Preparing for the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam in 2026? Whether you’re just beginning or refining your BPSC preparation strategy, this central hub page is your one-stop resource. Find complete guidance on the BPSC exam pattern, syllabus, books for BPSC preparation, current affairs, online preparation options, and more. Everything is curated specifically to help you crack the BPSC Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages with confidence.
Freshers should start here. Learn more about the exam before you start preparing for it.
The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) is a constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution. It conducts recruitment exams for various Group A and B posts in the Bihar state government, such as Bihar Administrative Service, Bihar Police Service, and other allied services.
BPSC conducts the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), commonly referred to as the BPSC Civil Services Exam, to recruit officers across key state services.
General Eligibility Conditions:
Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen
Educational Qualification: Graduate degree from a recognized university
Age Limit: 20–37 years (General Category)
OBC/BC Male: up to 40 years
OBC/BC Female & General Female: up to 40 years
SC/ST (Male & Female): up to 42 years
Additional Points:
The age limit varies slightly depending on the post (e.g., 20 years minimum age for Police Service).
Number of attempts is not officially restricted, but bound by the upper age limit.
👉 Pro Tip: Use a BPSC Age Limit Checker Tool to assess your eligibility based on date of birth, category, and post preference.
The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has revised its exam pattern to bring it more in line with the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Below is the updated structure for the Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages of the BPSC Civil Services Examination:
The BPSC Mains exam now consists of six papers in total:
Note: Only the marks obtained in the two General Studies papers and Essay paper are counted towards the final merit. General Hindi and Optional subject papers are qualifying in nature.
| Stage | Paper | Marks | Included in Merit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | General Studies (Objective) | 150 | No |
| Mains | General Hindi (Qualifying) | 100 | No (Min. 30% required) |
| General Studies I | 300 | Yes | |
| General Studies II | 300 | Yes | |
| Essay | 300 | Yes | |
| Optional Subject (Objective) | 100 | No | |
| Interview | Personality Test | 120 | Yes |
| Total for Merit | 1020 marks | ||
This new structure reflects BPSC’s move toward a more UPSC-aligned, comprehensive civil services recruitment process. Candidates should prepare with a focus on descriptive answer writing and essay skills, while also ensuring qualifying performance in Hindi and Optional papers.
The final merit list is prepared on the basis of marks obtained in Mains + Interview.
Prelims marks are not counted in the final selection.
Candidates are allotted posts/services based on rank, preference, and category-wise vacancy availability.
Selected candidates are appointed to prestigious Class I and II state government posts, including:
Bihar Administrative Service (BAS)
Bihar Police Service (BPS)
Bihar Financial Services
District Minority Welfare Officer
Revenue Officer
Supply Inspector
Block Panchayat Raj Officer (BPRO)
Labor Enforcement Officer
Post preferences are to be filled during the Main exam application process
A well-crafted strategy is key to cracking the BPSC exam. Watch the video to get an overview of syllabus and challenges faced to cover it.
Visit the BPSC Syllabus & Strategy Page To Understand the syllabus and download a copy for handy reference
Visit BPSC Previous Year Questions to download JPSC Syllabus
The BPSC Prelims Paper I comprises a single objective-type paper of 150 marks covering General Studies. It is qualifying in nature and serves as a screening test for the Mains examination.
Total Marks: 150
Number of Questions: 150 MCQs
Duration: 2 Hours
No Negative Marking (till 69th BPSC)
Negative Marking Introduced: –1/3 mark deducted for every incorrect answer
Uniform Single Shift Exam: To avoid normalization and ensure fairness
MCQ Format Remains Unchanged: 150 questions of 1 mark each
These changes mark a significant shift in strategy required for the Prelims stage.
Based on trend analysis from BPSC 62nd to 69th Prelims exams:
| Subject Area | Avg. Marks | % of Total (150) |
|---|---|---|
| Static GS (History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Science, Art & Culture, Environment) | 89 | 59% |
| Current Affairs | 23 | 15% |
| Bihar-Specific GK | 27 | 18% |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 10 | 7% |
Modern History consistently carries higher weightage than Ancient & Medieval.
