TheJobKart brings you the complete details of the WBPSC English Stenographer Recruitment 2026. The Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC) has opened applications for 266 English Stenographer (Basic Grade) posts, to be appointed as Personal Assistants in the cadre of Schedule A and Schedule B English Stenographers in various departments and offices of the Government of West Bengal.
This is a strong opening for Madhyamik-pass candidates. Unlike most government posts at this pay level, it does not ask for graduation. What it does ask for is practical skill: elementary computer knowledge and English typing at 30 words per minute, followed by a three-paper examination in which dictation and transcription alone carry 400 of the 600 marks.
Read the deadline carefully, because it is not midnight. Online applications opened on 18 October 2026 and close on 7 November 2026 at 3:30 PM, and the fee must also be paid by that time.
Table of Contents
- WBPSC English Stenographer Recruitment 2026 at a Glance
- A 2025 Examination, Advertised in 2026
- Vacancy Details
- Category-wise Vacancy Details
- Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
- Salary and Benefits
- Important Dates
- Application Fee
- Selection Process and Exam Pattern
- How to Apply Online: Step-by-Step
- Documents to Keep Ready
- About WBPSC
- Why This Recruitment Stands Out
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Important Links
- Disclaimer
WBPSC English Stenographer Recruitment 2026 at a Glance
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC) |
| Recruitment / exam name | English Stenographer (Basic Grade) in Schedule A and B Recruitment Examination, 2025 |
| Advertisement number | 04/2025 |
| Advertisement date | 16 October 2026 |
| Post name | English Stenographer (Basic Grade), appointed as Personal Assistant |
| Total vacancies | 266 |
| Schedule A vacancies | 146 |
| Schedule B vacancies | 120 |
| Job type | Regular government service, West Bengal |
| Job location | West Bengal, examination centres in Kolkata |
| Main qualification | Madhyamik pass or equivalent, elementary computer knowledge, English typing at 30 words per minute |
| Age limit | 18 to 44 years as on 1 January 2025, with relaxations |
| Application mode | Online only |
| Online application begins | 18 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply and pay fee | 7 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM |
| Application correction window | 10 to 13 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM |
| Tentative examination date | December 2026 |
| Pay level | Level 9, Rs. 28,900 to Rs. 74,500 per month |
| Official website | psc.wb.gov.in |
A 2025 Examination, Advertised in 2026
Do not let the numbering confuse you. The examination is officially the English Stenographer (Basic Grade) in Schedule A and B Recruitment Examination, 2025, under Advertisement No. 04/2025. The detailed advertisement was published on 16 October 2026, and applications run from 18 October to 7 November 2026. In other words, this is the 2025 examination cycle being conducted in late 2026, and the age limit is also calculated as on 1 January 2025, not 2026. Candidates should use the dates exactly as printed in the notification, and should not assume a 2026 age cut-off.
This post is only about the English Stenographer (Basic Grade) posts under Advt. 04/2025. It is not about other WBPSC recruitments such as Sub-Surveyor or Clerkship, which have their own advertisements, vacancies, qualifications and dates.
Vacancy Details
There are 266 vacancies in total, split between two schedules. Schedule A and Schedule B are two separate cadres of English Stenographers in the West Bengal government service, and selected candidates are appointed as Personal Assistants in the cadre of the schedule concerned.
| Schedule | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Schedule A — English Stenographer (Basic Grade) | 146 |
| Schedule B — English Stenographer (Basic Grade) | 120 |
| Total | 266 |
The posts are in various departments and offices of the Government of West Bengal. The exact department-wise posting is decided at the time of appointment, as per the rules in the notification.
Category-wise Vacancy Details
| Schedule | UR | EWS | OBC (NCL) | SC | ST | MSP | PwBD (UR) | PwBD (SC) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule A | 72 | 15 | 10 | 31 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 146 |
| Schedule B | 59 | 12 | 9 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 120 |
| Total | 131 | 27 | 19 | 57 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 266 |
MSP stands for Meritorious Sportspersons, and PwBD stands for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. The PwBD figures shown in the two right-hand columns are part of the schedule totals, not additional seats. Reservation benefits, including age relaxation and fee exemption, are subject to the West Bengal rules in the notification. In particular, SC, ST and OBC candidates from outside West Bengal are not entitled to West Bengal category-based concessions merely because they hold those certificates, as reported.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
Educational qualification
- Passed the Madhyamik Examination conducted by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, or an equivalent examination.
- Elementary knowledge of computer operation.
- Ability to type on a computer in English at a speed of 30 words per minute.
No graduation degree is required for this post. The typing speed is a stated eligibility condition, and candidates should be able to demonstrate it at the typing stage of the examination.
Language requirement
- Candidates must be able to read, write and speak Bengali.
- This condition does not apply to candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali.
- Knowledge of Bengali will be tested for candidates whose mother tongue is other than Bengali or Nepali, as reported.
Age limit
- Minimum age: 18 years as on 1 January 2025.
- Maximum age: 44 years as on 1 January 2025.
