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India · 2026 Edition · Updated 2026-05-30
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BPSC 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Combined Competition Examination is one of the most prestigious civil service examinations in Bihar, India. It recruits candidates for various Group A and Group B posts in the Bihar state government, including District Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Revenue Officer, and other administrative positions. The examination is conducted in three stages: Preliminary Examination (Objective), Main Examination (Descriptive), and Interview. BPSC is considered a gateway for candidates aspiring to serve in the Bihar state civil services.

Year
2026
Subjects
4
Topics
38
Cost
Free

Tracked daily from https://bpsc.bihar.gov.in/. See 2026 calendar →

📋 Exam Pattern

The BPSC Preliminary Examination consists of one General Studies paper with 100 multiple-choice questions carrying 200 marks, to be completed in 2 hours. The Main Examination has four compulsory papers: General Hindi (100 marks), General Studies Paper 1 (300 marks), General Studies Paper 2 (300 marks), and Optional Subject Paper (300 marks). Each Main paper is of 3 hours duration. The Interview/Personality Test carries 120 marks. The Preliminary serves as a screening test; only those who qualify are allowed to appear for the Main examination.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must be Indian citizens with a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university. The age limit is 21-37 years for general category candidates, with relaxations up to 42 years for SC/ST and 40 years for OBC candidates. Female candidates from general category get age relaxation up to 40 years. Candidates must be proficient in Hindi language and of good moral character. Those already employed in government service may also apply subject to certain conditions.

Subjects & Topics Covered — 38 topics across 4 subjects

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Frequently Asked Questions — BPSC

Everything you need to know about BPSC. Scroll down for the complete study guide.

What is the BPSC 2026 syllabus audit and where can aspirants download the official subject-wise PDF for both Prelims and Mains?
The BPSC 2026 syllabus audit is a systematic comparison of the notified syllabus against current PYQs and expected topics to identify high-weightage areas before the Combined Competitive Examination notification drops (expected in the first quarter of 2026). Aspirants should download the standalone Prelims GS syllabus PDF and the Mains paper-wise syllabus (GS Paper I to IV, General Hindi, Essay, Optional) directly from the Syllabus section rather than relying on third-party compilations. The official portal publishes Hindi and English versions. Cross-check each paper code (e.g., 01-General Studies I) with the 70th CCE notification. Source: bpsc.bih.nic.in
How many papers does the BPSC Mains 2026 written examination comprise and what is the marks distribution per paper?
The BPSC Mains 2026 written stage carries 1,200 marks across seven papers, structured as four General Studies papers (GS I-IV, 300 marks each, total 1,200), one General Hindi qualifying paper (100 marks), one Essay paper (300 marks), and two Optional Subject papers (300 marks each). Adding the 200-mark Personality Test brings the grand total to 1,400. Candidates should audit their weekly plan to allocate 1 paper per fortnight in the final 90 days, prioritising GS IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) given its high scoring potential. Source: bpsc.bih.nic.in
What is the marking scheme and negative marking rule for the BPSC Prelims 2026 General Studies paper?
The BPSC Prelims 2026 General Studies paper is a single objective-type test of 150 multiple-choice questions carrying 1 mark each, totalling 150 marks, to be completed in 120 minutes. A negative marking rule of 0.25 marks is deducted for every incorrect answer, meaning four wrong answers cancel one correct one. Questions are bilingual (Hindi and English), and only the qualifying score (set category-wise, typically 40% for UR) counts — the Prelims score is not added to the final merit. Skip-attempt strategy matters more here than in UPSC. Source: bpsc.bih.nic.in
What is the minimum qualifying mark requirement in the BPSC General Hindi paper and does it affect final ranking?
Candidates must score a minimum of 30 marks out of 100 in the General Hindi qualifying paper (40 marks for SC/ST and other notified reserved categories as per the latest BPSC reservation schedule). Failing to clear this threshold results in disqualification from the Personality Test stage, regardless of GS performance. Marks obtained in Hindi are NOT counted in the final merit calculation of 1,400, but passing is mandatory. Aspirants should solve at least five previous Hindi papers to identify the Bihar-specific essay and grammar pattern before the 2026 cycle. Source: bpsc.bih.nic.in
What is the educational eligibility and final-year appearing rule for BPSC 2026 candidates?
For the BPSC 2026 Combined Competitive Examination, the minimum educational qualification is a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a university recognised by the University Grants Commission or an equivalent statutory body. Final-year students appearing in their qualifying degree examination are also provisionally eligible to apply, provided they produce the passing certificate at the Mains document-verification stage. There is no minimum percentage requirement. Aspirants should keep their degree/marksheet and Aadhaar ready before the online application window opens to avoid last-minute portal rejections. Source: bpsc.bih.nic.in

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Exam Name BPSC
Country 🇮🇳 India
Subjects History, Geography, Indian Polity, Current Affairs
Total Topics 38
Official Source https://bpsc.bihar.gov.in/
Last Updated 2026-05-30