Bihar GK is distributed across History, Polity, Geography, Economics, and Current Events.
Art & Culture, Environment, and World Geography vary significantly year-to-year.
Quantitative Aptitude has remained steady at 10 marks.
Despite forming the base of Prelims, Static GS yields comparatively lower short-term return in terms of marks vs. effort:
Requires 1+ year of consistent study
Covers vast syllabus: Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Science, Environment, Culture
Vulnerable to fluctuations in weightage (especially World Geography, Art & Culture)
Current Affairs and Bihar GK provide quicker ROI in targeted preparation
The Mains exam is where General Studies determines rank and selection:
GS I & GS II Combined: 600 marks
Essay Paper: 300 marks
Interview: 120 marks
Total affecting merit: 1020 marks
Hence, General Studies contributes nearly 80% of the final score, excluding qualifying papers like General Hindi and Optional.
Accuracy First: Avoid guesswork due to negative marking
Prioritize High-Yield Areas: Bihar GK, Polity, Modern History, Current Affairs
Simulate Tests With Penalty: Adapt your mock tests to reflect 1/3 negative marking
Concept Mastery Over Rote Learning: Shift from information overload to clarity and accuracy
When preparing for the BPSC Prelims and Mains, Bihar General Knowledge holds a significant place, influencing selection chances across both stages.
Bihar GK consistently contributes ~18% of the total 150 marks (based on analysis from BPSC 62nd to 69th).
Includes topics like: Bihar History, Geography, Economy, Polity, Current Affairs, and Miscellaneous.
Bihar-specific content accounts for ~40% or more of the GS Paper II.
Focus areas include Governance, Development Schemes, Economy, Culture, and Local Administration.
The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Mains examination is a second stage in the recruitment process for civil services in Bihar. With the introduction of key structural changes in the 70th BPSC cycle, aspirants must realign their preparation strategies. This guide provides an in-depth, up-to-date overview of the BPSC Mains syllabus, exam pattern, recent changes, and effective preparation tips.
Introduction of Essay Paper:
A full-fledged Essay paper of 300 marks has been introduced.
It is now a merit-determining paper, not just a part of GS.
Optional Paper is Qualifying:
The optional subject paper is now of 100 marks only, and is qualifying in nature.
Marks from this paper will not be counted for the final merit.
Revised Total Marks for Merit Calculation:
General Hindi (100 marks) and Optional Subject (100 marks) are qualifying.
Merit is calculated from General Studies Paper I, General Studies Paper II, and Essay Paper, totaling 900 marks, along with Interview (120 marks).
| Paper No. | Subject | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Hindi | 100 | Qualifying (30% min) |
| Paper II | General Studies Paper I | 300 | Merit-based |
| Paper III | General Studies Paper II | 300 | Merit-based |
| Paper IV | Essay Writing | 300 | Merit-based |
| Paper V | Optional Subject (from list) | 100 | Qualifying |
Total for Merit: 900 marks (GS I + GS II + Essay)
Interview: 120 marks
Overall Merit Calculation: 1020 marks
Essay (30 marks)
Grammar (30 marks)
Sentence Syntax and Correction (40 marks)
Minimum 30% marks required to qualify.
Modern History of India and Indian Culture
Current Events of National and International Importance
Statistical Graphs, Diagrams, and Charts (interpretation and analysis)
Indian Polity
Indian Economy and Geography of India
Role and Impact of Science & Technology in India
Total Marks: 300
Topics are drawn from social, political, economic, cultural, and governance issues.
Usually divided into 3 sections; candidates must choose 1 topic from each.
Essays should be analytical and balanced, with examples from Bihar and national contexts.
Choose one subject from the list provided by BPSC.
Paper is MCQ and/or descriptive based on the subject.
Only 100 marks; not included in final merit.
Focus preparation on GS I, GS II, and Essay as they account for 900/1020 marks.
