Bengal clears 7th Pay Commission for state employees

MP, May 19, 2026, Kolkata: The state Cabinet on Monday approved the constitution of the 7th State Pay Commission to review, revise and restructure the existing salary framework of state government employees.

The Cabinet also cleared the discontinuation of government assistance to groups based on religious categorisation from June 1 and decided to scrap the state’s existing list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) following an order of the Calcutta High Court.

Speaking to reporters after the second Cabinet meeting at Nabanna, state Women and Child Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul said the 7th Pay Commission would work on revising the pay structure for employees of the state government, statutory bodies, boards, corporations, local bodies and educational institutions under the state government.

She added that the government would soon constitute a high-level committee or commission to prepare recommendations regarding improved financial benefits and service conditions for employees.

During the Assembly election campaign, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that if the BJP came to power in Bengal, the Seventh Pay Commission for state employees would be implemented within 45 days.

Paul further announced that all government welfare schemes based on religious categorisation would be discontinued from June 1, although beneficiaries would continue receiving assistance during May.

“The government has also scrapped the existing state OBC list in accordance with the Calcutta High Court judgment and will set up a panel to decide quota eligibility,” Paul said.

She added that a committee would determine eligibility for reservation benefits and that inclusion of new groups or sub-groups would be carried out in line with the High Court’s directions.

Paul also said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had instructed all departments to take necessary steps to roll out central schemes that had allegedly been stalled by the previous government.