The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has outlined the comprehensive BPSC 71st Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 to help aspirants streamline their preparation for the upcoming civil services examination. Understanding the exam structure is the first step toward success, as it allows candidates to identify high-weightage topics such as Indian History, Bihar’s Geography, and Current Affairs.
The selection process consists of three distinct stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview. With the Mains scheduled for late April 2026, candidates must strictly adhere to the official syllabus provided below to ensure they cover all descriptive and objective requirements effectively.
BPSC 71st Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 – Overview
Below is a summarized overview of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) 71st CCE recruitment process.
| Organization Name | Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) |
| Category | Syllabus & Exam Pattern |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Exam Duration | Prelims: 2 Hours |
| Total Marks | Prelims: 150 Marks |
| Official Website | https://onlinebpsc.bihar.gov.in/ |
BPSC 71st CCE Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The BPSC Preliminary Exam is the screening stage. Marks obtained here are not counted in the final merit list but are mandatory for qualifying for the Mains.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 150 | 150 | 2 Hours |
Format: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
Negative Marking: 1/3 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.
BPSC 71st CCE Exam Pattern 2026 For Mains
The Mains exam is descriptive (except for the Optional Subject) and is the most crucial part of the selection.
| Paper | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| General Hindi (Qualifying) | 100 | 3 Hours |
| General Studies Paper 1 | 300 | 3 Hours |
| General Studies Paper 2 | 300 | 3 Hours |
| Essay | 300 | 3 Hours |
| Optional Subject (Objective) | 100/300* | 3 Hours |
BPSC 71st CCE Syllabus 2026 For Prelims
Candidates must prepare the following topics for the General Studies paper:
| Subject | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Studies | Events of National and international importance; General Science; Geography of India and Geography of Bihar; General geography and geographical division of Bihar and its main river systems; History of Bihar and Indian History; Indian Polity (Questions will assess knowledge of the political system, community development, Panchayati Raj, and planning in India and Bihar); Changes in the economy of Bihar post-independence; Indian Polity and Economy (Indian Political System, Community Development, Panchayati Raj, and Planning in India and Bihar); General Mental Ability; Indian National Movement and the Role of Bihar (Question about the nature and character of the 19th-century resurgence, nationalism growth, and Independence attainment with special emphasis on Bihar). |
BPSC 71st Syllabus 2026 For Mains
The Mains syllabus is divided into qualifying and merit-ranking papers.
| Subject | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Hindi | Essay; Grammar; Syntax; Summarization |
| General Studies Paper 1 | Indian Culture; Modern History of India; Current International and National Events of Importance; Statistical Analysis, Diagrams, Graphs |
| General Studies Paper 2 | Indian Polity; Indian Economy and Geography of India; Role and Impact of Science and Technology in the Development of India |
| Essay | Moral and Philosophical Essay; Hypothetical Essay; Essays on Social, Economic, Political, Religious, and Administrative Issues – Self-reliant India & Digital India; Issues, solutions & possibilities of Bihar – Popular proverbs and sayings of Bihar |
BPSC Mains Optional 2026 Subjects List:
Candidates can choose one from 34 subjects including: Agriculture, Philosophy, Anthropology, Physics, Animal Husbandry, Political Science, Botany, Psychology, Chemistry, Public Administration, Commerce, Sociology, Civil Engineering, Statistics, Economics, Zoology, Electrical Engineering, English, Geography, Urdu, Geology, Hindi, History, Persian, Law, Arabic, Labour and Social Welfare, Pali, Mechanical Engineering, Maithili, Mathematics, Bangla, Management, and Sanskrit.
