The West Bengal government has approved the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees, a move that is expected to significantly increase salaries, pensions and allowances for lakhs of workers and retirees. West Bengal state minister Agnimitra Paul announced the decision after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday.
It means the West Bengal government has decided to revise the salaries and allowances of its state government employees based on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. This usually leads to higher basic pay, allowances, pension and other benefits for government employees.
Paul said that the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission fulfils a long-standing employee demand. The suggestion was approved, she added, after the issue was discussed during the cabinet meeting.
West Bengal 6th Pay Commission Pay scales
West Bengal’s 6th Pay Commission was notified in September 2019, but state government employees got arrears from January 1, 2016. Under the 7th Pay Commission, there are 25 levels of employees. The minimum salary is Rs 17,000, while the maximum is Rs 1,28,900. In the 6th Pay Commission, the West Bengal government decided on a 2.57 fitment factor, the multiplier for salary and pension revision.
| Pay Level | Entry Basic Pay |
| Level 1 | Rs 17,000 |
| Level 2 | Rs 17,600 |
| Level 3 | Rs 18,800 |
| Level 4 | Rs 19,700 |
| Level 5 | Rs 21,000 |
| Level 6 | Rs 22,700 |
| Level 6A | Rs 23,600 |
| Level 7 | Rs 24,700 |
| Level 8 | Rs 27,000 |
| Level 9 | Rs 28,900 |
| Level 9A | Rs 29,800 |
| Level 10 | Rs 32,100 |
| Level 10A | Rs 33,400 |
| Level 10B | Rs 34,300 |
| Level 10C | Rs 35,300 |
| Level 11 | Rs 36,900 |
| Level 12 | Rs 39,900 |
| Level 12A | Rs 41,100 |
| Level 12B | Rs 42,300 |
| Level 13 | Rs 44,900 |
| Level 14 | Rs 47,600 |
| Level 15 | Rs 52,600 |
| Level 15A | Rs 54,200 |
| Level 16 | Rs 56,100 |
| Level 17 | Rs 67,300 |
| Level 18 | Rs 71,000 |
| Level 19 | Rs 79,800 |
| Level 20 | Rs 84,500 |
| Level 21 | Rs 123,100 |
| Level 22 | Rs 123,600 |
| Level 23 | Rs 125,200 |
| Level 24 | Rs 128,900 |
How basic salaries of West Bengal state govt employees may rise under different fitment factors
The salary revision in a pay commission is done on the basis of a fitment factor. The West Bengal government may take some time to announce the conditions of the 7th Pay Commission, including the fitment factor. The magnitude of salary revision will be known only after that.
Here, we are giving estimates of how salaries of West Bengal government employees may rise under 2.0, 2.25 and 2.50 fitment factors.
Pay estimates of West Bengal govt employees under different fitment factors
| Pay Level | Entry Basic Pay | At 2.0 fitment factor | At 2.25 fitment factor | At 2.5 fitment factor |
| Level 1 | Rs 17,000 | Rs 34,000 | Rs 38,250 | Rs 42,500 |
| Level 2 | Rs 17,600 | Rs 35,200 | Rs 39,600 | Rs 44,000 |
| Level 3 | Rs 18,800 | Rs 37,600 | Rs 42,300 | Rs 47,000 |
| Level 4 | Rs 19,700 | Rs 39,400 | Rs 44,325 | Rs 49,250 |
| Level 5 | Rs 21,000 | Rs 42,000 | Rs 47,250 | Rs 52,500 |
| Level 6 | Rs 22,700 | Rs 45,400 | Rs 51,075 | Rs 56,750 |
| Level 6A | Rs 23,600 | Rs 47,200 | Rs 53,100 | Rs 59,000 |
| Level 7 | Rs 24,700 | Rs 49,400 | Rs 55,575 | Rs 61,750 |
| Level 8 | Rs 27,000 | Rs 54,000 | Rs 60,750 | Rs 67,500 |
| Level 9 | Rs 28,900 | Rs 57,800 | Rs 65,025 | Rs 72,250 |
| Level 9A | Rs 29,800 | Rs 59,600 | Rs 67,050 | Rs 74,500 |
| Level 10 | Rs 32,100 | Rs 64,200 | Rs 72,225 | Rs 80,250 |
| Level 10A | Rs 33,400 | Rs 66,800 | Rs 75,150 | Rs 83,500 |
| Level 10B | Rs 34,300 | Rs 68,600 | Rs 77,175 | Rs 85,750 |
| Level 10C | Rs 35,300 | Rs 70,600 | Rs 79,425 | Rs 88,250 |
| Level 11 | Rs 36,900 | Rs 73,800 | Rs 83,025 | Rs 92,250 |
| Level 12 | Rs 39,900 | Rs 79,800 | Rs 89,775 | Rs 99,750 |
| Level 12A | Rs 41,100 | Rs 82,200 | Rs 92,475 | Rs 102,750 |
| Level 12B | Rs 42,300 | Rs 84,600 | Rs 95,175 | Rs 105,750 |
| Level 13 | Rs 44,900 | Rs 89,800 | Rs 101,025 | Rs 112,250 |
| Level 14 | Rs 47,600 | Rs 95,200 | Rs 107,100 | Rs 119,000 |
| Level 15 | Rs 52,600 | Rs 105,200 | Rs 118,350 | Rs 131,500 |
| Level 15A | Rs 54,200 | Rs 108,400 | Rs 121,950 | Rs 135,500 |
| Level 16 | Rs 56,100 | Rs 112,200 | Rs 126,225 | Rs 140,250 |
| Level 17 | Rs 67,300 | Rs 134,600 | Rs 151,425 | Rs 168,250 |
| Level 18 | Rs 71,000 | Rs 142,000 | Rs 159,750 | Rs 177,500 |
| Level 19 | Rs 79,800 | Rs 159,600 | Rs 179,550 | Rs 199,500 |
| Level 20 | Rs 84,500 | Rs 169,000 | Rs 190,125 | Rs 211,250 |
| Level 21 | Rs 123,100 | Rs 246,200 | Rs 276,975 | Rs 307,750 |
| Level 22 | Rs 123,600 | Rs 247,200 | Rs 278,100 | Rs 309,000 |
| Level 23 | Rs 125,200 | Rs 250,400 | Rs 281,700 | Rs 313,000 |
| Level 24 | Rs 128,900 | Rs 257,800 | Rs 290,025 | Rs 322,250 |
Annapurna Bhandar scheme
The West Bengal cabinet on Monday also proposed the Annapurna Bhandar scheme. According to, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Sankalp Patra (election manifesto) for the recently concluded West Bengal assembly elections included a proposal for the Annapurna Bhandar project, a monthly financial assistance scheme for women in the state with a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000.
Annapurna Bhandar scheme will be linked to Lakshmir Bhandar scheme
Paul claims that the new Annapurna Bhandar initiative will automatically be linked to the women who were receiving monthly allowances under the former Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, a comparable financial aid programme conducted by the previous Mamata Banerjee-led government.
"The money will be automatically transferred to their bank accounts. Those who were not receiving Lakshmir Bhandar scheme benefits so far can now apply for enrolment under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme. The new applications can be made only for which a new portal will be opened shortly," Paul stated.
Free rides for West Bengal women
The state cabinet in its meeting today also cleared a proposal for free rides for all women in the state in all state-run public buses from June 1.
State withdraws religion-based welfare schemes
Paul said that starting next month, the state cabinet has decided to discontinue all assistance programmes offered under the state information & cultural affairs and minority affairs & madrasah education departments based on religious classifications.
"Such scholarship will be in force only for this current month and will be stopped from June 1," Paul said.
