The West Bengal Budget for 2026-27 announced that one lakh vacancies, including 20,000 posts in the police and 50,000 teaching and non-teaching positions in schools, would be filled in phases.
State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta 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 said.
Bengal budget hikes DA for state staff, women’s dole beneficiaries to be reduced by 1.4 crore
Swapan Dasgupta also announces more funds for MLAs, deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabar, bridge in Birbhum and study for metro rail projects in Durgapur, Asansol and Siliguri
20 percentage point hike in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees,
Rs 36,000-crore outlay for the Annapurna Yojana and
reducing beneficiaries of the women’s dole by 1.4 crore were some of the highlights
Dasgupta said all existing social welfare schemes would continue.
Annapurna Yojana slashes beneficiaries
Dasgupta announced an allocation of Rs 36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana, under which women in the 25-60 age group will receive financial assistance of Rs 3,000 per month directly in their bank accounts.
The budget estimates indicate coverage of 1 crore women beneficiaries, substantially lower than the around 2.4 crore beneficiaries under the Trinamool’s flagship welfare programme.
Dasgupta announced the allocation, describing the scheme as a major component of the government's welfare agenda.
Introduced in 2021, Lakshmir Bhandar emerged as one of the most popular welfare schemes of the Mamata Banerjee government, providing monthly financial assistance to women from eligible households.
The scheme was subsequently expanded, and the TMC government had claimed that around 2.4 crore women were receiving benefits.
After assuming office, the BJP government has renamed the programme as Annapurna Yojana.
Government sources said the scheme has been designed with revised eligibility norms and enhanced verification mechanisms aimed at ensuring that benefits reach intended recipients and eliminating alleged duplication.
The state government has said it already weeded out 30 lakh beneficiaries based on verification.
The government had sought online applications requiring family details, which has caused concerns and apprehensions about disclosing family income and other household details.
The BJP maintained that the objective is to make welfare delivery more targeted and fiscally sustainable while ensuring support for genuinely eligible beneficiaries.
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," Dasgupta said.
ends
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