The Annapurna Bhandar Scheme is a newly announced women’s welfare scheme of the West Bengal Government. It was officially announced on 11 May 2026 during the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed BJP Government in West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The BJP’s first government in West Bengal plans to retain and rebrand Mamata Banerjee’s cash-transfer welfare model — expanding the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme as Annapurna Bhandar.
💰 Key Benefits
- Eligible women beneficiaries will receive ₹3,000 per month, directly transferred to their bank accounts via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) to ensure transparency and eliminate middlemen. The scheme will also provide free travel for women in state-run buses.
- Under the previous Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme, General category women received ₹1,500/month while SC/ST beneficiaries received ₹1,700/month. Under Annapurna Bhandar, the assistance is expected to become uniform at ₹3,000/month for all eligible women.
| West Bengal Annapurna Bhandar Scheme Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Annapurna Bhandar Scheme (অন্নপূর্ণা ভান্ডার) |
| Also Known As | Annapurna Bhandar Prokolpo |
| Scheme Type | Women’s Financial Assistance Scheme |
| Official Announcement Date | 11 May 2026 |
| Announced During | First Cabinet Meeting of the BJP Government |
| Confirmed Launch Date | 1 June 2026 |
| Monthly Financial Assistance | ₹3,000 Per Month |
| Payment Mode | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) |
| Major Additional Benefit | Free Bus Travel for Women on State-run Transport |
| Current Beneficiary Base | More Than 2.21 Crore Women |
| Existing Lakshmir Bhandar Beneficiaries | Fresh Application May Not Be Required |
| Official Eligibility Rules | Yet to Be Released |
| Official Registration Portal | Not Yet Launched |
| Portal Status | Lakshmir Bhandar Portal officially renamed to Annapurna Bhandar Scheme Portal – updated on 18 May 2026 |
📅 Launch Date
The West Bengal Government has confirmed that the scheme will be rolled out from 1 June 2026.
👩 Who Can Benefit?
The expected eligibility conditions include: must be a woman, a permanent resident of West Bengal, belonging to a low-income/EWS household, within the specified annual income limit, and aged above 25 years. Permanent or retired government employees and non-residents of WB are likely to be excluded.
📋 Do Existing Beneficiaries Need to Apply Again?
One of the biggest highlights is that existing beneficiaries of the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme may not need to submit fresh applications. Eligible existing beneficiaries are expected to automatically receive the upgraded ₹3,000 monthly assistance through the existing database and DBT framework.
🌐 Portal / Application
In a significant development on 18 May 2026, the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme portal has been officially renamed to the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme Website by the new BJP Government. The online and offline application processes are expected to open closer to the 1 June 2026 rollout date.
⚠️ Important Note
Beneficiaries should remain careful about fake Annapurna Bhandar registration portals and unofficial application websites, because the official registration process has not yet started. The West Bengal Government is expected to release detailed notification, eligibility conditions, and implementation framework closer to the official rollout date.
In summary: This is a major upgrade to the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, doubling the monthly support to ₹3,000 for women across West Bengal, set to launch on 1 June 2026. If you are already a Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiary, you likely won’t need to reapply. Watch the official portal for updates.
