Published October 4, 2026
Annapurna Bhandar vs Lakshmi Bhandar: What Changed
Flat Rs 3,000, automatic migration, and the verification purge — everything that changed.
Annapurna Bhandar replaced Lakshmi Bhandar on June 1, 2026. Here's what actually changed for beneficiaries. This is an independent guide.
The big change: flat ₹3,000
Lakshmi Bhandar paid ₹1,500/month to general-category women and ₹1,700 to SC/ST women. Annapurna Bhandar pays a flat ₹3,000/month to every eligible woman — no category difference — via DBT to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
Automatic migration — with checks
Existing Lakshmi Bhandar beneficiaries were moved to the new scheme after verification. But there's a purge: names struck off electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision, deceased beneficiaries, and ineligible entries were removed — around 26 lakh applications were rejected in the checking process.
Who qualifies now
Women aged 25–60, permanent West Bengal residents, not government employees/pensioners, not income-tax payers, with an active Aadhaar-linked bank account and Swasthya Sathi enrollment.
New applications
The enrollment window ran 27 May – 25 August 2026 (90 days), online at socialregistry.wb.gov.in or offline at Duare Sarkar camps and block offices. Check your status with the status check guide, or start from the Social Registry overview.