West Bengal Civil Services
Education Qualification
A candidate who is applying for WBCS must have
- A bachelor’s degree from any recognized University
- Good knowledge of the Bengali language in reading, writing, and speaking (not necessary for such candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali)
Age Limit (as of 01st January)
- The minimum age of the candidates for Group A & C posts is 21 years while the maximum age is 36 years
- The minimum age of the candidates for Group B (West Bengal Police Service) is 20 years while the maximum age is 36 years
- The minimum age of the candidates for Group D posts is 21 years while the maximum age is 36 years
- As per the norm of the West Bengal government, age relaxation will be provided. (For OBC candidates: 3 years and for SC/ST candidates: 5 years)
Stages Of Exam
Prelims
Mains
Interview/Personality Test
The Preliminary Examination will consist of only one paper, a paper on “General Studies”. The paper will be of an objective type consisting of 200 multiple-choice questions. The paper will carry 200 marks and will be of 2.5 hours duration. The standard of the paper will be of the level of knowledge as expected of a graduate of any faculty of a recognized University. The Prelims is only a screening test, and its marks are not considered for final selection. Once you qualify for this exam then you will get a pass to sit for the mains exam. The paper will include questions covering the following fields of knowledge
The eight topics given in WBCS Prelims Syllabus are:
I. English Composition
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Idioms and Phrases
- Vocabulary Test
- Phrasal Verbs
- Homophones
- Fill in the qualifying words
II. General Science
- General appreciation
- Understanding of science
- Matters of everyday observation
- Experience as expected from an educated person not having made special studies of scientific disciplines
III. Current Events of National and International Importance
Significant events affecting India and its relations with the world
IV. History of India
- Ancient
- Medieval
- Modern
V. Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal
- Physical Geography
- Social Geography
- Economic Geography
VI. Indian Polity and Economy
- Indian Constitution
- Panchayati Raj
- Constitutional Bodies, etc.
VII. Indian National Movement
- Nature and character of Nineteenth-Century Resurgence
- Growth of Nationalism
- Attainment of Independence
VIII. General Mental Ability
- Logical Reasoning
- Common Aptitude
All those candidates who qualify for prelims will be able to write the mains exam of WBCS. The scores of the mains exam will be considered to make the merit list .The Main Examination shall consist of six Compulsory papers and one optional subject consisting of two papers (Only for candidates applying for group A and / or B) to be chosen by the candidates from the list of 37 optional subjects given. There will be two papers of the optional subject of 200 marks each. Each paper, Compulsory or Optional, will carry 200 marks and will be of 3 hours duration. All the compulsory papers in the WBCS main exam are objective type papers. The optional subject paper I and Paper II will be of conventional essay type question papers.
A number of candidates selected in order of merit on the results of the Main Examination for all the services and posts included in Groups A, B, C and D shall have to appear at a Personality Test. Each candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the test will be to assess the candidate’s personal qualities e.g., alertness of mind, power of clear and logical exposition, intellectual and moral integrity, leadership and also the candidate’s range of interests.
Candidates for Group ‘B’ Service (West Bengal Police Service) will be specially tested at the interviews with regard to their suitability for the service.
Marks for the Personality Test
Deduction of marks
A deduction of 10% of full marks may be made from the total marks secured by a candidate in a particular paper if he / she discloses his / her identity by writing his / her name, roll number or by putting any identifying marks in the answer script of that paper
There shall be negative marking for each wrong answer to multiple-choice questions (MCQ) type
Discretion of the Commission
The Commission has discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the papers/subjects and in the aggregate
If a candidate fails to secure qualifying marks in any paper / subject, the marks in that paper / subject will not be considered in calculating his / her aggregate