Land to BSF, Ayushman, job age relaxation & more... CM Suvendu announces 6 decisions after first cabinet meeting

In the first cabinet meeting at Nabanna on May 11, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a series of transformative decisions marking the beginning of the BJP’s "double engine" governance in West Bengal. Flanked by five newly sworn-in cabinet colleagues, Adhikari emphasized that the new administration would work for all citizens, moving past partisan lines to focus on security, health, and administrative efficiency.

• Ayushman Bharat Implementation: West Bengal has officially joined the central Ayushman Bharat health insurance project. This allows eligible families in the state to receive up to ₹5 lakh in annual health insurance coverage, a scheme previously resisted by the state administration.

• Land for Border Protection: In a move to secure the international border, the state will hand over required land to the Border Security Force (BSF) within 45 days. This is intended to facilitate the fencing of the 569km unfenced portion of the border with Bangladesh.

• Government Job Age Relaxation: The upper age limit for applicants to government jobs in West Bengal has been increased by 5 years.

• Central Training for State Officers: State IAS and IPS officers are now permitted to participate in central government training programs, ending a previous period of administrative isolation from central schemes.

• Strict Law Enforcement: Any anti-social acts in the state will now be tried strictly under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). This signals a zero-tolerance policy toward violence and a shift toward standardized legal prosecution.

• Honoring Sacrifices: The Chief Minister formally took responsibility for the 321 individuals whose sacrifices he stated were instrumental in the establishment of the new government.