The BJP government in West Bengal has presented its first state budget after coming to power.
The budget includes a 20% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA), continuation of major welfare schemes, and a promise to fill one lakh government vacancies.
Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced these measures while presenting the budget in the state Assembly on June 22.
The BJP government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, replaced the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after years of its rule in the state.
20% DA Increase for Employees and Pensioners
One of the biggest announcements in the budget is the 20% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners.
The revised DA and DR rates will come into effect from October 1, 2026.
With this hike, the total DA for state employees will rise to 38%.
DA is an allowance provided to government employees and pensioners to help offset the impact of inflation. It is calculated as a percentage of basic salary and is revised periodically.
Government to Fill 1 Lakh Vacant Posts
The state government has also announced a major recruitment drive.
According to the Finance Minister, around 1 lakh vacant government posts will be filled in a phased manner across different departments.
To encourage greater participation of women in government jobs, 33% reservation will be provided for women candidates.
The government also confirmed that all existing social welfare schemes will continue without interruption.
₹36,000 Crore Allocated for Annapurna Yojana
The budget has allocated ₹36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana, one of the government’s flagship welfare programs.
In addition, ₹550 crore has been set aside to provide free bus travel for women.
The government plans to introduce a “Pink Card” system to make it easier for women to access the free travel benefit.
MLA Fund Increased to ₹1 Crore
The Finance Minister said the new government inherited a debt burden of ₹8.15 lakh crore from the previous administration.
Despite this, the government has decided to increase the annual allocation under the MLA Local Area Development Fund.
The fund has been raised from ₹70 lakh to ₹1 crore per MLA per year.
Dasgupta said maintaining fiscal discipline will remain a key priority for the government.
Monthly Pension for Journalists and Political Prisoners
The budget also includes special support measures for certain groups.
Retired journalists will receive a monthly pension of ₹5,000.
People who were imprisoned for political reasons will receive a monthly pension of ₹10,000.
These announcements are part of the government’s broader effort to balance welfare spending, employment generation, and financial management in its first full budget.
