NationalThursday, 23 July 2026·The Hindu - National
West Bengal Assembly: CM’s women-safety push, police hiring and response-time reforms
West Bengal CM announced police and women-safety reforms in the Assembly on July 22, 2026, including 20,000 constable hires and a 12-minute to 6-minute response-time target.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On July 22, 2026, in the West Bengal Assembly, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the police had been given a free hand to act in crimes against women, while announcing recruitment of 20,000 constables and a target to cut police response time from 12 minutes to 6 minutes.
Key specifics
- 20,000 constables are to be hired before Durga Puja, with 16,000 more posts said to be in the pipeline.
- The Home Department plans 3 to 4 more emergency vehicles at every police station.
- The police response time target was stated as 12 minutes now, reduced to 6 minutes, like Uttar Pradesh.
- A women desk is to be set up at every police station.
- The CM said a special helpline will be notified for illegal smuggling of coal, animals and sand.
Exam lens
Polity and governance question type: state executive measures, police reforms, women safety, administrative targets. TNPSC may ask about the number of constables, response-time benchmark, and the Assembly context of the announcement.