West Bengal Politics & Governance

West Bengal raises three social-security pensions to ₹1,500

1 August 2026

West Bengal raised the monthly rates of its old-age, widow and disability pensions from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500, effective 1 August 2026. The increased benefits are to be transferred to eligible beneficiaries’ bank accounts through direct benefit transfer (DBT).

Key Facts

• Direct Benefit Transfer sends benefits to linked bank accounts, aiming to reduce leakages, duplication and delays while improving transparency.

West Bengal begins digital self-enumeration for Census 2027

1 August 2026

West Bengal began the digital self-enumeration phase of Census 2027 on 1 August, allowing residents to submit household information online through the official portal until 15 August. Household enumeration by field staff was scheduled to follow from 16 August through 15 September, with information collected or verified at homes.

Key Facts

• The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, arranges, conducts and analyses the Census.
• Digital self-enumeration generates a household SEID, which field enumerators can use to retrieve and verify submitted information.

High Court sets 15-day deadline for Malda Zilla Parishad board process

1 August 2026

The Calcutta High Court directed the Malda district administration to complete the process for forming a new Zilla Parishad board within 15 days. The order followed a challenge by members who had submitted a no-confidence motion against the chairperson and vice-chairperson; the meeting and vote were pending.

Key Facts

• The Calcutta High Court exercises jurisdiction over West Bengal and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

West Bengal begins ISKCON-supported midday-meal pilot

1 August 2026

West Bengal began a pilot with ISKCON’s Annamrita Foundation to prepare and deliver midday meals to schools from its Taratala kitchen. The initial phase covered five schools, with wider coverage in Kolkata and nearby areas planned; the state said boiled eggs would be provided separately through self-help groups. The primary-level meal preparation allocation rose to ₹10 per student per day from 1 August.

Key Facts

• The Midday Meal Scheme provides free school meals to improve school-age children’s nutritional status.
• Under the centralised meal model, an external organisation prepares meals and delivers them to schools.

West Bengal restricts outdoor camps at 11 private blood centres

1 August 2026

West Bengal’s State Blood Transfusion Council restricted 11 private blood centres from holding outdoor blood-donation camps from 1 August, pending an internal investigation. The centres could continue collecting blood on their premises, subject to staffing and regulatory requirements. The directive also required advance notice to the council for bulk blood transfers within the state.

Key Facts

• The National AIDS Control Organisation jointly monitors blood-bank licensing, donations and testing and reporting of transfusion-transmitted infections.

Late-night bus services resume on selected Kolkata routes

1 August 2026

West Bengal’s Transport Department resumed late-night bus services on selected Kolkata and suburban routes, including routes connecting major hospitals and other destinations. The service is intended to help night-shift workers, patients and their families, and other passengers travelling at night.

On several listed routes, the last bus is scheduled to leave at 10 pm. The department indicated that services could be extended to more areas depending on passenger response and demand.

Key Facts

• The West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) is the named operator of the night-bus service.

Malda launches rainy-season vegetable cluster in Gazole

1 August 2026

Malda district administration launched a rainy-season vegetable cluster in Gazole block, involving about 250 farmers across 10 villages and roughly 100 hectares. The initiative aims to promote organic cultivation, train farmers and strengthen market links through outlets, mobile vans and online sales.

Its farm-gate value target is about ₹3.25 crore; this is a target, not a reported outcome.

Key Facts

• The cluster promotes lower-input cultivation using organic materials and environmentally friendly pest-control methods.
• Direct sales through stalls, mobile vans and online marketing are intended to strengthen farmers’ market access.

West Bengal extends halt on construction of G+5 and taller buildings

1 August 2026

West Bengal extended the suspension of construction work on residential and commercial buildings of G+5 or taller through 15 August, pending safety, quality and technical audits. The state also reconstituted the inquiry committee into the Taratala collapse, appointing Public Works Department Secretary Antara Acharya as its chairperson.

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