The West Bengal Police Department has officially confirmed that the remaining stages of its 2019 constable recruitment process — including the physical efficiency test (PET) and subsequent medical examinations — will begin from June 2021. The announcement addresses a prolonged wait for over 30,000 candidates who had cleared the initial written examination but were left without any communication for nearly two years regarding the next phases of selection.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the delay in conducting the PET and medical tests was primarily attributed to logistical challenges and administrative backlog accumulated during the initial phase of the recruitment drive. Candidates who passed the computer-based written exam, which was conducted across multiple centres in early 2020, were required to appear for the PET in categories such as running, high jump, and long jump, followed by a detailed medical fitness assessment.
The police department has directed all interested candidates to regularly check the official website at wbpolice.gov.in for updated call letters and examination schedules. Authorities have indicated that the selection process is expected to be conducted in batches, with candidates chosen on the basis of their written exam scores and regional preferences. No new applications are being accepted, and the recruitment remains strictly tied to the original 2019 notification cycle.
Civil society groups and candidate support organisations had repeatedly flagged the delays, arguing that prolonged uncertainty was causing significant hardship for applicants from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who had invested considerable time and resources preparing for the exams. The West Bengal government, which had originally advertised 18,654 constable posts, has been under pressure to expedite the process and fill the vacancies that contribute to existing staffing shortages across the state's police force.
Candidates who fail to report for the scheduled PET or medical tests when called may face disqualification from the current recruitment cycle, officials warned.