- In practical terms, as reported, candidates must have been born not earlier than 2 January 1981 and not later than 1 January 2007.
Age relaxation, as reported, for eligible candidates of West Bengal:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST of West Bengal | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) of West Bengal | 3 years |
| PwBD | Upper age limit relaxable up to 45 years |
There is also a special age exemption reported for permanent Schedule B Stenographers, Typists, Steno-Typists and Clerk-cum-Typists already in service under the Government of West Bengal. Candidates in that situation should check the exact exemption clause in the official notification. No relaxation is reported for SC, ST or OBC candidates of other states.
Other important conditions
- Candidates must be citizens of India, or otherwise eligible under the nationality conditions in the notification.
- Multiple applications by the same candidate are not permitted, as reported.
- The date of birth and other details entered in the form should match the certificates exactly, because corrections are allowed only in the notified edit window and only for allowed fields.
Salary and Benefits
| Post | Pay Level | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| English Stenographer (Basic Grade), Schedule A and Schedule B | Level 9 | Rs. 28,900 to Rs. 74,500 per month |
The pay is under the West Bengal Services (ROPA) Rules, 2019. In addition to basic pay, selected candidates are eligible for allowances as per West Bengal government rules in force at the time of joining. For a Madhyamik-level qualification, Pay Level 9 is a notably strong starting scale, which is one reason this recruitment attracts a large number of applicants.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement No. 04/2025 published | 16 October 2026 |
| Online application begins | 18 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 7 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM |
| Last date to pay the application fee | 7 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM |
| Application correction window | 10 to 13 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM |
| Tentative examination date | December 2026 |
| Examination centres | Kolkata, West Bengal |
Only one edit is reported as permitted in the correction window, so candidates should use it carefully and only for fields the portal allows to be changed. No extension of the 7 November deadline is guaranteed in the summaries checked, so the form and the fee should both be completed well before 3:30 PM on the last day.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | Rs. 160 plus applicable service charges |
| EWS | Rs. 160 plus applicable service charges |
| OBC of West Bengal | Rs. 160 plus applicable service charges |
| SC / ST of West Bengal | Exempted |
| PwBD candidates with 40% or more disability | Exempted |
| SC / ST / OBC candidates of other states | Rs. 160 plus applicable service charges |
The fee must be paid online by 7 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM. The fee is reported as non-refundable, and it cannot be adjusted against another examination. Candidates should confirm their own fee position before paying, because the exemption turns on West Bengal domicile and category, not merely on holding a caste or disability certificate.
Selection Process and Exam Pattern
Selection is through a three-paper written examination, followed by document verification, medical examination and antecedent verification before appointment. There is no interview reported as a separate stage in the summaries checked.
| Paper | Subject / Test | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | 100 |
| Paper II | Dictation and Transcription | 400 |
| Paper III | Computer Typing | 100 |
| Total | — | 600 |
How the papers work, as reported:
- Paper I — General English (100 marks): Conducted in the first instance, in Kolkata. Only candidates who qualify in Paper I are shortlisted to sit Papers II and III.
- Paper II — Dictation and Transcription (400 marks): A practical shorthand dictation test, followed by transcription on a computer. This is the largest paper by far, and it carries two-thirds of the total marks.
- Paper III — Computer Typing (100 marks): A practical typing test on a computer, testing speed and accuracy.
- Final merit: Prepared on the combined marks of all three papers taken together. Paper I is not merely a qualifying screen — its marks also count towards final merit, as reported.
Aggregate qualifying marks, as reported:
| Category | Minimum Aggregate Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| UR / EWS / MSP | 40% |
| OBC | 38% |
| SC | 35% |
| ST / PwBD | 30% |
The Commission fixes qualifying marks in each paper and in the aggregate, and it may relax them for reserved categories, as reported. Tie-breaking, as reported, is in this order: higher marks in Dictation and Transcription, then higher marks in Typing, then higher accuracy in Typing, then higher speed, then the older candidate. A deduction of 10% of the full marks of a paper is reported where a candidate discloses their identity in the answer script, so answer scripts must not carry any identifying mark.
What is not fixed in the summaries checked: the individual paper durations, the exact dictation speed, and the transcription time are not given in the secondary summaries, and candidates should refer to the separately published Scheme and Syllabus in the official notification rather than assuming those figures. This draft therefore gives the papers and marks, which are corroborated across sources, and does not invent a dictation speed.
How to Apply Online: Step-by-Step
- Visit the official WBPSC website, psc.wb.gov.in, and read Advertisement No. 04/2025 and the examination rules in full.
- Register on the portal if you are a new candidate, or log in with your existing registration details.
- Open the application link for the English Stenographer (Basic Grade) in Schedule A and B Recruitment Examination, 2025.
- Fill in your personal details, educational details and category carefully, making sure they match your certificates.
- Mention one photo identity document, with its number and issuing authority, from the list in the notification — for example, Madhyamik certificate with photograph, Passport, PAN Card, EPIC (Voter ID), Driving Licence, or another State or Central Government identity document. Carry the same original identity document to the examination venue.
