The West Bengal government on Monday presented its first full-fledged Budget for FY27, which emphasized on employment creation, women-centric welfare schemes, infrastructure development and industrial growth. While presenting the Budget in the Assembly, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced the plan for filling up one lakh vacant government posts, of which 33% will be reserved for Women candidates' posts.

Swapan Dasgupta explained that the Budget is aimed at reviving economic growth, attracting investment and enhancing social welfare programmes under discipline of the finances.

Key Highlights

• West Bengal announces one lakh government jobs with 33% reservation for women candidates.
• Budget allocates Rs 36,000 crore for Annapurna Yojana and announces 20% DA hike.

1 Lakh Government Jobs and DA Hike

The recruitment of one lakh employees in government departments across various Departments during the current financial year was one of the biggest announcements. The government will also appoint 20,000 people in the State Police.

There's some relief for state government employees as the Finance Minister has announced a Dearness Allowance (DA) hike of 20% from October 2026. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari later informed the staff that the government is determined to make the DA levels closer to the Centre in the near future.

Rs 36,000 Crore Annapurna Yojana for Women

The Budget has made provisions of Rs 36,000 crore in the Annapurna Yojana, a flagship scheme of financial assistance which will give financial support of Rs 3,000 to eligible women per month. Besides that, the government has provisioned Rs 550 crore for a free bus travel policy for women, and is to launch a special ‘Pink Card' for women beneficiaries.

The state also declared girl students scholarships worth Rs 50,000 for the Government and Government Aided Schools.

Focus on Infrastructure and Industry

The government had set aside Rs 5,000 crore for industrial incentives and had planned a review of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act to free up land for development projects to increase investment and industrial development.

Significant infrastructure developments to be announced:

• A new greenfield airport near Kolkata.
• An integrated deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabarh in Purba Medinipur.
• Four new medical colleges in Alipurduar, Kalimpong, Dakshin Dinajpur, and Paschim Bardhaman.
• A new AYUSH Department and expansion of medical education capacity through additional MBBS and postgraduate seats.

The government has also announced the allocation of Rs 14,000 crore under VB-G RAM G scheme for providing jobs to the rural population.

Commenting on the budget presentation, Soumyak Biswas, Partner, Food and Agribusiness, Business Advisory, BDO India stated, "West Bengal’s latest budget outlines a decisive shift towards employment-led and investment-driven growth, anchored in both structural reforms and targeted sectoral interventions. The announcement of 1 lakh government jobs, coupled with large-scale infrastructure investments - including new airports and a deep-sea port - creates a strong foundation for immediate job creation as well as longer-term industrial expansion through improved connectivity and logistics. Complemented by a proposed industrial policy focused on faster clearances and investor incentives, the budget signals a clear intent to revive private sector participation and strengthen the state’s manufacturing base."

He noted, "A notable inclusion is the focus on agriculture through the integration of select districts under the PM Dhana-Dhaanya framework, which can significantly enhance farm productivity, drive crop diversification, and improve rural incomes. This, in turn, can stimulate consumption demand and support agro-based industries, creating a more balanced rural-urban growth dynamic. Parallel emphasis on MSMEs - already numbering close to 90 lakhs in the state - through improved access to finance and capital market linkages is expected to unlock scale, formalisation, and job creation." 

"The budget also hinted at renewed focus on tourism and cultural infrastructure, which can act as a high-multiplier sector in Bengal given its heritage, strategic location advantage, coastline, and eco-tourism potential - driving services-led employment, especially for local communities. Equally important is the announcement on initiatives toward skilling and workforce participation, particularly with targeted inclusion measures such as women’s employment quotas, which can expand the labour force and improve productivity outcomes. With nearly 40,000 crore expected to be unlocked for development programmes and infrastructure execution, the state is well-positioned to leverage multiplier effects across sectors. If backed by strong execution and institutional alignment, these measures collectively create a credible pathway for West Bengal to accelerate toward a more diversified, inclusive, and employment-intensive growth trajectory", he further addded.

Also Read: Delhi Budget 2026-27 Pegged at Rs 1,03,700 Crore Outlay

Kerala Budget Proposals Trigger Political Row

Meanwhile, opposition to the installation of coastal mining operations and introduction of low-strength liquor production in Kerala has come from party leaders and social groups in the Congress party in the wake of the revised Budget.

Senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal, in a public comment, raised a query over the move, saying that important policy decisions should be discussed with the party before they are announced. The remarks by him are being interpreted as a call to the new state government headed by V.D. Satheesan in the wake of internal differences.

The controversy is because of the proposals associated with the state's "Mission Samudram" initiative that seeks to give a boost to Kerala's economic development through its coastline, ports and maritime facilities. However, critics say that pushing low-alcohol drinks could go against the grain of Kerala's anti-liquor sentiment, and coastal mining projects' plans have caused environmental concerns.

As political ideologies take fire for next year's electoral conflict, the Kerala Budget proposals have reignited anew the debate on the issues surrounding the balance between economic development and protection of the environment and political ideals.

The different understandings in West Bengal and Kerala highlight increasing role of the budget as a medium of shaping political narrative and development agendas by the state governments.