BPSC 2026 — Bihar Civil Services Exam: Bihar's state civil services exam — become SDM, DSP, Circle Officer, or District Officer through BPSC Combined Competitive Exam.Vacancies: ~600-1,000. Applicants: 6+ Lakh. Salary: ₹56K–2L/mo. Age: 20-37 (Gen).BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) Combined Competitive Examination is Bihar's state-level civil services exam — equivalent to UPSC CSE for Bihar. It recruits for Group A and Group B administrative, police, and revenue posts including Sub-Divisional Officer (SDM), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Circle Officer (CO), District Transport Officer, and 20+ other posts in the Bihar state government.
Registration OpenUpdated: March 2026
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BPSC 2026 — Bihar Civil Services Exam
Bihar's state civil services exam — become SDM, DSP, Circle Officer, or District Officer through BPSC Combined Competitive Exam
Vacancies
~600-1,000
Applicants
6+ Lakh
Salary
₹56K–2L/mo
Age
20-37 (Gen)
📋Key Details
Conducting BodyBihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), Patna
EducationBachelor's degree from any recognized university
Age Limit20-37 years (General). OBC/Women: 40, SC/ST: 42. Relaxation for reserved categories.
AttemptsNo limit on attempts — only age limit matters. Attempt as many times as you're within age.
PrelimsONE paper only: General Studies (150 Qs, 2 hours, 150 marks). No CSAT.
SelectionPrelims → Mains (4 papers) → Interview (120 marks) → Final Merit
📝Prelims — Single Paper (2 hours)
150 MCQs on General Studies — history, geography, polity, economy, science, current affairs. Bihar-specific questions (15-20%) on Bihar history, geography, economy, and current state affairs.
General Studies (GS)150 Qs · 150 marks
Total150 Qs · 150 marks · 120 minutes
⚠️ Negative marking: No negative marking in recent BPSC Prelims (verify for your cycle)
📝Mains — Written (4 papers)
GS Paper 1 (300 marks), GS Paper 2 (300 marks), Optional Subject (100 marks), Hindi qualifying (100 marks, need 30%). Plus Essay papers. All descriptive.
GS Paper 1: History, Polity, Geography, Science0 Qs · 300 marks
GS Paper 2: Economy, Bihar specific, Current Affairs0 Qs · 300 marks
Optional Subject (from BPSC list)0 Qs · 100 marks
Hindi (Qualifying — 30% needed)0 Qs · 100 marks
Total0 Qs · 700 (GS) + Interview 120 marks · 4 papers over 3-4 days
⚠️ Negative marking: No negative marking
💰Posts & Salary
Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO/SDM)(Revenue/General Administration)
₹80,000–1,00,000/monthDeputy SP (DSP)(Bihar Police)
₹80,000–1,00,000/monthCircle Officer (CO)(Revenue Department)
₹75,000–90,000/monthDistrict Officer (various)(Various state departments)
₹75,000–90,000/month📚Bihar-Specific GS — What to Prepare
BPSC gives significant weightage to Bihar-specific content. In Prelims, expect 15-25 questions on Bihar. In Mains GS Paper 2, Bihar-specific topics carry even more weight. Key areas:
Bihar History: Ancient Bihar (Magadha, Nalanda, Maurya dynasty, Vikramshila), Medieval Bihar (Sher Shah Suri, Mughal era), Modern Bihar (Champaran Satyagraha, Quit India in Bihar, Bihar Vibhajan), Bihar's role in India's independence movement.
Bihar Geography: River systems (Ganga, Sone, Kosi, Gandak — their flood patterns), agricultural zones, mineral resources (Jharkhand was part of Bihar), current geography and demographics.
Bihar Economy: State GDP, major industries, agricultural production (Bihar is top producer of litchi, makhana, vegetables), Bihar's fiscal health, major government projects and schemes, investment climate.
Bihar Current Affairs: State government policies, new schemes, budget highlights, state elections, infrastructure projects (bridges, highways, smart cities), education and health indicators, crime and law order developments. Follow Dainik Bhaskar or Prabhat Khabar (Bihar edition) for state-specific news.
📅Important Dates
NotificationCheck bpsc.bih.nic.in — BPSC conducts multiple cycles per year
PrelimsAs per BPSC calendar (recently conducting every 6-8 months)
Mains3-4 months after Prelims results
Interview2-3 months after Mains results
📚Preparation Strategy
1.BPSC Prelims has NO CSAT and NO negative marking (in recent cycles) — this is a significant advantage over UPSC. Focus entirely on GS. Attempt all 150 questions without fear of negative marking.
2.Bihar-specific GS is your edge. Most UPSC-focused coaching doesn't cover Bihar topics well. Dedicate 20% of your GS preparation to Bihar history, geography, economy, and current affairs. Books: 'Bihar — Ek Parichay' by Imtiaz Ahmed, Bihar NCERT textbooks.
3.BPSC optional subject carries only 100 marks (vs 500 in UPSC). Choose an easy-to-score optional that requires less preparation time — Hindi Literature, History, or Political Science are popular and high-scoring in BPSC.
4.Answer writing style for BPSC: More factual and direct than UPSC. Examiners prefer clear, point-wise answers with relevant data and examples from Bihar. Don't write overly philosophical or analytical answers — stick to facts and applications.
5.BPSC exam frequency has increased — they now conduct exams more frequently (sometimes 2 cycles per year). This means more opportunities. Always apply for every BPSC cycle announced — each attempt is experience.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
🔗Related Exams
BPSC Official
www.bpsc.bih.nic.in