WBCS Syllabus 2025 Revised: New Exam Pattern & 10-Paper Mains Structure Announced
Supriya Shrivastava17 Nov, 2025
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WBCS Syllabus 2025: The WBCS Notification 2025, along with the online registration schedule, was announced on November 14, 2025, and online registration will begin on November 18, 2025, at the official website of https://wbpsc.gov.in/. The West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) 2025 exam has introduced a completely revised syllabus and exam pattern. The changes align the exam more closely with national civil services standards while retaining a Bengal-centric focus. The new structure applies from the 2025 cycle onward and features a two-paper Preliminary exam and a comprehensive 10-paper Mains exam.
WBCS Syllabus 2025 Revised
The WBCS 2025 syllabus has been changed to include more topics and a new exam pattern to better check the knowledge and skills of candidates. The Preliminary exam now has two papers with questions on English, General Science, Current Affairs, History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economy, and reasoning. Those who pass the Prelims can appear for the Mains exam, which has ten papers. These include language papers, English, essay writing, Bengal’s culture, four General Studies papers, and two optional subjects for some groups. The new pattern not only checks memory but also how well candidates can think and communicate, making the exam more complete and challenging.
WBCS Syllabus 2025 Overview
Every year, WBPSC releases the WBCS Notification to recruit Group A, B, C & D positions. All the important information related to the WBCS exam is provided in the table outlined below:
| WBCS Syllabus 2025 Overview | |
|---|---|
| Key Aspect | Details |
| Exam Body | West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) |
| Effective From | WBCS 2025 onwards |
| Prelims | 2 Papers: General Studies I and II (CSAT) |
| Mains | 10 Papers: 2 Qualifying Language, 6 Compulsory, 2 Optional (Group A,B) |
| Personality Test | 100–200 marks (Group-wise) |
| Negative Marking | Yes, in Prelims |
| Official Syllabus PDF | Available on WBPSC website |
Also Check: WBCS Previous Year Question Paper
WBCS Syllabus 2025 PDF
Candidates appearing for the WBCS exam 2025 must be aware of the syllabus for all the stages. The WBCS syllabus for Group A B C D will help the candidates know all the topics required for the exam, which in turn will guide them to prepare better for WBCS. Here we have attached the WBCS Syllabus PDF for your reference.
WBCS Prelims Syllabus 2025
Here is the revised WBCS Preliminary syllabus 2025 given below:
Paper I: General Studies I
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English Composition
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General Science
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Current Events (National & International)
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History of India
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Indian National Movement
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Geography (India & West Bengal)
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Indian Polity and Economy
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General Mental Ability
Paper II: General Studies II (CSAT)
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Comprehension
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Interpersonal & Communication Skills
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Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability
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Decision Making & Problem Solving
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General Mental Ability
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Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation
WBCS Mains Syllabus 2025
The West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) Mains exam determines applicants' analytical skills and comprehension of a number of administration-related topics. It assesses knowledge in a number of different fields. This stage is essential to evaluating a candidate's fitness for more senior positions in public administration.
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WBCS Mains Syllabus 2025
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| Paper | Type |
Subjects and Topics Covered
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| Paper I | Conventional Written |
Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali: Letter writing (within 150 words), Drafting of Report (within 200 words), Précis Writing, Composition, and Translation from English to the chosen language.
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| Paper II | Conventional Written |
English: Letter writing (within 150 words), Drafting of Report (within 200 words), Précis Writing, Composition, and Translation from Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali to English.
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| Paper III (General Studies-I) | MCQ |
(i) Indian History with special emphasis on the National Movement. (ii) Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal.
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| Paper IV (General Studies-II) | MCQ |
Science and Scientific and Technological advancement, Environment, General Knowledge, and Current Affairs. Environment topics include Bio diversity, Coastal Regulation Zone, Global Warming, Industrial and Environmental Pollution, and Ozone Layer issues.
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| Paper V | MCQ |
The Constitution of India and Indian Economy. Economy topics include Central-State financial relations, Planning process/objectives, Functions of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Monetary Policy, and Central/State Finance Commissions and Fiscal Policy.
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| Paper VI | MCQ |
Arithmetic (Standard is similar to Madhyamik Examination) and Test of Reasoning (Covers Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Series, Analogy tests, etc.).
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| Optional Subject (Paper I & II) | Conventional Written |
Two papers on one subject chosen from a list of 38 subjects (e.g., Law, History, Political Science, Anthropology, Chemistry, Management, etc.). The standard is approximately that of an Honours Degree Examination.
