20% DA hike, 1 lakh jobs, IIT-IIM-AIIMS: BJP's first Bengal budget unveils mega promises
Kolkata/IBNS: State government employees, including teaching and non-teaching staff, received a major boost in the first budget presented by West Bengal's inaugural Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government as Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced a 20 percent hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) on Monday.
DA Raised to 38%
Presenting the 2026-27 Budget in the state assembly, Dasgupta announced that the 20 percent increase would take the DA for state government employees to 38 percent.
The enhanced DA will come into effect from October 1, 2026.
Despite the hike, a 22 percent gap will continue to exist between the DA paid by the Centre and that paid by the West Bengal government.
BJP Delivers on Key Promise
The DA hike was among the BJP's major electoral promises before the Assembly elections.
The party, which came to power on May 4 for the first time in West Bengal, had pledged to increase DA and constitute the 7th Pay Commission within 45 days of assuming office.
Speaking at a post-budget press conference, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assured employees that the remaining dues would be gradually reduced in the coming years.
"Keep faith in Dr. Swapan Dasgupta. Wait for his next budget," Adhikari said.
DA Protest Leaders Welcome Move
Sangrami Joutha Mancha (SJM), which spearheaded the agitation against the previous Trinamool Congress government over pending DA dues, welcomed the announcement.
SJM leader Bhaskar Ghosh told reporters, "This is a step by the government in the right direction. We are looking forward to it being implemented."
One Lakh Government Jobs
The budget also proposed recruitment to one lakh government posts, including teachers and police personnel.
The government announced that 33 percent of these jobs would be reserved for women.
₹36,000 Crore for Annapurna Yojana
Among the biggest welfare measures in the budget was an allocation of ₹36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana, a flagship scheme aimed at supporting women beneficiaries across the state.
IIT, IIM and AIIMS for North Bengal
The government announced plans to establish:
- An IIT
- An IIM
- An AIIMS, in North Bengal, underlining its focus on regional development, higher education and healthcare infrastructure.
Major Aviation Push
The budget also proposed significant aviation infrastructure projects, including:
A second airport for the Kolkata region at Kalyani on around 1,000 acres.
Three new airfields in different parts of the state.
Focus on Employment and Industry
The BJP government reiterated its plan to introduce a new industrial policy focused on:
- Job creation
- Faster investment approvals
- Easier land acquisition
- Single-window clearances for industries
- The policy is aimed at attracting investments and accelerating economic growth across the state.
Budget in Nutshell
The 2026-27 Budget is the first presented by the BJP government after its historic victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The budget combines welfare spending, infrastructure expansion and employment generation while addressing the long-standing demand of state government employees for higher Dearness Allowance and eventual parity with Central government employees.
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