West Bengal Government Clears Mega Recruitment of 5,893 Vacancies in Kolkata Police
In a landmark employment announcement for police job aspirants, the Police Establishment Branch, Home and Hill Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal has formally accorded administrative approval for direct recruitment to 5,893 vacant posts in the Kolkata Police Force. The drive encompasses 4,319 Constables, 648 Sergeants, 495 Sub-Inspectors / Lady Sub-Inspectors, and 430 Lady Constables to be recruited through the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB).
Government Administrative Approval & Notification Background
Following proposals submitted by the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, and subsequent financial clearances from the State Finance Department (vide U.O. No. Group P2/2026-2027/0273 dated 14.10.2026) followed by formal Cabinet approval on 22 October 2026, the Home and Hill Affairs Department issued Order No. 3289-PL/PA/1C-04/19 (Pt.) on 27 October 2026.
This executive order empowers the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB) to initiate the selection process to fill long-standing operational vacancies across territorial police stations, specialized investigative divisions, traffic battalions, and women security units within the Kolkata Police jurisdiction. The official notification with detailed registration windows and examination dates will be published soon on prb.wb.gov.in.
Kolkata Police Recruitment 2026: Highlights at a Glance
| Key Attribute | Official Specification |
|---|---|
| Hiring Organization | Kolkata Police, Government of West Bengal |
| Recruiting Authority | West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB) |
| Government Sanction Order | Order No. 3289-PL/PA/1C-04/19 (Pt.), Dated 27.10.2026 |
| Total Sanctioned Posts | 5,893 Vacancies |
| Cadres Included | Constable, Lady Constable, Sergeant, Sub-Inspector (UB & AB), Lady Sub-Inspector |
| Application Mode | Online via WBPRB Portal (prb.wb.gov.in) |
| Minimum Educational Level | 10th Pass (Constables) | Graduate Degree (SI & Sergeant) |
| General Age Limit | 18–30 Years (Constables) | 20–30 Years (SI / Sergeant) |
| Pay Structure (ROPA 2019) | Pay Level-6 (₹22,700–₹58,500) & Pay Level-10 (₹32,100–₹82,900) |
| Official Sanction Order PDF | View / Download Office Order PDF (Google Drive) |
Post-Wise Vacancy Breakup of 5,893 Posts
The table below provides the rank-wise and cadre-wise distribution of vacancies as officially authenticated in the government order:
| Sl. No. | Name of Post / Cadre | Branch / Wing | Approved Vacancies | Minimum Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Constable (Male) | Armed & Unarmed Branches | 4,319 | 10th Pass (Madhyamik) |
| 2 | Lady Constable | Women Police Battalions & Stations | 430 | 10th Pass (Madhyamik) |
| 3 | Sergeant | Traffic & Executive Force | 648 | Graduation Degree |
| 4 | Sub-Inspector (Male) | Unarmed Branch (UB) | 425 | Graduation Degree |
| 5 | Sub-Inspectress (Female) | Unarmed Branch (UB) | 70 | Graduation Degree |
| 6 | Sub-Inspector (Male) | Armed Branch (AB) | 1 | Graduation Degree |
| Total Approved Vacancies Across Kolkata Police | 5,893 | 10th Pass to Graduate | ||
Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualifications & Age Limit
Constable & Lady Constable
- Education: Must have passed Madhyamik Examination (Class 10th) from the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) or its recognized equivalent.
- Age Limit: Must not be less than 18 years and not more than 30 years as on the cut-off date (1st January of the notification year).
- Language Skill: Ability to speak, read, and write in Bengali language is mandatory (relaxed for permanent residents of Darjeeling and Kalimpong hill subdivisions).
Sub-Inspector, Lady SI & Sergeant
- Education: Must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., B.Tech, etc.) from a recognized University or equivalent institution.
- Age Limit: Must not be less than 20 years and not more than 30 years as on the reference cut-off date.
- Computer Literacy: Basic operational knowledge of computers and MS Office applications is preferred for supervisory field and station roles.
Statutory Upper Age Relaxations (As per West Bengal Govt. Norms)
| Candidate Category | Upper Age Relaxation | Constable Max Age | SI & Sergeant Max Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR / General) & EWS | Nil | 30 Years | 30 Years |
| OBC-A & OBC-B (West Bengal only) | 3 Years | 33 Years | 33 Years |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 5 Years | 35 Years | 35 Years |
| Civic Volunteers / Home Guards / NVF | As per Govt. Service Rules (Up to 35 Years) | 35 Years | As per circular |
* Note: Reserved category benefits and age relaxations are admissible exclusively to permanent domiciles of West Bengal possessing valid caste certificates issued by competent sub-divisional authorities.
