West Bengal Current Affairs 2026 — Full notes
Published:
West Bengal Current Affairs 2026 — October 2026 · September 2026
At a glance
the top events
The most important events of this page, and how many news items each topic holds.
Top events
- R. N. Ravi moved from Tamil Nadu to become Governor of West Bengal, in a reshuffle of governors and Lieutenant Governors across nine states and UTs approved by President Droupadi Murmu; C. V. Ananda Bose's resignation had already been accepted.
- West Bengal became the 36th state or Union Territory to join Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, so the scheme now covers the whole country. Each eligible family gets free treatment up to ₹5 lakh a year.
- 5 Oct — The West Bengal Cabinet approved recruitment to 14,454 government posts, in departments such as Police, Forest, Fire Services and Prison, to be filled in six to eight months through the state PSC and the Police Recruitment Board.
- 5 Oct — The Centre and West Bengal signed an MoU for four regional airports under the UDAN scheme, at Chhara (Purulia), Kalaikunda (West Midnapore), Balurghat (South Dinajpur) and Hasimara (Alipurduar), with Rs 29,000 crore planned over ten years.
- 7 Oct — The 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention will be held in Kolkata from 7 to 9 January 2027, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs with the West Bengal Government. The 18th was held in Bhubaneswar in January 2025.
- 21 Oct — West Bengal formed a six-member Special Investigation Team led by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati to probe the 17 October Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede in Kolkata, with a three-month deadline.
- 24 Oct — West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a Rs 1,200 crore plan for the Sundarbans at Kakdwip, and said the Muriganga bridge, giving smooth access to Gangasagar, will open in 2029.
- 25 Oct — Eminent painter and former Rajya Sabha MP Jogen Chowdhury, known for his expressive figurative style, died in Kolkata at the age of 87. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari paid tribute.
News by topic
- Government & States
- 21 one-liners
- International & Agreements
- 2 one-liners
- Economy & Banking
- 3 one-liners
- Science, Defence & Environment
- 3 one-liners
- Sports, Days & Culture
- 4 one-liners
- Awards, Appointments & Books
- 5 one-liners
Government & States
21 one-liners
Policy · laws · schemes · states.
National
19 one-liners
19 National — 20 Jun – 25 Oct.
- India's first metro opened in Kolkata in 1984, the first underwater metro tunnel was also built there in 2024, and Kochi is the country's first water-metro city.
- In PAI 2.0, 97.30% of gram panchayats (2,59,867) gave data; West Bengal did not take part. A total of 3,635 panchayats got the top grade A+ (Achiever, 90+) and 1,18,824 got A (Front Runner, 75-90).
- West Bengal became the 36th state or Union Territory to join Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, so the scheme now covers the whole country. Each eligible family gets free treatment up to ₹5 lakh a year.
- 20 Jun — PM Modi released the 23rd instalment of PM-KISAN from Hooghly, West Bengal, on 20 June 2026: over ₹8,880 crore to more than 9.44 crore farmers.
- Before the West Bengal assembly by-polls, the Election Commission froze the party name "All India Trinamool Congress" and its reserved symbol because rival factions both claimed them.
- 5 Oct — The West Bengal Cabinet under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari approved the Bhagini Nivedita Scheme, giving unmarried women in higher education Rs 50,000 in three instalments. It starts in January 2027.
- 5 Oct — The West Bengal Cabinet approved recruitment to 14,454 government posts, in departments such as Police, Forest, Fire Services and Prison, to be filled in six to eight months through the state PSC and the Police Recruitment Board.
- 5 Oct — The West Bengal Cabinet raised the monthly pay of Karmabandhu (part-time support staff) from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000, and the food allowance of SC/ST students in government hostels from Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,300.
- 6 Oct — At the NITI Aayog national workshop in Kolkata, West Bengal was named the first state to map its budget to the goal level of the SDGs and link it to its Integrated Financial Management System.
- 9 Oct — The Ministry of Tribal Affairs held the second Regional Review Conference on the Forest Rights Act in Kolkata on 9 October, with eight states taking part. The first was held in Bengaluru on 10 September.
- 11 Oct — About 12,000 newly recruited police constables of West Bengal were to receive their appointment letters on 11 October 2026, as the state's new government began filling police vacancies.
- 12 Oct — The West Bengal Cabinet approved abolishing the Madrasah Service Commission (created by a 2008 Act) and merging it into the West Bengal School Service Commission, which will recruit teachers for madrasas; two bills are needed.
- 13 Oct — West Bengal announced 112 as the single emergency response number for its state police, bringing the state into line with the national emergency helpline system.
- 21 Oct — West Bengal formed a six-member Special Investigation Team led by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati to probe the 17 October Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede in Kolkata, with a three-month deadline.
- 23 Oct — The West Bengal Public Service Commission issued its 2026 notification for 266 Stenographer posts in Grades A and B, and online applications have started.
- 23 Oct — Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari launched a weekly nutrition support scheme for tribal families at Kalajharia, Jhargram, giving rice, pulses, cooking oil and soya bean to about 70,000 families, with biometric verification.
