The West Bengal government has announced new restrictions on liquor shop licensing, barring fresh licenses for premises located within a one-kilometre radius of educational institutions, hospitals or religious places, according to the state budget. The budget states that 'no licence for liquor shop shall henceforth be granted to the proposed premises' if they fall within this distance from such sites, marking a tightening of rules governing where new liquor outlets can be established across the state. As per the latest budget announcements, these restrictions are part of the state's broader commitment to creating a 'fear-free environment' for citizens.
For areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the budget specifies a relaxed minimum distance requirement of 500 metres, rather than the 1 km norm applicable elsewhere in the state, accounting for the denser, more space-constrained nature of licensing in the city. This exemption recognizes the unique urban planning challenges faced by Kolkata's licensing authorities and demonstrates the state's understanding of local urban dynamics.
The West Bengal Budget 2026 unveiled by Finance Minister Suvendu Adhikari includes comprehensive reforms across multiple sectors. The budget announces 1 lakh government jobs with 33% reservation for women, alongside 20,000 police and 50,000 teaching posts to be filled. A significant 20% DA hike to 38% for government employees, effective October 1, 2026, represents one of the largest salary revisions in recent years. The budget allocates ₹36,000 crore for the 'Annapurna Yojna' women's financial assistance scheme and introduces free bus travel for women via pink cards with ₹550 crore allocation.
The budget outlines substantial infrastructure investments including a greenfield airport on 1,000 acres in Kalyani and new airports at Purulia, Balurghat, Malda and Cooch Behar. Major projects include a deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabarh, Purba Medinipur with ₹1,200 crore bridge over Bhagirathi. Educational expansion includes new IIT, IIM, AIIMS in North Bengal and a Tribal University in Jhargram. The Bengal AI Mission and Startup Policy receives ₹100 crore funds to boost technology and innovation, while the budget allocates ₹900 crore for Chingrighata-New Town corridor and ₹1,000 crore for 60-km Sundarbans embankment.
