How to Apply for Annapurna Bhandar: Easy Guide

Annapurna Bhandar Yojana was launched by the newly formed Government of West Bengal on 1st June 2026. The primary motive behind its launch was to provide monthly assistance of Rs 3000 to eligible women of West Bengal. The West Bengal government, through this initiative, aims to uplift the women of West Bengal by making them financially independent and self-reliant.

Who is Eligible?

The West Bengal government has provided the following eligibility criteria for availing the benefit of the scheme:

• The applicant should be a resident of West Bengal.
• The applicant must lie in the age bracket of 25-60 years.
• The applicant shall not earn a monthly income above Rs 10,000.
• The applicant must not be paying income tax.

Who is Not Eligible?

Women falling under the following criteria are not eligible for receiving benefits under the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme:

• A woman in permanent government employment receiving a regular salary or pension, or otherwise covered by the specified employment exclusions.
• A woman below the age of 25 years and above the age of 60 years.
• A Woman earning more than Rs 10,000.
• A Woman must not be paying income tax.
• Non-resident of West Bengal..
• Applicants having false documents or having any inaccuracies in the documents.

Benefits of the Scheme

The West Bengal government has introduced the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme for providing the following key benefits to the women of West Bengal:

• A monthly assistance of Rs 3000.
• The direct benefit transfer may help women of West Bengal become financially independent and self-reliant. 
• It will support low-income families.
• The beneficiaries can use the amount to manage their daily household expenses and miscellaneous expenses.

How to Apply?

By following the steps given below, applicants can apply for the Annapurna Bhandar scheme:

• Open the Social Registry West Bengal portal.
• Click on access to the citizen portal.
• Fill in the details shown on your screen.
• Click on the Apply for Annapurna Bhandar option.
• Fill in the necessary details.
• Submit the required documents in the prescribed way.
• Reverify your details and ensure there are no mistakes.
• Submit your application and wait for its verification and authentication.

Meanwhile, you can track the status of your application from the same portal.

What Documents Are Required?

To apply for the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, the following major documents are necessary:

• Aadhaar card.
• Residence proof(electricity bill/domicile certificate).
• Bank passbook.
• Income certificate issued by the appropriate authority.
• Passport-size photograph.
• Mobile number

Note: Any other document as mandated by the Government of West Bengal.

Key Highlights

The Annapurna Bhandar is a direct benefit transfer scheme launched by the newly formed government of West Bengal to provide financial assistance of Rs 3000 to women. The primary reason behind its rollout is to help women manage their day-to-day expenses and miscellaneous expenditures. The primary target group of this scheme are women belonging to lower strata of society.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can Beneficiaries of Lakshmi Bhandar Receive Benefits Under This New Scheme?

Ans: Yes, Existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries are to be migrated to the Annapurna Yojana, subject to the applicable conditions and verification requirements.

Q2. Is Linking Aadhaar With a Bank Account Mandatory for Receiving Benefits Under the Scheme?

Ans: Yes, linking Aadhaar with a bank account is mandatory to receive benefits under the scheme.

Q3. Can the Annapurna Bhandar Form Be Filled at Offline Centres?

Ans: Yes, applicants can fill their forms at government establishments like municipality, BDO office, panchayat office or Jan Kalyan Shivir.?

Q4. Can Applicants Edit or Update Their Application?

Ans: Applicants should carefully verify their details before submission. Whether an application can be edited after submission depends on the correction facility provided by the Government of West Bengal.

Q5. Can I Fill My Annapurna Bhandar Form in Bengali Language?

Ans: Yes, the West Bengal government has released forms in both English and Bengali.