In a significant announcement, the state government has increased the dearness allowance (DA) for employees and pensioners by 4%, with the revised rates set to take effect from April 1, 2025. This decision will benefit approximately 10 lakh government employees and pensioners.

DA Hike in West Bengal: A Festive Gift for Government Employees

Government employees in West Bengal have received a major pre-Holi bonus, as the Mamata Banerjee-led state government has approved a 4% increase in DA. Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya confirmed that the revised allowance will be implemented from April 1, 2025.

Budget Announcement and DA Revision Details

On Wednesday, West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya presented the state budget for the financial year 2025-26, amounting to ₹3.89 lakh crore. As part of the budget, she announced a 4% DA hike for state government employees and pensioners, raising the DA from 14% to 18%. This move is expected to benefit over 10 lakh individuals.

Despite this increment, there remains a significant 35% gap between the DA received by central government employees and their state government counterparts.

Political Context: Assembly Elections in 2026

West Bengal is set to hold assembly elections in 2026, making this the last full budget presented by the Mamata Banerjee administration before the polls. The government’s decision to increase DA appears to be a strategic move aimed at addressing long-standing demands from state employees, who have been protesting for higher allowances. Economic analysts had predicted a DA hike in the final budget before the elections, and the government has now acted on these expectations.

Additional Benefits: Smartphones for Asha and Anganwadi Workers

In another significant move, the Finance Minister announced an allocation of ₹200 crore to provide smartphones to Asha and Anganwadi workers. This initiative will benefit around 70,000 Asha workers across the state.

No Updates on Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme

Despite multiple budgetary announcements, no new updates were provided regarding the popular Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme, which benefits 2.21 crore women. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later reassured the public that the scheme remains a priority, with the state government continuing to allocate ₹50,000 crore toward it annually.

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