The Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC) has published the detailed advertisement for 247 Industrial Development Officer (IDO) posts (Advertisement No. 15/2024). The posts are in the Directorate of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises under the state’s Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Textiles Department. Online applications are open from 06.11.2026 to 26.11.2026 (up to 3 p.m.). Anyone with a degree in any subject, or a diploma in engineering or technology, is eligible.
The Commission had issued an Indicative Advertisement for this post on 24.12.2024; this detailed advertisement follows it with the vacancies, reservation, exam scheme and dates. The post is temporary but likely to be made permanent. Everything below is taken from the Commission’s advertisement.
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Table of Contents
WBPSC IDO 2026 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Post | Industrial Development Officer (IDO) |
| Directorate and department | Directorate of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises; MSME & Textiles Department, Govt. of West Bengal |
| Advertisement No. | 15/2024 (Indicative Advertisement dated 24.12.2024) |
| Vacancies | 247 |
| Pay | Level 10, ₹32,100 to ₹82,900 (WBS (ROPA) Rules, 2019), plus admissible allowances |
| Qualification | A degree of a recognised university, or a diploma in engineering or technology of a recognised university or institution |
| Age | 18 to 44 years on 01.01.2024 (relaxations below) |
| Fee | ₹160 plus applicable service charges, online only |
| Online application | 06.11.2026 to 26.11.2026 (up to 3 p.m.) |
| Last date for fee | 26.11.2026 (up to 3 p.m.) |
| Edit window | 27.11.2026 to 02.12.2026 (up to 3 p.m.), once only |
| Exam and interview dates | To be notified later on the Commission’s website |
| Website | psc.wb.gov.in |
Vacancies and reservation
| Category | Posts |
|---|---|
| SC | 52 |
| ST | 14 |
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | 18 |
| EWS | 25 |
| PwBD (UR) | 7 |
| PwBD (SC) | 2 |
| MSP (meritorious sportspersons) | 5 |
| Total vacancies | 247 |
The Commission notes that the reservation is shown as the department reported it; PwBD and MSP posts sit within the other categories. OBC reservation follows Labour Department Notification No. Labr/85/Emp/EC/1M-01/2025 dated 25.05.2026, read with BCW Department Notification No. 945-BCW/MR-23/2026 dated 18.05.2026, which also decides who may apply as OBC. Reservation benefits (other than PwBD and MSP) are for candidates of West Bengal only; SC, ST, OBC and EWS candidates of other states may apply against unreserved posts as General candidates.
Eligibility and age limit
- Qualification: a degree of a recognised university, or a diploma in engineering or technology of a recognised university or institution, held by the closing date (26.11.2026).
- Age: at least 18 and not more than 44 years on 01.01.2024. The upper limit follows Finance Department Notification No. 1707-F(P2) dated 16.05.2026 read with No. 2619-F(P2) dated 20.07.2026.
- Proof of age: only the age recorded in the Madhyamik or equivalent certificate is accepted.
- Relaxation: 5 years for SC and ST and 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates of West Bengal; persons with a physical disability of 40% or more may apply up to 45 years of age. SC/ST/OBC candidates of other states get no relaxation.
- Bengali: the ability to read, write and speak Bengali is essential (not mandatory for candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali). It is tested at the interview, and a poor performance can cancel the candidature.
Application fee
The fee is ₹160 plus applicable service charges, paid online by 26.11.2026 (3 p.m.). SC and ST candidates of West Bengal and PwBD candidates with a physical disability of 40% or more pay nothing. OBC candidates pay the full fee, and SC/ST candidates from other states get no exemption. The fee is not refunded or held over for another exam.
Exam pattern and syllabus
Selection has two parts: a Part-I written exam of 100 marks and a Part-II interview of 15 marks. The written exam has 100 multiple-choice questions of 1 mark each, in 1 hour 30 minutes, with 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer. The final merit list is drawn up on the total of both parts, out of 115.
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| English | 15 |
| Industrial Safety/Security Measures and Pollution Control Measures | 10 |
| Environmental Issue with Emphasis on Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy | 15 |
| Physical Science | 15 |
| Elementary Computer Knowledge | 10 |
| Industrial Scenario and Industrial Potential in West Bengal | 15 |
| Mental Ability and Arithmetic | 20 |
| Part-I written exam, total | 100 |
| Part-II interview | 15 |
| Grand total | 115 |
The Commission may fix category-wise cut-off marks in the written exam. There are no qualifying marks in the interview, but every category has a minimum qualifying score in the aggregate, which the Commission may relax if many reserved posts stay unfilled. On equal aggregates, the older candidate ranks higher.
| Category | Minimum aggregate | Out of 115 |
|---|---|---|
| UR, EWS, MSP | 40% | 46 |
| OBC | 38% | 43.7 |
| SC | 35% | 40.25 |
| ST, PwBD | 30% | 34.5 |
How to apply
- Go to psc.wb.gov.in. Register and create your profile if you do not have one, or log in.
