WBPSC ICDS Exam 2026 – Complete Guide for Helper, Cook & Supervisor Posts

If you are a woman in West Bengal looking for a stable government job in the social welfare sector, the WBPSC ICDS Exam 2026 is one of the best opportunities available to you right now. Every year, thousands of female candidates appear for this recruitment examination, and in 2026, competition is expected to be very high. Whether you are a Class VIII pass or a graduate, there is a post suitable for your qualification level. This complete guide covers everything you need to know about the WBPSC ICDS Exam — from the notification and eligibility to the syllabus, exam pattern, salary, admit card, and result.

What is the WBPSC ICDS Exam?

The WBPSC ICDS Exam is a recruitment examination conducted under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme of the Government of West Bengal. ICDS is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 1975 by the Government of India to provide nutrition, healthcare, and education to children under 6 and to pregnant or lactating mothers. In West Bengal, the Department of Women & Child Development & Social Welfare is responsible for running this scheme through a vast network of Anganwadi Centres spread across all districts.

The WBPSC ICDS Exam recruits candidates for three main posts — Helper (Sahayika), Cook, and Supervisor. While the Helper and Cook posts are managed at the district level, the Supervisor post is conducted by the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) at the state level. The WBPSC ICDS Exam is exclusively for female candidates, making it a dedicated government recruitment for women in West Bengal. If you are preparing for any of these posts, enrolling in a WBPSC ICDS Online Coaching program can give you a structured study plan, expert guidance, and regular mock tests to help you crack the exam with confidence.

WBPSC ICDS 2026 Notification

The WBPSC ICDS Supervisor 2026 notification has been one of the most anticipated job notifications in West Bengal this year. According to available information, the Supervisor recruitment notification was released with 2,954 vacancies, with the application window opening on 14th March 2026 and closing on 16th April 2026. The prelims exam for the Supervisor post is expected to be held in July 2026.

For the Helper and Cook posts, recruitments are conducted district-wise under the Women & Child Development Department. As of now, the official district-level notifications for Helper and Cook are expected to be released soon. Candidates are advised to keep checking the official WBPSC website and the Women & Child Development Department portal for the latest updates.

WBPSC ICDS 2026 Exam Summary

WBPSC ICDS 2026 Important Dates

For the Supervisor Post:

• Notification Release: May 2026
• Application Start Date: To be announced
• Application Last Date: To be announced
• Prelims Exam Date: To be announced
• Mains Exam Date: To be announced after Prelims
• Admit Card Release: To be announced before each stage

For Helper and Cook Posts:

• Official Notification: Expected to be released district-wise in 2026
• Application and exam dates will be notified separately by each district authority

Note: All dates are subject to official confirmation. Always check the official website for the most updated schedule.

WBPSC ICDS 2026 Vacancy

For the Supervisor Post: Around 330 vacancies (as per the 2026 advertisement). Vacancies are distributed category-wise, including General, SC, ST, OBC-A, OBC-B, and EWS categories.

For Helper and Cook Posts: The total vacancies for Helper and Cook are announced district-wise. Based on previous trends, each district usually has anywhere between 50 and 800 posts combined for Helper and Cook. The exact 2026 vacancy numbers will be confirmed through the official district-level notification.

Posts Included in the WBPSC ICDS Exam

The WBPSC ICDS Exam covers three posts:

1. Helper (Sahayika) – This is the entry-level post at an Anganwadi Centre. The Helper assists the Anganwadi Worker in day-to-day activities, helps maintain hygiene and cleanliness at the centre, and assists in feeding and taking care of the children.
2. Cook – The Cook is responsible for preparing nutritional meals and supplementary nutrition for children and mothers at the Anganwadi Centre as per the ICDS guidelines.
3. Supervisor (Lady Supervisor) – This is the most senior of the three posts. A Supervisor monitors several Anganwadi Centres, implements government nutrition and child welfare schemes, supervises the work of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, prepares reports, and ensures the proper functioning of the ICDS scheme at the grassroots level.

Eligibility Criteria

Helper (Sahayika):

• Educational Qualification: Must have passed Class VIII (8th standard) from a recognised school.
• Age Limit: Minimum 18 years and maximum 35 years.
• Gender: Only female candidates are eligible.
• Domicile: Must be a local resident of the area where the Anganwadi Centre is located.
• Language: Must be able to read and write Bengali.

Cook:

• Educational Qualification: Must have passed Class VIII (8th standard) from a recognised school.
• Age Limit: Minimum 18 years and maximum 35 years.
• Gender: Only female candidates are eligible.
• Domicile: Preference is given to candidates from the same village or ward.
• Language: Must be able to read and write Bengali.
• Other: Basic cooking skills and knowledge of nutritional food preparation are desirable.

