Annapurna Bhandar: Eligibility, Monthly Amount, and How to Apply
West Bengal’s monthly cash transfer scheme for women, replacing Lakshmir Bhandar, paying ₹3,000 directly into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account every month, applied for through the state’s Social Registry portal.
01What Is Annapurna Bhandar?
Annapurna Bhandar (officially implemented as the Annapurna Yojana) is a West Bengal government scheme that pays ₹3,000 every month, by Direct Benefit Transfer, to eligible women resident in the state. It replaced the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which had paid a lower, category-based amount since 2021, and runs through the state’s own Social Registry portal rather than through the older Duare Sarkar-only process.
The scheme raises the monthly benefit and runs on a new, more detailed registration process, built around a seven-section household form rather than a short application.
02Who Is Eligible
- Permanent resident of West Bengal
- Woman aged 25 to 60 years
- Personal monthly income not above ₹10,000
- Family annual income not above ₹12 lakh
- Not an income-tax payer
- Not a permanent government employee, and not receiving a regular government salary or pension
Who is not eligible
- Women under 25 or over 60 years of age
- Women working in specified government bodies, panchayats, municipalities, or government-aided educational institutions
- Families whose income exceeds the limit and who pay income tax
- Non-residents of West Bengal
- In applicable non-rural areas, families owning more than three rooms (this restriction does not apply to rural women)
- Applicants or family members holding a GSTIN registration
- Applications carrying incorrect information or unverifiable documents
03Monthly Amount
| Scheme | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Annapurna Bhandar (current) | ₹3,000 per month |
| Lakshmir Bhandar (replaced, General category) | ₹1,000–1,500 per month |
| Lakshmir Bhandar (replaced, SC/ST category) | ₹1,200–1,700 per month |
Unlike Lakshmir Bhandar, Annapurna Bhandar pays a single flat amount rather than a different rate for SC/ST beneficiaries. The amount is credited directly to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account each month, with no separate claim needed once the application is approved.
04Documents Required
- Aadhaar card
- Residence proof
- Bank passbook (Aadhaar-linked account)
- Income certificate
- Recent passport-size photograph
- A registered mobile number, for OTP verification during online registration
05How to Apply
Online, through the Social Registry Citizen Portal
- Go to socialregistry.wb.gov.in and select “Access Citizen Portal.”
- Select the applicant’s district and enter a registered mobile number.
- Verify the mobile number with the OTP sent to it.
- Fill in the seven-section registration form: basic information, ration card details, assets, income and profession, identity documents, existing government scheme benefits, and family details.
- Review all entered details, accept the declaration, and submit the form.
- Save the temporary application number shown on screen — it is needed to track status and for any correction request.
Offline
- Download the application form in Bengali, English, or Hindi, or collect a physical copy from the BDO office, SDO office, or an authorised government centre.
- Fill in the form and attach the required documents.
- Submit it at the BDO office, SDO office, a Duare Sarkar camp, or another authorised centre.
06Checking Status
- Log in to the Citizen Portal at socialregistry.wb.gov.in with district, registered mobile number, captcha, and OTP to check application status.
- Status shown may read Application Approved, Application Rejected (with a reason), Under Enquiry, or Payment Failure.
- The portal does not offer a separate online payment-status check — beneficiaries are notified by SMS once a month’s amount is credited. For a missing payment, contact the BDO or SDO office directly.
- The portal also has an Objection & Claim section, for raising an objection on an existing application or on another listed beneficiary.
- To check or update the bank account linked to Aadhaar for receiving the transfer, use the NPCI mapper at base.npci.org.in.
07Official Links and Helpline
No dedicated state-wide helpline number has been published for Annapurna Bhandar as of this writing; the BDO or SDO office is the official point of contact for application, correction, and payment queries. Department: Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, Bikash Bhaban, 10th Floor, DF Block, Sector 1, Salt Lake City.
08Frequently Asked Questions
Do Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries need to reapply for Annapurna Bhandar?
Eligible existing beneficiaries are expected to be carried over after verification rather than through a fresh application, but they are still asked to confirm their Aadhaar-linked bank account is active. Check individual status by logging into the Social Registry Citizen Portal or visiting the nearest BDO/SDO office.
How is Annapurna Bhandar different from Lakshmir Bhandar?
Annapurna Bhandar pays a flat ₹3,000 per month, higher than Lakshmir Bhandar’s category-based ₹1,000–1,700, and registers applicants through a detailed seven-section household form on the Social Registry portal rather than the simpler process used earlier, with income limits defined separately for the individual (₹10,000/month) and the family (₹12 lakh/year).
Can a woman already receiving a disability allowance or PM-KISAN apply?
Yes, she may still be considered for Annapurna Bhandar alongside those other benefits, subject to the scheme’s conditions.
Can application details be corrected after online submission?
Not online. A correction requires an in-person visit to the nearest BDO or SDO office with the temporary application ID and supporting documents.
This page is updated periodically to reflect current Annapurna Bhandar terms. For the most current and binding information, always refer to the official Social Registry portal (socialregistry.wb.gov.in) or the local BDO/SDO office.