290(A)/C.S/2026: WB Order Mandates Bengali Language in Government Administration from Sept 2026
Summary
This West Bengal government order mandates Bengali as the primary language for public communication, applications, grievances and administrative work across all departments, offices and police from 1 September 2026. It sets up state, departmental and district committees, a language committee, IT localisation and training programmes, while respecting other mother tongues.
Key Takeaways & Points
- Bengali becomes mandatory for public-facing government communication, applications, grievances and notices from 1 September 2026.
- Internal departmental administrative work will adopt Bengali in a phased manner.
- A State-level Steering Committee under the Chief Secretary will oversee implementation, aided by departmental and district-level committees.
- The Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department is designated the coordinating department.
- A West Bengal Official Language Committee will develop terminology, glossaries and guidelines with help from the Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi.
- Departments must complete an IT, staffing and training-needs survey within 3 months and submit monthly progress reports.
- The order also commits to respecting and promoting other mother tongues spoken in West Bengal, such as Hindi, Nepali, Santali, Rajbangshi, Kamtapuri, Kurmali and Kurukh.
GOVERNMENT ORDER
Government of West Bengal
Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department
Government of West Bengal
Nabanna, Howrah
No. 290(A)/C.S./2026 Date: 31/08/2026
Subject: Government Order regarding the use of the Bengali language in government administration and public services
In accordance with the announcement made by the Hon'ble Chief Minister in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on 20 July, 2026, the Bengali language shall be used compulsorily in the administration of the Government of West Bengal with effect from 1 September, 2026.
In view of the said announcement, the following directions are issued with the objective of making the State administration more transparent, people-oriented and universal—
1. Government communication with the public
All government departments, authorities, organisations, offices and field-level offices engaged in direct communication with the public and in the delivery of public services shall, as far as possible, conduct communication with the public, receipt of applications, issuance of replies, notifications, notices, directions, service-related information and other people-oriented activities in the Bengali language.
In particular, the receipt and disposal of public grievances, replies to grievances, and all communication with the public relating to grievances shall be conducted in the Bengali language. This direction shall also apply to the receipt of public grievances, investigation-related communication and disposal of grievances by all law-and-order maintaining agencies, including the police.
2. Use of the Bengali language in government administration
With effect from 1 September, 2026, preparations shall begin for using the Bengali language as the principal administrative language at various levels of government administration. Preparations shall be made for the use of the Bengali language in government documents, exchange of departmental correspondence, orders, letters, notifications, reports, public services and communication with the public.
3. Phased full-scale implementation
Full-scale application of the Bengali language in the internal administrative functioning of government departments shall be carried out in phases.
Capacity shall be built up in a phased manner with regard to computer systems, departmental record-keeping systems, government network and internet-based services, translation, personnel proficient in Bengali, training, and development of the requisite terminology.
Further steps in this regard shall be taken on the basis of the recommendations of the concerned committees.
4. State-level Steering Committee
For the overall implementation, monitoring and inter-departmental coordination of this programme, a State-level Steering Committee shall be constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.
The said Committee may, as required, take the opinion of various departments, institutions, linguists and experts, and shall make the necessary recommendations for phased implementation.
5. Departmental and District-level Implementation Committees
A separate Departmental Implementation Committee and a District-level Implementation Committee shall be constituted for each department and each district.
These committees shall monitor and review, within their respective jurisdictions, the use of Bengali in administrative work, training, translation, technological capacity and progress in the use of Bengali in public service delivery.
6. Coordinating Department
The Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department is designated as the coordinating department for this programme.
The coordinating department shall, with the assistance of the State-level Steering Committee, effect coordination among various departments and government bodies and review the overall progress of implementation.
7. Government translation and terminology
In order to ensure quality translation of government documents and uniform use of Bengali terminology in administrative matters—
(a) A West Bengal Official Language Committee shall be constituted.
The said Committee shall arrange for the preparation of the necessary official terminology, glossary and supporting guidelines.
The Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi shall provide the necessary assistance in this regard.
8. Preliminary department-wise survey
Every department shall, within 3 months of the issue of this order, complete a department-wise survey on the following matters—
- existing computer systems, departmental record management, government network and internet-based services;
- the process of making them suitable for use in the Bengali language;
- the process of translation and of every correction/revision;
- verification of the availability and shortfall of personnel and officers proficient in Bengali;
- requirement of translators, typists, stenographers, proof-readers and language experts;
- requirement of training for officers and staff; and
- requirement of additional financial provision for implementation.
9. Application of the Bengali language in the IT system
The Department of Information Technology & Electronics shall, in coordination with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), prepare a clear action plan for making all government networks, internet-based services, e-governance and other government IT systems suitable for use in Bengali in a phased manner.
10. Training and capacity building
Administrative training institutions shall, in Bengali, prepare the necessary training programmes and curricula for officers and staff of all categories on—
- preparation of government documents;
- exchange of files and departmental correspondence;
- use of official terminology;
- communication with the public; and
- use of the Bengali language in the delivery of public services.
11. Requisite manpower and financial provision
The Finance Department shall examine the creation of posts of translators, typists, stenographers, proof-readers, language experts and other necessary posts, taking into account the proposals and requirements of the concerned departments. The Finance Department shall also consider the matter of additional financial provision as required.
12. Progress report
Every department and district administration shall submit a monthly progress report, in the prescribed manner, to the Chief Secretary through the coordinating department. This progress shall be reviewed regularly at meetings of the State-level Steering Committee, and further directions shall be issued as necessary.
13. Core objective of implementation
The core objective of this programme is—
to ensure "administration in the language of the people, for the people."
Therefore, with effect from 1 September, 2026, government communication with the public, delivery of public services, receipt of applications, receipt and disposal of grievances, and all related people-oriented activities shall be conducted in the Bengali language.
In particular, all departments and government bodies, including the police, shall ensure immediate communication in Bengali for the receipt and disposal of public grievances.
Full-scale application of the Bengali language in other areas of administration shall be extended in a phased manner, and subsequent phases shall be determined in line with the recommendations of the concerned State-level and departmental committees, the necessary technological and human resource preparedness, and the requisite laws and rules.
The State Government is committed to the policy of recognising and respecting the equal dignity, importance, distinctiveness and cultural value of all mother tongues prevalent in the State, alongside Bengali. Hindi, Nepali, Santali, Rajbangshi, Kamtapuri, Kurmali, Kurukh and other languages prevalent among various communities and regions of the State, along with all other mother tongues prevalent in the State, shall be regarded as important parts of public life, culture and social identity. The importance or dignity of any language shall not be determined on the basis of the number of its speakers, its geographical spread or social standing; every mother tongue prevalent in the State is intimately connected with its own heritage, literature, culture and the way of life of its community, and is for that reason entitled to due respect and importance.
On the basis of this policy, necessary steps shall be taken, alongside Bengali, to ensure more effective communication of government messages to the public in other mother tongues prevalent in the State, easily understandable dissemination of information on government programmes and welfare schemes, and more accessible, inclusive and effective delivery of government services. Taking into account the linguistic diversity of various regions and the needs of the concerned communities, arrangements shall be made to convey important government information, awareness messages, welfare programmes and service-related matters, as far as possible, in the relevant mother tongue.
14. Responsibility for compliance
All Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Heads of Departments, District Magistrates, the concerned authorities of the police administration and Heads of all government offices are directed to duly comply with this direction and to issue the necessary instructions to all offices and staff under them.
Chief Secretary
Government of West Bengal