Government of West Bengal

West Bengal is divided into 27 districts and 5 administrative divisions, making a total of 32 subnational entities. Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal. BBD Bagh in central Kolkata is the administrative Centre of the state, situating the executive headquarter of the state, the Writers' Building. Although due to scheduled repair & restoration work from May 2026 onwards, temporary functioning of the administration is conducted at the secretariat in Nabanna Building, Howrah.

West Bengal Government's formal seat is at Vidhan Sabha Bhavan, Kolkata, West Bengal which consists three primary branches are Legislative Power in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly (one housed), Executive Power in the Council of Ministers & Judicial Power in the Calcutta High Court with the official residence of Governor of West Bengal, the Lok Bhavan as head of state.

The present Legislative Assembly of West Bengal is unicameral, consisting of 294 Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). West Bengal Government formed by the Chief Minister & other ministers (Council of Ministers) belong to Member of the Legislative Assembly with the Chief Minister of West Bengal at its head. The current Chief Minister is Suvendu Adhikari, who assumed the office on 9 May 2026. He is one of the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal, which party won 208 seats (out of 294) in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election.

Nomenclature

The terms "GoWB", "WB Govt." etc. abbreviation, "The State Government of West Bengal", "Paschim Banga Sarkar", "Paścimbaṅga Sarakāra", "West Bengal Government (পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকার)" are often used officially and unofficially to refer to the same Government of West Bengal. The term Kolkata is commonly used as a metonym for the West Bengal Government, as the seat of the state government is in Kolkata.

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History

On 18 January 1862, under the Indian Councils Act 1861, a 12-member Legislative Council for Bengal was founded by the Governor-General of India with the Lt Governor of Bengal and some nominated members. The strength of this council was gradually increased by subsequent acts. Under the Indian Councils Act 1892, the maximum strength of the council was increased to 20 members out of which seven members were to be elected. After the Indian Councils Act 1909, the number was raised to 50 members.

Structural Framework

The Government of West Bengal (GoWB) mainly composed by three main organs are the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary where the powers are vested by the constitution in the Council of Ministers, Vidhan Sabha, and the Calcutta High Court, respectively. The Governor of West Bengal is the politically neutral head of state and acts as the Chancellor of the universities of West Bengal appointed by the President of India while politically elected Chief Minister of West Bengal acts as the head of the executive and is responsible for running the Government of West Bengal. Vidhan Sabha is the unicameral legislature with single house which is Lower House (Bidhan Sabha).

Head Leaders

Organization

Departments Overview

The West Bengal Government is divided into 54 different Departments Operating and functioning under various sectors of State.

Each Department Consists of administrative personnel hierarchy which balance Political oversight with permanent bureaucratic management with Political Leadership (The Apex) and Apolitical Senior Bureaucratic Hierarchy (The Secretariat, Commissioner & Nodal Officers).

The Apex Political Executive of any West Bengal Government Department belong with a Cabinet Minister (Minister-In-Charge) followed by Minister of State (MoS) or can be Minister of State Independent Charge MoS (I/C) without any Cabinet Minister where as Apolitical Senior Bureaucratic Hierarchy belong Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) / Principal Secretary / Secretary / Special Commissioner from Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Cadre along with Joint Secretary / Deputy Secretary / Assistant Secretary / Under Secretary / Nodal Officer from Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or West Bengal Civil Service (Executive) W.B.C.S. (Exe.) or West Bengal Secretariat Service (WBSS).

Chief Secretary & Secretaries - Government of West Bengal Departments

Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal and Secretaries (i.e. Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary / Secretary) under different Government Departments in West Bengal are appointed by the Governor of West Bengal "by appointment order" through the recommendation from Chief Minister's Cabinet and Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department (P&AR).

Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal is an officer (Civil servant) of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) belong from Senior most cadre post & Principal advisor to the Chief Minister of West Bengal on all matters in the state administration.

Additional Chief Secretaries or Principal Secretaries / Secretaries are the administrative heads of various Government Departments which they are assigned to handle by the Governor of West Bengal also belong from Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Civil servant cadre.