Supervisor:

• Educational Qualification: Must be a Graduate in any discipline from a recognised university.
• Age Limit: Minimum 18 years and maximum 39 years. Age relaxation is provided for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates as per West Bengal government norms.
• Gender: Only female candidates are eligible.
• Nationality: Must be a citizen of India.
• Language: Must be able to read, write, and speak Bengali (except candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali).

How Many Attempts Are Allowed in the WBPSC ICDS Exam?

The WBPSC ICDS Exam does not specify a fixed maximum number of attempts. Candidates can appear in the WBPSC ICDS Exam as many times as they wish, as long as they meet the age eligibility criteria at the time of application. In other words, you can keep attempting the exam until you reach the upper age limit of 39 years for the Supervisor post (or 35 years for Helper and Cook posts). Once you cross the upper age limit, you are no longer eligible to apply. Age relaxation for reserved categories effectively allows those candidates a few additional years of eligibility.

Application Fee

Helper (Sahayika): There is no application fee for the Helper post. The application process is free for all categories — General, SC, ST, OBC, and others. Candidates simply need to fill in the application form and submit it free of cost.

Cook: Similar to the Helper post, there is no application fee for the Cook post. All candidates, regardless of category, can apply without any fee payment.

Supervisor: The application fee for the Supervisor post through WBPSC is as follows:

• General / OBC-A / OBC-B candidates: Rs. 160/-
• SC / ST candidates of West Bengal: Exempted (no fee)
• PwBD candidates: Exempted (no fee): Payment is made online through the WBPSC portal. Applications without fee payment (for applicable categories) are rejected outright.

Exam Pattern

Helper (Sahayika): The selection process for the Helper post consists of a Written Test followed by an Interview (Viva-Voce) and Document Verification. The written test contains basic questions on general knowledge, simple arithmetic, nutrition and public health, and the Bengali or English language. The written test is of moderate difficulty, pitched at the Class VIII level. Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview where their documents are verified and basic questions are asked to assess suitability.

Cook: The selection process for the Cook post is similar to the Helper. It involves a Written Test and an Interview. The written test includes questions on general knowledge, basic math, nutrition, cooking and food preparation, and Bengali/English language skills. The interview assesses communication, suitability, and basic cooking knowledge.

Supervisor: The WBPSC ICDS Exam for the Supervisor post is conducted in three stages:

Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination (Screening Test):

• Type of Questions: MCQ (Objective Type)
• Total Questions: 100
• Total Marks: 100 (1 mark each)
• Duration: 60 minutes (1 hour)
• Subjects: General Knowledge, Arithmetic, and Reasoning Ability
• Negative Marking: Yes (marks are deducted for wrong answers)
• Nature: Qualifying in nature; prelims marks are not counted in the final merit list.

Stage 2 – Mains (Written Examination):

• Type of Questions: Descriptive (Conventional)
• Total Papers: 4
• Total Marks: 400 (100 marks each)
• Duration: 90 minutes per paper (6 hours total)
• Negative Marking: None
• Paper I: English – 100 Marks – 90 Minutes
• Paper II: Bengali / Hindi / Urdu / Nepali / Santali – 100 Marks – 90 Minutes
• Paper III: General Studies & Current Affairs – 100 Marks – 90 Minutes
• Paper IV: Arithmetic (Class X Standard) – 100 Marks – 90 Minutes

Stage 3 – Viva-Voce (Personality Test):

• Total Marks: 50
• No fixed duration
• No negative marking
• Tests communication skills, general awareness, confidence, and suitability for administrative responsibilities.
• The final merit list is prepared based on combined marks from Mains + Viva-Voce.

Syllabus

Helper (Sahayika): The written test syllabus for Helper includes General Knowledge (basic awareness of health, nutrition, and child care), Simple Arithmetic (addition, subtraction, basic calculations), Bengali or English Language (reading and comprehension at primary level), and Nutrition & Public Health basics.

Cook: The written test syllabus for Cook includes General Knowledge, Basic Mathematics, Nutrition and Food Science (importance of balanced diet, nutritional value of foods), Basic Cooking Knowledge, and Bengali/English Language. Questions are pitched at the Class VIII level.

Supervisor – Preliminary Exam Syllabus: General Knowledge: History of India, Geography, Economy, Science & Technology, Political Science, Current Affairs. Arithmetic: Profit & Loss, Discount, Percentages, Averages, Ratios & Proportions, Number Series, Time & Work, Time & Distance. Reasoning Ability: Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Venn Diagram, Logic, Coding-Decoding, Number Analogy.

