West Bengal Civil Services Exam
WHY CHOOSE WEST BENGAL CIVIL SERVICES AS A CAREER?
West Bengal Civil Services work as the backbone of the administrative machinery of the State divided into Group-A, Group-B, Group-C and Group-D providing leadership, social impact, and a dynamic career with a chance to serve society.
ABOUT THE EXAMINATION PROCESS
In order to get selected into these coveted services, candidates have to appear in the Civil Services Exam (WBCS) conducted by the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) and should pass a three-phase selection process. The three phases are the Civil Services Preliminary Exam (Prelims), Civil Services Examination (Mains) and The Personality Test (Interview). As per the notifications, WBCS Preliminary Exam is conducted in the months of September and the Main Examination is held after 3-4 months. i.e. December.
As per the official UPSC Exam Calendar, Civil Services Preliminary Exam is conducted in the months of May & June and the Main Examination is held after 3-4 months.
- Candidates are required to apply online on the official website of WBCS (https://psc.wb.gov.in).
- Candidates need to complete the online application form containing two stages viz. Part-I and Part-II as per the instructions available in the above mentioned website.
- Rs.210/- (Rupees two hundred ten only) + Service Charge 1% of Examination Fee subject to a minimum of Rs.5/- (Rupees five only) for online payment through debit/credit card plus service charge /GST as applicable as Govt. Duty or Service Charge of Rs.5/- (Rupees five only) for Net Banking or Service Charge of Rs.20/- (Rupees twenty only) for payment through Bank Counter (off-line payment). SC/ST candidates of West Bengal and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) having physical disability of 40% and above are not required to pay any fee.
- OBC candidates of West Bengal are, however, required to pay usual fee as aforesaid. NO EXEMPTION OF FEE IS AVAILABLE TO SC/ST/OBC CANDIDATES OF OTHER STATES. No claim for refund of the fee will be entertained nor will it be held in reserve for any other examination
- Before filling up the online application form, a candidate must have his/her photograph and signature duly scanned in the jpg format in such a manner that each file should not exceed 40 KB and, must not be less than 3 KB in size for the photograph and 1 KB for the signature.
- Applicants should avoid submitting multiple applications. In case of multiple applications, the application with higher Registration ID will be considered by the Commission.
- The applicants must ensure that while filling their Application Form, they are providing their valid and active e-mail IDs as the Commission may use electronic mode of communication in order to contact them at different stages of examination process.
NATIONALITY
- The candidate must be
(a) A citizen of India (either natural or by registration), or
(b) Such other nationals as declared eligible by the Govt. of India.
Provided that a candidate belonging to category (b) shall be a person in whose favour
a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India. A candidate in
whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary may be admitted to the examination
but the offer of appointment may be given only after the necessary eligibility certificate
has been issued to him by the Government. - The candidate must have good health and character and suitability in all respects for
appointment to Government Service.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A degree of a recognized University.
- Ability to read, write and speak in Bengali (not required for those candidates whose
mother tongue is Nepali).
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
- West Bengal Police Service (Group ‘B’ Service)
Minimum Physical Standards.
• Male: Minimum height of 165 cm.
• Female: Minimum height of 150 cm. - West Bengal Subordinate Land Revenue Service, Grade – I – Proficiency in Bengali
Language is must, but candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali shall be exempted from
this requirement, but will be required to pass, within a period of two years a departmental
examination in Bengali.
AGE LIMIT
| Category | Age |
|---|---|
| Group – A | 21 years – 36 years |
| Group – B | 20 years – 36 years |
| Group – C | 21 years – 36 years |
| Group – D | 21 years – 39 years |
AGE RELAXATION
| Category | Attempts Limit |
|---|---|
| General | No Relaxation |
| EWS | No Relaxation |
| OBC | Relaxable by 3 years |
| SC/ST | Relaxable by 5 years |
| PwBD | Relaxable up to 45 years |
Points to be noted :
- The S.C./S.T./O.B.C. candidates of other States shall be considered for Unreserved
posts only. - Certain vacancies may be reserved for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Non – Creamy Layer) of West
Bengal declared as such by the Govt. of West Bengal.