Physical Measurement Test (PMT) & Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
Eligible candidates shortlisted through preliminary screening must qualify the mandatory Physical Measurement Test (PMT) followed by the Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Both tests are qualifying in nature.
| Post Cadre | Category | Minimum Height | Minimum Weight | Chest (Male only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable (Male) | Candidates of all categories (except hill tribes/ST) | 167 cm | 57 kg | 78 cm (min. 5 cm expansion) |
| Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Rajbanshis & STs | 160 cm | 53 kg | 76 cm (min. 5 cm expansion) | |
| Lady Constable | Candidates of all categories (except hill tribes/ST) | 160 cm | 49 kg | Not Applicable |
| Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Rajbanshis & STs | 152 cm | 45 kg | Not Applicable | |
| Sergeant (Kolkata Police) | Candidates of all categories (except hill tribes/ST) | 173 cm | 63 kg | 86 cm (min. 5 cm expansion) |
| Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Rajbanshis & STs | 163 cm | 54 kg | 81 cm (min. 5 cm expansion) | |
| Sub-Inspector (UB Male) | Candidates of all categories (except hill tribes/ST) | 167 cm | 56 kg | 79 cm (min. 5 cm expansion) |
| Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Rajbanshis & STs | 160 cm | 52 kg | 76 cm (min. 5 cm expansion) | |
| Sub-Inspectress (UB Female) | Candidates of all categories (except hill tribes/ST) | 160 cm | 49 kg | Not Applicable |
| Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Rajbanshis & STs | 155 cm | 45 kg | Not Applicable |
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Running Events
| Cadre | Gender / Stream | Running Distance | Time Qualifying Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constable | Male | 1,600 Metres | 6 Minutes 30 Seconds |
| Lady Constable | Female | 800 Metres | 4 Minutes 00 Seconds |
| Sergeant | Male | 800 Metres | 3 Minutes 00 Seconds |
| Sub-Inspector (UB & AB) | Male | 800 Metres | 3 Minutes 00 Seconds |
| Sub-Inspectress (UB) | Female | 400 Metres | 2 Minutes 00 Seconds |
Selection Process & Examination Pattern
A. Constable & Lady Constable Selection Pattern
As per WBPRB's standardized evaluation scheme, the Constable recruitment cycle comprises:
- Written Examination: 85 MCQs carrying 85 marks covering General Awareness & GK (25 Marks), English (10 Marks), Elementary Mathematics Madhyamik Standard (25 Marks), and Reasoning & Logical Analysis (25 Marks). Negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong response. Duration: 60 minutes.
- Physical Measurement Test (PMT) & Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Qualifying field trials measured using automated RFID timing and electronic height/weight gauges.
- Interview (Personality Test): 15 Marks evaluating communicative ability in Bengali, general demeanor, and mental alertness.
- Final Merit List: Prepared on the basis of aggregate marks obtained in the Written Examination (85 Marks) + Interview (15 Marks), totalling 100 Marks.
B. Sub-Inspector, Lady SI & Sergeant Selection Pattern
For supervisory officer cadres, WBPRB implements a rigorous multi-tier testing framework:
- Preliminary Examination (Screening): 200 Marks (100 MCQs of 2 marks each) testing General Studies (100 Marks), Logical & Analytical Reasoning (50 Marks), and Arithmetic (50 Marks). Duration: 90 minutes.
- PMT & PET: Qualifying physical screening as per specified table standards.
- Final Combined Competitive Examination (Conventional / Descriptive): 200 Marks across 3 Papers:
- Paper-I: General Studies & Arithmetic (100 Marks, 2 Hours)
- Paper-II: English Drafting & Translation (50 Marks, 1 Hour)
- Paper-III: Bengali / Hindi / Urdu / Nepali (50 Marks, 1 Hour)
- Personality Test: 30 Marks (Qualifying minimum 8 marks).
Salary Structure & Allowances (WBS ROPA 2019)
| Cadre | Pay Matrix Level | Basic Pay Scale | Starting In-Hand Gross (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constable / Lady Constable | Pay Level-6 | ₹22,700 – ₹58,500 | ₹29,500 – ₹32,000 + allowances |
| Sergeant (Kolkata Police) | Pay Level-10 | ₹32,100 – ₹82,900 | ₹41,500 – ₹45,000 + allowances |
| Sub-Inspector / Sub-Inspectress | Pay Level-10 | ₹32,100 – ₹82,900 | ₹41,500 – ₹45,000 + allowances |
* Besides Basic Pay, Kolkata Police personnel are entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA @ 12%), Medical Allowance (₹500/month), Ration Allowance, Washing Allowance, and Risk Allowance as per prevailing Government of West Bengal entitlement orders.
How to Apply Online for Kolkata Police Recruitment at WBPRB
Once the detailed advertisement is launched by the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board, aspirants must follow these steps to register:
Important Official Links & Source Documents
| Document / Portal Title | Issuing Authority | Access Link |
|---|---|---|
|
Kolkata Police Recruitment Office Order 2026
Order No. 3289-PL/PA/1C-04/19 (Pt.) dated 27-10-2026
|
Home & Hill Affairs Dept, Govt. of West Bengal | View Order PDF ↗ |
|
WBPRB Official Recruitment Portal
Online Application, Admit Cards & Notices
|
West Bengal Police Recruitment Board | Visit prb.wb.gov.in ↗ |
|
West Bengal Police Official Website
Headquarters Notifications & Results
|
Directorate General of Police, West Bengal | Visit wbpolice.gov.in ↗ |
|
Kolkata Police Official Website
City Police Headquarters Updates
|
Commissioner of Police, Kolkata | Visit kolkatapolice.gov.in ↗ |