West Bengal Budget 2026-27 Proposes New IIT, IIM, AIIMS Campuses in North Bengal; 650 MBBS Seats to Be Added
Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta introduced the West Bengal Budget for 2026-27. The budget suggests starting several new central institutes in North Bengal, such as a new campus for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), a new campus for the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), and a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta introduced the West Bengal Budget for 2026-27. The budget suggests starting several new central institutes in North Bengal, such as a new campus for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), a new campus for the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), and a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). There is also a proposal for a sports university. The budget was presented on June 22, 2026, in the state legislative assembly. The budget also plans to set up a tribal university in Jhargram, along with new medical colleges in Alipurduar and Paschim Bardhaman. Additionally, a dedicated cancer hospital for North Bengal has been announced. This is the first full budget since the BJP-led government took over.
New Institutes Proposed in West Bengal Budget 2026
The Budget includes several new higher education and healthcare institutions, mostly planned for the North Bengal region. The proposed institutes are listed below.
| Proposed Institute | Proposed Location |
|---|---|
| New IIT campus | North Bengal |
| New IIM campus | North Bengal |
| New AIIMS | North Bengal |
| Sports University | Location not specified |
| Tribal University | Jhargram |
| New medical college | Alipurduar |
| New medical college | Paschim Bardhaman |
| Dedicated cancer hospital | North Bengal |
Additional MBBS Seats and Sanskrit College Upgrade
The budget also focuses on major investments in medical and higher education. A total of 650 new MBBS seats will be added across 13 existing medical colleges in the state. Also, Sanskrit College, Kolkata, will get Rs 50 crore for improving infrastructure and academic facilities.
Scholarship and School Funding for Students
Under the new proposals, girl students in state-run and state-aided schools will be given Rs 50,000 each. This scholarship is meant to help increase the number of girls studying in higher classes. The government has also set aside Rs 2,100 crore for PM Shri schools throughout the state. The Budget also plans to set up new girls' colleges in selected districts.
West Bengal's Current IIT, IIM and AIIMS Network
Currently, West Bengal has one working IIT, IIM, and AIIMS. All three are located in South Bengal, which means students from northern areas have to travel long distances to reach these top institutions.
| Existing Institute | Location | Region |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Kharagpur | Kharagpur | South Bengal |
| IIM Calcutta | Joka, Kolkata | South Bengal |
| AIIMS Kalyani | Kalyani | South Bengal |
What Happens Next for Setting Up These New Institutes?
The proposed IIT, IIM, and AIIMS are national institutions, so their setup needs approval from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. At the moment, the state government has only announced these proposals in the budget. Final approval, funding, and choosing the right location will depend on the union government's clearance. Establishing such institutions usually takes several years before they can start running academically.