Annapurna Yojana Status Check 2026: The Annapurna Yojana status check has become one of the most searched government welfare queries in West Bengal after the scheme’s official launch in June 2026. Formally known as the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme, this initiative replaces the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar programme and promises a flat ₹3,000 per month to every eligible woman, regardless of caste or category. The scheme is expected to eventually cover close to 2 crore women beneficiaries across all 23 districts of West Bengal, making it one of the largest direct cash-transfer welfare programmes in the state’s history. With the first instalment credited on 3 June 2026 and the second on 1 July 2026, lakhs of applicants are now searching for the Annapurna Yojana beneficiary list, DBT payment status, and step-by-step application process.
This article brings together the latest verified data on the Annapurna Yojana, including official launch dates, eligibility conditions, the online application procedure, and the exact method to check your Annapurna Bhandar beneficiary status on the government portal. Since the scheme is undergoing weekly database updates and a large-scale verification drive, many earlier Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries are being migrated automatically, while some names have been removed for eligibility reasons. Whether you are a new applicant, an existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiary, or simply want to confirm your DBT payment status, this guide covers everything you need, backed by the most recent government announcements as of July 2026.
What Is the Annapurna Yojana (Annapurna Bhandar Scheme)?
The Annapurna Yojana, also referred to as Annapurna Bhandar or Annapurna Prakalpa, is a women-centric financial assistance scheme run by the Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal. It was officially notified on 19 May 2026, with the application process opening on 27 May 2026, and the scheme formally launched at Nabanna on 3 June 2026 in the presence of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Minister Agnimitra Paul.
Unlike the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme, which paid ₹1,000–₹1,500 to general category women and ₹1,200–₹1,700 to SC/ST women, the Annapurna Yojana removes all category-based differences and offers a flat ₹3,000 monthly benefit (₹36,000 annually) to every eligible woman through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into her Aadhaar-linked bank account.
Annapurna Yojana Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Annapurna Yojana / Annapurna Bhandar Scheme |
| Launched By | Government of West Bengal |
| Notification Date | 19 May 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 27 May 2026 |
| Official Launch Date | 3 June 2026 (Nabanna) |
| Application Deadline | 25 August 2026 |
| Monthly Benefit | ₹3,000 (₹36,000 per year) |
| Mode of Payment | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) |
| First Instalment | 3 June 2026 – 28,25,769 women |
| Second Instalment | 1 July 2026 – over 1.3 crore women |
| Target Beneficiaries | Nearly 2 crore women |
| Age Eligibility | 25 to 60 years |
| Replaces | Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme |
| Beneficiary List Update | Every 7 days |
| Official Portals | socialsecurity.wb.gov.in, socialregistry.wb.gov.in |
Objectives of the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme
The core aim of the Annapurna Yojana is to strengthen the financial independence of women from economically weaker households across West Bengal. The monthly assistance is designed to help beneficiaries manage everyday expenses such as groceries, electricity bills, children’s education, medicines, and household healthcare needs. By replacing the category-based Lakshmir Bhandar structure with a uniform payout, the state government aims to simplify welfare delivery and expand financial inclusion through Aadhaar-seeded DBT transfers.
Annapurna Yojana Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the ₹3,000 monthly DBT payment, an applicant must satisfy the following conditions:
- Must be a woman aged between 25 and 60 years at the time of application.
- Must be a permanent resident of West Bengal.
- Income taxpayers are not eligible for the scheme.
- Permanent or retired government employees are excluded.
- Women receiving a regular salary or pension from state/central government bodies, panchayats, statutory bodies, municipalities, or government-aided educational institutions cannot apply.
- Teaching and non-teaching staff of government-aided educational institutions are also excluded.
Existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries are being automatically migrated to Annapurna Yojana, except those identified as dead, shifted, deleted, or absentee electors during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 exercise, or those deleted in the second draft list. However, women who have filed appeals before the SIR Tribunal or applied for citizenship under the CAA with pending tribunal cases will continue receiving benefits until their cases are resolved.
Documents Required for Annapurna Yojana Application
Applicants filling out the Annapurna Yojana online application form should keep the following details ready:
- Aadhaar number and voter card number
- Bank account details (Aadhaar-linked)
- Digital ration card number and category
- Address and family member information
- Basic details such as name, date of birth, gender, and category
- Asset details including house, land, and vehicle ownership information
How to Apply for Annapurna Yojana Online
The Annapurna Bhandar registration process can be completed through both online and offline modes. Here is the step-by-step online application guide:
- Visit the official Annapurna Yojana portal or the West Bengal Social Registry portal.
