Modi posts in Bengali ahead of West Bengal visit on June 20-21
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 19 June took to social media in Bengali to outline the agenda of his upcoming two-day visit to West Bengal on 20 and 21 June, marking one of his most programmatically dense state visits of the year. The posts, addressed directly to Bengali-speaking audiences, covered agriculture, defence, and wellness in a single sweep.
West Bengal Day and the Tarakeswar Programmes
Modi noted that 20 June carries special significance as West Bengal Day, and chose Tarakeswar in Hooghly district as the venue for the day's events. The town holds historical resonance for its association with Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and his efforts to preserve the state's cultural identity. Several developmental initiatives are slated for inauguration at the venue.
PM-KISAN 23rd Instalment and Agriculture Schemes
The centrepiece of the Tarakeswar visit will be the disbursement of the 23rd instalment of PM-KISAN, a direct-benefit transfer scheme for farmers across India. Modi said in his post that multiple Central Government agricultural programmes would also be launched simultaneously, including Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Agri Stack under the Digital Agriculture Mission, the National Mission on Natural Farming, and Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana. The launches are intended to benefit farmers in West Bengal and across the country.
International Yoga Day in Kolkata
On 21 June — International Yoga Day — Modi is scheduled to attend a dedicated programme in Kolkata. The occasion adds a cultural and wellness dimension to the visit, continuing the tradition of high-profile national Yoga Day observances.
Three Indigenous Warships to Be Launched
Following the Yoga Day event, Modi will preside over the commissioning of three warships built using indigenous design: INS Dunagiri, INS Samshodhaka, and INS Agrya. In his social media post, the Prime Minister said these vessels would strengthen national security and reflect India's commitment to self-reliance in the defence sector — a direct nod to the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat agenda. This comes amid a sustained push to reduce dependence on foreign defence procurement, with the Navy having commissioned several domestically built platforms in recent years.
The visit is among the first by Modi to West Bengal in this political cycle and spans agriculture policy, cultural commemoration, and strategic defence — a breadth that underscores the Centre's effort to project multi-dimensional engagement with the state.