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‘Fruit of decade-long activism': Nepali listed as optional subject for West Bengal Civil Service exam
By Debasmita Chowdhury
The West Bengal government has included Nepali as an optional subject in the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) 2025 Mains examination, fulfilling sustained demands by the Gorkha community.
Hindi and Santhali were made 'compulsory language' subject options, according to a June 17 notification by the state's Personnel and Administrative Reforms department.
Recognised as an official language in the state since 1961 and listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, Nepali had previously not been on the list of optional subjects of the examination. However, its availability as a compulsory subject for the preliminary examinations has continued this year.
The move means that students with degrees in Nepali and its native speakers will be able to use the optional subject to their advantage instead of resorting to unrelated subjects for the main examination.
This had sparked protests over the years, especially in the Darjeeling hills. 'This decision comes after strong and sustained efforts, which I had been following up on since 2021. This year, I had reached out to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 31, requesting her to ensure justice for Gorkha, Adivasi and Hindi-speaking communities, accompanied by strong representation from various stakeholders, including the Hills Student Union (HSA), North Bengal University, and the All Bengal Adivasi Students' Association (ABASA),' said Raju Bista, Darjeeling MP from the BJP in a statement.
He called the move a reaffirmation of Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality and non-discrimination. 'Let this decision mark the beginning of more inclusive and sensitive policy-making that reflects the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of the state, particularly our Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region,' Bista said.
Until now, students who studied subjects like Physics or Bengali could opt for them in WBCS, but those with degrees in Nepali were denied that option, forcing them to choose unrelated subjects.
Upendra M Pradhan, Editor of The Darjeeling Chronicle, said, 'The Constitution of India guarantees the right to equality, but the Gorkhas had been deprived of this right. The inclusion of Nepali as an optional subject in the WBCS examination, finally, after decade-long activism by Gorkha students, youth politicians, showcases the disconnect Kolkata has towards the people of Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars, particularly the Gorkhas. This is something that should have been done automatically, but they had to struggle.'
The writer is an intern with The Indian Express
