West Bengal Annapurna Yojana: 1.45 Crore Women Get ₹3,000 as 17 Lakh Apps Rejected

West Bengal began crediting ₹3,000 monthly payments under the Annapurna Yojana to 1.45 crore beneficiaries on August 17, 2026. However, 17 lakh applications were rejected during verification, with Aadhaar-bank account linking problems accounting for roughly 10 lakh rejections. The state allocated ₹4,350 crore for this third month of payouts, which will continue through August 20.

Why 17 lakh applications were rejected

Of 1.62 crore applications verified, 1.45 crore were approved and 17 lakh were put on hold. Around 10 lakh rejections stemmed from Aadhaar not being linked to bank accounts. Other reasons included applicants or family members holding government jobs, earning above ₹10,000 monthly, or households with annual income exceeding ₹12 lakh. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that roughly 90 percent of applicants would eventually receive benefits after rules were relaxed.

How rejected applicants can reapply

The government portal reopened on August 20 for rejected applicants to submit fresh applications through the ‘Social Register’ option. Block Development Officers will coordinate with banks to organize special camps helping women link Aadhaar to bank accounts. District administrations will re-scrutinize documents, and applicants can lodge complaints against exclusion directly through the portal.

Payment timeline and eligibility

Applicants verified by July 10 received payments starting August 17, with disbursements continuing through August 20. Applications submitted between July 11 and July 31 remain under verification until September 30. Women aged 25 to 60, permanent West Bengal residents without government employment, and earning below income-tax thresholds are eligible. The scheme replaced the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which provided ₹1,500 monthly.

Third month of payouts marks scheme expansion

June saw 28 lakh women receive assistance, July expanded to 1.19 crore beneficiaries, and August now covers 1.45 crore. Officials confirmed verification will continue until September 30, after which new applications will be accepted. The government aims to bring eligible applicants into the scheme in subsequent phases.

Final Thoughts

With 1.45 crore women receiving ₹3,000 in August and a reapplication window open for 17 lakh rejected applicants, the Annapurna Yojana is expanding monthly coverage. Fixing Aadhaar-bank linkage issues through special camps will determine how many of the excluded women rejoin the scheme by September.

FAQs

Disclaimer:

The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes.  Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.