Bengali Language Mandatory: West Bengal government offices, district administrations and police stations must now communicate with citizens in Bengali, accept applications in Bengali and resolve grievances in Bengali. The order, issued under Memo No. 290(A)/C.S./2026 dated 31/8/26 by Nabanna, takes effect from September 1, 2026.
The order flows from the Chief Minister’s July 20, 2026 announcement in the West Bengal Assembly. The Chief Secretary has signed the directive, and the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department has been named the coordinating department for the entire programme.
Table of Contents
What Changes From September 1
Every office that deals directly with the public must handle applications, replies, notices and service information in Bengali wherever possible. The order specifically flags grievance redressal.
- Police stations must handle FIR and complaint-related communication in Bengali
- Investigation-related replies and grievance closures must be conveyed in Bengali
- Public service counters across departments must respond in Bengali
How The Committee Structure Works
Three tiers of committees will oversee the rollout.
| Level | In Charge | Role |
|---|---|---|
| State | Chief Secretary | Overall implementation and coordination |
| Department | Departmental Implementation Committee | Reviews progress within the department |
| District | District Implementation Committee | Monitors progress at district level |
A separate West Bengal Official Language Committee will also be formed to develop uniform terminology and glossaries, with support from Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi.
Three-Month Survey Deadline
Every department must complete an internal survey within 3 months of the order, which works out to roughly the end of November 2026. As per the source, the survey must cover existing computer systems, record-keeping, availability of Bengali-skilled staff and gaps, and training requirements.
| Phase | Timeline | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | September 1, 2026 | Bengali mandatory in public-facing communication |
| Phase 2 | 3 months from order date | Department-wise survey reports due |
| Phase 3 | Phased | Full internal administrative use of Bengali |
Impact: What Changes For You
If you sit at a public-facing counter in a police station, BDO office or municipality, you’ll need to draft documents directly in Bengali instead of writing in English and translating later. The Administrative Training Institute will design separate training modules for staff not yet comfortable typing in Bengali.
Proposals for new posts, translators, typists, stenographers and proofreaders, will go to the Finance Department, which could open fresh recruitment avenues. The order does not mention any direct change to pay structures; the impact is mainly on daily workflow.
Other Mother Tongues Remain Protected
The order states clearly that Hindi, Nepali, Santali, Rajbanshi, Kamtapuri, Kurmali, Kurukh and other mother tongues spoken across the state will retain equal dignity. Welfare information will also reach communities in their respective mother tongues where needed.
Departments and district administrations must submit monthly progress reports to the Chief Secretary through the coordinating department, and the State-Level Steering Committee will review this progress regularly.
Department: Finance
Source: https://par.wb.gov.in/
📥 Download Govt Order
