The BJP-led government in West Bengal has earmarked ₹36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana in its maiden 2026-27 budget, marking a significant shift in the state’s welfare architecture.
Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta presented the allocation in the Assembly on Monday, positioning the scheme as a cornerstone of the administration’s social agenda.
The new program replaces the erstwhile Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, signaling a structural overhaul of food security distribution in the state.
Under the revised framework, the beneficiary count is projected to fall to 1 crore.
This reduction in the target population suggests a recalibration of eligibility criteria or a consolidation of existing welfare nets.
The substantial fiscal commitment underscores the government’s priority on food security despite the narrower beneficiary base, aiming to enhance the per-capita impact of the subsidy.