West Bengal Budget Highlights: 1 lakh vacancies in govt jobs to be filled, ₹36,000 cr for Annapurna scheme; ₹14,000 cr for GRAMG scheme; 20% DA hike and more

West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta presents the state's first full budget for FY 2026-27 in the assembly, in Kolkata on Monday. | Photo Credit: ANI

West Bengal Budget 2026 Highlights: Find the latest announcements from the West Bengal Budget 2026 on infrastructure spending, employment measures, agriculture support, industrial policy and fiscal targets.

Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said his government has inherited a debt burden of Rs 8.15 lakh crore from the previous administration, asserting that restoring fiscal discipline and public confidence in governance would be among his priorities.

“Building a corruption-free administrative structure is a cornerstone of our vision. We have to restore people’s trust in governance,” he said.

Dasgupta said DA for state government employees and DR for pensioners would be raised by 20 percentage points from October 1, taking it to 38 per cent.

The move narrows the gap between the DA received by state government employees and their central government counterparts by 22 percentage points, a politically significant announcement as government employees had long agitated over the issue under the previous regime.

Before presenting the budget, Dasgupta and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari participated in a brief prayer ceremony in the assembly premises.

“We have prepared this budget drawing inspiration from awakened national strength,” Dasgupta said.

He announced that 1 lakh vacancies, including 20,000 posts in the police and 50,000 teaching and non-teaching positions in schools, would be filled in phases.

He said 33 per cent of the jobs would be reserved for women, while 10 per cent reservation would be provided for Agniveers wherever applicable.

“The upper age limit for government recruitment, already relaxed by five years, would continue for the next two years,” he added.

Dasgupta said all existing social welfare schemes would continue.

“Our objective is to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach the weakest sections of society. Necessary reforms will be undertaken wherever required,” he said.

Dasgupta announced an allocation of Rs 36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana, under which women in the 25-60 age group will receive direct financial assistance in their bank accounts.

The budget also earmarked Rs 550 crore for free bus travel for women.

“A ‘Pink Card’ system will be introduced shortly for availing the benefit,” the minister said.

The government increased the MLA Local Area Development Fund from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

The budget also proposed a monthly pension of Rs 5,000 for retired journalists and Rs 10,000 for persons who had spent time in jail due to what the government described as politically motivated or false cases.

Among welfare measures, the government announced a monthly hike of Rs 5,000 for anganwadi and ASHA workers.

Civic volunteers, Green Police personnel, NVF workers, Prani Bandhu and Prani Mitra workers will receive an additional Rs 2,000 per month from August.

The budget proposed expanding the state’s subsidised meal programme by opening additional Maa Aahar centres in urban areas, where meals including fish and rice would be available at nominal rates.

The government also increased allocations for the 125-day VB G-Ram-G scheme and announced the addition of 25 lakh new beneficiaries.

The budget also proposed an elevated corridor between Chingrighata and New Town in Kolkata, a deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabar, a four-lane bridge over the Mayurakshi river in Birbhum and a study for metro rail projects in Durgapur, Asansol and Siliguri.

A Tribal University will be established in Jhargram, while an Artificial Intelligence Mission will be launched to promote emerging technologies and innovation in the state, Dasgupta said.

He said special facilities, including free charging points and drinking water arrangements, will be created for gig workers.

Dasgupta said the government’s vision was aligned with the national goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

“People expect transparency about the state’s finances. We have to maintain a balance while creating opportunities for employment, industrial growth and a modern, progressive Bengal,” he said.

In the past, the state finance department officials indicated that around 20 profitable state PSUs existed across various sectors.

While the budget did not identify specific companies for listing, officials said state-owned entities and joint ventures operating in sectors such as power, infrastructure, electronics, industrial development and renewable energy could be considered for public offerings after detailed evaluation.

The budget also announced support for the revival of the century-old Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE), which the government said could help improve access to capital for enterprises in eastern India.

Among the marquee industrial proposals are a semiconductor manufacturing unit in the Panagarh-Durgapur region and defence manufacturing hubs at Gangajalghati in Bankura and Sainthia in Birbhum. The government also proposed incentives for private industrial parks and announced plans to formulate a Global Capability Centre (GCC) policy to attract multinational corporations and high-value service operations.

In a major push to entrepreneurship and innovation, the government will launch a startup policy within three months, backed by a Rs 40 crore incubation fund and a Rs 60 crore venture capital fund. A Rs 50 crore Chief Minister’s Science and Technology Talent Attraction Fund has also been proposed to support research, innovation and deep-tech ventures.

The budget announcements also include the Banglar Udyam Credit Card scheme with an allocation of Rs 200 crore to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh each to around two lakh youths seeking to start enterprises.

He said that the over Rs 4.38 lakh crore budget proposal has been placed in the West Bengal Assembly during the day, despite a funds crunch and debt burden.

“This is a budget of ‘vikas and virasat’ (development and legacy),” Adhikari told a press conference, flanked by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, following presentation of the budget proposals for 2026-27.

He said that the BJP government has only been able to present a budget for the remaining eight months of the fiscal, with the previous Mamata Banerjee dispensation earlier presenting a vote on account for the first four months of 2026-27 owing to the April assembly polls.

“We welcome the first Budget of the new State government and appreciate its emphasis on laying a clear roadmap for accelerating economic growth through infrastructure development, enhanced revenue mobilization, and improved public service delivery. The Finance Minister’s articulation of the state’s development agenda in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat reflects a constructive approach towards fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.

The Budget’s focus on strengthening revenue collection mechanisms while maintaining momentum in capital expenditure is a positive signal for investors and industry. Continued investments in physical infrastructure, connectivity, urban development, logistics, and social infrastructure will not only improve ease of doing business but also create a strong foundation for long-term economic expansion across the state.

We are particularly encouraged by the government’s commitment to leveraging infrastructure-led growth as a catalyst for attracting investments, generating employment opportunities, and enhancing the competitiveness of West Bengal as a preferred investment destination in eastern India. West Bengal occupies a strategic position as the gateway to eastern and northeastern India and enjoys significant advantages in terms of market access, skilled manpower, ports, mineral resources, and industrial infrastructure. As the state seeks to deepen its industrial and economic footprint, sus...