West Bengal Public Service Commission Clerkship

The WBPSC Clerkship exam is the West Bengal Public Service Commission's recruitment test for Lower Division Assistant (LDA), Lower Division Clerk (LDC) and similar clerical posts in state government offices. It is one of the few state-level government jobs in West Bengal that needs only a Madhyamik pass, so it draws a very large number of applicants every cycle.

The current cycle is officially called the Clerkship Examination, 2024 (Advertisement No. 12/2024), but its notification came out on 6 October 2026, and Part I is expected in December 2026. This page covers the full WBPSC Clerkship 2026 picture in one place: key dates, eligibility, application fee, the two-part exam pattern, the typing test, the syllabus at a glance, salary and a practical preparation plan.

Table of Contents

• WBPSC Clerkship 2026 at a Glance

• Notification Overview: Why the Exam Is Called "2024"

• Important Dates

• Posts and Vacancy Details

• Eligibility Criteria

• Application Fee and How to Apply

• Exam Pattern

• Syllabus Summary

• Selection Process and Qualifying Marks

• Salary and Career Growth

• How to Prepare for WBPSC Clerkship

WBPSC Clerkship 2026

Notification Overview: Why the Exam Is Called "2024"

The "2024" in the name is the recruitment year the Commission has given this exam, not the year the paper is held. That is why the exam notified in October 2026 is still officially the Clerkship Examination, 2024. The age limit is also counted as on 1 January 2024, which works in favour of older candidates who would otherwise have crossed 45.

The key points from the notification are:

• One exam, many offices: Selected candidates are posted as LDA, LDC or in similar clerical roles across West Bengal government departments and offices.

• Vacancies come later: The advertisement does not give a post count. WBPSC has said the number of vacancies will be notified separately.

• Three-step selection: An objective Part I, a written Part II, and a qualifying computer and typing test.

• Bengali is required: Candidates must be able to read, write and speak Bengali, except those whose mother tongue is Nepali.

Older pages may still show the dates and details of earlier Clerkship cycles, so always match the advertisement number (12/2024) before relying on any figure.

Important Dates

The Part I date is tentative and can change. Track the notices section on the official WBPSC website and your registered email for the exact date and admit card release.

Posts and Vacancy Details

The Clerkship exam fills clerical posts such as Lower Division Assistant and Lower Division Clerk in West Bengal government offices. The work is mainly office administration: file handling, record keeping, drafting routine letters and data entry.

For the 2024 cycle, WBPSC has not yet published the total vacancy count or the category-wise split. The table below shows the current status. It will be updated once the Commission releases the figures.

Reservation for SC, ST, OBC and EWS applies only to candidates who belong to West Bengal. Candidates from other states can apply, but they are treated as General (Unreserved).

Eligibility Criteria

Check every condition below before you pay the fee, because WBPSC verifies documents at later stages and can cancel a candidature at any point.

Educational Qualification

• Madhyamik or equivalent: A pass from the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education or an equivalent recognised board. Higher Secondary and graduate candidates can also apply.

• Computer knowledge: Elementary knowledge of computer operation, which is tested later in the typing test. A computer certificate is not asked for at the application stage.

Age Limit

Candidates must be between 18 and 45 years as on 1 January 2024. In other words, your date of birth should fall between 2 January 1979 and 1 January 2006, both dates included.

Other Conditions

• Nationality: Indian citizen, or a person of a category declared eligible by the Government of India.

• Language: Ability to read, write and speak Bengali. This does not apply to candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali.

• Typing speed: 20 words per minute in English or 10 words per minute in Bengali, chosen at the time of applying.

• Valid certificates: Caste, OBC-NCL and EWS certificates must be issued by the competent authority and be valid on or before the closing date of the application.

