BPSC 72nd Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern (Prelims + Mains) PDF Download

The BPSC Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (BPSC CCE) is a premier recruitment drive in Bihar, attracting lakhs of aspirants annually. Comprising a Preliminary and Mains stage, the exam demands a strategic approach. Having a deep understanding of the BPSC 72nd Syllabus 2026 is critical to aligning your preparation with exam standards. This guide provides a detailed subject-wise breakdown of the syllabus for both stages and includes a direct link to download the official PDF.

BPSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

The BPSC 72nd Notification 2026, released on 5th May 2026, announces 1,250 vacancies for various prestigious administrative roles. Aligned with UPSC standards, the Bihar Public Service Commission conducts this selection process in three distinct stages: Preliminary, Mains, and the Personal Interview. Mastery of the BPSC syllabus and exam pattern is a prerequisite for achieving a high rank.

BPSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
Organization	Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)
Exam Name	BPSC 72nd CCE Exam
Prelims Exam Date	26th July 2026
Level of Exam	State Level
Category	Syllabus
Negative Marking	Prelims: ⅓ mark Mains- Nil
Mode of Exam	Offline
Selection Process	Prelims, Mains, & Interview
Official website	www.bpsc.bih.nic.in

BPSC 70th Final Result 2026 Declared - Click to View Results

BPSC Selection Process 2026

Candidates must qualify in each stage sequentially to advance to the next level of the selection process. Successful completion of the Prelims qualifies you for the Mains, followed by the final interview stage. Refer below to understand the structure of each stage of the BPSC CCE.

1. Preliminary Examination
2. Mains Examination
3. Interview

BPSC Exam Pattern 2026

The BPSC defines a rigorous syllabus for both Prelims and Mains. The 72nd CCE Preliminary exam consists of a 150-mark objective paper. The Mains exam is subjective, totaling 1,000 marks, with General Hindi acting as a mandatory qualifying paper. Additionally, the personal interview carries 120 marks. Candidates are allotted 2 hours for the Prelims and 3 hours for each paper in the Mains.

BPSC Selection Process 2026
Stages of BPSC Exam	Type of Exam	Total Marks	Duration
Prelims	Objective	150	2 Hours
Mains	Subjective	One qualifying paper (Hindi) 900 ( 3 Papers of 300 marks each)	3 hours for each Paper
Personal Interview	Physically Present	120	Not Defined

BPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The Preliminary stage serves as a screening test to filter candidates for the Mains. Marks obtained in the Prelims do not contribute to the final merit list. Before diving into the study material, it is essential for candidates to review the BPSC Prelims Exam Pattern detailed in the section below.

BPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
Papers	Total Question	Total Marks	Time Duration	Negative Marking
General Studies	150	150 marks	2 hours	⅓ marks
Total	150	150	2 hours	⅓ marks

Key Examination Guidelines:

1. Marks of paper will be considered for qualifying candidates for the mains exam.
2. There is a negative marking of ⅓ marks in the 72nd BPSC Prelims exam.
3. BPSC Prelims is a screening in nature.
4. Candidates need to score a minimum of marks as decided by the commission to qualify for the main exam.
5. All the questions are set in English and Hindi, except for those questions that are meant to test the candidate’s knowledge of English.

BPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2026

Advancement to the BPSC Mains requires candidates to exceed the cut-off marks established by the Commission in the Prelims. While the Prelims is qualifying, the Mains is comprehensive. The Mains include a qualifying General Hindi paper, alongside General Studies Paper 1 and Paper 2, each worth 300 marks. Candidates must also sit for an optional paper (selected during the application phase), which carries 300 marks. A list of 34 available optional subjects is provided below.

BPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2026
Papers	Name of Paper	Total Marks	Duration
72nd Combined Competitive Examination	General Hindi (Qualifying)	100	3 Hours
	General Studies Paper 1	300	3 Hours
	General Studies Paper 2	300	3 Hours
	Essay	300	3 Hours
Child Development (Project Officer (Social Welfare Department)	General Hindi	100	3 Hours
	General Studies Paper 1	300	3 Hours
	General Studies Paper 2	300	3 Hours
Financial Administrative Officer and equivalent (Finance Department)	General Hindi	100	3 Hours
	General Studies Paper 1	300	3 Hours
	General Studies Paper 2	300	3 Hours
Sub-Divisional Protection Officer (Social Welfare Department)	General Hindi	100	3 Hours
	General Studies Paper 1	300	3 Hours
	General Studies Paper 2	300	3 Hours

BPSC 72nd Syllabus 2026

Gaining a firm grasp of the BPSC Syllabus 2026 is the first step toward effective preparation. Familiarity with the syllabus and the marking scheme allows candidates to prioritize high-yield topics and manage their study time efficiently across all stages of the examination.

BPSC Syllabus 2026 for Prelims Exam

The BPSC 72nd Prelims syllabus maintains consistency with previous years, covering General Science, Current Affairs, Indian Polity, Economy, History, and the Indian National Movement. Given the standard of the questions, a structured study plan is essential. Below is the detailed breakdown of the 72nd Prelims syllabus.

BPSC Syllabus 2026 for Prelims Exam
Subjects	Topics
General Science	General understanding of science, including matters of everyday observation and experience The questions on Science and technology
Current Affairs of National/International Importance	Topics related to Current Affairs of National/International Importance
History of India and Bihar	General understanding of the subject with the broad aspects of the history of Bihar
Geography of India and Bihar	Questions will relate to the physical, social and economic geography of the country, including the main features of Indian agricultural and natural resources
Indian Polity	Questions will test knowledge on the country’s political system, Panchayati raj, community development and planning in India and Bihar
Indian economy and economy of Bihar	Indian economy and economy of Bihar post-independence
Indian Movements and Contribution of Bihar in it	Questions will relate to the nature and character of the 19th century resurgence, growth of nationalism, and attainment of independence with special reference to Bihar Under Indian Economy and Polity, the questions will cover the following topics: Indian Political System, Panchayati Raj, Community Development, Planning in India and Bihar Under the Indian National Movement, candidates have to focus on the resurgence in the 19th century, the nature and growth of nationalism in India, and India’s independence Also, the role of Bihar in the Indian National Movement is important from the BPSC exam point of view
General Mental Ability	Topics related to General Mental Ability

Review Previous Year BPSC Cut-Off Marks

BPSC Syllabus 2026 for Mains Exam

The BPSC Mains syllabus 2026 covers four key areas: General Hindi, General Studies Paper 1, General Studies Paper 2, and the chosen Optional Subject. Each paper is critical to your final selection score.

BPSC Syllabus 2026 for Mains Exam
Papers	Subjects/Topics
General Hindi	Essay Grammar Syntax Summarisation
General Studies 1	Indian Culture Modern History of India Contemporary events of national and international importance Statistical Analysis, diagrams and graphs
General Studies 2	Indian and Bihar Polity Indian and Bihar Economy Indian and Bihar Geography Role and impact of Science and Technology in the development of India (and Bihar)
Optional Subjects	Agricultural Science Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Anthropology Botany Chemistry Civil Engineering Commerce and Accountancy Law Economics Electrical Engineering Geography Geology History Labour and Social Welfare Law Management Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Philosophy Physics Political Science and International Relations Psychology Public Administration Sociology Statistics Zoology Hindi Language and Literature English Language and Literature Urdu Language and Literature Bengali Language and Literature Sanskrit Language and Literature Persian Language and Literature Arabic Language and Literature Pali Language and Literature Maithili Language and Literature

Download Official BPSC Prelims & Mains Syllabus PDF

BPSC Interview Test

Candidates who successfully clear the BPSC Mains will be invited to the final Interview round. This interview is conducted by a board appointed by the Commission to assess your suitability, analytical skills, and personality for administrative service.

1. The candidate will be interviewed by a board who will have before them a record of the candidate's career and interests filled by the candidate in the application form.
2. The objective of the interview is to check the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in the state services by a board of competent and unbiased observers.
3. In the personality test, apart from their academic study, candidates must be aware of the affairs happening both within and outside their state.
4. The interview is more of a purposeful conversation intended to explore the mental qualities and analytical ability of the candidate.

Access BPSC Previous Year Question Papers Here