GROUP - A
- West Bengal Civil Service (Executive)
- Assistant Commissioner of Revenue in the integrated West Bengal Revenue Service
- West Bengal Co-operative Service
- West Bengal Labour Service
- West Bengal Food and Supplies Service
- West Bengal Employment Service [Except the post of Employment Officer (Technical)]
GROUP – B
- West Bengal Police Service
GROUP – C
- Superintendent, District Correctional Home / Deputy Superintendent, Central Correctional
Home - Joint Block Development Officer
- Deputy Assistant Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Business Practices
- West Bengal Junior Social Welfare Service
- West Bengal Subordinate Land Revenue Service, Grade-I
- Assistant Commercial Tax Officer
- Registrar(District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission)/Joint Registrar (West Bengal
State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission) under the Consumer Affairs Department,
Government of West Bengal) - Assistant Canal Revenue Officer (Irrigation)
- Chief Controller of Correctional Services
GROUP – D
- Inspector of Co-operative Societies
- Panchayat Development Officer under the Panchayat and Rural Development Department
- Rehabilitation Officer under the Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Department
THE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION CONSIST OF TWO SUCCESSIVE STAGES:
- West Bengal Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) for the
selection of candidates for the Main Examination; and - West Bengal Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the
selection of candidates for the various Services and posts.
FIRST STAGE DETAILS : PRELIMINARY EXAM
- The West Bengal Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination comprises of two papers of
200 marks each i.e. General Studies (GS) Paper-I. - GS Paper-II (also known as CSAT i.e. Civil Service Aptitude Test) is qualifying in nature
and in which a candidate has to secure 33% marks only. - Objective type (Multiple Choice Questions) is asked at this stage. Marks obtained at
this stage are counted only to decide merit in preliminary examination, not for final
selection. Clearing the Prelims makes one eligible for the next stage of the exam.
SECOND STAGE DETAILS : MAINS EXAM & PERSONALITY TEST
- The Civil Services Personality Test consists of a board of members for assessing the
candidate’s personality. A candidate is asked questions on matters of general
interest. - The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a
career in public service. The test is intended to judge the mental caliber of a
candidate. - Final rank of a candidate in merit list depends upon the marks scored in second
stage only i.e. Written and Interview.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
| Paper | Subject | Max. Marks | Duration | Negative Marking | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 200 | 2 hrs | 1/3rd of marks assigned to a question will be deducted per wrong answer | — |
| Paper II | CSAT | 200 | 2 hrs | 1/3rd of marks assigned to a question will be deducted per wrong answer | Qualifying (33% Marks Required) |
General Studies Paper-I will include questions covering the following fields of knowledge:-
| Sl.No. | Subjects | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| i | English Composition | 20 |
| ii | General Science | 20 |
| iii | Current Events of National and International Importance | 20 |
| iv | History of India | 20 |
| v | Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal | 20 |
| vi | Indian Polity and Economy | 20 + 20 = 40 |
| vii | Indian National Movement | 20 |
| viii | General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-Diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization | 40 |
| Total | 200 |
General Studies Paper-II will include questions covering the following fields of knowledge :-
| Sl.No. | Topics | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| i | Comprehension | 60 |
| ii | Interpersonal Skills including Communication Skills | 10 |
| iii | Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability | 35 |
| iv | Decision Making and Problem Solving | 30 |
| v | General Mental Ability | 30 |
| vi | Basic Numeracy (Numbers and their relations, Orders of Magnitude, etc.), Data Interpretation (Charts, Graphs, Tables, Data Sufficiency) – Class X Level | 35 |
| Total | 200 |
MAINS EXAMINATION
QUALIFYING PAPERS
| Paper | Subject | Syllabus / Topics | Max. Marks | Duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-A | Bengali / Nepali Language | Letter writing, Drafting of report, Precis writing, Comprehension, Translation from English to Bengali/Nepali, Short Essay | 300 | 3 hrs | Qualifying (30% Marks Required) |
| Paper-B | English | Comprehension of a given passage, Precis writing, Usage and Vocabulary, Short Essay, Letter writing/Drafting of Report | 300 | 3 hrs | Qualifying (30% Marks Required) |
PAPERS TO BE COUNTED FOR MERIT
| Sl. No. | Paper | Subject / Topics | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paper – 1 | English Essay – Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics | 250 | 3 hrs |
| 2 | Paper – 2 | Tradition & Culture of Bengal• Cultural Aspects of Bengal – 60 Marks• Art Forms including Folk Art & Music of Bengal – 60 Marks• Literature of Bengal – 70 Marks• Architectural Heritage of Bengal – 60 Marks | 250 | 3 hrs |
| 3 | Paper – 3 (GS – I) | History & Geography• History of India & World; Society – 125 Marks• Geography of India (with reference to West Bengal & World) – 125 Marks | 250 | 3 hrs |
| 4 | Paper – 4 (GS – II) | Indian Polity, India and the World, Indian Economy• Polity, International Relations, Internal Security – 125 Marks• Indian Economic Development – 125 Marks | 250 | 3 hrs |
| 5 | Paper – 5 (GS – III) | Indian Society, Developments in Science & Technology• Indian Society Features and Developments – 150 Marks• Awareness and Development of Technology – 100 Marks | 250 | 3 hrs |
| 6 | Paper – 6 (GS – IV) | Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude• Civil Service Values & Ethics in Public Administration – 150 Marks• Case Study – 100 Marks | 250 | 3 hrs |
| 7 | Paper – 7 | Optional Paper – 1 | 250 | 3 hrs |
| 8 | Paper – 8 | Optional Paper – 2 | 250 | 3 hrs |
Point to be Noted : Candidates opting for Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ Services & Posts need not appear at the Optional Paper - 7 & Paper- 8.