Application Fee and How to Apply

Steps to Apply Online

1. Go to psc.wb.gov.in and complete the One Time Registration (OTR) if you have not done it before.

2. Log in with your OTR credentials and open the Clerkship Examination, 2024 application.

3. Fill in personal, category and educational details, and choose your Part II language and typing language.

4. Upload your photograph, signature and the required certificates in the prescribed format.

5. Pay the fee online by 26 October 2026, 3:30 PM, if you are not exempted.

6. Submit the form and save the confirmation page for future reference.

If you make a mistake, use the edit window from 28 October to 1 November 2026. Common reasons for rejection include an unclear photograph or signature, a category certificate issued after the closing date, and a fee payment that was not completed before the deadline.

Exam Pattern

The WBPSC Clerkship exam pattern has two written parts followed by a qualifying skill test.

Part I: Objective Type

The paper runs for 90 minutes in total for all three subjects. Each correct answer carries 1 mark, and 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.

Part II: Conventional Type (Written)

Both groups are written in a single 60-minute sitting. Part II tests drafting, précis writing and translation. Writing your name, roll number or any identifying mark in the answer script leads to a deduction of 10% of the full marks of that paper.

Computer Operation and Typing Test

Candidates who qualify in Part I and Part II take a test of elementary computer operation and typing speed: 20 words per minute in English or 10 words per minute in Bengali. It is qualifying only, so its marks are not added to the merit list.

What This Means for You

• Every Part I question is worth the same: With 1 mark each and a 0.25 penalty, four wrong guesses cancel one correct answer. Attempt a question only when you can eliminate at least two options.

• General Studies carries the most weight: At 40 marks, it is the largest section in Part I, so steady current affairs and static GK reading pays off.

• Part II is short on time: Two papers in 60 minutes means roughly 30 minutes per language. Practise writing to a timer, not just reading model answers.

• Do not leave typing to the end: A candidate who scores well in writing can still fail the qualifying typing test.

Syllabus Summary

WBPSC gives the syllabus as short topic lines, not a detailed chapter list. For a topic-by-topic checklist and a suggested order of study.

Selection Process and Qualifying Marks

1. Part I (objective): Screens candidates through 100 MCQs.

2. Part II (conventional written): Tests drafting, précis and translation in English and one chosen language.

3. Computer and typing test: Qualifying only, for candidates who clear Part I and Part II.

4. Final merit list: Prepared from the combined marks of Part I and Part II, only for candidates who also pass the typing test.

5. Medical examination and police verification: Completed before appointment, as per state government rules.

To be considered for the merit list, candidates need at least the following aggregate marks in Part I and Part II:

These are minimum qualifying marks, not the cut-off. The actual cut-off depends on vacancies, the number of candidates and paper difficulty, and it can be higher than these minimums. Aim for a clear margin above it rather than a bare pass.

Salary and Career Growth

The take-home amount depends on the current DA rate, the HRA slab of your posting city and deductions, so it is not a fixed official figure. Over time, clerical staff can be promoted to higher clerical posts, such as Upper Division Assistant, under the departmental promotion rules of their office.

How to Prepare for WBPSC Clerkship

The exam rewards consistency more than coaching hours. Most candidates lose marks in two places: careless guessing in Part I and slow writing in Part II.

For Part I

• Arithmetic: The topics are school-level, so speed is the real test. Practise percentage, ratio, profit and loss and simple interest daily until you can solve each in under a minute.

• English: Read one editorial a day and maintain a vocabulary notebook. Revise grammar rules through error-spotting questions.

• General Studies: Cover Indian history, Indian geography and everyday science from standard school-level books, and keep monthly current affairs notes with a West Bengal focus.

For Part II

• Write, do not just read: Draft one report and one précis a week in each language, and time yourself.

• Translate both ways: Practise translating short official-style paragraphs between English and your chosen language.

For the Typing Test

• Start early: Practise typing for 15 to 20 minutes a day from the start of your preparation, and test your speed every week.

Use Mock Tests in the Right Way

From about six weeks before Part I, take full-length timed mocks in the 100-question, 90-minute format. After each test, review every wrong and skipped question, and track your accuracy by section.