- Click on the “Access Citizen Portal” option on the homepage.
- Select your district from the list provided.
- Enter your registered mobile number and request an OTP.
- Complete OTP verification to proceed with registration.
- Fill in all required personal, bank, and ration card details.
- Upload the necessary documents and submit the form.
- Note down your application reference number for future status tracking.
Offline applicants can download the Annapurna Prakalpa application form in Bengali, English, or Hindi and submit it at the local Block Development Office (BDO), municipal office, or Panchayat office. Applicants are strongly advised to use only official government portals and avoid unauthorised agents or fake websites while registering.
Annapurna Yojana Status Check 2026
Since the beneficiary list is updated every seven days, checking your application status regularly is important. Follow these steps to check your Annapurna Yojana status:
- Open the official portal: socialsecurity.wb.gov.in
- Click on the “Track Application” or “Check Status” option on the homepage.
- Enter your Application Reference Number or registered mobile number.
- Complete OTP or CAPTCHA verification.
- Your status will display as Pending, Approved, Rejected, or Beneficiary Active.
If your name does not appear in the current list, it is advisable to check again after the next weekly update rather than immediately visiting the BDO office. Beneficiary lists are also displayed at the block, panchayat, and booth levels, where applicants can raise objections or request corrections if their names are missing or incorrectly excluded.
Beneficiary List Verification and Migration Update
As part of the ongoing verification drive, the West Bengal government has cross-checked Aadhaar details, voter records, and bank account information for all existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries. During this exercise, nearly 30 lakh beneficiary records were flagged as deceased, shifted, duplicate, deleted, or linked to unresolved citizenship issues, and were consequently removed from the active database. Officials have stated that this stricter verification was introduced after fraud was detected in the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme.
Women who were removed under the ASDD (Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate) classification during the SIR 2026 exercise need to submit a fresh application before the 25 August 2026 deadline to be reconsidered for benefits.
Updating Bank Account Details
Many women who received Lakshmir Bhandar payments earlier may need to update their bank account information to continue receiving Annapurna Bhandar benefits smoothly. Common reasons include an inactive or closed account, incorrect account details, failed DBT transactions, or a change of bank branch. Since eligible beneficiaries are migrated automatically, it is essential to keep the Aadhaar-linked bank account active to avoid payment disruption.
Instalment and Payment Timeline
| Instalment | Date | Beneficiaries Covered |
|---|---|---|
| First Instalment | 3 June 2026 | 28,25,769 women |
| Second Instalment | 1 July 2026 | Over 1.3 crore women |
| Target Coverage | By August 2026 | Nearly 2 crore women |
The government has confirmed that the beneficiary base expanded rapidly between the first and second instalments, and coverage is expected to stabilise closer to the 2 crore mark once the 90-day registration window closes on 25 August 2026.
Important Links for Annapurna Yojana
| Application & Registration | socialregistry.wb.gov.in |
| Status Check / Track Application | socialsecurity.wb.gov.in |
| Offline Support | Nearest Block Development Office (BDO), Municipal Office, or Janakalyan Shibir outreach camp |
The Annapurna Yojana West Bengal marks a major expansion of the state’s women-focused welfare framework, offering a uniform ₹3,000 monthly benefit to nearly 2 crore women. With the application window open until 25 August 2026 and weekly beneficiary list updates, applicants are encouraged to regularly check their Annapurna Bhandar status, keep their Aadhaar-linked bank details updated, and rely only on official government portals for registration and status verification.
FAQs
It is a state welfare scheme launched in June 2026 that provides ₹3,000 per month to eligible women through Direct Benefit Transfer, replacing the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme.
Every eligible woman receives a flat ₹3,000 per month, amounting to ₹36,000 per year, regardless of category.
Women aged 25 to 60 years who are permanent residents of West Bengal, are not income taxpayers, and are not government employees or pensioners.
Visit socialsecurity.wb.gov.in, click on “Track Application,” enter your reference number or mobile number, and complete OTP verification.
No, most existing beneficiaries are migrated automatically after verification, unless they were flagged as deceased, shifted, deleted, or duplicate during the SIR 2026 process.
The application window is open until 25 August 2026, covering a 90-day registration period that began on 27 May 2026.
Around 30 lakh records were removed after verification identified them as deceased, shifted, duplicate, or affected by unresolved citizenship-related issues.
The list is updated every seven days as new verifications and applications are processed.