The West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) has announced a major overhaul of the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) exam pattern starting in 2025. The question paper format will see significant changes, moving towards a more detailed answer approach, similar to the UPSC exams.
There will be no changes in the preliminary and mains exam syllabus for the WBCS 2024 exams. However, the 2025 exams will introduce a new structure that demands more comprehensive answers from candidates.
New Exam Structure
According to sources, starting in 2025, the exam will consist of two main papers: General Studies Paper 1 (GS Paper 1) and General Studies Paper 2 (GS Paper 2), each carrying 200 marks and lasting 2 hours.
Revised Mains Exam Format
The main exam will also undergo significant changes. From 2025, it will be divided into two sections. The first section will determine whether candidates qualify for the merit list, while marks from the second section will be added to the merit ranking.
Each paper in the mains will carry 300 marks with a time limit of 3 hours. There will also be eight descriptive papers, focusing on various subjects. The total marks for the mains exam will be 2000 for Group A and B aspirants.
Language and English Papers
Paper A will feature Nepali or Bengali, with components such as report writing, precis, composition, translations from English, essays, and letter writing. A minimum score of 30% will be required to pass.
Paper B will focus on English, with an emphasis on vocabulary, essay writing, report writing, and precis. This paper will also require a minimum of 30% to pass.
Personality Test and Final Merit
For the personality test, Groups A and B will have a total of 200 marks, while Groups C and D will be assessed with 150 and 100 marks, respectively. The final merit list will be based on a total score of 2200 for Group A and B, and 1650 and 1600 for Group C and D, respectively.
This new exam format will challenge candidates to focus on a more in-depth understanding of various subjects, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of their knowledge and skills.