Abstract Table of Papers / Subjects and Marks in Main Examination and Personality Test:
| Sl. No. | Papers | Group – A | Group – B | Group – C | Group – D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Essay | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| 2 | Tradition and Culture of Bengali | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| 3 | General Studies – I | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| 4 | General Studies – II | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| 5 | General Studies – III | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| 6 | General Studies – IV | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| 7 | Optional Subject Paper – I | 250 | 250 | – | – |
| 8 | Optional Subject Paper – II | 250 | 250 | – | – |
| Personality Test | 200 | 200 | 150 | 100 | |
| Total | 2200 | 2200 | 1650 | 1600 |
Paper-I : English Essay
Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. Credit will be given for proper economy of words combined with clarity, precision and effectiveness of expression and originality of approach.
Paper-II : Tradition & Culture Of Bengal
| Sl. No. | Topic | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cultural Aspects of Bengal | i) Bengal School of Art – Art & Nationalism ii) Paintings & Sculpture – Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Ramkinkar Baij, Sunil Das, etc. iii) Jatra iv) Theatre – Lebedev, Girish Ghosh, Dinabandhu Mitra, Nati Binodini, Sisir Bhaduri, Utpal Dutta, Sambhu Mitra, Tripti Mitra, Badal Sarkar, Rudraprasad Sengupta, Soumitra Chattopadhyay; Star Theatre, Rangna Theatre, Minerva Theatre, Group Theatre v) Cinema – Silent Era to Colour Films; Hiralal Sen, Promothesh Barua, Debaki Bose, Kanan Devi, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak, Tapan Sinha, Chhabi Biswas, Uttam Kumar, Soumitra Chattopadhyay, Suchitra Sen, Aparna Sen – Laurels earned by them vi) Major Fairs and Festivals – Gangasagar Mela, Poush Mela, Basanta Utsab, Gajaner Mela, Kenduli Mela, Rather Mela, Rash Mela |
| 2 | Art Forms including Folk Art & Music of Bengal | • Classical Music: Bishnupur Gharana, Toppa • Folk Music: Baul, Bhawaiya, Bhatiali, Kabi Gan, Jari Gaan, Sari Gaan, Murshidi, Alkap, Patua, Agamoni, Bonbibir Pala, Jhumur • Spiritual & Patriotic Songs: Kirtan, Shyama Sangeet, Ramprasadi, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, Dwijendra Geeti, Atul Prasadi, Kanta Geeti, Gana Sangeet (IPTA), Adhunik (Swarna Juger Gaan) • Dance Forms: Chhau, Bhadu, Tusu, Gambhira, Gaudiya Nritya, Khemta, Rabindra Nritya • Musical Instruments: Ektara, Dotara, Khol, Kartal, Dhamsa, Madol, Dhak, Dhol |
| 3 | Literature of Bengal | i) Styles: Sadhubhasa (formal) and Chalitbhasa (colloquial) ii) Dialects: Rarhi, Bangali, Varendri, Jharkhandi, Rajbanshi iii) Literary Periods: Old (950–1350), Middle (1350–1800, Pre & Post Chaitanya), Modern (1800–present) iv) Major Authors: Ram Mohan Roy, Vidyasagar, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Madhusudan Dutta, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury, Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhyay, Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay, Manik Bandyopadhyay, Sukumar Roy, Sukanta Bhattacharya, Ashapurna Devi, Lila Majumdar, Mahasweta Devi, Subhash Mukhopadhyay, Bishnu Dey |
| 4 | Architectural Heritage of Bengal | • Terracotta Architecture (Bishnupur): Pancharatna Temple, Rashmancha, Jor Bangla Temple, Kalna Terracotta Temples • Buddhist Architecture: Chandraketu Garh, Mogalmari • Islamic Architecture: Adina Mosque, Chhoto Sona Masjid, Boro Sona Masjid, Eklakhi Masjid • British Architecture: Hazarduari, Victoria Memorial • Other Heritage: Madan Mohan Temple (Cooch Behar), Hangseshwari Temple (Bansberia), Pottery of Ghurni (Krishnanagar) |
GS Paper-I : History & Geography
| Sl.No. | Group | Topic Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group – A (History & World Affairs) | i) Indian history from the mid-18th century to the present – significant events, personalities, issues ii) The freedom struggle – various stages and key contributors/contributions from different parts of India, with focus on Undivided Bengal iii) Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within India iv) History of the world – major 18th-century events such as the Industrial Revolution, World Wars, colonization & decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism and their impact on society |
| 2 | Group – B (Geography & Environment) | i) Physical geography of India with special reference to West Bengal ii) Salient features of the world’s physical geography iii) Distribution of key natural resources globally (including South Asia & Indian subcontinent); factors influencing location of primary, secondary & tertiary industries in India and the world iv) Important geophysical phenomena: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones; geographical feature changes (water-bodies, ice-caps) and their impact on flora & fauna v) Major crops & cropping patterns in India, especially West Bengal; types of irrigation and irrigation systems vi) Conservation, environmental pollution & degradation, environmental impact assessment, ozone layer and related issues vii) Disaster and disaster management |
GS Paper-II : Indian Polity, India And The World, Indian
