West Bengal Budget Highlights: Mamata govt proposes 4% DA allowance hike, Rs 500 monthly addition in Lakshmi Bhandar scheme & more

The West Bengal government tabled a Rs 4.06 lakh crore interim budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, proposing an addition of Rs 500 per month for women beneficiaries under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme. State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya also proposed an increase in dearness allowance for Bengal govt staffers by 4 per cent.

Check key highlights under West Bengal Budget 2026:

• The Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal government tabled a Rs 4.06 lakh crore interim budget in the state assembly for the 2026-27 financial year.
• The finance minister announced that the dearness allowance for West Bengal government employees has been increased by 4 per cent.
• The state government proposed to hike the monthly grant in the 'Lakshmir Bhandar' scheme for women by Rs 500 from February 2026.
• Bhattacharya also announced that the state government will launch a 'Banglar Yuva Sathi' scheme to provide Rs 1,500 monthly allowance to unemployed people in the 21-40 years age group till they get jobs or for a period of up to five years.
• The monthly allowance of ASHA and Anganwadi workers has also been hiked by Rs 1,000.
• Under the proposed Budget, gig workers will be included in state government's existing social security schemes like Swasthyasathi.