Bengal cabinet approves 7th Pay Commission, ₹3,000 Annapurna Bhandar for women
Synopsis
The new BJP-led West Bengal government wasted little time converting election promises into policy — clearing the 7th Pay Commission for state employees, launching a ₹3,000 monthly cash transfer for women, and offering free bus rides, all in a single cabinet sitting. The simultaneous discontinuation of religion-based scholarships signals an unmistakable ideological break from the Mamata Banerjee era.
Key Takeaways
The West Bengal cabinet on 18 May approved the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees, addressing a long-pending demand.
The Annapurna Bhandar scheme will provide a ₹3,000 monthly allowance to women; former Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be automatically enrolled.
A new portal for fresh Annapurna Bhandar applications will be launched shortly.
All women in the state will get free rides on state-run public buses from 1 June , using existing bus infrastructure.
Religion-based scholarships under the minority affairs and cultural departments will be discontinued from 1 June .
The full state budget, expected to detail scheme financing, will be presented in June .
The West Bengal cabinet on Monday, 18 May cleared two major decisions: implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees and the rollout of the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, which will provide a ₹3,000 monthly allowance to women across the state. The announcements were made after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
7th Pay Commission: A Long-Pending Demand Met
State minister for Women & Child Development and Social Welfare Agnimitra Paul said the 7th Pay Commission approval addresses a demand that state government employees had been pressing for an extended period. The cabinet cleared the proposal at Monday's meeting, she confirmed.
The 7th Pay Commission has already been implemented by the Centre and several other state governments. West Bengal's adoption marks a significant step for the state's workforce, though further details on revised pay scales and timelines for implementation were not immediately disclosed.
Annapurna Bhandar: ₹3,000 Monthly Aid for Women
The Annapurna Bhandar scheme — a direct financial assistance programme for women — was a key promise in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Sankalp Patra (election manifesto) for the recently concluded West Bengal assembly elections. The cabinet has now formally approved its rollout.
Women who were already enrolled under the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme — a similar monthly assistance programme run by the preceding Mamata Banerjee-led government — will be automatically migrated to Annapurna Bhandar. 'The money will be automatically transferred to their bank accounts,' Paul said.
Women who were not covered under Lakshmir Bhandar can apply fresh. 'Those who were not receiving the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme benefits so far can now apply for enrollment under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme. The new applications can be made only for which a new portal will be opened shortly,' Paul explained.
Free Bus Rides for Women from June 1
The cabinet also cleared a proposal granting free rides to all women on state-run public buses, effective 1 June. Paul clarified that no decision has been taken to increase the number of buses at this stage. 'We will use the existing infrastructure of government buses,' she said, adding that Chief Minister Adhikari mentioned the possible induction of some new electric buses as part of the state transport system, with the full state budget due to be presented in June.
Religion-Based Scholarships to Be Discontinued
In a significant policy shift, the cabinet decided to discontinue all support schemes granted on the basis of religious classifications under both the state information and cultural affairs and minority affairs and madrasah education departments, starting 1 June. 'Such scholarship will be in force only for this current month and will be stopped from June 1,' Paul said.
This move is likely to draw scrutiny from opposition groups and minority community representatives, marking a clear departure from the approach of the previous administration.
What Comes Next
A new online portal for fresh Annapurna Bhandar enrollments is expected to go live shortly. The full state budget, which is expected to detail financing for these schemes, will be presented in June. The free bus ride scheme and the discontinuation of religion-based scholarships both take effect from 1 June.
Point of View
Women's cash transfer, free bus rides, all in one go. The speed signals political intent, but the hard questions remain: how will a state with strained finances sustain a ₹3,000-per-month transfer at scale, and what does the abrupt discontinuation of minority-welfare scholarships mean for communities that depended on them? The replacement of Lakshmir Bhandar with Annapurna Bhandar is largely a rebrand — the structural delivery mechanism is identical — yet its political symbolism is unmistakable. Whether these decisions translate into durable policy or remain headline moves will depend entirely on the June budget numbers.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Annapurna Bhandar scheme in West Bengal?
Annapurna Bhandar is a monthly financial assistance scheme approved by the West Bengal cabinet on 18 May, providing ₹3,000 per month to women in the state. It was a key promise in the BJP's Sankalp Patra for the West Bengal assembly elections and replaces the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme run by the previous government.
Will Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries need to re-apply for Annapurna Bhandar?
No. Women already receiving the Lakshmir Bhandar monthly allowance will be automatically enrolled in the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, with payments transferred directly to their bank accounts. Only those who were not previously covered will need to apply through a new portal, which will be launched shortly.
When will free bus rides for women in West Bengal begin?
Free rides on all state-run public buses for women across West Bengal will begin from 1 June. The scheme will use the existing government bus fleet, with no immediate increase in the number of buses planned, though new electric buses may be added as part of the state transport system.
What has the West Bengal cabinet decided about the 7th Pay Commission?
The West Bengal cabinet cleared the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees at its 18 May meeting. The move addresses a long-pending demand of state employees; detailed revised pay scales and a rollout timeline have not yet been announced.
Which scholarship schemes is West Bengal discontinuing from June?
The West Bengal cabinet has decided to stop all support schemes granted on the basis of religious classifications under the state information and cultural affairs department and the minority affairs and madrasah education department from 1 June. These schemes will remain in force only for May.
