The West Bengal government has proposed to make Bengali language compulsory for official communication at all levels of administration from September 1, 2026.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced this in the Assembly floor of West Bengal, stating that this move comes in response to a letter from Union Home Minister Amit Shah recommending the implementation of an academic policy to promote the greater use of the Bengali language in governance.
The Bengali language will be introduced from level to level of the government from September first, 2026, Adhikari told the Assembly.
The Chief Minister also said that Bangladesh’s official exchanges with the Central government and other states would be in Bengali. But Hindi will be used along with Bengali in connections with the Union government.
During the last three days, Amit Shah has visited West Bengal and sent a memo using the Bengali language to the state, “instructing more use of the state’s language in administration,” says Adhikari.
Shah’s letter reflected the thoughts of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who had envisioned that Indian languages should be given prominence in administration, educational institutions and public life through his visions, said the Chief Minister.
It is thought the transfer is likely to enhance the administration of Bengali, and support that of local languages in state departments, as well.
However, this is a major policy shift to ensure that use of the Bengali language is not restricted to official matters of governance, but its significance also increases in the field of public administration across West Bengal.