Bengali exempted for Nepali speaking WBCS applicants

Suman Chakraborti, TNN, Feb 9, 2016, Kolkata: The state government on Tuesday in principle approved that from now on applicants for WBCS (exe) examination whose mother tongue is Nepali will be exempted from having the requirement of ability to read, write and speak in Bengali to appear in the examination, irrespective of the applicants place of residence.

Earlier, only candidates with Nepali as their mother tongue residing in the three hill sub divisions of Darjeeling district at Darjeeling Sadar, Kalimpong and Kurseong had this exemption. The order was issued by the state personnel and administrative reforms (PAR) department on Tuesday.

The Mamata Banerjee government has been giving more stress and importance on the role of WBCS (exe) officers in running the administration. Earlier in 2014, the government made some amendments to the West Bengal Civil Service (Executive) Recruitment Rules, 1978, with the aim to churn out young, efficient and competent officers.

The state government has been thinking of breaking away from the tradition and depute WBCS officers in posts that traditionally have belonged to IAS officers only. A rejig was done few years back to bring in more speed and effectiveness in running the administration in the block and sub divisional level. Many senior BDOs were promoted as deputy magistrates several BDOs were also transferred from one block to another on the basis of seniority and work experience.