An indicator-based analysis for the poll-bound West Bengal reveals that the State lags in several economic and social indicators. While it shows strength in select indicators such as immunisation and elementary enrolment, the State’s performance across various indicators remained relatively poorer compared to national average.

Follow | Assembly Election 2026 updates

West Bengal’s Human Development Index (HDI) stood at 0.719 in 2023, below the national average of 0.732. Economic indicators show a similar trend. The State ranked 16th out of 23 in per capita net domestic product, with an average of ₹1.63 lakh, far lower than the national average of ₹2.05 lakh and substantially behind Delhi and Telangana, where per capita incomes are more than double that of West Bengal. Rural wage levels also lag, with an average daily wage of ₹347 compared to ₹398 nationally. (Table 1)

However, the State fares relatively better on some health measures. Infant mortality rate stands at 17, lower than India’s 25, with the State ranking 14th out of 30. The share of households relying on unimproved sanitation facilities is smaller compared to the national average. While the proportion of stunted children (34%) is marginally lower than the national average, the State ranks 19th out of 29, indicating that undernutrition remains a concern. Immunisation coverage is among the strongest in the country, with 88% of children receiving all basic vaccinations, placing the State 4th.

However, these gains coexist with significant concerns. The share of women aged 15-19 who have begun childbearing is 16%, more than double the national average. Maternal mortality, at 103 per one lakh live births, is above the national average of 97. With 83.4% of women using hygienic menstrual protection, the State falls behind regions such as Delhi and Tamil Nadu. Only about a third of households have at least one member covered by a health scheme. (Table 2)

Education indicators too present a mixed picture (Table 3). The State records a perfect adjusted net enrolment rate of 100% at the elementary level, along with many other States. However, retention remains a concern, with an average annual dropout rate of 18% at the secondary level. Gross enrolment ratio in higher secondary education is 62%, slightly above the national average. Gender parity in higher education remains relatively balanced.

The share of men who lack schooling is much higher than the national average while fewer women lack schooling, but the gap with top performing States remains wide. Total fertility rate is also below the national average.

With 13% of the surveyed men aged 15-49 doing no schooling in the State, it ranks 23rd among 29 States. This is higher than the national average of 10.7%. The same indicator for women, however, pushes the State’s rank to 16. Also, the share of women in West Bengal who have done no schooling is 18.5%, much lower than the national average of 22.6%.

The State’s performance is patchy in select infrastructure and environmental related indicators (Table 4). Per capita fossil fuel consumption is lower than the national average, though this likely reflects differences in economic structure rather than greater efficiency. Plastic waste generation is higher than the national average, with the State ranking 8th out of 23. Rural internet penetration remains limited at just 35 per 100 people. At the same time, urban housing conditions are somewhat better, with only 0.8% of households living in kachha houses.

(Inputs from Nitika Francis and Sambavi Parthasarathy)