The BJP government in West Bengal on Monday unveiled its first full Budget since coming to power, with state Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta presenting a mix of employment generation, welfare measures,
infrastructure projects and governance reforms aimed at building what he described as a ‘Viksit Bangla’ as part of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The maiden Budget comes against the backdrop of a challenging fiscal situation, with Dasgupta stating that the state has inherited a debt burden of Rs 8.15 lakh crore.
Ahead of the Budget, the minister had indicated that the government’s focus would be on increasing revenue generation without imposing additional tax burdens on citizens. During his speech, he reiterated that all existing welfare schemes would continue.
EMPLOYMENT AND RECRUITMENT
- Government to fill 1 lakh vacancies across various departments
- Thirty-three per cent of these government jobs are to be reserved for women
- Recruitment of 50,000 teachers announced
- Government to fill 20,000 police posts across the state
DEARNESS ALLOWANCE AND SALARY BENEFITS
- Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees increased by 20 per cent
- Total DA entitlement to rise to 38 per cent
- Revised DA rates to come into effect from October 1, 2026
- Monthly remuneration of civic volunteers, village police personnel, home guards and green police workers increased by Rs 2,000
WOMEN-CENTRIC INITIATIVES
- Rs 36,000 crore allocated for the Annapurna Yojana women’s financial assistance scheme
- Unmarried girl students studying in government and government-aided colleges will receive Rs 50,000 assistance
- Every subdivision in the state is to get a dedicated women’s police station
- Women’s help desks to be established in every police station
- Durga Suraksha Squads, comprising women police personnel, patrol busy urban areas and public spaces
SOCIAL WELFARE MEASURES
- All existing welfare schemes to continue
- Retired journalists to receive a monthly pension of Rs 5,000
- Individuals allegedly subjected to false and politically motivated cases to receive a monthly ‘Sangrami Bhata’ of Rs 10,000
- New toll-free grievance redressal helpline ‘Apnar Sarkar Apnar Pashe’ to be launched
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY
- A second airport near Kolkata is proposed at Kalyani, and other new airports are planned in Purulia, Balurghat and Malda
- An integrated deep-sea port is to be developed at Dadanpatrabarh in Purba Medinipur
- Rs 100 crore allocated for a bridge connecting Nandigram and Haldia
- A new police district has been announced for Kanthi in East Medinipur
EDUCATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT
- A tribal university is to be established in Jhargram
- IIT and IIM proposed for North Bengal
- Rs 2,100 crore allocated for PM Shri schools in the state
- Rs 50 crore earmarked for the upgradation of the Sanskrit College to promote the Sanskrit language and studies
- Bengal AI Mission to be launched
- Government to establish 500 Content Creator Labs
ADMINISTRATIVE AND GOVERNANCE MEASURES
- MLA Local Area Development Fund increased from Rs 70 lakh annually to Rs 1 crore
- Proposal to create five new districts in the state
- The Tea Workers Development Board is to be constituted for the welfare and development of tea garden workers
Presenting the Budget, Dasgupta said the BJP government’s mission was to restore the state’s past glory while accelerating growth and employment generation.
He maintained that despite the substantial debt burden inherited by the new administration, the government would continue welfare spending and simultaneously pursue development-oriented investments.
The Budget is the first major policy statement of the BJP government in West Bengal and outlines its priorities across jobs, women’s welfare, education, infrastructure, law and order, and administrative reforms.
