West Bengal Government Begins Preparations for 2026 Interim Budget Session Ahead of Assembly Elections

Kolkata, Dec 2025 : With less than five months to go for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the state government has started preparations for the interim budget session, a senior official at the state secretariat confirmed on Saturday. Although the exact dates for the budget session have not yet been announced, it is traditionally scheduled in February.

In anticipation of the session, Nabanna has issued detailed guidelines to various state departments to commence preparatory work. The budget session is expected to be convened in the first or second week of February, and several departments have already begun groundwork for the budget exercise.

State Finance Secretary Prabhat Kumar Mishra has instructed government-owned commercial and semi-commercial entities to submit their accounts for the past three financial years. This directive, sent to the principal secretaries of all departments, is part of the preparatory process for the 2026–27 budget publication and aims to expedite budget-related work.

Departments have been directed to ensure the timely submission of financial statements from all public sector undertakings and corporations under their control. These details are to be included in the consolidated list prepared according to prescribed budget publication guidelines.

The notification also sets a deadline of December 24 for the completion of all data compilation through the state’s designated online portal. All relevant budget information must be uploaded to the Finance Department’s portal, with principal secretaries instructed to treat the matter as extremely urgent.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly emphasised in administrative review meetings that ongoing development work should not be disrupted by activities related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. She has stressed that the message of development must reach every household ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

In line with these directions, the state secretariat has reiterated that all departments must ensure timely submission and uploading of information related to the interim budget session on the Finance Department’s portal. This coordinated effort aims to maintain a smooth budget process while ensuring that development initiatives continue uninterrupted.

The early and systematic preparation reflects the state government’s focus on transparent and efficient financial planning as well as its strategy to highlight development achievements in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections. Departments are expected to adhere strictly to the prescribed deadlines to facilitate a comprehensive and timely presentation of the interim budget.

The interim budget session will not only serve as a formal exercise in financial planning but also provide a platform to showcase the government’s developmental work to the public ahead of the elections.