Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Bengal budget formally ends state’s long fight with Centre. Betting big on double-engine

As a newly elected MLA on 4 May, Swapan Dasgupta was talking about how West Bengal needs a new narrative. The new budget has shown what he meant.

Culture. Tradition. Development. Employment. Dearness Allowance. These are the keywords for the West Bengal budget for 2026-2027. State finance minister Swapan Dasgupta’s maiden budget on 22 June has given an emphatic nod to cultural nationalism, religious tourism, development and job creation. It also breaks away from the previous administration’s focus on minority affairs and fights with the Centre.

By promising to utilise central government funds and flagship schemes to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore, Dasgupta has tried to close the gap between Kolkata and New Delhi. He is opting for cooperation, not confrontation.

As a newly elected MLA on 4 May, Swapan Dasgupta was talking about how West Bengal needs a new narrative. One that detaches itself from the immediate past and puts the state back on the highway to growth, development, job creation and cultural revival. 

Exactly one month and 18 days later, as the Finance Minister of West Bengal, Dasgupta has presented the budget for the first-ever BJP government in the state, with a net allocation of Rs 4,38,775.29 crore. It has taken into consideration all the points he had touched upon on the evening of his victory. 

Addressing a post-budget press conference in Kolkata, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the budget is “an attempt to bring back the lost culture and dignity of West Bengal.”

The state announced a 20 per cent hike in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees. With the total DA of 38 per cent, the government is now acting on the persistent complaint of state employees who worked under the previous Trinamool Congress government. This will come into effect from........

© ThePrint