Supervisor – Mains Exam Syllabus: Paper I – English: Essay writing, comprehension, precis writing, grammar, vocabulary, and letter writing at graduation level. Paper II – Bengali (or chosen language): Essay writing, comprehension, precis writing, grammar, and Bengali language skills (or Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali for those whose first language is not Bengali). Paper III – General Studies & Current Affairs: Indian history, geography, polity, economy, environment, science & technology, current national and international affairs, West Bengal-specific issues, social welfare schemes, child development, and women empowerment programs. Paper IV – Arithmetic: Class X standard arithmetic including number systems, simplification, percentage, profit & loss, ratio, simple and compound interest, time & work, time & speed, mensuration, and data interpretation.

Salary

Helper (Sahayika): The Helper receives a monthly honorarium (not a regular salary) as it is a contractual/honorary position. The current monthly honorarium for an Anganwadi Helper in West Bengal is approximately Rs. 4,800 to Rs. 5,000 per month. Additional incentives may be provided for special health camps, nutrition drives, and other government programs. Training, travel allowance, and certain retirement benefits are also available after long service.

Cook: The Cook post also receives a monthly honorarium. The pay is similar to the Helper post, typically around Rs. 4,800 to Rs. 5,500 per month. Additional benefits are provided as per government norms.

Supervisor: The Supervisor is a regular government post with a full salary structure. Based on the latest available information:

• Pay Level: 9
• Basic Salary: Rs. 28,900/- per month
• House Rent Allowance (HRA): Rs. 3,468/- (approximately 12% of Basic)
• Medical Allowance: Rs. 500/-
• Dearness Allowance (DA): Rs. 867/- (at 3% DA rate)
• Approximate Gross Salary: Rs. 33,700/- per month (excluding increments and additional allowances)

In addition, Supervisors receive other government benefits such as Provident Fund (PF), gratuity, leave encashment, and medical facilities. The in-hand salary increases over time with annual increments and DA revisions.

Admit Card

For the Supervisor post, the WBPSC ICDS Admit Card is released on the official WBPSC website at psc.wb.gov.in before each stage of the exam (Prelims, Mains, and Viva-Voce). Candidates need to log in to their WBPSC account using their registration credentials to download the admit card. The admit card contains important details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam date, exam time, and exam centre address. Carrying a valid photo ID along with the admit card to the exam hall is mandatory. The admit card is not sent by post, so candidates must download it themselves from the website.

For Helper and Cook posts, the admit card or call letter (if issued) is provided through the respective district ICDS office or the district Women & Child Development Department portal.

Result

The WBPSC ICDS Supervisor result is published on the official WBPSC website. After the Prelims, a merit list of qualified candidates is released. After the Mains and Viva-Voce, a final merit list and recommendation list is prepared based on combined marks. Candidates can check their results by visiting psc.wb.gov.in and looking under the relevant recruitment section. In 2026, WBPSC also released an updated recommendation list in February 2026 for previous cycle (2019 exam) non-joining vacancies, showing that WBPSC continues to update results and appointments regularly.

For the Helper and Cook posts, results are declared district-wise by the respective ICDS project or the district Women & Child Development office.

Cut Off

The WBPSC ICDS cut off marks vary each year depending on the number of vacancies, the difficulty level of the exam, and the total number of candidates who appeared. Category-wise cut off marks are released separately for General, SC, ST, OBC-A, OBC-B, and EWS candidates.

For the Supervisor post:

• The Prelims cut off is released after the preliminary exam to determine who is eligible for the Mains.
• The Mains cut off determines eligibility for the Viva-Voce.
• The final cut off for the merit list is based on combined Mains + Viva-Voce marks.
• Generally, the cut off for General category candidates tends to be higher than for reserved categories.
• The commission fixes minimum qualifying marks in aggregate and also category-wise.

For Helper and Cook posts:

• Cut off marks are determined by district-level authorities and vary from district to district depending on local competition and available vacancies.

Official websites to watch:

• WBPSC Official Website: psc.wb.gov.in
• Women & Child Development & Social Welfare Department: wcdsw.wb.gov.in

Final Note

The WBPSC ICDS Exam 2026 is a golden opportunity for women across West Bengal to secure a government job in the social welfare sector. Whether you aim for the entry-level Helper post or the prestigious Supervisor position, proper preparation and awareness of the exam process are key. Start your preparation early, focus on the syllabus, practice previous-year papers, and keep checking the official website for updates and exam dates. The WBPSC ICDS Exam can be your path to a stable, respected, and meaningful career serving children and mothers in your community.