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Politics
West Bengal Grants 50% Pay Hike to IAS Officers Ahead of Diwali
✍️ IndianMandarins
🗓 12 Nov 2026, 07:49 AM
👁 14
The West Bengal government has announced a 50% increase in allowances for its IAS cadre as part of a Diwali celebration.
The West Bengal government today announced a 50% hike in allowances for its Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, a move timed with the Diwali celebrations. The decision was made by the state’s finance department and will be effective from the next pay cycle.
The increase is part of a broader effort by the state to boost morale among senior bureaucrats and is described as a ‘Diwali bonanza’ by officials. The hike will raise the monthly allowance for IAS officers from ₹30,000 to ₹45,000, according to the government’s release.
The move is expected to benefit more than 200 IAS officers across the state, potentially improving their financial wellbeing and encouraging better administrative performance. The increase will be reflected in the next salary statement issued to the officers.
While the announcement has been welcomed by many in the civil service, some critics argue that the funds could be better directed towards public welfare projects. Nevertheless, the government maintains that the hike is a necessary incentive for the officers who play a crucial role in state governance.
The increase is part of a broader effort by the state to boost morale among senior bureaucrats and is described as a ‘Diwali bonanza’ by officials. The hike will raise the monthly allowance for IAS officers from ₹30,000 to ₹45,000, according to the government’s release.
The move is expected to benefit more than 200 IAS officers across the state, potentially improving their financial wellbeing and encouraging better administrative performance. The increase will be reflected in the next salary statement issued to the officers.
While the announcement has been welcomed by many in the civil service, some critics argue that the funds could be better directed towards public welfare projects. Nevertheless, the government maintains that the hike is a necessary incentive for the officers who play a crucial role in state governance.