The West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) creates the syllabus for the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) Exam. Candidates preparing for the exam should check the syllabus before starting their preparation. The exam has three parts – Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. This article explains the syllabus and exam pattern for both the Prelims and Mains exams.
The notification for the WBCS Exam 2021 was released on December 18, 2020, and the process is ongoing. The recruitment process for WBPSC WBCS 2020 is also ongoing. The syllabus for both exams remains the same.
Here are the important points of the WBCS Syllabus 2023:
The WBCS Prelims exam has only one paper – General Studies. Unlike other states’ Public Service Commission exams, there is no Aptitude Test.
The WBCS Mains Exam has six compulsory papers and one optional subject consisting of two papers. Optional Subjects are meant to be taken by candidates opting for Group A and Group B services.
Out of the six compulsory papers, four are of MCQ type: General Studies- I, General Studies- II, The Constitution of India and Indian Economy including the role and functions of the Reserve Bank of India, and Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning.
The Mains Exam (Conventional/Essay) can only be taken in Bengali/English language.
If a candidate discloses their identity by writing their roll number/name, 10% of the total marks secured by them will be deducted.
WBCS Exam Pattern 2023
If you’re taking the WBCS exam, it’s important to know the syllabus for all stages. The tables below provide the complete syllabus for WBCS, which will help you understand all the topics required for the exam. This will guide you in preparing better for WBCS. Check the table below to learn about the WBCS Exam Pattern.
| WBCS Exam Pattern 2023 | ||||
| Tier | Name of the exam | Type of the exam | Number of question papers | Marks |
| I | Preliminary Exam | Objective | General Studies | 200 |
| II | Mains | Objective+Conventional | Eight; Paper-I (Conventional Type)Paper-II (Conventional)Paper-III (Objective)Paper-IV (Objective)Paper-V (Objective)Paper-VI ()Paper-VII & VIII (Optionals) | 200 (each) for Paper I to VI 400 for Paper VII and VIII |
| III | Personality Test | Interview | – | 200 |
WBCS Syllabus 2023- Prelims Exam Pattern
You can find the WBCS Prelims Exam Pattern in the table below. It includes English Composition, General Science, Current events of National & International Importance, History of India, and more. The WBCS Prelims Exam lasts for 2 hours.
| Subject Name | Marks | Questions | Duration |
| English Composition | 25 | 25 | 2 Hours |
| General Science | 25 | 25 | |
| Current events of National & International Importance | 25 | 25 | |
| History of India | 25 | 25 | |
| Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal | 25 | 25 | |
| Indian Polity and Economy | 25 | 25 | |
| Indian National Movement | 25 | 25 | |
| General Mental Ability | 25 | 25 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 2 Hours |
WBCS Syllabus 2023 for Prelims Exam
The WBPCS Prelims Exam is held at various centers in the districts of West Bengal. Darjeeling can only be chosen as a center by the Scheduled Tribes of the Darjeeling district and candidates from three hill-divisions: Darjeeling Sadar, Mirik, and Kurseong.
The WBCS Prelims Syllabus covers eight subjects/topics. There are 200 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), and each topic is assigned 25 marks. The exam lasts for 2.5 hours. The Prelims is only a screening test, and its marks are not considered for final selection. The commission has stated in its notification that the Prelims Exam tests the knowledge level of a graduate from any recognized university, regardless of their faculty.
The eight topics covered in the WBCS Prelims Syllabus are:
1. English Composition
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Idioms and Phrases
- Vocabulary Test
- Phrasal Verbs
- Homophones
- Fill in the qualifying words
2. 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
3. Current Events of National and International Importance
Significant events affecting India and its relations with the world
4. History of India
- Ancient
- Medieval
- Modern
5. Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal
- Physical Geography
- Social Geography
- Economic Geography
6. Indian Polity and Economy
- Indian Constitution
- Panchayati Raj
- Constitutional Bodies, etc.
