Bengal BJP Government Unveils First Budget with DA Hike, Welfare Continuity and One Lakh Jobs

The BJP government in West Bengal presented its maiden state budget, announcing a 20 percent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees and pensioners. Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta informed the Assembly that the revised DA would come into effect from October 1, taking the total DA to 38 percent. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to continuing all major welfare schemes, aiming to balance fiscal discipline with social welfare commitments.

Emphasizing employment generation, the government pledged to fill one lakh vacancies across various departments in a phased manner, with one-third of the posts reserved for women. The budget allocated ₹36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana and ₹550 crore for free bus travel for women through the proposed Pink Card system. Additionally, retired journalists will receive a monthly pension of ₹5,000, while political prisoners will be granted ₹10,000 per month. The government also increased MLA Local Area Development Fund allocations from ₹70 lakh to ₹1 crore.