The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination is conducted in three stages:
Preliminary Examination (Prelims) – Qualifying stage for selection to the Main Examination.
Main Examination (Mains) – The primary stage for merit determination.
Interview (Personality Test) – Assessment of personality, suitability, and overall aptitude.
Candidates up to 10 times the total notified vacancies are shortlisted for the Main Examination, while candidates up to 2.5 times the notified vacancies are called for the Interview.
The final merit list is prepared based on Mains (900 Marks) + Interview (120 Marks) = 1020 Marks.
Preliminary Examination (BPSC Prelims)
The Preliminary Examination is objective in nature and is conducted at various examination centers across Bihar.
Exam Pattern
Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
General Studies | 150 | 150 | 2 Hours |
Important Points
- Each question has four options (A, B, C, and D).
- Answers must be marked on the OMR sheet using a black or blue ballpoint pen.
- Each correct answer carries 1 mark.
- 0.33 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer.
- If a candidate does not wish to attempt a question, they must mark option 'E'. Failure to mark option 'E' will result in a deduction of 0.33 marks.
- Marking more than one answer for a question will be treated as an incorrect response.
- Question papers are provided in both Hindi and English.
- In case of any discrepancy, the English version shall prevail.
- Marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not considered for final merit.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
Category | Minimum Marks |
General | 40% |
BC | 36.5% |
OBC | 34% |
Women / SC / ST / PwD | 32% |
Syllabus
- General Science
- Current Events of National and International Importance
- History of India and Bihar
- Geography of India and Bihar
- Indian Polity
- Indian Economy and Economy of Bihar
- Indian National Movement and Bihar's Contribution
- General Mental Ability
Approximate Distribution of Questions
Subject | Questions |
History | 35 |
Current Affairs | 30 |
Science | 30 |
Geography | 20 |
Economy | 15 |
Polity | 10 |
General Mental Ability | 10 |
Total | 150 |
Approximately 15–20% of the questions are Bihar-specific.
Main Examination (BPSC Mains)
The Main Examination is descriptive in nature. General Hindi and the Optional Subject are qualifying papers, while merit is determined based on GS-I, GS-II, and Essay.
Exam Pattern
Subject | Marks | Duration |
General Hindi (Qualifying) | 100 | 3 Hours |
General Studies Paper-I | 300 | 3 Hours |
General Studies Paper-II | 300 | 3 Hours |
Essay | 300 | 3 Hours |
Optional Subject (Qualifying) | 100 | 2 Hours |
Total Marks for Merit: 900
Optional Subject (Qualifying)
- The Optional Subject paper is Objective (MCQ) in nature.
- There is no negative marking in this paper.
- Marks obtained in the Optional Subject are not counted for merit; candidates only need to secure the minimum qualifying marks.
Category | Minimum Marks |
General | 40% |
BC | 36.5% |
OBC | 34% |
Women / SC / ST / PwD | 32% |
General Studies Paper-I
- Modern History of India
- Freedom Movement with special reference to Bihar
- Indian Culture
- Current Events of National and International Importance
- Statistical Analysis, Graphs and Diagrams
General Studies Paper-II
- Indian Polity
- Indian Economy
- Geography of India and Bihar
- Role and Impact of Science & Technology in India's Development
Essay
- Candidates are required to write three essays.
- Each essay carries 100 marks.
- Each essay should be approximately 700–800 words.
- The final section may include topics based on idioms and proverbs.
Language
- Question papers are available in both Hindi and English.
- Answers may be written only in Hindi, English, or Urdu.
- Mixing languages within the same answer should be avoided.
Interview (Personality Test)
Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for the Interview.
Marks
Stage | Marks |
Interview | 120 |
Purpose of the Interview
The Interview assesses a candidate's:
- General Awareness
- Personality Traits
- Decision-Making Ability
- Communication Skills
- Administrative Aptitude
- Social and Contemporary Understanding
After the Interview, document verification is conducted. The final merit list is prepared based on the combined marks obtained in the Main Examination and Interview.