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Jobs & Career
West Bengal Budget 2026 Increases Dearness Allowance by 20%
✍️ Goodreturns
🗓 17 Oct 2026, 05:35 AM
👁 14
The West Bengal government’s 2026 budget includes a 20% rise in dearness allowance for state employees, effective from the upcoming financial year.
Kolkata, Oct 17 — The West Bengal state cabinet unveiled its 2026 budget, announcing a 20 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) for all government employees. The hike is slated to take effect from the next financial year and is intended to offset rising living costs.
The allowance, which is a cost‑of‑living adjustment linked to inflation, will raise the monthly take‑home pay of thousands of staff across departments, including teachers, health workers and clerical personnel. Officials said the decision aligns with the state's commitment to maintain real wages amid persistent price pressures.
Financial analysts note that a 20 per cent DA rise is higher than the central government's recent adjustment, reflecting West Bengal’s relatively higher inflation rate. The state’s finance department has also launched an online calculator on the Goodreturns portal to help employees estimate their revised salaries.
The budget, presented by the Chief Minister, also earmarks additional funds for health, education and infrastructure, but the DA increase remains the most widely discussed component among public‑sector workers.
The allowance, which is a cost‑of‑living adjustment linked to inflation, will raise the monthly take‑home pay of thousands of staff across departments, including teachers, health workers and clerical personnel. Officials said the decision aligns with the state's commitment to maintain real wages amid persistent price pressures.
Financial analysts note that a 20 per cent DA rise is higher than the central government's recent adjustment, reflecting West Bengal’s relatively higher inflation rate. The state’s finance department has also launched an online calculator on the Goodreturns portal to help employees estimate their revised salaries.
The budget, presented by the Chief Minister, also earmarks additional funds for health, education and infrastructure, but the DA increase remains the most widely discussed component among public‑sector workers.