- Upload a recent photograph (white background, as reported) and your signature, in the prescribed format and size.
- Pay the application fee online, if applicable for your category, by 7 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM.
- Review the complete form once before final submission, and submit it before 7 November 2026, 3:30 PM.
- Save or print the submitted application form for your records.
- If a correction is needed, use the edit window from 10 to 13 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM, for allowed fields only.
Documents to Keep Ready
- Madhyamik certificate and marksheet, or equivalent qualification certificate, for educational proof and date of birth
- Computer knowledge or typing certificate, if held, supporting the 30 words per minute English typing condition
- Category certificate (SC, ST, OBC-NCL or EWS), if claiming reservation, in the prescribed format and applicable to West Bengal where required
- PwBD disability certificate, with 40% or more disability, if claiming PwBD reservation or fee exemption
- Meritorious Sportsperson certificate with the prescribed forms, if claiming MSP reservation
- Photo identity document, the same one mentioned in the application form
- Recent photograph with white background and scanned signature, in the prescribed format
- Aadhaar Card and Voter Identity Card, as reported among the documents to keep ready
Original documents will be checked during document verification, so the details entered in the form should match them exactly.
About WBPSC
The Public Service Commission, West Bengal, is the constitutional body that conducts recruitment examinations for the Government of West Bengal. It recruits for state, subordinate and ministerial services through examinations such as the English Stenographer (Basic Grade) examination, and it publishes advertisements and results on psc.wb.gov.in. The Commission also publishes the Scheme and Syllabus for each examination separately, which candidates should read alongside the advertisement.
The English Stenographer cadre supports the day-to-day working of government departments: stenographers take dictation from senior officers, transcribe it accurately, type official documents and maintain records. Schedule A and Schedule B are two cadres within that service, and this examination recruits Personal Assistants into both.
Why This Recruitment Stands Out
For Madhyamik-pass candidates in West Bengal, this is one of the few state government examinations that combines a large vacancy count (266 posts) with a Pay Level 9 salary, without requiring graduation. The trade-off is that the examination is skill-heavy: dictation and transcription carry 400 of the 600 marks, so shorthand practice matters far more than general knowledge alone.
The other point to note is the timing trap in the dates. The examination is the 2025 cycle, the age limit is as on 1 January 2025, and the application window closes at 3:30 PM, not midnight, on 7 November 2026. Candidates who check those three points — the right advertisement number, the right age cut-off, and the 3:30 PM closing time — and who have genuine shorthand and typing speed will be in the strongest position.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for WBPSC English Stenographer Recruitment 2026?
The last date is 7 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM, for both the application form and the fee payment. Applications opened on 18 October 2026.
How many vacancies are there?
There are 266 vacancies: Schedule A — 146 posts, and Schedule B — 120 posts.
Which advertisement is this?
Advertisement No. 04/2025, for the English Stenographer (Basic Grade) in Schedule A and B Recruitment Examination, 2025, published on 16 October 2026. Do not confuse it with other WBPSC recruitments such as Sub-Surveyor or Clerkship.
What qualification is needed?
Madhyamik pass or equivalent, elementary computer knowledge, and English typing at 30 words per minute, plus the ability to read, write and speak Bengali (exempt for candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali).
What is the age limit?
Candidates should be between 18 and 44 years as on 1 January 2025, with relaxation for eligible West Bengal SC, ST, OBC-NCL and PwBD candidates.
What is the salary?
Pay Level 9, Rs. 28,900 to Rs. 74,500 per month, under the West Bengal Services (ROPA) Rules, 2019, plus allowances as applicable.
What is the application fee?
Rs. 160 plus applicable service charges for General, EWS, OBC of West Bengal and candidates of other states. SC and ST candidates of West Bengal and PwBD candidates with 40% or more disability are exempted.
What is the selection process?
A three-paper examination — General English (100 marks), Dictation and Transcription (400 marks) and Computer Typing (100 marks), 600 marks in total — followed by document verification, medical examination and antecedent verification. Final merit is on the combined marks of all three papers.
When is the exam?
The examination is tentatively scheduled for December 2026, at centres in Kolkata. The exact date will be notified on psc.wb.gov.in.
Where do I apply?
Through the official WBPSC website, psc.wb.gov.in. Use only the official portal and avoid third-party application links.
Important Links
- Official WBPSC website: psc.wb.gov.in
- Recruitment: English Stenographer (Basic Grade) in Schedule A and B Recruitment Examination, 2025, Advertisement No. 04/2025
- Online application: Available on psc.wb.gov.in from 18 October 2026 to 7 November 2026, up to 3:30 PM
Disclaimer
This post is written to help candidates understand the recruitment in simple language. It is not a substitute for the official notification. Vacancies, dates, fee, eligibility, age limits, pay and selection details are subject to change by the Public Service Commission, West Bengal, and candidates should verify every detail in the official Advertisement No. 04/2025 notification before applying. Follow TheJobKart for the latest government and private jobs in India.