Calcutta, Jan. 27: The Bengal government has raised the upper age limit for applying for Group A jobs to 36 years from the existing 32 years and that of the Group B category by seven years to 39.

The Group A category is earmarked for the West Bengal Civil Service and allied services under the food and labour departments. Under the Group B category comes officers of the West Bengal Police Service.

Soon after coming to power in 2011, Mamata Banerjee had raised the upper age limit in the Group C and Group D categories - mainly clerks and peons - from 32 to 40 years.

"The move will help educated youths who are trying to enter the government's top services. But at the same time, it also suggests that educated youths are not getting enough employment opportunities in the state," a senior government official said.

A finance department official said recruitment in the top categories had come down over the past few years because of shortage of funds.

"More than 1,200 Groups A and B officers were recruited every year till 2011-12. But the figure has come down to around 800 over the past few years," the official said.