The West Bengal government has sanctioned approximately ₹197.20 crore as honorarium for state government employees who will be deployed in the second phase of Census 2027, officials confirmed on 7 October 2026. The funds cover personnel across 22 districts and seven municipal corporations throughout the state.

How the Funds Will Be Disbursed

According to sources at the state secretariat, Nabanna, the allocated amount will be electronically transferred to the bank accounts of the respective Chief Census Officers of each district and municipal corporation, who will then oversee further disbursement. The Census Cell of the state Home and Hill Affairs Department has issued formal instructions in this regard.

'Instructions have been issued by the Census Cell of the state Home and Hill Affairs Department. The amount will be deposited electronically in the respective bank accounts of the Chief Census Officers of the districts and municipal corporations,' a state government official said.

Who Is Eligible for the Honorarium

The allocation covers honorarium payments for all personnel involved in the census exercise, including state government employees and teachers of state-run schools. These individuals are expected to carry out census duties alongside their regular professional responsibilities. The honorarium will be credited directly to their individual bank accounts.

'The government employees and teachers in different state-run schools are engaged in this process. They will have to conduct this census work side-by-side with their regular duties. Therefore, this money will be given directly to their bank accounts,' the official added.

Census 2027: Two-Phase Structure in West Bengal

The census process in West Bengal is being conducted in two phases. The first phase — comprising house listing and housing census — has already been completed. The second phase, which involves both population enumeration and caste-based enumeration, is scheduled to commence in February 2027. This marks a notable expansion of scope compared to previous census cycles, as caste-based data collection had not been part of the national census since 1931.

Teachers' Court Battle and Resolution

The deployment of teachers for census-related duties had previously become a subject of litigation before the Calcutta High Court. A section of teachers challenged the state government's directive requiring them to undertake census duties on weekends and holidays. Following prolonged hearings, the state government withdrew the contentious notification and accepted the court's direction that teachers engaged in census work would be treated as 'on duty' for the duration of such assignments — a concession that appears to have cleared the path for smooth mobilisation ahead of the February rollout.

What Comes Next

With the honorarium funds now sanctioned and disbursement channels in place, West Bengal appears administratively prepared for the February 2027 enumeration. The outcome of the caste-based enumeration component, in particular, is expected to carry significant political and policy weight, influencing welfare targeting and reservation calculations across the state for years to come.