Durga Puja 2026 Annapurna Bhandar ₹3,000 Advance Payment Release Notice
In keeping with West Bengal’s cherished tradition of extending festive financial empowerment to domestic households, the State Department of Finance and Department of Women & Child Development issued official circulars directing all 23 district treasuries to expedite the October tranche of Annapurna Bhandar (₹3,000 monthly) disbursements ahead of Durga Puja festivities.
📢 Official Notification Highlights: Festive Release Order
- Batch Processing Date: Treasury mandate clearances commenced on October 1st across all 23 districts simultaneously.
- Beneficiary Coverage: Over 1.95 Crore verified women beneficiaries with active NPCI-Aadhaar seeded bank accounts.
- Uniform Festive Amount: Flat ₹3,000 monthly direct bank deposit credited prior to Mahalaya and Shashthi.
- Emergency BDO Desks: Block welfare counters remained operational on pre-Puja weekend to resolve transaction bounce holds.
District-wise Treasury Mandate Dispatch Schedule
To prevent electronic server congestion on the Reserve Bank of India’s National Automated Clearing House (NACH) and Public Financial Management System (PFMS), the State Directorate of Treasuries executed clearances in staggered geographic waves:
| Clearance Wave | Districts Included | Mandate Release Date | Expected SMS Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I (Northern Districts) | Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Uttar Dinajpur | October 1, 2026 | Within 24 Hours |
| Phase II (Central Plains) | Malda, Dakshin Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia | October 2, 2026 | Within 24–48 Hours |
| Phase III (Western / Tribal) | Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman | October 3, 2026 | Within 24–48 Hours |
| Phase IV (Southern & Metro) | Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Medinipur | October 4, 2026 | By October 5, 2026 |
How to Withdraw Funds During Bank Puja Holidays
While physical commercial bank branches observe official holidays from Maha Saptami through Bijoya Dashami, electronic banking switches operate continuously 24/7. Beneficiaries can safely access their festive funds using three reliable methods:
Any Bank ATM
Use your Rupay debit card at any networked ATM across West Bengal. As per RBI rules, government DBT savings accounts enjoy zero transaction fees.
AePS Biometric Counters
Visit local Customer Service Points (CSP / Bank Mitra) or post offices. Simply provide your 12-digit Aadhaar number and thumb impression to withdraw cash.
Micro-ATMs via SHGs
Ananda Dhara (WBSRLM) community resource persons and self-help group leaders operate handheld micro-ATMs in remote villages for doorstep cash collection.
Troubleshooting Delayed or Failed Festive Credits
If your neighbors received their payment confirmation SMS but your account balance has not updated, do not panic. Follow this diagnostic checklist:
- Check SMS Delivery vs Bank Credit: High festive telecom traffic often delays automated SMS alerts. Always check your actual passbook or mini-statement at an ATM first.
- Dormant Account Hold: If you did not make any transaction in your savings account over the past 12 months, the bank system may temporarily flag the credit. Complete a ₹50 deposit or withdrawal to reactivate it.
- Second-Run Clearance Batch: Transactions that encountered network timeouts on October 1st–4th are automatically re-processed in the secondary treasury batch scheduled immediately after festive holidays.
Puja Disbursement FAQs
Everything you need to know about West Bengal Annapurna Bhandar Scheme 2026.
Did the government release the October payment before Durga Puja?▾
Yes. The State Finance Department instructed treasury cells to release the monthly ₹3,000 grant by the 1st week of October so families could manage festive household expenses without delays.
What should I do if my bank was closed for Puja holidays before I received the SMS?▾
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) operates through automated RBI NACH and APB digital clearing switches, which process deposits even during local bank branch holidays. You can withdraw funds via micro-ATMs or Aadhaar-enabled Payment Systems (AePS).
Will there be any additional Puja bonus amount over ₹3,000?▾
The statutory entitlement is the regular ₹3,000 monthly grant. While there is no separate cash bonus, early advance clearance ensures households have immediate liquidity ahead of Mahalaya and festive markets.
If my payment bounced in October, will I receive it after the holidays?▾
Yes. Bounced or failed transactions are automatically re-queued for clearance in the second-run treasury batch (18th–22nd of the month) once bank accounts are active.