The West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBCS) is responsible for conducting the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) examination to recruit eligible candidates for various Group A and B posts. Candidates preparing for the WBCS exam must be aware of the WBCS Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025 to plan their preparation accordingly. As per the revised syllabus, the WBCS prelims exam now consists of 1 single paper. In addition, the Main Examination includes a total of 8 papers (6 compulsory and 2 optional papers). The WBCS Syllabus 2025 details the subject-wise topics from which questions will be asked.

WBCS Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025

Knowledge of the WBCS Syllabus 2025 for each subject will acquaint candidates with what to expect from the exam and kickstart their preparation in the right direction. The examination is held in three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Personality Test (Interview). To assist candidates in their preparation, here we have covered the revised WBCS Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025 for the prelims and mains exams. 

WBCS Syllabus 2025- Key Points
Recruitment BodyWest Bengal Public Service Commission (WBCS)
Exam NameWBCS 2025
CategorySyllabus
Exam LevelState
Mode of ExamOffline
Negative MarkingYes
DurationPrelims- 2½ hours 
Mains- 03 hour (Each Paper)
Selection ProcessPrelims- Mains- Interview
Official Websitehttps://psc.wb.gov.in/

WBCS Selection Process 2025

West Bengal Public Service Commission is the body that is responsible for conducting the WBCS 2025. WBCS Exam is conducted in three stages, namely Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. Candidates have to qualify at all stages of the selection process to clear the WBCS examination. 

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination- As per the Revised WBCS Syllabus, the WBCS Prelims exam consists of one paper only i.e., GS. The paper consists of 200 objective-type multiple-choice questions for a total of 200 marks.

2. Stage 2: Mains Examination- The WBCS Mains Exam has been revised by officials. Now the total no. of papers in the mains exam is 8. Out of the total paper, 6 compulsory papers and one optional subject, consisting of two papers. Out of 6 compulsory papers, 4 papers (Paper III, IV, V, and VI) are of the MCQ Type. The 6 compulsory papers are as follows:

  1. Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santal
  2. English Essay
  3. General Studies-I
  4. General Studies–II
  5. Constitution of India and Indian Economy
  6. Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning
  • The Mains Exam (Conventional/ Essay) is allowed to be taken only in Bengali/ English.
  • There is a deduction of 10% of the total marks secured by the candidate if he/she discloses his/her identity by writing his/her roll number/name.
  • Optional Subjects are meant to be taken by candidates opting for Group A and Group B services.

3. Stage 3: Interview Exam- Qualified candidates in the WBCS Mains Exam will be called to appear for the Interview examination to analyze the candidate's mental and analytical ability.

WBCS Exam Pattern 2025

Candidates appearing for the WBCS exam must be aware of the syllabus for all the stages. The complete syllabus of WBCS has been provided in the tables below to help the candidates with a comprehensive list of the same. The WBCS syllabus will aid candidates in knowing all topics required for the exam, which in turn will guide them to prepare better for WBCS. Candidates may check the table below to know about the WBCS Exam Pattern:

WBCS Exam Pattern 2025
TierName of the examType of the examNumber of question papersMarks
IPreliminary ExamObjectiveGeneral Studies Paper - I200 
IIMainsObjective+Conventional

8 Papers

  • Paper-I -  Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santal
  • Paper II - English Essay
  • Paper-III - General Studies-I
  • Paper-IV - General Studies–II
  • Paper-V - Constitution of India and Indian Economy
  • Paper-VI - Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning
  • Paper-VII and VII - Optional Subject-Paper-1 and
  • Paper - 2
200
IIIPersonality TestInterviewGroup ‘A’ and ‘B’200
Group ‘C’ 150
Group ‘D’ 100

WBCS Prelims Exam Pattern 2025

Candidates can check the WBCS Prelims Exam Pattern from the table provided below. The WBCS Prelims Exam Pattern consists of English Composition, General Science, Current events of National & International Importance, History of India, etc. The exam duration for the WBCS prelims exam is 2 hours.