7. Indian National Movement
- Nature and character of Nineteenth-Century Resurgence
- Growth of Nationalism
- Attainment of Independence
8. General Mental Ability
- Logical Reasoning
- Common Aptitude
WBCS Syllabus 2023- Mains Exam Pattern
| Papers | Marks | |||
| Group ‘A’ | Group ‘B’ | Group ‘C’ | Group ‘D’ | |
| Language Paper (Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali) | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| English Paper | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| General Studies – Paper I | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| General Studies-Paper II | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Constitution of India and Indian Economy | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Optional Subject – (One subject: Two papers of 200 marks each) | 400 | 400 | NA | NA |
| Personality Test | 200 | 200 | 150 | 100 |
| Total Marks | 1800 | 1800 | 1350 | 1300 |
WBCS Syllabus 2023 for Mains Exam
| Papers | Subjects | Topics |
| Paper 1 | Bengali/ Hindi/ Urdu/ Nepali/ Santali | Letter writing (within 150 words)Drafting of Report (within 200 words)Precis WritingCompositionTranslation from English to Bengali/ Hindi/ Urdu/ Nepali/ Santali |
| Paper 2 | English | Letter writing (within 150 words)Drafting of Report (within 200 words)Precis WritingCompositionTranslation from Bengali/ Hindi/ Urdu/ Nepali/ Santali to English |
| Paper 3 | General Studies – I | Indian History with an emphasis on National MovementGeography of India with special reference to West Bengal |
| Paper 4 | General Studies-II | Science and Scientific & Technological advancementEnvironmentGeneral KnowledgeCurrent Affairs |
| Paper 5 | The Constitution of India and Indian Economy | Role of Reserve Bank of India (RBI)Functions of RBI |
| Paper 6 | Arithmetic | Similar to Mathematics paper at the Madhyamik Examination of the Board of Secondary Education, West Bengal. |
| Test of Reasoning | Analytical Reasoning: Data Sufficiency Logical Reasoning: Logical DeductionForcefulness of the ArgumentsImplication of sentencesInferring from diagramsSeries: Letter seriesNumber seriesInferring from DataAnalogy testsSymbol InterpretationMathematical puzzlesOdd man outPerception testNon-verbal reasoningSelecting correct sequence | |
| Paper 7 | Optional Papers | In accordance with the subject selected |
| Paper 8 | In accordance with the subject opted by candidates |
WBCS Syllabus- Optional Subject for Mains Exam
The Mains exam has eight papers, out of which candidates have to choose from 37 subjects for the last two papers. Candidates can select one optional subject, and both the optional papers will include questions from the chosen subject. The list of all the optional subjects is provided below.
| Subject | Code |
| Bengali | 1 |
| Hindi | 2 |
| Sanskrit | 3 |
| English | 4 |
| Pali | 5 |
| Arabic | 6 |
| Persian | 7 |
| French | 8 |
| Urdu | 9 |
| Santali | 10 |
| Comparative Literature | 11 |
| Agriculture | 12 |
| Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science | 13 |
| Anthropology | 14 |
| Botany | 15 |
| Chemistry | 16 |
| Civil Engineering | 17 |
| Commerce and Accountancy | 18 |
| Computer Science | 19 |
| Economics | 20 |
| Electrical Engineering | 21 |
| Geography | 22 |
| Geology | 23 |
| History | 24 |
| Law | 25 |
| Mathematics | 26 |
| Management | 27 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 28 |
| Medical Science | 29 |
| Philosophy | 30 |
| Physiology | 31 |
| Physics | 32 |
| Political Science | 33 |
| Psychology | 34 |
| Sociology | 35 |
| Statistics | 36 |
| Zoology | 37 |
WBCS Interview
Candidates who clear the WBCS Mains Exam will be called for an ‘Interview’ round. The interview will be conducted by a Board appointed by the WBCS. The areas that the interviewer will focus on are:
- The candidate’s career and interests as mentioned in the Application Form will be taken into account during the interview.
- The objective of the interview is to assess the candidate’s personal suitability for a career in state services by a competent and unbiased board of observers.
- Candidates should have knowledge of current affairs, both within and outside their state, in addition to their academic studies.
- The interview aims to examine the candidate’s mental and analytical abilities.
FAQs
Q. What is WBCS?
WBCS stands for West Bengal Civil Service, which is a state-level competitive examination conducted by the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC).
Q. What are the different stages of the WBCS exam?
The WBCS exam comprises three stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview.
Q. What is the syllabus for the WBCS Preliminary Exam?
The WBCS Preliminary Exam comprises of eight subjects/topics, which include English Composition, General Science, Current events of National & International Importance, History of India, etc.
Q. What is the duration of the WBCS Preliminary Exam?
The WBCS Preliminary Exam has a duration of 2.5 hours.
Q. How many papers are there in the WBCS Mains Exam?
The WBCS Mains Exam has six compulsory papers and one optional subject consisting of two papers.
Q. How much time is allotted to complete each paper in the WBCS Mains Exam?
Candidates are allotted 3 hours time to complete each paper in the WBCS Mains Exam.
Q. What is the purpose of the interview round in the WBCS exam?
The purpose of the interview round is to test the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in the state services by a board of competent and unbiased observers. It aims to explore the mental and analytical ability of the candidate.
Q. Is there any negative marking in the WBCS exam?
No, there is no negative marking in the WBCS exam.
Q. Can candidates take the WBCS Mains Exam in any language?
No, the Mains Exam (Conventional/Essay) is allowed to be taken only in Bengali/English language.
Q. What are the optional subjects available in the WBCS Mains Exam?
Candidates can choose from a list of 37 optional subjects for the last two papers of the WBCS Mains Exam.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the WBCS Syllabus 2023 is an important guide for candidates preparing for the West Bengal Civil Service Exam. The exam is conducted in three stages – Preliminary, Mains, and Interview, with each stage having its own specific syllabus and exam pattern. Candidates must have a thorough understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern for each stage in order to prepare well and succeed in the exam. The WBCS Syllabus covers a wide range of topics from various fields such as History, Geography, Science, and Current Affairs. With the help of the provided syllabus and exam pattern, candidates can plan their preparation strategy and enhance their chances of qualifying the exam.