West Bengal CM Adhikari announces 7,190 appointments to push 125-day rural job scheme
Synopsis
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari has announced 7,190 fresh appointments in the rural development department to turbocharge the Centre's 125-day job scheme, while simultaneously alleging that 31 lakh fake job cards were issued under the previous TMC government — a move that doubles as administrative reform and sharp political messaging ahead of the state's next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced 7,190 fresh appointments in the Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development Department on 4 November 2026 .
Recruitment will be completed by April 2027 and conducted by the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) under new transparency rules.
More than ₹13,000 crore has been earmarked for the VG-RAM-G scheme — ₹8,000 crore from the Centre and ₹5,000 crore from the state.
The state has so far generated 65.62 lakh man-days and issued 10 lakh new job cards to genuine beneficiaries.
Approximately 31 lakh fake job card holders were allegedly identified from the previous TMC government's era during Aadhaar-linking of job cards.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, announced 7,190 fresh appointments in the state's Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development Department, saying the new hires would accelerate rural development and strengthen implementation of the Centre's 125-day rural employment scheme. The announcement came after Adhikari chaired an urgent review meeting with block development officers (BDOs) at the department's headquarters in Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Key Developments
The recruitment drive, to be completed by April 2027, will be conducted by the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC). Chief Minister Adhikari said new rules would be introduced to ensure transparency throughout the process. The meeting was attended by Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh, Minister of State Santanu Pramanik, and Agriculture Minister Dudhkumar Mondal.
The VG-RAM-G Scheme and Funding
The review meeting centred on block-wise progress of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VG-RAM-G scheme. Adhikari said 22 lakh people are currently being provided daily work under the programme. A total of more than ₹13,000 crore has been earmarked for the project — the Centre contributing ₹8,000 crore and the state government providing approximately ₹5,000 crore.
'The Union government has already released ₹1,200 crore in the first phase. Around 10 lakh new job cards have been issued. We are confident of meeting the target set by the Union government. Work has begun, and so far we have generated 65.62 lakh man-days,' Adhikari said.
Fake Job Cards from Previous Government Era
Adhikari also alleged that approximately 31 lakh fake job card holders were identified from the tenure of the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Mamata Banerjee. According to the Chief Minister, the discrepancies surfaced during the linking of job cards with Aadhaar numbers, with some suspected fake beneficiaries having already received payments under the rural employment programme.
'While these fake job card holders have been identified, 10 lakh new job cards have been issued to genuine beneficiaries,' Adhikari said. This comes amid the state government's broader effort to overhaul the department's workforce and plug leakages that critics argue afflicted the previous administration's implementation of rural welfare schemes.
What Happens Next
The proposed 7,190 appointments are expected to bolster the department's on-ground capacity as West Bengal scales up delivery of the 125-day employment guarantee. With the WBPSC set to manage the recruitment and new transparency rules in the pipeline, the state government is signalling an institutional reset in how it manages rural employment. All eyes will now be on whether the April 2027 deadline is met and whether the man-days target advances further beyond the current 65.62 lakh figure.
Point of View
190 officials while alleging 31 lakh fake job cards under TMC — is as much political as administrative. The 125-day employment scheme gives the BJP-led state government a tangible welfare deliverable to contrast with the Mamata Banerjee era, but the credibility of the 31 lakh figure will face scrutiny unless backed by independent audit. Notably, the Centre's first-phase release of just ₹1,200 crore against a ₹8,000 crore commitment suggests disbursement pace is a bottleneck the new hires alone cannot fix. Whether the WBPSC recruitment meets its April 2027 deadline — and whether the man-days number translates into genuine rural income — will be the real test of this push.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VG-RAM-G scheme in West Bengal?
The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VG-RAM-G, is the Centre's 125-day rural employment programme being implemented in West Bengal. More than ₹13,000 crore has been earmarked for it, with the Centre contributing ₹8,000 crore and the state government providing approximately ₹5,000 crore.
Why did CM Adhikari announce 7,190 fresh appointments?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the appointments to strengthen the Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development Department's workforce and accelerate implementation of the Centre's 125-day rural employment scheme. The recruitment, to be managed by the WBPSC, is expected to be completed by April 2027.
What is the status of the 125-day employment scheme in West Bengal?
As of 4 November 2026, the state is providing daily work to 22 lakh people and has generated 65.62 lakh man-days under the scheme. The Centre has released ₹1,200 crore in the first phase, and 10 lakh new job cards have been issued to verified beneficiaries.
What are the alleged fake job cards, and how were they identified?
CM Adhikari alleged that approximately 31 lakh fake job card holders were identified from the tenure of the previous TMC government led by Mamata Banerjee. The discrepancies reportedly came to light during the mandatory linking of job cards with Aadhaar numbers, with some individuals allegedly having received payments fraudulently.
Who will conduct the recruitment for the 7,190 posts?
The West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) will conduct the recruitment for all 7,190 posts in the Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development Department. New rules are being framed to ensure transparency, and the entire process is targeted for completion by April 2027.
