Move to check child marriage, dropout Kolkata: In a fresh drive to discourage child marriage and improve female participation in higher education, the Bengal govt on Monday announced a one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 for every unmarried girl student enrolling in undergraduate courses at govt and govt-aided colleges across the state.“To reduce the dropout…
Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Monday proposed a restructuring of the Profession Tax regime in the 2026-27 budget, including a doubling of the exemption limit for salaried employees to Rs 20,000 per month.Traders and businesses will also benefit from a higher exemption limit, with the annual gross receipts or turnover threshold proposed to be…
Kolkata: The state is all set to have five new districts, including Kolkata as district borders are all set to be redrawn. Swapan Dasgupta, the state finance minister, announced the setting up of the new districts in his first budget speech on Monday.“As part of administrative reforms to decentralize administration, improve public service delivery and…
Kolkata: The state will amend the existing West Bengal Shops and Establishments Act, 1963, to enable shops, restaurants, offices, logistics services and hospitality establishments to operate 24×7.In the state budget placed in the Assembly on Monday, finance minister Swapan Dasgupta said appropriate amendments would be made to the West Bengal Shops and Establishments Act, 1963,…
Budget allocation for education Kolkata: A new IIT and an IIM would be set up in north Bengal, announced state finance minister Swapan Dasgupta in his budget speech on Monday, adding that the Centre-backed initiative would offer “world-class” technical and management education. He also announced that Jadavpur University would be developed into an ‘Institute of…
Overview of the project site Kolkata: The proposed EM Bypass to New Town connecting flyover project is all set to roll on. State finance minister Swapan Dasgupta on Monday announced a funding outlay of Rs 900 crore setting up the flyover which will ease traffic and improve city connectivity.“Connectivity of New Town area with Central…
Kolkata: The state will not allow new liquor licences within a 500 m radius of religious institutions, schools and colleges in Kolkata, bringing relief to the hospitality industry. Earlier, CM Suvendu Adhikari had said alcohol sales would not be allowed within 1 km of such places. This 1-km exclusion zone will, however, be applicable in…
Kolkata: The BJP govt in Bengal has reduced the fund allocation for the minority affairs and madrassa education department in its first state budget, cutting the outlay by Rs 3,548 crore, or over 60%, compared with the previous Trinamool govt’s interim budget for 2025-26 in Feb.Presenting the state budget for 2026-27 on Monday, finance minister…
Kolkata/Siliguri: The Bengal govt will conduct a techno-economic feasibility study for developing metro links in the Durgapur-Asansol industrial corridor and the Siliguri-Jalpaiguri business hub.The announcement made in the BJP govt’s maiden state budget on Monday is also the first initiative to develop metro links beyond Kolkata. At present, Maharashtra has metros in Mumbai, Nagpur and…
Kolkata: Finance minister Swapan Dasgupta announced a climate-focused budget framework to strengthen resilience, protect ecosystems and support sustainable livelihoods across West Bengal.For 2026-27, the govt allocated Rs 200 crore to establish the Bengal Climate Resilience Fund and the West Bengal Climate Finance Facility. These will support the state action plan on climate change, attract external…
