West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta on Monday presented what is being described as the first BJP-led state budget, making a series of major announcements focused on jobs, welfare schemes, infrastructure development, and economic reforms.
In a key announcement, the government pledged to fill 1 lakh government vacancies, with 33% reservation for women, marking a significant push towards employment generation in the state. The Finance Minister also announced a 20% Dearness Allowance hike, raising DA to 38%, which will come into effect from October 1, 2026.
One of the biggest highlights of the budget was a massive allocation of ₹36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana, aimed at providing financial assistance to women. In addition, the government announced that women will be allowed free travel in state-run buses, supported by the issuance of special “pink cards” and an allocation of ₹550 crore for the scheme.
The budget also focused heavily on employment in public services, including plans to recruit 20,000 police personnel, 50,000 teachers, and salary hikes for civic police, home guards, and green police by ₹2,000 per month. Para-teachers will receive a ₹5,000 monthly hike, while mid-day meal cooks will get an additional ₹1,000 per month.
Anganwadi and ASHA workers will also see a ₹5,000 increase in wages, and civic volunteers and related frontline workers will receive a ₹2,000 monthly boost from August.
On infrastructure, the government announced major projects including a greenfield airport in Kalyani, expansion of Cooch Behar airport, and new airports under the UDAN scheme in Purulia, Balurghat, and Malda. A study for metro expansion in Durgapur, Asansol, and Siliguri was also proposed.
Large-scale connectivity projects include a ₹900 crore Chingrighata–New Town elevated corridor, a ₹1,200 crore bridge over the Bhagirathi river, and a ₹1,200 crore allocation for Ghatal flood management under the Ghatal Master Plan. A deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabarh in Purba Medinipur was also announced.
Education and health received strong focus with proposals for a new IIT, IIM, AIIMS, and Tribal University in North Bengal, along with women’s universities in Contai, Kaliachak, and Falta. New medical colleges will be set up in Kalimpong and Dakshin Dinajpur, while several hospitals will be upgraded under PPP models.
The Finance Minister also announced the launch of a Bengal AI Mission and a Startup Policy, supported by dedicated funds of ₹40 crore and ₹60 crore, aiming to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.
In agriculture, the government introduced ₹3,000 annual support for farming families, electricity subsidies for irrigation pumps, cold storage facilities for potato farmers, and flower cultivation clusters across key districts.
Tourism and culture were also part of the budget, with plans for a global campaign around Durga Puja branding, development of pilgrimage circuits including Shakti Peeth and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu routes, and eco-tourism expansion in Darjeeling and Jhargram.
Strict regulations were also announced regarding liquor licensing near schools, while July 6 will now be observed as a state holiday in honour of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, along with a ₹200 crore memorial development plan.
Swapan Dasgupta said the government aims to overcome a legacy debt burden of ₹8.15 lakh crore while pushing forward with a vision of “Viksit Bengal as part of Viksit Bharat,” assuring that existing welfare schemes will continue alongside new initiatives.
