The WBCS (West Bengal Civil Service) Examination syllabus is prescribed by the Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC). The selection process consists of:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Personality Test
Below is the detailed syllabus as per the official scheme.
WBCS Preliminary Syllabus
The Preliminary Examination consists of one paper only:
General Studies (Objective Type)
- Total Questions: 200 MCQs
- Total Marks: 200
- Duration: 2½ Hours
- Standard: Graduate level
- Purpose: Screening test (Marks not counted in final merit)
Subjects & Marks Distribution:
- English Composition – 25 Marks
- General Science – 25 Marks
- Current Events of National & International Importance – 25 Marks
- History of India – 25 Marks
- Geography of India (Special reference to West Bengal) – 25 Marks
- Indian Polity & Economy – 25 Marks
- Indian National Movement – 25 Marks
- General Mental Ability – 25 Marks
Important Notes:
- Negative marking for wrong answers.
- Only Prelims qualified candidates can appear for Mains.
WBCS Main Examination Syllabus
The Main Examination consists of:
- 6 Compulsory Papers (For all groups)
- 1 Optional Subject (2 Papers) – Only for Group A & B
Each paper carries 200 Marks and is of 3 Hours duration.
Compulsory Papers (200 Marks Each)
Paper I – Bengali / Hindi / Urdu / Nepali / Santali
- Letter Writing (150 words)
- Report Drafting (200 words)
- Precis Writing
- Composition
- Translation (English to chosen language)
Paper II – English
- Letter Writing
- Report Drafting
- Precis Writing
- Composition
- Translation (Regional language to English)
Paper III – General Studies I
- Indian History (Special emphasis on National Movement)
- Geography of India (Special reference to West Bengal)
Paper IV – General Studies II
- Science & Technological Advancement
- Environment (Biodiversity, Global Warming, Pollution, Ozone Layer etc.)
- General Knowledge
- Current Affairs
Paper V – Constitution of India & Indian Economy
- Indian Constitution
- Central-State Relations
- Planning Process
- RBI – Role & Functions
- Monetary Policy
- Finance Commission
- Fiscal Policy
Paper VI – Arithmetic & Test of Reasoning
- Standard: Madhyamik-level mathematics
- Analytical Reasoning
- Data Sufficiency
- Logical Deduction
- Number & Letter Series
- Analogy
- Mathematical Puzzles
- Non-verbal Reasoning
Optional Subjects (Only for Group A & B)
Candidates must choose one optional subject, consisting of two papers (200 marks each).
Popular Optional Subjects Include:
- Bengali
- Hindi
- English
- Sanskrit
- History
- Geography
- Political Science
- Economics
- Anthropology
- Agriculture
- Law
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Zoology
- Botany
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Commerce & Accountancy
- Engineering Subjects
- Medical Science
(Full list available in official notification.)
Personality Test (Interview)
Candidates qualifying in Mains will appear for the Personality Test.
Marks:
- Group A & B – 200 Marks
- Group C – 150 Marks
- Group D – 100 Marks
The interview assesses:
- Mental alertness
- Leadership
- Logical ability
- Moral integrity
- General awareness
Final Merit Calculation
The final merit list is prepared based on:
Mains Marks + Personality Test Marks
Preliminary marks are not included in the final ranking.