The newly formed BJP government in West Bengal held its first Cabinet meeting at the state secretariat in Kolkata on Monday, announcing a series of decisions ranging from national security to administrative reforms.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, flanked by senior Cabinet colleagues, including Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Khudiram Tudu, and Nishith Pramanik, said that the new administration is committed to “susashan” (good governance) and “suraksha” (security).
Land Transfer to BSF
In a move described as “crucial for national security,” the state government decided to hand over all pending land required for border fencing to the Border Security Force (BSF) within 45 days.
The issue of land acquisition for the India-Bangladesh border had been a major flashpoint during the Assembly polls, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah frequently accusing the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime under Mamata Banerjee of blocking these transfers.
Implementing the BJP’s promises to seal the country’s porous borders with Bangladesh to curb illegal cross-border migration, Adhikari said, “The previous government stalled these projects to protect illegal infiltrators. We have removed those roadblocks. The transfer process will begin immediately, and the cabinet has empowered the chief secretary and the secretary of the state’s land and land revenue department to complete the process within the next 45 days.”
The chief minister said that, as per the knowledge he acquired during his previous tenure as the Leader of Opposition, around 90 per cent of the land required to complete the border fencing exercise was already under state acquisition.
“As a chief minister, I will have to go through the papers to figure out the exact status of the land required and for which I will need some more time,” he added.
Employment boost
Adhikari also said that to boost employment opportunities for the state’s educated youth, the Cabinet officially increased the upper age limit for government job applications by five years, fulfilling a key electoral promise made by Shah during the poll campaign.
The announcement would now allow applicants in the general category a relaxation till 45 years from the current age cap of 40, and those in the SC, ST and OBC categories to apply for jobs till 48 years of age from the current limit of 43, officials said.
“The previous government held no recruitment in government positions since 2015. As promised earlier by our Home Minister, the cabinet has approved the increase of the upper age limit for government recruitment examinations by five years,” Adhikari said.
Census and transparency
CM Adhikari displayed a letter dated June 16, 2025, alleging that the Banerjee-led government had ignored central circulars regarding the Census for 11 months. “The TMC government had betrayed not just the people of Bengal, but also the Constitution by deliberately keeping the Census exercise on hold in Bengal so that the women’s bill reservation could be stopped in Parliament. The cabinet has granted immediate sanction for the circular to take effect in the state,” Adhikari said.
Social Welfare Schemes
The Cabinet also officially moved to integrate West Bengal with several flagship central schemes that had previously been stalled. The state officially joined the Ayushman Bharat health assurance scheme, and the health secretary has been directed to finalise the agreement with the Centre immediately.
Adhikari said that schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, PM Jan Arogya Yojana, and PM Krishak Bima Yojana will now be fully implemented in the state.
“We are now part of Ayushman Bharat, as per the Prime Minister’s commitment he made during poll campaigns. The cabinet has asked the state chief secretary, the CM’s secretary and health secretary to oversee the drawing up of necessary agreements with the Union health ministry for immediate implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme,” Adhikari said.
Regarding the existing state welfare schemes, Adhikari assured citizens that they would continue, but with stricter oversight.
“All social programs, whether started 10 or 30 years back, will continue. However, they will function with transparency. No deceased person, illegal infiltrator, or non-citizen will be allowed to avail benefits meant for Indian citizens,” he said.
Implementation of BNS, BNSS
Adhikari said that while the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the IPC and CrPC Acts respectively, were long passed by both Houses of the Parliament, received the President’s assent and of which rules have already been framed, has been implemented elsewhere in India, the Acts were officially yet to be promulgated in Bengal.
“We were surprised to know about this violation of the Constitution. The cabinet has cleared their implementation in Bengal with immediate effect,” said Adhikari.
Also, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in the state will now participate in central government training programs, he added.
The Cabinet also paid tributes to 321 BJP workers who were killed in political violence over the last few years. Adhikari assured their families that the government stands firmly with them and promised “strict action” against those involved in political killings.
Second Cabinet Meeting
The second cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held on May 18, where key decisions on DA, implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission and other administrative issues are expected to be taken, Adhikari said.
Addressing the media, Adhikari said that the meeting would also focus on measures to tackle crimes against women, institutional corruption and governance issues, including developments concerning the RG Kar case.
“Next Monday, I will hold another cabinet meeting where we will discuss the RG Kar issue, atrocities on women, institutional corruption, and the pay commission,” he said.
—(With PTI inputs)