WBCS Exam Date, Notification & Vacancies

From the official Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC) documents · last checked 1 October 2026

The WBCS (Exe.) etc. Examination is run by the Public Service Commission, West Bengal. It fills posts in four groups. Group A covers WBCS (Executive) and other Group A services. Group B is the West Bengal Police Service. Group C and Group D cover a range of state posts. You fill in one application and can choose one or more groups. There are three stages. The first is the Preliminary exam, a 200-mark objective (MCQ) screening test. The second is the Main exam, with six compulsory papers, and Group A and B candidates also take one optional subject of two papers. The third is the Personality Test. Prelims marks are used only for screening. Your final rank comes from the Main and the Personality Test marks added together. For the 2024 cycle, applications ran from 18 November 2025 to 17 December 2025. The Prelims took place on 14 June 2026, and WBPSC published the final answer key on 27 August 2026. As of 2 October 2026, WBPSC had not announced the Prelims result or the Main exam dates. The 2024 exam uses the older scheme from the 2014 notification. WBPSC has said that a new scheme (P&AR Notification No. 695-PAR dated 17 June 2025) will apply from the WBCS 2025 exam. The next cycle, WBCS 2025, has only an indicative advertisement so far (No. 03/2025, dated 29 November 2025).

Important dates (2024 · Advt. No. 08/2024)

  • Indicative advertisement for WBCS 2024 (Advt. No. 08/2024) published20 November 2024done
  • Detailed advertisement and Scheme & Syllabus for WBCS 2024 released14 November 2025done
  • Online application opens18 November 2025done
  • Online application closes (first set as 9 December 2025, 3:00 pm; WBPSC extended it twice)17 December 2025 (by 11:59 pm)done
  • Edit Window and upload of category certificates (first set as 22–29 December 2025; WBPSC extended it twice)22 December 2025 – 7 January 2026 (by 11:59 pm)done
  • Indicative advertisement for the next cycle, WBCS 2025 (Advt. No. 03/2025)29 November 2025done
  • e-Admit cards for the Preliminary exam available on psc.wb.gov.in4 June 2026done
  • Preliminary Examination (12:00 noon to 2:30 pm; venue entry closes at 11:30 am)14 June 2026done
  • Provisional answer key published24 June 2026done
  • Window to raise objections to the provisional answer key30 June 2026 – 6 July 2026done
  • Final answer key published27 August 2026done
  • Edit window to update OBC sub-category / UR category details6 September 2026 – 14 September 2026done

Vacancies

Not officially published yet. Advertisement No. 08/2024 says WBPSC will announce the number of vacancies later. It also says posts in a group may not be filled if the department does not report vacancies in time. As of 2 October 2026, no WBCS 2024 vacancy list was found on the WBPSC website. Some vacancies may be reserved for EWS, SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and PwBD candidates of West Bengal. Reservation for Meritorious Sportspersons applies only to Group D posts.

Official notification ↗Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC) website ↗

Frequently asked questions

Which WBCS exam is the latest, and where does it stand now?

The latest is the WBCS (Exe.) etc. Examination 2024 (Advt. No. 08/2024). The Prelims took place on 14 June 2026, and the final answer key came out on 27 August 2026. As of 2 October 2026, the Prelims result and the Main exam dates had not been announced. For WBCS 2025, there is only an indicative advertisement (No. 03/2025). WBPSC says a new scheme will apply from the 2025 exam.

What is the WBCS Prelims pattern and negative marking?

There is one General Studies paper with 200 MCQs worth 200 marks, and you get 2½ hours. The paper covers 8 areas of 25 marks each. A correct answer gets 1 mark. The 2024 question booklet says 0.25 mark is cut for each wrong answer.

Do Prelims marks count in the final merit list?

No. The Prelims only decides who goes on to the Main exam. Your final merit is based on your Main exam marks plus your Personality Test marks.

What is the age limit for WBCS 2024?

Age is counted on 1 January 2024. Groups A and C: 21–36 years. Group B (Police): 20–36 years. Group D: 21–39 years. SC/ST candidates of West Bengal get 5 extra years, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates of West Bengal get 3, and PwBD candidates can apply up to age 45.

Do I need to know Bengali to apply?

Yes. You must be able to read, write and speak Bengali, unless your mother tongue is Nepali. If your mother tongue is neither Bengali nor Nepali, your Bengali will be tested at the Personality Test, and a poor result can cancel your candidature.

Which Main exam papers do I write for each group?

Every candidate writes six compulsory papers of 200 marks each. Papers I and II are descriptive language papers, and Papers III to VI are MCQ. Group A and B candidates also take one optional subject of two 200-mark papers. Maximum totals, including the Personality Test, are 1800 for Groups A and B, 1350 for Group C and 1300 for Group D.

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