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WBCS Exam Pattern 2025 (Revised)
The prelims exam consists of eight different subjects and carries 25 marks each. Two and a half hours are given to complete the WBCS preliminary exam question paper. Candidates who pass the preliminary exam are invited to the main WBCS exam. You can find the details of the exam format in the table given below:
| WBCS Exam Pattern 2025 | ||||
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Stage |
Papers |
Marks per Paper |
Duration |
Remarks |
|
Prelims |
GS Paper I and GS Paper II (CSAT) |
200 each |
2 hrs each |
Paper II is qualifying (33% min) |
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Mains (Qualifying) |
Bengali, Nepali, Hindi, Urdu, Santali, English |
300 each |
3 hrs each |
Must score 30% in each |
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Mains (Merit) |
6 Compulsory + 2 Optional (Group A,B) |
250 each |
3 hrs each |
Optional for Group A,B only |
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Personality Test |
Interview (Group A,B: 200, C: 150, D: 100 marks) |
- |
- |
Added to final merit |
WBCS Prelims Exam Pattern 2025
The Preliminary Examination is meant to serve as a Screening Test only for the purpose of selection of candidates for the Main Examination. It consist of only one paper, viz., 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 2½ hours duration
| WBCS Prelims Exam Pattern | |
| Subject | Marks |
| English Composition | 25 Marks |
| General Science | 25 Marks |
| Current Events of National and International Importance | 25 Marks |
| History of India | 25 Marks |
| Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal | 25 Marks |
| Indian Polity and Economy | 25 Marks |
| Indian National Movement | 25 Marks |
| General Mental Ability | 25 Marks |
| TOTAL | 200 Marks |
WBCS Mains Exam Pattern 2025
Candidates who pass the preliminary exam and are eligible will be invited to take the WBCS main exam. There are 10 required papers in the WBCS mains revised syllabus. 200 marks are given for each main paper, and the exam lasts three hours for each paper.
| WBCS Mains Exam Pattern 2025 | ||||
| Papers | Description | Marks | Duration | Format of Paper |
| Paper I | Bengali / Hindi / Urdu / Nepali / Santali -
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200 | 3 Hours | Descriptive |
| Paper II | English -
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200 | 3 Hours | Descriptive |
| Paper III | General Studies - I
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200 | 3 Hours | Objective |
| Paper IV | General Studies - II
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200 | 3 Hours | Objective |
| Paper V | The Constitution of India and Indian Economy including role and functions of the Reserve Bank of India. | 200 | 3 Hours | Objective |
| Paper VI | Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning. | 200 | 3 Hours | Objective |
Optional Papers (for Group A & B only)
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Two papers from one optional subject (250 marks each)
| Optional Subject Papers | |||
| 1. Paper I | 200 Marks | Duration – 3 Hours | Objective type Paper |
| 2. Paper II | 200 Marks | Duration – 3 Hours | Objective type Paper |
WBCS Main Optional Subjects
The list of WBCS Main Syllabus Optional Subjects has been mentioned in the table given below for the candidates. The Mains exam will feature two optional papers, from which candidates must choose one subject from a list of 37 available subjects. Both optional papers will include questions exclusively from the chosen subject. Here is the WBCS optional subjects list 2025 given below:
| WBCS Optional Subjects | |
| 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 Personality Test
Every candidate who meets the requirements for the WBCS main exam is invited to the personality exam. The exam's goal is to evaluate the candidate's character traits, such as leadership, intellectual and moral integrity, logical and clear presentation skills, and awareness of a variety of topics.
Questions on topics of general interest to each candidate will be asked. Each service group receives different marks on the personality exam. The following defines each group's personality exam marks:
| WBCS Interview Pattern | |
| Group & Post | Maximum Marks |
| Groups ‘A’ and ‘B’ | 200 |
| Group ‘C’ | 150 |
| Group ‘D’ | 100 |
WBCS Qualifying Marks Category-Wise
The categories listed in the context of qualifying marks typically refer to reservation categories for which special concessions are provided, either in age, fees, or minimum required marks.
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WBCS Qualifying Marks Category-Wise |
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| Abbreviation | Full Form | Explanation in WBCS Context |
Minimum Qualifying % (Approx.)
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| UR | Unreserved | Candidates belonging to the General category. | 40% |
| OBC | Other Backward Classes | Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (further divided into OBC-A and OBC-B in West Bengal). Relaxation in age and qualifying marks. | 38% |
| SC | Scheduled Caste | Candidates belonging to the SC category of West Bengal. Relaxation in age and qualifying marks. | 30% |
| ST | Scheduled Tribe | Candidates belonging to the ST category of West Bengal. Relaxation in age and qualifying marks. | 35% |
| EWS | Economically Weaker Section | Candidates who are not covered under the scheme of reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs but whose family income is below the prescribed limit. | 40% |
| PwBD | Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | Candidates with a minimum of 40% disability. They are eligible for age relaxation (up to 45 years) and provision for a scribe/compensatory time during the exam. | 35% |
| MSP | Meritorious Sportspersons | Candidates who have achieved recognition as meritorious sportspersons at specific levels (e.g., National or International) in recognized sports. They are eligible for horizontal reservation. | 40% |
WBCS Syllabus Preparation
The WBCS exam is the premier exam of the West Bengal Public Service Commission, and hence the competition in the exam is also high. The candidates are required to prepare for the WBCS in a planned manner to get maximum marks in the exam and ensure their selection.
- The candidates are required to devise a customized preparation strategy as per their abilities and interests and religiously follow the same.
- The candidates should read and make a list of topics given in the syllabus and make provisions in the preparation plan to prepare all of them.
- Make provisions for answer writing, practice with mock exams and previous year's question papers, and revise.
- The candidates must prepare the preparation notes because they are very useful at the time of revision for examinations
- Prepare current affairs daily to reduce the baggage for the next day.
| WBCS Related Links | |
| WBCS Notification | WBCS Syllabus |
| WBCS Eligibility Criteria | WBCS Salary |
| WBCS Apply Online | WBCS Previous Year Question Paper |