The West Bengal Assembly’s budget session is scheduled to start on June 18, with the finance minister of the first BJP-led state government post-Independence set to present the full budget on June 22. The new Speaker of the House, Rathindra Bose, made this announcement during a special session where he took oath.
Following the presentation of the full budget on June 22, it is anticipated that the new finance minister under the leadership of the ninth West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, will be revealed. Earlier this year, on February 5, the former West Bengal Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge), Chandrima Bhattacharya, presented the interim budget in the state Assembly.
Due to the West Bengal Assembly elections held in April and the subsequent announcement of results on May 4, the full budget presentation was postponed. Preparations for the state budget are now underway following instructions from the Chief Minister’s Office to all departmental secretaries.
The upcoming budget, to be based on the ruling party’s election manifesto promises, aims to address challenges such as enhancing the state’s tax revenue, managing significant debt, controlling non-plan recurring expenses, and boosting capital expenditure. The state budget presentation will occur amidst financial challenges, including substantial debt exceeding Rs 7,00,000 crore and escalating non-plan recurring expenses.