WBCS Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025 for Prelims Exam

Subjects NameMarksQuestionsDuration 
English Composition2525150 minutes
General Science2525
Current events of National & International Importance2525
History of India2525
Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal2525
Indian Polity and Economy2525
Indian National Movement2525
General Mental Ability2525
Total200200

WBCS Syllabus 2025 for Prelims

The WBPCS Prelims Exam takes place at various centers in the districts of West Bengal. Darjeeling as a center is allowed to be chosen only by the Scheduled Tribes of the Darjeeling district and by candidates from three hill divisions: Darjeeling Sadar, Mirik, and Kurseong. The commission has clearly stated in its notification that the Prelims Exam tests the level of knowledge as that of a graduate of any faculty from any recognized university.

The eight topics given in the WBCS Prelims Syllabus are:

WBCS Syllabus for English Composition

  1. Synonyms and Antonyms
  2. Idioms and Phrases
  3. Vocabulary Test
  4. Phrasal Verbs
  5. Homophones
  6. Fill in the qualifying words

WBCS Syllabus for General Science

  1. General appreciation
  2. Understanding of science
  3. Matters of everyday observation
  4. Experience as expected from an educated person not having made special studies of scientific disciplines

WBCS Syllabus for Current Events of National and International Importance

Significant events affecting India and its relations with the world

WBCS Syllabus for History of India

  1. Ancient
  2. Medieval
  3. Modern

WBCS Syllabus for Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal

  1. Physical Geography
  2. Social Geography
  3. Economic Geography

WBCS Syllabus for Indian Polity and Economy

  1. Indian Constitution
  2. Panchayati Raj
  3. Constitutional Bodies, etc.

WBCS Syllabus for Indian National Movement

  1. Nature and character of Nineteenth-Century Resurgence
  2. Growth of Nationalism
  3. Attainment of Independence

WBCS Syllabus for General Mental Ability

  1. Logical Reasoning
  2. Common Aptitude

WBCS Mains Exam Pattern 2025

  • WBCS Mains consists of a total of 10 papers.
  • Papers A and B are qualifying in nature, and each paper consists of 300 marks.
  • The time duration for the main exam is 03 hours for each paper.
  • Each compulsory and Optional Paper shall carry 250 marks each.
  • 1 optional subject comprises two papers 2.
  • Candidates opting for Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ Services & Posts need not appear in Papers VII and VIII.
WBCS Mains Exam Pattern 2025
PapersMarks
Group ‘A’Group ‘B’Group ‘C’Group ‘D’
Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali200200200200
English200200200200
General Studies-I200200200200
General Studies-II200200200200
Constitution of India and Indian Economy200200200200
Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning.200200200200
Optional Subject Paper-I200200----
Optional Subject Paper-II 200200----
Personality Test200200150100
Total Marks1800180013501300

WBCS Syllabus 2025 for Mains

The WBCS Mains syllabus 2025 includes sections on Language papaer, English, General Studies, Arithmetic, Reasoning, the Constitution of India and the Indian Economy, and Optional Subjects. Candidates will be selected for the WBCS Mains exam based on their performance in Prelims. The Mains exam will contain six compulsory papers and one optional subject comprising two papers. Each of these papers will consist of 200 marks. Candidates will be allotted 3 hours time to complete each paper.

PapersSubjectsTopics
Paper ABengali/Nepali
  1. Letter writing
  2. Drafting of report
  3. Precis writing
  4. Comprehension
  5. Translation from English to Bengali/Nepali, Short Essay
Paper BEnglish 
  1. Comprehension of a given passage
  2. Precis writing
  3. Usage and Vocabulary
  4. Short Essay
  5. Letter writing/Drafting of Report
Paper 1English Essay 
  1. Credit will be given for proper economy of words combined with clarity
  2. precision and effectiveness of expression and originality of approach
Paper 2Tradition and Culture of Bengal 
  1. Bengal School of Art
  2. Paintings & Sculpture
  3. Jatra
  4. Theatre
  5. Cinema
  6. Mela
Paper 3General Studies - I
  1. Indian History with an emphasis on National Movement
  2. The freedom struggle
  3. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country
  4. History of the world
Paper 4General Studies-II
  1. Indian Constitution
  2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States
  3. Separation of powers between various organs
  4. Parliament and State legislatures
  5. Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
  6. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
  7. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi- judicial bodies.
  8. India and its neighbourhood relations.
  9. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/ or affecting India’s interests
  10. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
  11. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure and mandate.
  12. Role of external state and non- state actors in creating challenges to internal security
  13. Security challenges and their management in border areas
Paper 4General Studies-III
  1. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
  2. Women empowerment
  3. Social empowerment
  4. Effects of globalisation on Indian society
  5. Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations
  6. Linkages between development and spread of extremism
  7. Role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges
Paper 4General Studies-IV
  1. Role of civil services in a democracy
  2. Ethics and Human Interface
  3. Attitude
  4. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service
  5. Emotional intelligence concept
  6. Contribution of moral thinkers
  7. Probity in governance
  8. E-governance
Paper 7Optional PapersIn accordance with the subject selected
Paper 8In accordance with the subject opted by candidates

Download WBCS Syllabus PDF for Prelims & Mains Exam

WBCS Syllabus- Optional Subject for Mains Exam

The Mains exam will consist of eight papers of which candidates will have to choose from a list of 37 subjects for the last two papers. Candidates will be able to select one optional subject as both the optional papers will constitute questions from the subject opted by candidates. The list of all the optional subjects has been provided below.

WBCS Syllabus- List of Optional Subject For Manis

The Mains exam will consist of eight papers of which candidates will have to choose from a list of 37 subjects for the last two papers. Candidates will be able to select one optional subject as both the optional papers will constitute questions from the subject opted by candidates. The list of all the optional subjects has been provided below.

SubjectCode
Bengali1
Hindi2
Sanskrit3
English4
Pali5
Arabic6
Persian7
French8
Urdu9
Santali10
Comparative Literature11
Agriculture12
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science13
Anthropology14
Botany15
Chemistry16
Civil Engineering17
Commerce and Accountancy18
Computer Science19
Economics20
Electrical Engineering21
Geography22
Geology23
History24
Law25
Mathematics26
Management27
Mechanical Engineering28
Medical Science29
Philosophy30
Physiology31
Physics32
Political Science33
Psychology34
Sociology35
Statistics36
Zoology37

WBCS Interview

Candidates who qualify the WBCS Mains Exam are called for the ‘Interview’ Round. Candidates are interviewed by a Board appointed by the WBCS. The mains fields checked by the interviewer given below.

1. The candidate will be interviewed by a board who will have a record of the candidate's career and interests filled by the candidate in the Application Form.

2. The objective of the interview is to test the personal suitability of the candidate for the career in the state services by a board of competent and unbiased observers.

3. Apart from their academic study, candidates must be aware of the latest current affairs happening both within and outside their state.

4. The purpose of the interview is to explore the mental and analytical ability of the candidate.

WBCS Cut Off  (Previous Year) - Click to Check

WBCS Syllabus 2025: FAQs

Ans. WBCS Syllabus 2025 covers the English Composition, General Science, Current events, etc for prelims exam and Language Paper, General Studies, Arithmetic, and Reasoning, Optional subject etc for mains. Detailed WBCS Syllabus mentioned in the article.

Ans. No,there is a CSAT examination in UPSC and WBCS  State services no CSAT (Paper II) examination.

Ans. No, Knowledge of any of the given languages is Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali and Santali .

Ans. Yes, There are conventional papers also in mains examination.

Ans. Yes, There is an interview round in WBCS.