The Public Service Commission, West Bengal is an authorized state agency who conduct West Bengal Civil Service Exam. There are three Tier Exam – Preliminary, Mains & Personal Interview.
Here we have discussed, details WBCS Syllabus including Preliminary and Mains. It will help for WBCS aspirants to make a proper study plan for WBCS Preliminary & Mains Exam.
1. There are one paper with 6 subjects in WBCS Preliminary Exam. Total Marks 200 and Exam Time 2½ hrs.
2. In WBCS Mains Exam, there are six compulsory papers with one Optional subject with two papers.
3. Optional subjects only for those candidates who will apply for Group A and Group B services. For Group C and Group D candidates, there are only 6 compulsory subjects.
4. Out of 6 compulsory subjects, MCQ in 4 subjects and descriptive for two literate (Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali and English) subjects.
5. 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.
6. There shall be negative marking for each wrong answer to multiple choice questions (MCQ Type).
| Tier | Name of the Exam | Type of the Exam | Question Papers | Marks | Time |
| I | Preliminary Exam | Objective | (1) English Composition | 25 | 2½ hrs |
| (2) General Science | 25 | ||||
| (3) Current events of National & International Importance | 25 | ||||
| (4) History of India | 25 | ||||
| (5) Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal | 25 | ||||
| (6) Indian Polity and Economy | 25 | ||||
| (7) Indian National Movement | 25 | ||||
| (8) General Mental Ability | 25 | ||||
| II | Mains Exam | Descriptive | (1) Paper-I (Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali) | 200 | 3 hrs |
| Descriptive | (2) Paper-II (English) | 200 | 3 hrs | ||
| Objective | (3) Paper-III (General Studies-I : (i) Indian History with special emphasis on National Movement and (ii) Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal.) | 200 | 3 hrs | ||
| Objective | (4) Paper-IV (General Studies-II : Science and Scientific & Technological advancement, Environment, General Knowledge and Current Affairs.) | 200 | 3 hrs | ||
| Objective | (5) Paper-V (The Constitution of India and Indian Economy including role and functions of the Reserve Bank of India.) | 200 | 3 hrs | ||
| Objective | (6) Paper-VI (Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning) | 200 | 3 hrs | ||
| Descriptive | (7) Paper-VII (Optional, Only for Gr A & B) | 200 | 3 hrs | ||
| Descriptive | (8) Paper-VIII (Optional, Only for Gr A & B) | 200 | 3 hrs | ||
| III | Personality Test | Interview | 200 |
In WBCS, syllabus pattern is like same with UPSC. But for bengali medium students, there is a opportunity to give WBCS Preliminary exam in Bengali language also. In the WBCS Preliminary Exam, there is only one paper of eight subjects – (1) English Composition, (2) General Science (Biology, Physics, Chemistry), (3) Current events of National & International Importance, (4) History of India (5) Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal, (6) Indian Polity and Economy, (7) Indian National Movement and (8) General Mental Ability. There will be 25 question with 25 marks of each subject. Total Marks 200 and Exam Time is 2½ hrs. The WBCS Preliminary is like screening Test. After qualifying this test, students will be qualified for WBCS Mains exam. There is no subject wise cut off marks, you total score will decide for qualifying WBCS Preliminary Exam.
The exam centre will be in Kolkata and in other districts in West Bengal. Only scheduled tribe candidates of Darjeeling district and other candidates of the three hill sub-divisions, namely Darjeeling Sadar, Mirik and Kurseong will be allowed to appear at Darjeeling centre. Similarly all candidates from the Kalimpong district will be allowed to appear at KALIMPONG centre.
The details topic covered in the Preliminary exam for eight subjects :
1. English Composition –
3. Current events of National & International Importance
5. Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal
6. Indian Polity and Economy
8. General Mental Ability
The WBCS Main Examination 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 optional subjects given below. 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.
Out of six compulsory papers four papers i.e. (i) General Studies- I, (ii) General Studies- II, (iii) The Constitution of India and Indian Economy including role and functions of Reserve Bank of India and (iv) Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning will be of MCQ Type to be answered in OMR answer sheets and remaining two compulsory papers i.e. Paper – I and Paper – II will be of conventional type written examination.
Topic wise detatiled syllabus of six Compulsory Papers :
Paper I : Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali – Letter writing (within 150 words) / Drafting of Report (within 200 words), Precis Writing, Composition and Translation from English to Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali
Paper II : English – Letter writing (within 150 words) / Drafting of Report (within 200 words), Precis Writing, Composition and Translation from Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali to English
Paper III : General Studies-I : (i) Indian History with special emphasis on National Movement and (ii) Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal.
Paper IV : General Studies-II : Science and Scientific & Technological advancement, Environment, General Knowledge and Current Affairs.
Paper V : The Constitution of India and Indian Economy including role and functions of the Reserve Bank of India.
Paper VI : Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning.