WBPSC Syllabus 2025: Detailed Exam Syllabus and Preparation Guide

Explore the comprehensive WBCS 2025 syllabus, study materials, and tips for your successful exam preparation

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EaseToLearn is providing an exclusive interface for your WEST BENGAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (WBPSC) CIVIL SERVICE EXECUTIVE EXAMINATION 2024. Get the latest updated WBPSC mock test series, WBPSC previous year question papers, WBPSC Question Bank, and WBPSC Study material. Sign up for the Easetolearn WBPSC Course to get a Latest WBPSC Syllabus 2024.

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WBPSC Exam Syllabus 2025

Candidates will be chosen based on a written examination and a personality test. The WBCS examination is divided into two parts: preliminary and mains. Candidates who pass the WBPSC preliminary round will be eligible to take the WBPSC Mains exam. Candidates applying for the WBPSC recruitment 2024 must take into account the WBCS preliminary and mains syllabus.

WBPSC Syllabus for Prelims

The WBCS Syllabus for the Prelims includes topics from various subjects - English, General Science, Current Affairs, Indian History, Geography (India, West Bengal, World), Indian Polity, Economy, and Mental Ability. The subject-wise WBPSC Prelims Syllabus (2024 cycle) is discussed here.

WBPSC Prelims Syllabus for English

Topic

Sub-Topics

Vocabulary

Synonyms & Antonyms, Homonyms, Word substitution, Use of qualifying & appropriate words

Idiomatic Usage

Common idioms & phrases, Proverbs, Usage in sentences

Phrasal Verbs

Meaning, usage, common phrasal verb list

Multiple-Meaning Words

Words with more than one meaning, contextual usage

Vocabulary Test

Spellings, confusing words, word forms

General Composition

Sentence correction, basic grammar sense, choosing correct expression

WBPSC Prelims Syllabus for General Science

Topic

Sub-Topics

Scientific Awareness

Observable scientific facts, laws of nature, basic scientific principles

Physics (Basic)

Motion, heat, light, electricity, magnetism, pressure, simple machines

Chemistry (Basic)

Common chemicals, acids-bases-salts, mixtures & compounds, everyday chemical reactions

Biology (Basic)

Human body basics, plants, animals, nutrition, health & hygiene

Environment & Daily Life Science

Pollution, conservation, everyday applications like soap, detergent, LPG, medicines

WBPSC Prelims Syllabus for History

Topic

Sub-Topics

Ancient India

Indus Valley, Vedic society, Buddhism & Jainism, Mauryan & Gupta eras

Medieval India

Sultanate, Mughals, regional kingdoms, socio-economic systems

Modern India

Advent of Europeans, British rule, socio-economic changes

Social & Economic Aspects

Caste, society, cultural developments, economic reforms, trade

Political Aspects

Administrative changes, laws, institutions, revolts

WBPSC Prelims Syllabus for Geography

Topic

Sub-Topics

Physical Geography

Major physiographic divisions, climate, rainfall, seasons, soils, natural vegetation

Drainage & Water Resources

Major rivers, dams, irrigation, watersheds

Economic Geography

Agriculture, industries, minerals, energy resources

Human & Social Geography

Population distribution, migration, urbanization

West Bengal-Specific

Physiography (Himalayan, Terai, Dooars, Rarh, Delta), agriculture, industries, resources

WBPSC Prelims Syllabus for Indian Polity & Economy

Topic

Sub-Topics

Constitution

Preamble, fundamental rights, DPSPs, duties, amendments

Governance

Parliament, President, PM, Council of Ministers, judiciary, federalism

Local Government

Panchayati Raj, rural & urban local bodies, role in governance

Economy

Features of Indian economy, agriculture, industry, national income

Planning & Development

Five-Year Plans, NITI Aayog, poverty alleviation, social welfare schemes

WBPSC Prelims Syllabus for Indian National Movement

Topic

Detailed Sub-Topics

Early Nationalism

19th-century reformers, Bengal Renaissance, early associations

Moderate Phase

INC formation, early demands, petitions & constitutional agitation

Extremist Phase

Swadeshi movement, partition of Bengal, revolutionary activities

Gandhian Era

Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India movements

Final Phase

INA, negotiations, independence, Mountbatten Plan

WBPSC Prelims Syllabus for General Mental Ability

Topic

Detailed Sub-Topics

Logical Reasoning

Analogy, classification, series, relationships

Analytical Ability

Coding-decoding, direction sense, puzzles, syllogisms

Problem Solving

Data interpretation basics, statements & conclusions

Mental Processing

Logical perception, pattern recognition, sequencing

Natural Conclusions

Assessing arguments, identifying assumptions

WBPSC Syllabus for Mains Exam

The WBPSC Mains syllabus for 2025 consists of the Language Paper, English, General Studies, Arithmetic, Reasoning, The Constitution of the India, the Indian Economy, and Optional Subjects. The subject-wise WBPSC Mains Syllabus is given below.

WBPSC Mains Syllabus for Language

Language Options

Syllabus

Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali

Letter Writing (150 words)

Report Drafting (200 words)

Precis Writing

Comprehension

Translation (English to Translation from English to Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali)

WBPSC Mains Syllabus for English

Subject

Topics

English

Comprehension

Precis Writing

Letter Writing (150 words)

Report (200words)

Translationfrom Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali to English

WBPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies-I

Subject

Topics

History

Indian History (with special focus on National Movement)

Freedom Struggle

Post-Independence Reorganization

World History

Geography

Physical Geography of India:

Geological structure and major physiographic divisions of India
Northern Mountains, Peninsular Plateau, Indo-Gangetic Plains, Coastal regions and Islands
Climate of India: factors, seasonal patterns, monsoon mechanism, climatic regions
Soil types, distribution, characteristics, soil erosion and conservation
Natural vegetation: forest types, distribution, conservation programmes
River systems of India: Himalayan, Peninsular rivers, watershed systems, river-linking projects
Natural hazards and disasters: earthquakes, floods, cyclones, drought, landslides – causes, distribution and mitigation

Economic Geography of India

Agriculture: cropping seasons, green revolution, irrigation systems, major crops, agricultural challenges
Mineral resources: classification, distribution of coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, bauxite, mica etc.
Industries: major industrial regions, location factors, industrial policies
Energy resources: conventional and non-conventional, power production and distribution
Transport and communication: road, rail, air, water transport networks, ports
Population Geography: density, growth, distribution, demographic characteristics
Urbanization, migration patterns, metropolitan growth
Economic infrastructure and regional development imbalances

Human & Social Geography of India

Human settlements: rural & urban settlement types, patterns and trends
Tribes and tribal regions, cultural regions of India
Population composition: literacy, sex ratio, age structure, workforce
Regional planning concepts, multi-level planning
Environmental issues: pollution, deforestation, climate change impacts in India

Physical Geography of West Bengal

Physiographic divisions:
Himalayan region
Terai and Dooars
North Bengal Plains
Rarh region
Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta (including Sundarbans)
Climate characteristics, rainfall distribution, monsoon behaviour
Soil types: alluvial, lateritic, mountain soil
Rivers of West Bengal: Teesta, Mahananda, Hooghly, Subarnarekha, Damodar, Ajay, Kangsabati etc.

Economic Geography of West Bengal

Agriculture: major crops (rice, jute, tea, potato), cropping patterns, irrigation, agricultural challenges
Industries: jute industry, tea industry, iron & steel, petrochemicals, IT hubs
Mineral resources: coal (Raniganj), fireclay, silica, dolomite
Power generation: thermal, hydroelectric, renewable initiatives
Transport & communication: roadways, railways, ports (Kolkata, Haldia), airports
Economic development initiatives, industrial corridors, SEZs

Human & Social Geography of West Bengal

Population: growth, density, distribution, demographic features
Urbanization pattern: Kolkata Metropolitan Region, major urban centres
Migration trends, rural-urban divide
Cultural regions and linguistic distribution
Environmental issues: riverbank erosion, floods, cyclones, human-wildlife conflict in Sundarbans

WBPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies-II

Subject

Topics

Science

Basic principles of Physics, Chemistry & Biology; Motion, force, energy, sound, light; Heat & thermodynamics; Electricity & magnetism; Common chemical reactions; Acids, bases, salts; Elements, compounds, mixtures; Metals & non-metals; Fuels; Basic organic chemistry; Cell structure; Human physiology (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous systems); Plant physiology; Genetics & heredity; Microorganisms

Scientific & Technological Advancement

Space science: ISRO missions, satellites, launch vehicles; Remote sensing & GIS; Defence technology: missiles, DRDO systems; ICT: Internet, 5G/6G, cybersecurity, AI, robotics; Emerging tech: nanotechnology, biotechnology, drones, IoT, quantum computing; Medical science advancements, vaccines, diagnostics

Environment – Biodiversity

Types of biodiversity; Biodiversity hotspots in India; Threats to biodiversity; Conservation – in-situ & ex-situ; National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves

Environment – Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)

Definition & objectives; CRZ classifications (I–IV); Key features of CRZ notifications; Protection of coastal ecosystems; Challenges & violations

Environment – Global Warming

Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Causes & impacts of global warming; Climate change projections; International steps: UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement

Environment – Industrial & Environmental Pollution

Types of pollution (air, water, soil, noise, radioactive); Sources & impacts of industrial pollution; Solid, hazardous & biomedical waste management; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); Pollution control measures

Environment – Ozone Layer & Issues

Formation & depletion of ozone layer; Ozone hole; Harmful chemicals (CFCs); Montreal Protocol; Effects of UV radiation

General Knowledge

Major national & international events; Awards & honours; Books & authors; Sports; Important international organizations; National schemes; Prominent personalities

Current Affairs

Recent national & international developments; Science & tech updates; Defence & space news; Environmental & climate updates; Economic & political affairs; Government policies; Reports, indices & rankings; West Bengal state current affairs

WBPSC Mains Syllabus for Indian Constitution & Economy

Section

Topics

Constitution of India

Preamble; Fundamental Rights; Fundamental Duties; Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs); Citizenship; Union and State Governments; Parliament and State Legislature; President, Vice-President, Prime Minister & Council of Ministers; Governor & State Executive; Supreme Court, High Courts, and subordinate courts; Federal structure of India; Emergency provisions; Constitutional amendments; Election Commission; Constitutional & statutory bodies (CAG, UPSC, Finance Commission, NITI Aayog, etc.)

Indian Federalism

Centre–State relations: legislative, administrative & financial relations; Inter-State Council; Zonal Councils; Role of Governor; Cooperative & competitive federalism

Indian Economy – Overview

Features of the Indian economy; Economic growth and development; Sectors of the Indian economy—primary, secondary, tertiary; National income concepts; Inclusive growth; Poverty, unemployment, and inequality

Planning Process

Planning in India; Objectives and strategies of Five-Year Plans (historical); NITI Aayog—structure, role & functions; Decentralized planning

Devolution of Funds

Central devolution to States; Grants-in-aid; GST and its impact on Centre–State finance; Fiscal federalism

Finance Commissions

Central Finance Commission—composition, role, recommendations; State Finance Commissions—structure, role, devolution to Panchayats & municipalities

Fiscal Policy of India

Components of fiscal policy; Taxation policy; Budget—structure, types, deficits; Government expenditure & revenue; FRBM Act

RBI – Role & Functions

Monetary authority of India; Regulation of money supply; Custodian of foreign exchange; Banker to the Government; Banker’s bank; Issuer of currency; Supervision & regulation of banks and NBFCs

Monetary Policy

Objectives of monetary policy; Instruments—CRR, SLR, Repo, Reverse Repo, Bank Rate, Open Market Operations; Inflation targeting framework; Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

Indian Banking & Financial System (Related to RBI)

Structure of Indian banking system; Financial inclusion; Payment systems; Digital payments; Financial markets—money market, capital market; NBFC regulation

WBPSC Mains Syllabus for Arithmetic & Reasoning

Number System & Operations

Number system, LCM & HCF, Divisibility rules, Fractions & decimals, Surds & indices, Simplification

Algebra

Algebraic expressions, Linear equations, Quadratic equations (basic), Algebraic identities, Ratio & proportion

Percentage & Profit–Loss

Percentage, Profit & loss, Discount, Partnership, Simple interest, Compound interest

Time, Work & Distance

Time & work, Work efficiency, Pipes & cisterns, Speed–time–distance, Trains, Boats & streams

Mensuration

Areas & perimeters, Surface area, Volume (cube, cuboid, cylinder, sphere)

Data Interpretation

Tables, Charts, Graphs, Averages

Miscellaneous Arithmetic

Mixtures & alligation, Ages, Unitary method

Analogy & Classification

Analogies, Odd-one-out

Series

Number series, Alphabet series, Mixed series

Coding–Decoding

Letter coding, Number coding, Substitution coding, Matrix coding

Direction & Distance

Direction sense test, Distance problems

Blood Relations

Family relationships, Coded relations

Syllogism & Venn Diagrams

Syllogisms, Venn diagram problems

Statement-based Reasoning

Statement–conclusion, Statement–argument, Statement–assumption, Statement–course of action

Cause & Effect

Cause–effect relationships

Ranking & Ordering

Ranking tests, Ordering/position tests

Seating Arrangement

Linear arrangement, Circular arrangement

Puzzles

Simple logic puzzles, Distribution & arrangement puzzles

WBPSC Mains Syllabus for Option Subjects

The papers VII & VIII of the West Bengal PCS Mains are descriptive type papers based on the optional subject opted by the candidates. The detailed subject-wise WBPSC WBCS Syllabus for the optional subjects is given in the PDF below.

WBPSC Optional Subjects Syllabus PDF

WBPSC Exam Syllabus 2025: FAQs

1.Has the WBPSC Syllabus for 2025 been revised?
Yes, the WBPSC syllabus and exam pattern have been officially revised for the 2025 examination onwards, though an initial proposed change to a UPSC-style detailed answer format for Mains was later cancelled and the older format was retained. However, some changes in the syllabus structure, particularly for Prelims, are noted in official documents. It is best to check the latest official WBPSC notification for the most accurate and recent scheme.

2.What are the stages of the WBPSC Exam?
The WBPSC Examination typically consists of three successive stages:
Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
Main Examination (Conventional/Descriptive and Objective Type Papers)
Personality Test (Interview)

3.What is the Prelims Exam Syllabus for 2025?
The WBPSC Preliminary Exam consists of one paper on General Studies carrying 200 marks with 200 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and a duration of 2.5 hours (150 minutes). However, recent changes indicate a potential shift to two papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT), with Paper-II being qualifying in nature (33% minimum). Candidates should confirm the two-paper structure with the latest official notice.

4.What subjects are covered in the WBPSC Prelims Syllabus?
The eight topics covered in the WBCS Prelims (General Studies Paper-I in the new scheme) typically are:
English Composition
General Science
Current Events of National and International Importance
History of India
Geography of India with special reference to West Bengal
Indian Polity and Economy
Indian National Movement
General Mental Ability

5.What are the major changes in the Prelims Syllabus for 2025?
A significant change indicated in a recent official notification is the potential introduction of a second paper, General Studies Paper-II (CSAT), which includes topics like Comprehension, Interpersonal Skills, Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, General Mental Ability, and Basic Numeracy/Data Interpretation. Also, the weightage for some subjects in Paper-I may have been adjusted.

6.How many papers are there in the WBPSC Mains Exam?
The WBPSC Main Examination consists of six compulsory papers and, for candidates applying for Group 'A' and 'B' posts, one optional subject comprising two papers. This makes a total of 8 papers (6 compulsory + 2 optional for Group A & B) that count towards the final merit list. There are also two language papers that are qualifying only.

7.What are the Compulsory Papers in the WBPSC Mains Syllabus?
The six compulsory papers (each typically carrying 200 marks and being 3 hours long) are:
Paper I: Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali (Descriptive)
Paper II: English (Descriptive)
Paper III (General Studies-I): Indian History (emphasis on National Movement) & Geography of India (with special reference to West Bengal) (Objective/MCQ)
Paper IV (General Studies-II): Science and Scientific & Technological Advancement, Environment, General Knowledge, and Current Affairs (Objective/MCQ)
Paper V: The Constitution of India and Indian Economy (including RBI) (Objective/MCQ)
Paper VI: Arithmetic and Test of Reasoning (Objective/MCQ)
What is the nature of the Mains Exam papers?
Papers I and II are descriptive (conventional type), primarily focusing on letter writing, report drafting, précis writing, composition, and translation. Papers III, IV, V, and VI are objective (MCQ type). The optional papers (for Group A & B) are conventional/descriptive.

8.Is there negative marking in the WBPSC Exam?
Yes, there is negative marking for incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions (MCQ) in both the Preliminary and Main Examinations (Papers III, IV, V, and VI).

9.Where can I find the official syllabus and notification?
Candidates should always refer to the official website of the West Bengal Public Service Commission psc.wb.gov.infor the most detailed, definitive, and up-to-date syllabus, exam pattern, and official notifications.

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