST; employment type and literacy status of all members
- Identity Documents — CAA application status, other ID card details, and any pending SIR 2026 tribunal cases
- Social Status — details of school-going children and their vaccination records
- Government Scheme Benefits — whether any family member already receives benefits under other schemes
- Declaration and Consent — applicant’s signature or thumb impression
Tips for Filling the Form Correctly
- Write your name exactly as it appears on your Aadhaar card
- Enter your date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format
- Provide your complete address with PIN code matching your residence proof
- Enter your active Aadhaar-linked bank account number along with IFSC code
- Mention your annual family income honestly and attach an income certificate if asked
- Read the declaration before signing or putting your thumb impression
- Review all entries carefully before submission — errors can delay or reject your application
How to Apply Annapurna Bhandar Online / Offline
Online Application
- Go to socialsecurity.wb.gov.in and register or log in
- Click on “New Application” or “Apply Online”
- Enter your mobile number and verify it with the OTP received
- Fill in all personal and family details on the form
- Upload clear copies of the required documents
- Submit the form and save your application reference number
- Wait for verification and approval from the department
Offline Application
- Visit the nearest government camp, block office, municipality office, or Panchayat office
- Collect the form, fill it out, attach self-attested documents, and submit
- Collect your acknowledgement receipt and wait for verification
Annapurna Bhandar Application Form Download:
Annapurna Bhandar From 2026 English: DOWNLOAD
Annapurna Bhandar From 2026 Bengali: DOWNLOAD
How to Check Your Application Status
Online: Visit the official portal, click on “Track Application”, and enter your application reference number.
Offline: Go to your local block or municipal office and show your acknowledgement receipt.
How to Update Your Bank Account for DBT
If your current Aadhaar-linked bank account is inactive, closed, or incorrect, you must update it to ensure your monthly payment reaches you without any issue.
Step 1 — Check Which Account Is Currently Linked
- Visit the official NPCI website
- Go to Customer → Bharat Aadhaar Seeding Enabler (BASE)
- Click on “Aadhaar Mapped Status”
- Enter your Aadhaar number and captcha, then click “Check Status”
- Verify with the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile
- Your current linked bank account and DBT status will appear on the screen
Step 2 — Update or Change the Linked Account
- Visit the NPCI website and go to Customer → BASE → Aadhaar Seeding/Deseeding
- Enter your Aadhaar number and select the “Seeding” option
- Choose your new bank from the list
- Select the correct seeding type:
- Fresh Seeding — if no account was linked before
- Movement — Same Bank, Another Account — switching accounts within the same bank
- Movement — One Bank to Another — moving to a different bank entirely
- Enter and confirm your new account number
- Accept the declaration, enter the captcha, and click Submit
- Agree to the terms and confirm with the OTP sent to your mobile
- Your updated bank mapping will be confirmed on screen
Step 3 — Verify the New Account Is Linked
- Go back to NPCI → BASE → Aadhaar Mapped Status
- Enter your Aadhaar number and verify with OTP
- If the update was successful, your new bank account name will appear
You can also verify through the myAadhaar portal by clicking on the “Bank Seeding Status” tab.
Annapurna Bhandar vs Lakshmir Bhandar — Key Differences
| Feature | Lakshmir Bhandar | Annapurna Bhandar |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Benefit | ₹1,500 – ₹1,700 | ₹3,000 |
| Age Group | 25 – 60 years | 25 – 60 years |
| Target Group | Economically weaker women | Non-taxpayer, non-government women |
| Payment Mode | DBT | DBT |
| Current Status | Being discontinued | Active from 1 June 2026 |
| Existing Beneficiaries | Currently receiving | Auto-migrated to new scheme |
Annapurna Bhandar WB vs Rajasthan — Are They the Same?
No, they are completely different schemes that just share a similar name.
| Feature | West Bengal | Rajasthan |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Monthly cash transfer to women | Upgrading fair price shops |
| Nature | DBT cash scheme | Public-Private Partnership retail model |
| Beneficiaries | Women of West Bengal | BPL families under NFSA |
| Benefit | ₹3,000 per month | Subsidised daily essentials |
| Launch | 1 June 2026 | October 2015 |
Central Government Annapurna Scheme — Also Different
There is also a Central Government Annapurna Scheme launched in 2000 under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). This is an entirely separate programme that provides 10 kg of free food grains every month to destitute senior citizens aged 65 and above who are not receiving any pension. It has no connection to the West Bengal Annapurna Bhandar Scheme.
Latest Updates (2026)
- The West Bengal government issued the official notification on 19 May 2026
- The application form was made available from 27 May 2026
- The scheme goes live on 1 June 2026
- Applicants have 90 days — until 25 August 2026 — to complete enrolment
- Janakalyan Shibir camps will be held from 15 to 17 June 2026 for those needing help
- Around 2 crore women are expected to benefit from the scheme