The Annapurna Bhandar Yojana officially launched on June 3, 2026, with the first round of DBT payments sent out on the same day. The scheme is managed by the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department of West Bengal, and applications are accepted both online and offline.
Monthly benefit stands at ₹3,000 per beneficiary, which adds up to ₹36,000 annually. Payments are transferred directly to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts with no middlemen involved. The application window runs from May 27, 2026, to August 25, 2026 — giving applicants a 90-day window to register. There is no application fee whatsoever. The official portal for online registration is socialsecurity.wb.gov.in, and the helpline number is 1800-345-5505 (toll-free).
Annapurna Bhandar Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, every woman must check whether she meets the basic eligibility requirements set by the West Bengal government.
To qualify, an applicant must be a woman who is a permanent resident of West Bengal. The age requirement is between 25 and 60 years. Additionally, the applicant must hold an Aadhaar card linked to an active personal bank account.
Who is NOT Eligible for Annapurna Bhandar?
Certain categories of women are excluded from receiving benefits under this scheme. Income taxpayers are not eligible. Women who are permanent or retired government employees or who receive a regular government pension from state or central government, panchayats, municipalities, or statutory bodies are also excluded. Women employed in teaching or non-teaching roles at government-aided educational institutions in West Bengal are similarly ineligible.
How Annapurna Bhandar Differs from Lakshmir Bhandar
Many people wonder how the new scheme compares to the previous Lakshmir Bhandar program. Here is a clear breakdown.
Under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme, general category women received between ₹1,000 and ₹1,500 per month, while SC/ST category women received between ₹1,200 and ₹1,700. The Annapurna Bhandar Scheme removes this tiered structure entirely and provides a uniform ₹3,000 to all eligible women, regardless of their social category.
Both schemes use Direct Benefit Transfer and maintain the same age bracket of 25 to 60 years. However, the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme focuses on broader economic empowerment and has a much higher annual benefit of ₹36,000 compared to the previous scheme’s ₹18,000 to ₹20,400.
Existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries do not need to reapply. Their profiles are being automatically migrated to the new system. However, they must ensure their Aadhaar-linked bank account is active to avoid any interruption in DBT payments.
Documents Required for Annapurna Bhandar Application
Having the right documents ready before starting your application will save time and prevent rejections. Here is what you need.
Your Aadhaar Card is the most essential document and must be linked to your registered mobile number for OTP-based verification. A Voter ID Card is required to confirm permanent residency in West Bengal. You will also need a Bank Passbook showing your active, single-holder bank account number and IFSC code — joint accounts can cause disbursement errors, so a personal account is strongly recommended. A Ration Card is needed to verify your family details and household status. Passport-size photographs and residence proof are also part of the required documentation.
How to Apply for Annapurna Bhandar Online (Step-by-Step)
Apply for Annapurna Bhandar OnlineThe online application process is straightforward. Follow these steps carefully to complete your registration without errors.
Step 1 — Visit the Official Portal Open your browser and go to the official West Bengal Social Registry Portal at socialsecurity.wb.gov.in. Never use third-party websites, as they may be scam sites.
Step 2 — Select Your District On the homepage, click the “Access Citizen Portal” option and choose your home district from the dropdown list.
Annapurna Bhandar RegistrationStep 3 — Verify with OTP Enter your registered mobile number and request an OTP. Once received, type it in and click “Verify & Continue” to log in. If you do not receive an OTP, your mobile number may not be linked to your identity documents and you will need to visit a local service center to link it first — a process that typically takes 3 to 5 working days.
Step 4 — Fill the Application Form The form is divided into seven sections: Basic Information, Ration Card Details, Asset Details, Income and Profession Details, Identity Documents, Government Scheme Benefits, and Family Identity Details. Fill each section accurately and completely.
Step 5 — Enter Bank Details Carefully In the Basic Information section, enter your bank account number and IFSC code with absolute precision. Even a single digit error will cause your DBT payment to fail.
Step 6 — Upload Your Documents Upload clear scanned photos or copies of your Aadhaar card, Voter ID, bank passbook, and a passport-size photograph. Files must be in JPG, JPEG, or PDF format and should not exceed 1 MB in size. Blurry or cropped images will be rejected automatically.
Step 7 — Review and Submit Before hitting submit, double-check every field — especially your name spelling, phone number, and bank details. Accept the declaration checkbox and then submit your application.
Step 8 — Save Your Reference Number After submission, an Application Reference Number will appear on your screen and will also be sent via SMS. Write this number down immediately — you will need it to track your application status later.
How to Apply for Annapurna Bhandar Offline
Women who prefer offline registration or do not have access to the internet can apply through physical channels as well. The offline application window opened on May 27, 2026.
Visit your nearest Block Development Office (BDO), municipal office, or Panchayat office to collect the application form. You can also get assistance from MLA representatives or BDO teams who are conducting door-to-door visits to help applicants fill out their forms correctly.
