Lakshmi Bhandar Amount Increased — Here’s How Much Money You Will Now Get

Kokila Chokkanathan
The West bengal government has announced a significant increase in the monthly cash transfers under its flagship welfare programme “Lakshmi Bhandar” in the 2026 Interim Budget. This popular scheme — aimed at providing direct financial support to women in the state — will now offer higher monthly allowances to millions of female beneficiaries starting this year.

📈 What Is lakshmi Bhandar?

Lakshmi Bhandar is a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme launched by the West bengal government to financially empower women in economically vulnerable households. Under this programme:

  • Women aged 25 to 60 years receive monthly cash assistance directly into their bank accounts.
  • The scheme covers millions of beneficiaries across the state.
💰 New Monthly Amounts (2026 Budget)

In the 2026‑27 interim budget, the state finance minister announced a ₹500 increase in monthly payments for lakshmi Bhandar recipients.

That means:

Category

Old Monthly Amount

New Monthly Amount (from Feb 2026)

General category women

₹1,000

₹1,500 per month (₹18,000 per year)

SC/ST & Reserved category women

₹1,200

₹1,700 per month (₹20,400 per year)

This increase was announced ahead of the state assembly elections and reflects government efforts to expand social welfare support.

📅 When Will the Increased Amount Be Paid?

The revised higher amounts are expected to start from february 2026 and be deposited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts around that time, following the budget announcement. Early signals and reports indicate that some women have already received the extra amount in their accounts just before the official budget presentation.

👩‍👩‍👧 Who Benefits from This Change?

  • Women aged 25–60 who are eligible and enrolled in the lakshmi Bhandar scheme.
  • Beneficiaries must usually not be in government jobs (as per scheme rules).
  • Payments are deposited through direct bank transfer, making it easier and quicker for recipients to access funds.
Lakshmi Bhandar has been one of the largest DBT programmes in the state, empowering millions of women with regular income support. Before this latest increase, the scheme already covered a huge number of beneficiaries and has been expanded over time since its launch.

🧠 Why the Increase Matters

The rise in allowance aims to:

  • Boost financial support for women amid rising living costs.
  • Strengthen economic security for low‑income households.
  • Enhance women’s purchasing power for essential needs.
  • Offer a more impactful welfare benefit ahead of state elections.
This increase builds on previous expansions of the scheme — which started with lower amounts and has been gradually revised upwards over time.

📝 Summary of the New lakshmi Bhandar Amount

✔ lakshmi Bhandar monthly allowance has been increased by ₹500 in the 2026 interim budget.
✔ General category beneficiaries now receive ₹1,500/month.
✔ SC/ST and reserved category beneficiaries now receive ₹1,700/month.
✔ Payments are directly credited to bank accounts of eligible women.

This move is expected to enhance the financial well‑being of women across West bengal and is part of broader welfare initiatives with a focus on social support and empowerment.

 

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