Kolkata, Feb 12 (PTI) West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Wednesday presented the state budget for 2025-26, pegged at Rs 3.89 lakh crore, with a significant focus on social welfare, rural growth and infrastructure.

The government has unveiled a series of infrastructure and agricultural development projects in its budget, allocating significant funds for rural connectivity, river erosion control, and agrarian support initiatives.

In a key announcement, Bhattacharya announced that the state government would increase the Dearness Allowance (DA) by four per cent from April 1, 2025.

This would bring the total DA to 18 per cent for the state employees, providing much-needed relief to them, amid rising inflation. PTI BSM/DC PNT BDC

Dearness allowance increase announced, boosting state employee benefits from April to provide relief amid rising inflationary pressures. The state budget for 2025-26 sets total estimates at Rs 3.89 lakh crore with allocations focused on social welfare, rural connectivity, river erosion control and agricultural support. It implements a Dearness Allowance increase of four percentage points for state employees effective April 1, 2025, bringing total DA to 18 percent and thereby raising recurring employee benefit obligations within the state payroll.