- Choose Advertisement No. 15/2024, Industrial Development Officer (IDO), and fill in the online form. Only one application per candidate: more than one cancels the candidature.
- Enter one photo ID with its number and issuing authority: Madhyamik certificate with photograph, passport, PAN card, voter ID (EPIC), driving licence, or another state or central government ID. Bring the same card in original to the exam.
- Pay the fee online by 26.11.2026, 3 p.m. (unless exempt) and keep a printout of the form.
- In the edit window, 27.11.2026 to 02.12.2026 (3 p.m.), log in to correct mistakes and upload the documents the advertisement asks for: documents can be uploaded only then, and the edit option can be used only once. To change your address, change it in the Profile section first, then use Edit.
Caste, EWS, MSP or disability certificates must be obtained by the closing date, 26.11.2026; later certificates are not accepted, and a claim that cannot be backed by a certificate at document verification is rejected. OBC and EWS candidates must submit renewed certificates before the interview and at appointment. No change of category is allowed after the application is submitted.
What this means for candidates
- Who should apply: graduates in any subject and engineering or technology diploma holders aged 18 to 44 on 01.01.2024 (more with relaxation). The advertisement is from 2026 but age is counted on 01.01.2024, so check again if you thought you were too old.
- Do now: reserved-category candidates should make sure their certificates are in hand, or get them before 26.11.2026. Keep the photo ID you enter in the form for exam day.
- Deadlines: application and fee by 26.11.2026, 3 p.m.; corrections and document upload from 27.11 to 02.12.2026, 3 p.m.
- Exam date: the written exam and interview dates will be announced later, so start preparing now.
Negative marking, an example: say you answer 80 of the 100 questions, 64 right and 16 wrong. You get 64 for the right answers and lose 16 × 0.25 = 4 for the wrong ones, a written score of 60. Four wrong guesses cancel one right answer.
How to prepare
- Mental Ability and Arithmetic (20): the biggest section. Percentages, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, ratio, time and work, averages, number series, coding-decoding, blood relations, directions. Practise against the clock every day.
- English (15): grammar (tenses, prepositions, voice, narration), synonyms and antonyms, fill in the blanks, error spotting, comprehension.
- Physical Science (15): school-level physics and chemistry: units, motion and force, heat, light, electricity, atomic structure, chemical reactions, acids and bases, with an eye on elements and compounds used in industry.
- Environment, Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy (15): types of pollution, the greenhouse effect and climate change, solar, wind, hydro and bio-energy, ways to save energy, the main environmental laws and treaties.
- Industrial Safety/Security and Pollution Control (10): factory safety, fire safety and extinguisher types, hazardous waste, air and water pollution control, the role of pollution control boards.
- Industrial Scenario and Potential in West Bengal (15): the state’s main industries (jute, tea, textiles, steel, leather, handicrafts), industrial belts and parks, MSME clusters, the state’s industrial policy and MSME schemes. Take figures from the official websites of the MSME & Textiles and Industries departments, since numbers change.
- Elementary Computer Knowledge (10): hardware and software, operating systems, MS Office, internet and email, shortcut keys, basic cyber security and common abbreviations.
Take at least one full 100-question mock in 90 minutes every week and log your mistakes. The interview carries only 15 marks, but the merit list is on the total, and it is where your Bengali is tested. Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices and smartwatches are not allowed in the exam venue, and you can sit only at the venue on your admit card.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for WBPSC IDO?
Online applications and fee payment close on 26.11.2026 at 3 p.m. Applications opened on 06.11.2026. The edit window runs from 27.11.2026 to 02.12.2026 (3 p.m.).
What is the qualification for the IDO post?
A degree of a recognised university, or a diploma in engineering or technology of a recognised university or institution. Reading, writing and speaking Bengali is essential, except for candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali.
What is the age limit?
18 to 44 years on 01.01.2024, with 5 years’ relaxation for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates of West Bengal; persons with a physical disability of 40% or more may apply up to 45.
Is there negative marking in the IDO exam?
Yes. The written exam has 100 MCQs of 1 mark each, and 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. It lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is followed by a 15-mark interview.
When is the exam?
The dates of the written exam and interview have not been announced yet; the Commission will publish them on psc.wb.gov.in.
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