Archive · 7 Sep 2026
West Bengal Raises Widow Pensions, Replaces Old Waiting List
West Bengal announced that widows will receive Rs 1,500 each month instead of Rs 1,000.
The government cancelled an older waiting list for pension applicants.
Officials will make a new list of people who qualify.
People who registered at Jan Kalyan Camps will be checked first.
Applicants from the Apnar Sarkar Apnar Pashe programme will also receive priority.
The government says it wants to remove fake or ineligible names.
Some women with disabilities can receive Rs 4,500 each month through two benefits.
Single women may choose a Rs 3,000 Annapurna allowance instead of the Rs 1,500 pension.
New applications will be accepted at local camps later in the year.
West Bengal raised the monthly widow pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500.
The previous government’s pension waiting list was cancelled, with a fresh list to be prepared.
Applicants from Jan Kalyan Camps and the Apnar Sarkar Apnar Pashe programme will receive priority after verification.
Officials will screen beneficiaries to remove ineligible or fraudulent names from social welfare schemes.
Women with disabilities may receive Rs 4,500 monthly through combined disability and Annapurna benefits.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the changes for widow pension recipients, other pension applicants, and women receiving social welfare benefits.
- What
- The monthly widow pension was increased, the previous waiting list was cancelled, and a new verification-based beneficiary list was ordered.
- When
- The announcement was made on Monday; new application camps are planned for late November or December, and the next Annapurna transfer is scheduled for September 17.
- Where
- The announcement took place at Nabanna, the West Bengal state secretariat; future camps will be held at gram panchayat and ward levels.
- Why
- The government said it wanted benefits to reach eligible people, remove fraudulent or ineligible beneficiaries, and create openings for new recipients.
- Widow pension
- Increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per month.
- Waiting list
- The list prepared by the previous government was cancelled.
- New applications
- Two-day Jan Kalyan Camps are planned at gram panchayat and ward levels in late November or December.
- Current pension recipients
- A total of 82,05,919 people were reported to be receiving pensions.
- Annual expenditure
- The pension scheme’s annual expenditure was cited as Rs 14,471 crore.
- Women with disabilities
- Around 1.24 lakh women aged 25 to 60 were identified for combined monthly assistance of Rs 4,500.
- Annapurna transfer
- The next transfer was announced for September 17, designated as Annapurna Day across West Bengal.