Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to West Bengal on June 20–21, during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a series of strategic development projects, participate in the State’s Paschimbanga Divas celebrations, lead the national observance of the 12th International Day of Yoga, and commission three indigenously designed and built naval vessels into service.
Development Push at Paschimbanga Divas:
On June 20, the Prime Minister will attend the Paschimbanga Divas (West Bengal Day) celebrations at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district. The State-level event, themed “West Bengal: Heritage, Harmony and Development,” will highlight the state’s cultural legacy, social cohesion and developmental aspirations.
During the programme, Prime Minister Modi will launch, dedicate to the nation and lay foundation stones for projects spanning railways, agriculture, rural development, fisheries and animal husbandry. The initiatives are aimed at strengthening infrastructure, enhancing farmer welfare, improving livelihoods and accelerating socio-economic development across the state.
A major highlight of the event will be the release of the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN). Under the latest tranche, more than ₹18,880 crore will be transferred directly to over 9.44 crore farmers nationwide. In West Bengal alone, over 45 lakh beneficiaries will receive more than ₹900 crore, taking cumulative PM-KISAN disbursements in the state to over ₹15,000 crore. Since its launch in 2019, the scheme has transferred over ₹4.46 lakh crore to farmers across the country.
Expansion of Key Agricultural Schemes:
The Prime Minister will formally launch several flagship agricultural initiatives in West Bengal, including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), AgriStack under the Digital Agriculture Mission, the National Mission on Natural Farming, and the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY).
The rollout of PMFBY in the state will extend the benefits of the world’s largest crop insurance programme to nearly 50 lakh farmers during 2026–27, covering approximately 14 lakh hectares of agricultural land with an estimated insured value of ₹28,140 crore.
The AgriStack platform will establish a unified digital ecosystem for agricultural services, facilitating efficient delivery of fertiliser subsidies, Kisan Credit Cards, Direct Benefit Transfers and Minimum Support Price procurement services.
Under the National Mission on Natural Farming, West Bengal will establish 346 natural farming clusters covering 17,300 hectares, supported by Bio-Input Resource Centres and trained Krishi Sakhis to promote sustainable and chemical-free agricultural practices.
The PMDDKY will initially cover Purulia, Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Jhargram districts, focusing on crop diversification, irrigation development, post-harvest infrastructure and institutional credit access through convergence of multiple government schemes.
Strengthening Fisheries and Livestock Infrastructure:
In the fisheries sector, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the modernised and capacity-expanded Fishing Harbour at Fraserganj in South 24 Parganas and a newly constructed Modern Fish Market at Sainthia in Birbhum district. These facilities are expected to significantly improve fisheries infrastructure, post-harvest management and market access.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate the Regional Semen Production Laboratory and Semen Bank for Goats at Haringhata in Nadia district. Established under the National Livestock Mission, the facility is the first of its kind in Eastern India and is expected to enhance scientific livestock breeding and genetic improvement programmes.
Railway and Rural Connectivity Projects:
As part of the infrastructure development package, Prime Minister Modi will dedicate and lay the foundation stone for railway projects worth approximately ₹590 crore.
Key projects include the inauguration of the Sankrail–Santragachi Link Line in Howrah district, which is expected to decongest one of Eastern India’s busiest rail corridors and improve passenger and freight movement efficiency.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for a new 300-bed Divisional Railway Hospital at Howrah, equipped with advanced medical infrastructure and specialist healthcare facilities. Additionally, a Road Over Bridge between Haur and Radhamohanpur in Purba Medinipur district will be initiated to improve safety and traffic movement.
Further strengthening rural connectivity, 49 road infrastructure projects developed under PMGSY-III, covering over 315 kilometres across multiple districts, will be inaugurated.
National Yoga Day Celebrations in Kolkata:
On June 21, Prime Minister Modi will lead the national observance of the 12th International Day of Yoga from Kolkata’s iconic Red Road. He will participate in the Common Yoga Protocol session alongside thousands of yoga practitioners and address the gathering.
The theme for International Day of Yoga 2026, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” underscores yoga’s role in promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, emotional resilience and active ageing. Since the inception of International Day of Yoga in 2015, the Prime Minister has led celebrations from locations including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, New York, Srinagar and Visakhapatnam.
This year’s observance will witness events at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide with participation from over 210 Indian Missions and Posts, reflecting yoga’s growing global acceptance as a tool for health and well-being.
Indigenous Naval Platforms to Join Fleet:
Later on June 21, Prime Minister Modi will commission three indigenously designed and built naval platforms at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata: INS Dunagiri, an advanced stealth frigate; INS Sanshodhak, a large survey vessel; and INS Agray, an anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft.
The induction of these vessels is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s operational reach, maritime domain awareness and coastal security capabilities amid evolving regional security challenges.
All three platforms were designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, with participation from more than 200 Indian MSMEs. Featuring over 75 per cent indigenous content, the ships represent a major milestone in India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and defence indigenisation efforts.
The commissioning ceremony is expected to reinforce India’s growing shipbuilding capabilities and underscore the nation’s commitment to building a modern, self-reliant maritime force capable of safeguarding national interests across the Indian Ocean Region.