- 23 Oct — At Jhargram, West Bengal also announced a rise in the monthly pension of elderly Scheduled Tribe members to Rs 1,500, tribal universities in Bankura and Jhargram, and Rs 342 crore for Jhargram's development.
- 24 Oct — West Bengal will end the extended Durga Puja holidays for government hospital staff from 2027 and bring in a duty roster, the state Health Minister announced.
- 25 Oct — The West Bengal government aims to generate 10 lakh mandays of work from January 2027 under the VB-G RAM G rural job scheme, according to a report of 25 October 2026.
States & UTs
2 one-liners
2 States & UTs — 16 Aug.
- In West Bengal, the BJP defeated Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress with more than a two-thirds majority. Re-polling was held at Falta (24 Parganas) after EVM complaints, and BJP's Debangshu Panda won it.
- 16 Aug — West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari launched Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY in the state at Kolkata, together with the state's Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana for families left out of the central scheme.
International & Agreements
2 one-liners
World · summits · MoUs · exercises.
Summits, Agreements & Exercises
- 5 Oct — The Centre and West Bengal signed an MoU for four regional airports under the UDAN scheme, at Chhara (Purulia), Kalaikunda (West Midnapore), Balurghat (South Dinajpur) and Hasimara (Alipurduar), with Rs 29,000 crore planned over ten years.
- 7 Oct — The 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention will be held in Kolkata from 7 to 9 January 2027, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs with the West Bengal Government. The 18th was held in Bhubaneswar in January 2025.
Economy & Banking
3 one-liners
RBI · markets · trade · reports.
Economy & Banking
- 3 Oct — Kolkata will host the fifth India Energy Week in January 2027, the first time the event is held in eastern India. Earlier editions were in Bengaluru (2023) and Goa (2026).
- 20 Oct — Adperma, a subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals, opened a Rs 6,000 crore phenol and acetone plant at Haldia, with a yearly capacity of 3.45 lakh tonnes of phenol and 2.15 lakh tonnes of acetone.
- 24 Oct — West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a Rs 1,200 crore plan for the Sundarbans at Kakdwip, and said the Muriganga bridge, giving smooth access to Gangasagar, will open in 2029.
Science, Defence & Environment
3 one-liners
Space · tech · forces · ecology.
Defence & Security
- The other six Project 17A frigates are Himgiri, Udaygiri, Taragiri, Dunagiri, Vindhyagiri and Mahendragiri, being built at Mazagon Dock (Mumbai) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders (Kolkata).
- 10 Oct — The Navy's next-generation offshore patrol vessel Shreyas (Yard 3040) was launched at GRSE, Kolkata. It is the third of four such ships GRSE is building, while Goa Shipyard builds seven.
Environment & Ecology
- 2 Oct — Tigress T138, moved from Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, was released in Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, to open Wildlife Week 2026 and begin a phased tiger recovery plan there.
Sports, Days & Culture
4 one-liners
Results · important days · heritage.
Art, Culture & Tourism
- 3 Oct — The 8th PM Mementos e-Auction lists 109 items from West Bengal out of 1,498 across India, including Sholapith craft, Bankura horses and a Bishnupur Rasmancha painting. Proceeds go to the Namami Gange Programme.
- 10 Oct — Mahalaya was observed across West Bengal on 10 October. It ends Pitru Paksha, begins Devi Paksha and starts the countdown to Durga Puja; the radio programme Mahishasuramardini is broadcast at dawn.
- 10 Oct — Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari opened the state's Durga Puja festivities at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Mahalaya with a show named Uma Agamani that included a drone display of about 3,000 drones.
- 24 Oct — West Bengal has begun preparations for the Gangasagar Mela, the first to be held under the BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Awards, Appointments & Books
5 one-liners
Honours · new posts · books · obituaries.
Appointments
| Date | Name | Appointed as |
|---|---|---|
| · | R.N. Ravi | Governor of West Bengal (transferred) |
| · | R. N. Ravi | Governor of West Bengal |
| · | Suvendu Adhikari | Chief Minister of West Bengal |
Obituaries
- 16 Aug — Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen, a three-time National Film Award winner, died in Kolkata aged 71. His best-known films include Damu, Atmiyo Swajan and Laboratory.
- 25 Oct — Eminent painter and former Rajya Sabha MP Jogen Chowdhury, known for his expressive figurative style, died in Kolkata at the age of 87. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari paid tribute.
Quick quiz
test yourself
Practice questions on this period. Tap an option to check your answer.
Fill in the blank: one-liner flashcards
- _____ moved from Tamil Nadu to become Governor of West Bengal, in a reshuffle of governors and Lieutenant Governors across nine states and UTs approved by President Droupadi Murmu; C. V. Ananda Bose's resignation had already been accepted.
- R. N. Ravi
- _____ became the 36th state or Union Territory to join Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, so the scheme now covers the whole country. Each eligible family gets free treatment up to ₹5 lakh a year.
- West Bengal
- The _____ approved recruitment to 14,454 government posts, in departments such as Police, Forest, Fire Services and Prison, to be filled in six to eight months through the state PSC and the Police Recruitment Board.
