Kolkata, West Bengal — July 20, 2026

The West Bengal government has announced a landmark linguistic reform in the state's administrative system. Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari informed the state Assembly on Monday that, effective September 1, 2026, all government offices in the state will be required to conduct official work and correspondence exclusively in the Bengali language.

Background

According to the Chief Minister, the decision follows a suggestion from Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. Shah had recently written a letter urging the preservation of Bengali language's rich heritage and traditions, and had also expressed a desire to see Bengal restored as "Sonar Bangla" (Golden Bengal). The state government's move is being seen as part of that broader vision.

Key Highlights

Effective Date: From September 1, 2026, the use of the Bengali language will be mandatory across all state government departments and correspondence.
Centre-State Coordination: Official correspondence with the Central government will continue in both Bengali and Hindi, ensuring administrative smoothness.
Assembly Proceedings: Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bosu welcomed the decision, noting that his long-standing wish to conduct Assembly proceedings entirely in Bengali is now being realized.
Cultural Significance: The initiative is being viewed as a major step toward restoring the state's cultural identity and linguistic pride.

Statements from Officials

Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari described the announcement as a significant step toward reviving the state's cultural pride. Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bosu said the proposal had been pending since he first took charge as Speaker, and credited the Chief Minister for fully supporting its realization.

Next Steps

All state government departments will be issued the necessary guidelines to ensure compliance with the new policy. Implementation preparations will be completed ahead of the September 1, 2026 deadline.

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