West Bengal Current Affairs Questions and Answers

Practice questions

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1. Jogen Chowdhury, who died in Kolkata at the age of 87 on 25 October 2026, was a noted

   1. sculptor
   2. painter
   3. classical singer
   4. architect
   Show answer

   Answer: B. painter — Jogen Chowdhury was an eminent painter known for his expressive figurative style, and a former Rajya Sabha MP.

2. The Tripura government is partnering with which institute to develop the Tripura Film and Television Institute in Agartala?

   1. FTII, Pune
   2. SRFTI, Kolkata
   3. NSD, Delhi
   4. NID, Ahmedabad
   Show answer

   Answer: B. SRFTI, Kolkata — Tripura is partnering with the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) of Kolkata for the film institute in Agartala.

3. West Bengal's Chief Minister said the Muriganga bridge giving access to Gangasagar will be inaugurated in which year?

   1. 2027
   2. 2028
   3. 2030
   4. 2029
   Show answer

   Answer: D. 2029 — Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said at Kakdwip that the bridge will open in 2029.

4. Under which scheme did the West Bengal Cabinet in October 2026 approve Rs 50,000 over three years for unmarried women in higher education?

   1. Lakshmir Bhandar
   2. Bhagini Nivedita Scheme
   3. Kanyashree
   4. Swasthya Sathi
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 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.

5. Which of these airports is part of the October 2026 UDAN MoU between the Centre and West Bengal?

   1. Balurghat
   2. Siliguri
   3. Durgapur
   4. Cooch Behar
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Balurghat — The four airports are Chhara (Purulia), Kalaikunda, Balurghat and Hasimara; Rs 29,000 crore is planned over ten years.

6. Where will the 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention be held in January 2027?

   1. Bhubaneswar
   2. Varanasi
   3. Indore
   4. Kolkata
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Kolkata — The 19th PBD convention is planned in Kolkata, West Bengal, on 7 to 9 January 2027; the 18th was in Bhubaneswar.

7. A Rs 6,000 crore phenol and acetone plant was opened in October 2026 at which West Bengal town?

   1. Kharagpur
   2. Asansol
   3. Haldia
   4. Durgapur
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Haldia — Adperma, a subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals, opened the integrated phenol and acetone plant at Haldia.

8. Who heads the six-member SIT formed by West Bengal to probe the Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede?

   1. Justice Ashok Ganguly
   2. Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati
   3. Justice Indira Banerjee
   4. Justice Sanjib Banerjee
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati — The SIT, formed on 21 October 2026, is led by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati.

9. On which day did West Bengal's state-level Durga Puja festivities open at Eden Gardens with a drone show in October 2026?

   1. Mahalaya
   2. Mahashashthi
   3. Mahasaptami
   4. Vijayadashami
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Mahalaya — The Uma Agamani show on Mahalaya, 10 October 2026, included a display of about 3,000 drones.

10. The Navy's offshore patrol vessel Shreyas (Yard 3040) was launched at which shipyard?

    1. Cochin Shipyard
    2. Mazagon Dock
    3. Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam
    4. GRSE, Kolkata
    Show answer

    Answer: D. GRSE, Kolkata — Shreyas is the third of four next-generation offshore patrol vessels being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata.

11. In October 2026, which West Bengal body was proposed to be merged into the School Service Commission?

    1. Police Recruitment Board
    2. Public Service Commission
    3. Madrasah Service Commission
    4. Staff Selection Board
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Madrasah Service Commission — The Cabinet approved abolishing the Madrasah Service Commission (2008 Act) and merging it with the WBSSC.

12. To which district did West Bengal's weekly nutrition support scheme for tribal families launch in October 2026 first apply?

    1. Darjeeling
    2. Jhargram
    3. Malda
    4. Nadia
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Jhargram — The Chief Minister launched it at Kalajharia village in Jhargram, covering about 70,000 families.

13. Which state became the 36th to join Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, taking the scheme nationwide?

    1. Odisha
    2. Delhi
    3. West Bengal
    4. Kerala
    Show answer

    Answer: C. West Bengal — West Bengal's entry means every state and Union Territory is now covered.

14. R. N. Ravi moved from Tamil Nadu to be the Governor of which state?

    1. Telangana
    2. West Bengal
    3. Bihar
    4. Nagaland
    Show answer

    Answer: B. West Bengal — R. N. Ravi became Governor of West Bengal in the March 2026 reshuffle.

One-liner questions: fill in the blank

1. _____ 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.

   Show answer

   Answer: R. N. Ravi

2. _____ 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.

   Show answer

   Answer: West Bengal

3. 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.