The state government organized “Janakalyan Shibir” mega-outreach camps from June 15 to June 17, 2026, where dedicated submission counters for the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme were operational. Submit your completed form along with self-attested copies of your documents and collect the acknowledgement receipt.
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How to Check Annapurna Bhandar Application Status
Once you have submitted your application, you can track its progress in two ways.
Online Status Check: Visit socialsecurity.wb.gov.in and log in with your mobile number and OTP. Navigate to your beneficiary profile to see your current application status. If it shows “Beneficiary Active,” your payments will begin in the next disbursement cycle.
Offline Status Check: Visit your local BDO or municipal office and provide your acknowledgement receipt or application reference number. A concerned official will update you on your application progress.
Here is what different application statuses mean: “Approved” means your application has been accepted and payment will come shortly. “Rejected” means there was an eligibility issue — check the reason and reapply if you believe it was an error. “Pending at BDO/SDO” means verification is still in progress and no action is needed from your side for now. “Bank Account Invalid” means your account is closed, joint-held, or the name does not match Aadhaar — visit your BDO office with your passbook to fix this.
How to Update Your Bank Account for DBT Payments
If your existing bank account is closed, inactive, or incorrectly mapped to your Aadhaar, your monthly payment will fail. Here is how to fix it using the NPCI portal.
Step 1 — Check Current Mapping Go to npci.org.in, click on “Consumer,” then select “Bharat Aadhaar Seeding Enabler (BASE).” Choose “Aadhaar Mapping Status,” enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and the captcha code, then verify with an OTP. This will show you which bank account is currently linked for receiving DBT payments.
Step 2 — Update Your Account On the same BASE portal, click “Aadhaar Seeding/Deseeding.” Enter your Aadhaar number and select the correct seeding type — choose “Fresh Seeding” if no bank was previously linked, “Movement – Same Bank Another Account” to switch accounts within the same bank, or “Movement – One Bank to Another Bank” to shift to a new bank entirely.
Step 3 — Confirm the Change Enter your new bank account number twice to confirm accuracy. Accept the declaration, complete the captcha, and click Submit. Then verify with an OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. The update typically reflects within 1 to 3 working days.
Annapurna Bhandar Beneficiary Numbers and Payment Data
The scheme launched with a strong first phase. On June 3, 2026, the government processed payments for 28,25,769 women in the very first round. The beneficiary list is updated every seven days as fresh verifications are completed.
The long-term target is to enroll approximately 2 crore eligible women across West Bengal once the 90-day registration window closes on August 25, 2026. From the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar database of around 2.21 crore entries, approximately 30 lakh profiles were removed after cross-verification against voter records, as those entries were flagged under categories such as absent, shifted, deceased, or duplicate — or identified as non-citizens.
What is the Matri Shakti Bharosa Card and How Is It Connected?
During the West Bengal Assembly Election campaign of 2026, the BJP introduced the Matri Shakti Bharosa Card — a physical guarantee card promising ₹3,000 monthly to women. Millions of women filled out “Trust Forms” to receive this card before the election.
After the BJP government came to power, the Matri Shakti Bharosa promise was converted into the official Annapurna Bhandar Scheme. If you filled out a trust form or hold a Bharosa Card, your details are being used to pre-populate your entry in the Annapurna Bhandar database — making your registration process faster.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme? It is a West Bengal government welfare scheme launched on June 3, 2026, that provides ₹3,000 per month directly to eligible women through DBT.
Q2. Who can apply for Annapurna Bhandar 2026? Women between 25 and 60 years of age who are permanent residents of West Bengal and are not government employees or income taxpayers can apply.
Q3. Do Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries need to apply again? Most existing beneficiaries will be automatically migrated. However, they must ensure their Aadhaar-linked bank account is active to avoid payment failure.
Q4. When will the ₹3,000 payment start? Payments started from June 3, 2026. The beneficiary list is updated every 7 days, so newly approved applicants receive their first payment in the next update cycle.
Q5. What is the last date to apply for Annapurna Bhandar? The application window is open until August 25, 2026, for both online and offline applications.
Q6. Is there any application fee? No. The entire registration process is completely free of cost.
Q7. What is the official website for Annapurna Bhandar? The official portal is socialsecurity.wb.gov.in. Avoid all third-party or unofficial websites.
Q8. What happens if my bank account is invalid? Your payment will be paused. Visit your local BDO office with your Aadhaar-linked bank passbook to resolve the issue, or update your account through the NPCI BASE portal.
Q9. Can women in Odisha or other states apply? No. The Annapurna Bhandar Scheme is exclusively for permanent residents of West Bengal.
Q10. Is Annapurna Bhandar the same as the Central Government’s Annapurna Yojana? No. The Central Government’s Annapurna Scheme, launched in 2000, provides 10 kg of free food grains monthly to destitute senior citizens above 65 years. The West Bengal Annapurna Bhandar Scheme is a separate state-level cash transfer program for women aged 25 to 60.