In the first Budget presented by the BJP government after its landmark victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta on Monday unveiled a mix of welfare, employment and infrastructure measures, including a Rs 36,000-crore allocation for Annapurna Yojna, the state's women's financial assistance scheme.
The finance minister sought to reassure beneficiaries that the new government would continue existing welfare programmes despite the change in administration.
"We will continue with all existing social welfare schemes," Dasgupta said during his budget speech.
West Bengal Budget Key Highlights:
- Government announced an increase in the annual allocation under the MLA Local Area Development Fund scheme from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 1 crore, saying the enhanced allocation would provide legislators with greater resources to undertake development works in their constituencies.
- Retired journalists would receive a monthly pension of Rs 5,000. He also announced a monthly allowance of Rs 10,000 for individuals who had been jailed for political reasons.
- Government to raise Dearness Allowance by 20 per cent, taking total to 38 per cent; to be effective from October 1, 2026.
- Bengal earmarks Rs 36,000 crore for women's welfare scheme Annapurna Yojna
- Government pledges to fill up 1 lakh govt vacancies, 33 per cent of which will be for women
- Government to fill 50,000 teaching posts, raise monthly salaries of civic police, home guards, green police by Rs 2,000
- Every sub-division in Bengal to have women police station; each police station to have women help desk. Government to fill 20,000 police posts in Bengal
- Integrated deep sea port to be set up at Dadanpatrabarh in Purba Medinipur
- Government allocates Rs 900 cr for Chingrighata-New Town elevated corridor, Rs 1,200 cr for new bridge over Bhagirathi river
- Adhikari to identify 1,000 acres in Kalyani for greenfield airport to reduce passenger congestion at Kolkata airport
- Will set up IIT, IIM in north Bengal, said Swapan Dasgupta
- Mid-day meal allocation for each student to be raised to Rs 10, ISKCON to assist in food preparation, distribution
- Purulia, Balurghat, Malda to get new airports under Centre's UDAAN scheme, Cooch Behar airport to be expanded
- Anganwadi-Asha workers' wages to be increased by Rs 5,000; monthly remuneration of mid-day meal cooks to be raised by Rs 1,000
- Salaries of para-teachers in state-run schools to be raised by Rs 5,000 per month
- Government allocates Rs 100 cr for communication infra in Sunderbans, Rs 50 cr to curb river bank, for rehabilitation in Jangipur
- Semiconductor unit to come up in Durgapur, IT park to be developed in Siliguri, said Dasgupta
- Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act to be reexamined to unlock investment potential in state
- Government allocates Rs 1,200 crore for Ghatal Master Plan in Medinipur
- Low-cost stay provisions for those travelling to Mumbai, Vellore for medical treatment
- No liquor shop licences within 1 km of schools, colleges, hospitals and places of worship; Kolkata limit set at 500 metres
Mayank Jalan, Chairman of Keventer Group, welcomed the West Bengal Budget 2026-27, saying it signals a shift towards growth, investment and job creation after years in which the state's potential remained underutilised.
“The West Bengal Budget 2026 marks a welcome shift towards growth, investment and job creation after years in which the state’s immense potential remained underutilised,” Jalan said in a statement.
He said the Budget, presented under the leadership of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, adopts a forward-looking approach with a strong emphasis on industry, infrastructure, agriculture and ease of doing business.
Jalan added that the measures outlined in the Budget have the potential to strengthen the investment climate and support economic development in the state.
The proposed greenfield airport at Kalyani could unlock a new growth corridor along NH-12, creating opportunities across residential, commercial, logistics and industrial real estate, said Mahesh Agarwal, Managing Director, Purti Realty.
Outlining the government's broader vision, the minister said the administration's mission was to restore the state's past glory and contribute to the national development agenda.
"Our government's mission is to restore the state's glory and build Viksit Bengal as part of Viksit Bharat," Dasgupta said
