West Bengal budget 2026: BJP govt announces 1 lakh jobs, DA hike and Rs 36,000 crore Annapurna scheme

The BJP government in West Bengal on Monday presented its first budget, announcing the filling of 1 lakh government vacancies, a 20 percentage point increase in dearness allowance (DA) for state employees and a Rs 36,000-crore allocation for the Annapurna Yojana financial assistance scheme for women.

Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said the government had inherited a debt burden of Rs 8.15 lakh crore from the previous administration and stressed that restoring fiscal discipline and public confidence in governance would be among its key 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 announced that DA for state government employees and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners would be increased by 20 percentage points from October 1, taking the rate to 38 per cent.

The decision reduces the gap between the DA received by West Bengal government employees and their central government counterparts by 22 percentage points. The issue had remained a major point of contention under the previous regime, with employees repeatedly demanding parity.

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

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

The finance minister announced that 100,000 vacancies would be filled in phases, including 20,000 positions in the police force and 50,000 teaching and non-teaching posts in schools.

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 under the new government.

“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.

A total allocation of Rs 36,000 crore has been proposed for the Annapurna Yojana, under which women aged between 25 and 60 years 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 further proposed a monthly pension of Rs 5,000 for retired journalists and Rs 10,000 for people who had spent time in jail due to what the government described as politically motivated or false cases.

Among other welfare measures, the government announced a monthly increase 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 also proposed expanding the state’s subsidised meal programme through the opening of additional Maa Aahar centres in urban areas, where meals including fish and rice will be available at nominal rates.

Allocations for the 125-day VB G-Ram-G scheme have been increased, and the government announced the addition of 2.5 million new beneficiaries.

On the infrastructure front, the budget 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 also announced special facilities for gig workers, including free charging points and drinking water arrangements.

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.