   Show answer

   Answer: West Bengal Cabinet

4. 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.

   Show answer

   Answer: West Bengal

5. 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.

   Show answer

   Answer: 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas

6. 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.

   Show answer

   Answer: Special Investigation Team

7. 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.

   Show answer

   Answer: Suvendu Adhikari

8. 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.

   Show answer

   Answer: Jogen Chowdhury

9. _____ was transferred and made the Governor of West Bengal in the March 2026 reshuffle.

   Show answer

   Answer: R.N. Ravi

10. 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.

    Show answer

    Answer: 1984

11. In PAI 2.0, 97.30% of gram panchayats (2,59,867) gave data; _____ 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).

    Show answer

    Answer: West Bengal

12. In _____, 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.

    Show answer

    Answer: West Bengal

13. _____ became the new Chief Minister of West Bengal after the BJP won the state.

    Show answer

    Answer: Suvendu Adhikari

14. PM Modi released the _____ from Hooghly, West Bengal, on 20 June 2026: over ₹8,880 crore to more than 9.44 crore farmers.

    Show answer

    Answer: 23rd instalment of PM-KISAN

15. West Bengal CM _____ 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.

    Show answer

    Answer: Suvendu Adhikari

16. Bengali filmmaker _____, a three-time National Film Award winner, died in Kolkata aged 71. His best-known films include *Damu*, *Atmiyo Swajan* and *Laboratory*.

    Show answer

    Answer: Raja Sen

17. Before the West Bengal assembly by-polls, the _____ froze the party name "All India Trinamool Congress" and its reserved symbol because rival factions both claimed them.

    Show answer

    Answer: Election Commission

18. Tigress _____, 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.

    Show answer

    Answer: T138

19. _____ 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).

    Show answer

    Answer: Kolkata

20. The 8th _____ 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.

    Show answer

    Answer: PM Mementos e-Auction

21. The West Bengal Cabinet under Chief Minister _____ approved the Bhagini Nivedita Scheme, giving unmarried women in higher education Rs 50,000 in three instalments. It starts in January 2027.

    Show answer

    Answer: Suvendu Adhikari

22. The West Bengal Cabinet raised the monthly pay of _____ (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.

    Show answer

    Answer: Karmabandhu

23. At the NITI Aayog national workshop in _____, 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.

    Show answer

    Answer: Kolkata

24. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs held the second Regional Review Conference on the Forest Rights Act_____Kolkata on 9 October, with eight states taking part. The first was held in Bengaluru on 10 September.

    Show answer

    Answer: in

25. _____ 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.

    Show answer

    Answer: Mahalaya

26. Chief Minister _____ 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.

    Show answer

    Answer: Suvendu Adhikari

27. The Navy's next-generation offshore patrol vessel _____ (Yard 3040) was launched at GRSE, Kolkata. It is the third of four such ships GRSE is building, while Goa Shipyard builds seven.

    Show answer

    Answer: Shreyas

28. About _____ of West Bengal were to receive their appointment letters on 11 October 2026, as the state's new government began filling police vacancies.

    Show answer

    Answer: 12,000 newly recruited police constables

29. The West Bengal Cabinet approved abolishing the _____ (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.

    Show answer

    Answer: Madrasah Service Commission

30. West Bengal announced _____ as the single emergency response number for its state police, bringing the state into line with the national emergency helpline system.

    Show answer

    Answer: 112

31. _____, 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.

    Show answer

    Answer: Adperma

32. The West Bengal Public Service Commission issued its 2026 notification for _____ Stenographer posts in Grades A and B, and online applications have started.

    Show answer

    Answer: 266

33. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari launched a weekly _____ for tribal families at Kalajharia, Jhargram, giving rice, pulses, cooking oil and soya bean to about 70,000 families, with biometric verification.

    Show answer

    Answer: nutrition support scheme

34. At Jhargram, West Bengal also announced a rise in the monthly pension of elderly Scheduled Tribe members to _____, tribal universities in Bankura and Jhargram, and Rs 342 crore for Jhargram's development.

    Show answer

    Answer: Rs 1,500

35. West Bengal has begun preparations for the _____, the first to be held under the BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

    Show answer

    Answer: Gangasagar Mela

36. West Bengal will end the extended _____ for government hospital staff from 2027 and bring in a duty roster, the state Health Minister announced.

    Show answer

    Answer: Durga Puja holidays

37. The West Bengal government aims to generate _____ of work from January 2027 under the VB-G RAM G rural job scheme, according to a report of 25 October 2026.

    Show answer

    Answer: 10 lakh mandays