| Sl.No. | Group | Topic Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group – A (Indian Polity & International Relations) | i) Indian Constitution – historical foundation, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure ii) Functions & responsibilities of the Union and the States; issues and challenges related to federal structure; devolution of powers & finances to local levels iii) Separation of powers between organs of the state; dispute redressal mechanisms & institutions iv) Parliament & State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers, privileges & related issues v) Structure, organisation & functioning of the Executive & Judiciary vi) Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act vii) Appointments to Constitutional posts; powers & functions of Constitutional Bodies viii) Statutory, regulatory & quasi-judicial bodies ix) India & its neighbourhood relations x) Bilateral, regional & global groupings/agreements involving India or affecting India’s interests xi) Effect of policies and politics of developed & developing countries on India’s interests xii) Important international institutions, agencies & fora – their structure & mandate xiii) Role of external state & non-state actors in creating internal security challenges xiv) Security challenges & management in border areas – linkages of organised crime with terrorism |
| 2 | Group – B (Indian Economy & Development) | i) Indian economy – planning, resource mobilisation, growth, development & employment; Role of RBI & other regulatory bodies ii) Inclusive growth & associated challenges iii) Government budgeting iv) Farm-related issues – direct & indirect subsidies, MSP, PDS (objectives, functioning, limitations, reforms), buffer stocks & food security, technology missions, animal rearing economics v) Food processing & related industries in India & West Bengal – scope, significance, location factors, supply chain management vi) Land reforms in India with focus on West Bengal vii) Impact of liberalisation on economy; industrial policy changes & their effect on growth viii) Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc. ix) Investment models x) Poverty, hunger & unemployment issues xi) Development & management of social sectors/services – Health, Education, HR, Human Development Index xii) Welfare schemes for vulnerable groups – performance, laws, institutions & mechanisms for their protection and betterment xiii) Government policies & interventions for development in various sectors & related issues |
GS Paper-III : Indian Society, Developments In Science & Technology In India
| Sl.No. | Group | Topic Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group – A (Indian Society & Ethics in Governance) | i) Salient features of Indian society; Diversity of India ii) Women empowerment, role of women & women’s organizations; population issues; poverty & developmental challenges; urbanization – problems & remedies iii) Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism iv) Effects of globalization on Indian society v) Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups & associations, donors, charities, institutions & stakeholders in development vi) Linkages between development & spread of extremism vii) Role of media & social networking sites in internal security challenges; basics of cyber security; money laundering & its prevention |
| 2 | Group – B (Science & Technology) | i) Developments in science & technology – applications & effects in daily life ii) Achievements of Indians in S&T; indigenization & development of new technologies iii) Awareness in IT, space, computers, robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, biotechnology & issues related to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) |
GS Paper-IV : Ethics, Integrity And Aptitude
| Sl.No. | Group | Topic Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group – A (Ethics, Integrity & Governance) | i) Role of civil services in a democracy ii) Ethics and Human Interface – essence, determinants, and consequences of ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships; Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators; role of family, society, and educational institutions in inculcating values iii) Attitude – content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion iv) Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service – integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion toward weaker sections v) Emotional intelligence – concepts, utilities, and applications in administration and governance vi) Contribution of moral thinkers, philosophers, and social reformers from India and the World vii) Public/Civil service values and ethics in Public administration – status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations, and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance viii) Probity in governance – concept of public service; philosophical basis of governance and probity; information sharing and transparency in government; Right to Information; code of ethics, code of conduct; Citizen’s Charters; work culture; quality of service delivery; utilization of public funds; challenges of corruption ix) E-governance – applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential |
| 2 | Group – B (Applied Ethics) | Case studies based on the above topics |