The West Bengal government has constituted the 7th State Pay Commission and appointed Atanu Chakraborty, a retired 1985-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, as its Chairperson. The commission has been tasked with reviewing the pay structure and service-related benefits of state government employees.
Chakraborty brings extensive experience in public administration and financial policymaking, having served in several senior positions in the Government of India.
Veteran Bureaucrat to Lead the Panel
Atanu Chakraborty previously served as Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Union Ministry of Finance from 2019 to 2020. During his distinguished career, he handled key responsibilities related to economic policy, financial management and administrative reforms.
After retiring from the civil services, he also served as the part-time Chairman of HDFC Bank before stepping down from the position in March 2026.
Government Aims for Early Implementation
The state government has indicated that it intends to implement the recommendations of the 7th State Pay Commission during the current financial year (2026-27), subject to the commission completing its exercise.
The panel is expected to examine salary structures, allowances, pensions and other service-related matters concerning state government employees before submitting its recommendations.
Other Members of the Commission
Apart from Atanu Chakraborty, the commission includes three other members with expertise in economics and public policy:
- Partha Mukhopadhyay, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research.
- Partha Pratim Pal, Professor of Economics at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta.
- Devi Prasad Karanam, Finance Secretary, Government of West Bengal.
The diverse composition of the panel is expected to provide balanced recommendations by combining administrative, financial and academic perspectives.
Focus on Employee Welfare and Fiscal Balance
The formation of the 7th State Pay Commission marks an important step in reviewing the compensation framework for government employees in West Bengal. Along with improving employee welfare, the commission is also expected to consider the state’s financial position while recommending revisions.
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The panel will now begin consultations and undertake a detailed assessment before submitting its report to the state government.