Treat Essay as a standalone paper. Practice writing on current and Bihar-specific issues.
In GS and Essay papers, questions often require Bihar-centric data, examples, or analysis.
Prepare state-specific content: economy, schemes, social issues, historical personalities, cultural heritage.
GS papers test depth of understanding, not just memorization.
Incorporate diagrams, flowcharts, and structured headings in answers.
Regularly practice answer writing in a time-bound manner.
Use the 3-2-1 approach: 3 mains answers daily, 2 essays weekly, and 1 full mock every fortnight.
Find Writing Advice on writing good essay in our Mains Section
Use facts, reports, and case studies.
Stay balanced and avoid extreme opinions.
Choose optional subject wisely, based on interest and prior knowledge.
Since it is now qualifying, just ensure 30%+ marks.
Focus on Bihar state news, budget, socio-economic data.
Follow editorials, government schemes, and Bihar Economic Survey.
Ignoring Essay Paper preparation.
Spending excessive time on Optional, which is now qualifying.
Not linking answers with Bihar-specific examples.
Lack of revision and test practice.
Stick to the official syllabus and latest pattern.
Practice full-length mocks simulating real exam conditions.
Revise regularly. Use previous year questions to identify trends.
[To be updated, check back later]
Meanwhile you can read interview transcripts of 11th-13th JPSC as reported by appearing students in our Discussion forum
PS: You can Register a free account using your email and participate in the discussion
Civil Services exam syllabus is vast. Apart from syllabus one needs to practice skills for Objective Tests and Mains Answer Writing.
Time required to prepare for all three stages varies from person to person based on their life experiences, educational background, daily time availability for study, and previous preparation experience.
For someone starting from zero and have full day available for study, General Studies for PT and Mains Combined can be completed in 8-10 Months and Bihar General Knowledge(Bihar State Profile) can be completed in 1 Months. In Total an efficient preparation can be done in one year of time.
However, based on our experience mentoring so many batches, most people take around 1.5-2 years to master every stage and be exam worthy.
BPSC CCE is a very pridictable exam. If you understand the particular needs of the exam and focus on just what the exam demands and not waste time in what is non-essential.
Clearing in the first attempt will require learning experiences from others’ mistakes.
There are things that work, and then there are things that don’t. Most people waste their attempts in learning just that!
We may be biased, but the best BPSC Coaching IS NOT in Patna but in Medininagar, Palamu, Jharkhand.
Migrating to Hub cities has its own advantages & disadvantages. You get large crowd of like minded students preparing for the same exam.
On the flip side, staying out of heard has its own advantage in a exam where standing out matters. You don’t want to write the same answer others are writing. Differentiation is the key to scoring in mains.
We advise holistic preparation that combines Prelims and Mains syllabus for most efficient use of time.
For BPSC PT you need GS, Maths, Reasoning and Current affairs along with Bihar General Knowledge.
Next most important thing is test giving. Solve PYQ and Give lots and lots of tests.
You can also schedule a free 1:1 video call and we will help you create a plan for your self study.
Familiarize yourself with the syllabus first. Preparing for BPSC Mains largely rests on General Studies. 600 marks out of total 900 comes from GS
There are two key elements to JPSC Mains Preparation:
These two exams are very similar, and it’s best if you prepare them together.
Start with preparing General Studies combined with current affairs. Prepare any paper one time with both- Prelims & Mains in mind. Do MCQ and answerwriting as you progress along. GS forms the bulk of the preparation for both exams.
The other common factor is preparing aptitude papers like maths and resoning. Iyt will be in UPSC CSAT as well as BPSC PT.
Next comes essay, preparing it will set you up for both: UPSC & BPSC Mains
With GS and CSAT prepared all you will need for UPSC Mains
For BPSC you need:
BPSC Preparation requires preparing GS, Bihar General Knowledge, Current Affairs & Bihar current affairs.
You will also need to learn skills pertaining to MCQ solving and Mains Answer Writing for BPSC Mains Stage