- West Bengal Cabinet
- The Centre and _____ signed an MoU for four regional airports under the UDAN scheme, at Chhara (Purulia), Kalaikunda (West Midnapore), Balurghat (South Dinajpur) and Hasimara (Alipurduar), with Rs 29,000 crore planned over ten years.
- West Bengal
- The _____ convention will be held in Kolkata from 7 to 9 January 2027, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs with the West Bengal Government. The 18th was held in Bhubaneswar in January 2025.
- 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas
- West Bengal formed a six-member _____ led by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati to probe the 17 October Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede in Kolkata, with a three-month deadline.
- Special Investigation Team
- West Bengal Chief Minister _____ announced a Rs 1,200 crore plan for the Sundarbans at Kakdwip, and said the Muriganga bridge, giving smooth access to Gangasagar, will open in 2029.
- Suvendu Adhikari
- Eminent painter and former Rajya Sabha MP _____, known for his expressive figurative style, died in Kolkata at the age of 87. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari paid tribute.
- Jogen Chowdhury
- _____ was transferred and made the Governor of West Bengal in the March 2026 reshuffle.
- R.N. Ravi
- India's first metro opened in Kolkata in _____, the first underwater metro tunnel was also built there in 2024, and Kochi is the country's first water-metro city.
- 1984
MCQs
West Bengal's Chief Minister said the Muriganga bridge giving access to Gangasagar will be inaugurated in which year?
- 2027
- 2028
- 2030
- 2029
Show answer
Answer: 2029 — Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said at Kakdwip that the bridge will open in 2029.
Jogen Chowdhury, who died in Kolkata at the age of 87 on 25 October 2026, was a noted
- sculptor
- painter
- classical singer
- architect
Show answer
Answer: painter — Jogen Chowdhury was an eminent painter known for his expressive figurative style, and a former Rajya Sabha MP.
The Tripura government is partnering with which institute to develop the Tripura Film and Television Institute in Agartala?
- FTII, Pune
- SRFTI, Kolkata
- NSD, Delhi
- NID, Ahmedabad
Show answer
Answer: SRFTI, Kolkata — Tripura is partnering with the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) of Kolkata for the film institute in Agartala.
Under which scheme did the West Bengal Cabinet in October 2026 approve Rs 50,000 over three years for unmarried women in higher education?
- Lakshmir Bhandar
- Bhagini Nivedita Scheme
- Kanyashree
- Swasthya Sathi
Show answer
Answer: Bhagini Nivedita Scheme — The Bhagini Nivedita Scheme, approved on 5 October 2026, pays Rs 17,000, Rs 17,000 and Rs 16,000 over three years.
Which of these airports is part of the October 2026 UDAN MoU between the Centre and West Bengal?
- Balurghat
- Siliguri
- Durgapur
- Cooch Behar
Show answer
Answer: Balurghat — The four airports are Chhara (Purulia), Kalaikunda, Balurghat and Hasimara; Rs 29,000 crore is planned over ten years.
The Navy's offshore patrol vessel Shreyas (Yard 3040) was launched at which shipyard?
- Cochin Shipyard
- Mazagon Dock
- Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam
- GRSE, Kolkata
Show answer
Answer: GRSE, Kolkata — Shreyas is the third of four next-generation offshore patrol vessels being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata.
R. N. Ravi moved from Tamil Nadu to be the Governor of which state?
- Telangana
- West Bengal
- Bihar
- Nagaland
Show answer
Answer: West Bengal — R. N. Ravi became Governor of West Bengal in the March 2026 reshuffle.
A Rs 6,000 crore phenol and acetone plant was opened in October 2026 at which West Bengal town?
- Kharagpur
- Asansol
- Haldia
- Durgapur
Show answer
Answer: Haldia — Adperma, a subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals, opened the integrated phenol and acetone plant at Haldia.
On which day did West Bengal's state-level Durga Puja festivities open at Eden Gardens with a drone show in October 2026?
- Mahalaya
- Mahashashthi
- Mahasaptami
- Vijayadashami
Show answer
Answer: Mahalaya — The Uma Agamani show on Mahalaya, 10 October 2026, included a display of about 3,000 drones.
Who heads the six-member SIT formed by West Bengal to probe the Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede?
- Justice Ashok Ganguly
- Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati
- Justice Indira Banerjee
- Justice Sanjib Banerjee
Show answer
Answer: Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati — The SIT, formed on 21 October 2026, is led by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati.
Where will the 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention be held in January 2027?
- Bhubaneswar
- Varanasi
- Indore
- Kolkata
Show answer
Answer: Kolkata — The 19th PBD convention is planned in Kolkata, West Bengal, on 7 to 9 January 2027; the 18th was in Bhubaneswar.
In October 2026, which West Bengal body was proposed to be merged into the School Service Commission?
- Police Recruitment Board
- Public Service Commission
- Madrasah Service Commission
- Staff Selection Board
Show answer
Answer: Madrasah Service Commission — The Cabinet approved abolishing the Madrasah Service Commission (2008 Act) and merging it with the WBSSC.