Bengali to be used in all official State communication from September 1, says CM Suvendu
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that Bengali will become the primary language for all official state government communications starting September 1. The move follows a suggestion from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to promote the language.
Why it matters
This policy shift reflects the state's effort to prioritize regional language in administration and aligns with broader national discussions on linguistic identity.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday (July 20, 2026) announced that starting from September 1, the State Government will give priority to the Bengali language in all official government work.
Mr. Adhikari, who made the announcement on the floor of West Bengal Legislative Assembly stating that all official correspondence, and administrative orders of the state government departments will be carried out in Bengali language.
The Chief Minister stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had written to him requesting that, on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the use of the Bengali language in West Bengal should be promoted more extensively.
According to the letter, sent by the Union Home Minister to the Chief Minister, a wider use of Bengali was recommended in government functioning and administrative procedures.
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