• Notification Date: 13-02-2025
• Notification No: N/A

West Bengal Budget 2025-26: Rs. 3.89 Trillion for Growth, Welfare, and Employment in Pre-Election Push

West Bengal's State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya presented the state Budget for 2025-26, which has a total outlay of Rs. 3.89 trillion, during her speech on Wednesday. The Budget is designed to fuel economic growth and enhance welfare programs before the 2026 state elections.

With an eye on a strong economic performance, Bhattacharya said that the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of West Bengal increased at 6.8% in the year 2024-25, higher than the growth rate of India, which is 6.37%. Industry increased by 7.3%, agriculture increased by 4.2%, and services increased by 7.8%. The unemployment rate of the state stood at 4.14%, as against the national unemployment rate of 7.93%.

Key budgetary decisions are a 4% hike in dearness allowance for central government employees to 18% from April 2025. Social welfare schemes have been given high priority with Rs. 38,762 crore being sanctioned for women and children development schemes. Mass popular schemes such as the Sabuj Saathi, Lakshmi Bhandar, and Kanyashree schemes have touched millions of lives.

This budget, the last of Mamata Banerjee's third term, will be followed by a 'Vote on Account' in the next year to make provision for continuous expenditure till the new government comes in following elections.