Bihar Public Service Commission is abbreviated as BPSC. It is one of the most well-known State-level civil service examinations. On 1 March 1951, the State Government chose to move the headquarters of BPSC from Ranchi to Patna. The purpose of this examination is to shortlist candidates for positions such as SDM, DSP, rural development officers, subdivisional officers, and so on.
The BPSC examination is expected to take place soon. Before applying for the BPSC examination, one should be familiar with the exam pattern and syllabus. It is one of the most competitive and tough exam to crack however, with the right strategy and time management one can ace the exam.
You can check the official BPSC website to find the revised syllabus and schedule-
BPSC exam pattern
The BPSC exam is structured similarly to the IAS examination. Three levels are involved in the exam: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Candidates clearing the Prelims get ready to compete in the Mains. Those passing the Mains are required to appear for an interview.
Prelims consist of 1 GS paper of 150 marks and is objective in nature. Mains comprises of 4 papers which are subjective in nature and carry a total of 900 marks. The third stage, i.e personality test or interview, has a weightage of 120 marks.
Check the exam pattern for the prelims examination .
| Subjects | Number of questions | Total Marks | Type of Questions | Duration |
| General Studies | 150 | 150 | MCQs | 2 hours |
| Total | 150 questions | 150 marks |
BPSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern- Mains
Check the exam pattern for the mains examination .
| Subject | Total Marks | Duration |
| General Hindi (Qualifying) | 100 | 3 hours |
| General Studies I | 300 | 3 hours |
| General Studies II | 300 | 3 hours |
| Optional Paper | 300 | 3 hours |
| Total | 900 marks | 3 hours for each paper |
BPSC preparation tips
Every student is unique in different ways such as their educational background, mindset, knowledge, strengths and weaknesses. One strategy fits all will not work for a dynamic examination like BPSC. An individual must develop their own strategy and time management plan to ace in this exam. In this article, we are providing you a general preparation strategy that will improve your overall preparation.
- Divide your day according to the weightage of the subjects in the exam, such as polity and history. So, one should prepare history and polity in the most comprehensive manner.
- Select standard books for your study and don’t change the books in between of your plan. Stick to them and make quality notes.
- Basic questions are frequently asked in this examination, that often confuse students. For basic knowledge, reading NCERT 6-12 classes is a must. It will help you to gain a basic understanding of each subject.
- You should have a deep knowledge of national and international current affairs. Reading newspapers and monthly magazines is essential for an administrative examination. Even reading is not enough; understanding every scenario is essential.
- Prepare quality and exhaustive notes on the history, geography, culture, and specifics of Bihar. Revise it consistently.
- Map-based questions are very common in exams. So prepare a World, Indian and Bihar specific map with minute details.
- Solving previous year’s question papers will help you to understand the nature of the questions asked in the exam.
- Before the examination, take as many mock tests as possible. This will help you plan your time and give you an idea of approaching the paper. It will enhance your writing skills in the mains examination and also improve stress management.
- Healthy diet, sound sleep, and regular exercise will help you in organizing your day properly.
- Keep your booklist short and precise and revise it regularly. Reading lots of things is not important, retaining them is.
List of some standard books are given below that candidates can go for their preparation
| Subject | Books |
| History | India’s Ancient Past – R.S Sharma A history of Medieval India – Satish Chandra History of Modern India – Bipin Chandra Indian Art and Culture – Nitin Singhania |
| Geography | World and Physical Geography – DR Khullar Physical and Human Geography – GC Leong Geography of India – Majid Hussain |
| Indian Polity | Indian Polity – M. Laxmikanth The Constitution of India – PM Bakshi Introduction to the Constitution of India – D.D. Basu |
| Economics | Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh Indian Economy – Uma Kapila Indian Economy – Mishra and Puri |
| General Science | Lucent |
| Bihar Special | KBC Nano, Arihant |
| Current Affairs | Disha experts/ Pratiyogita Darpan |
Disclaimer for BPSC preparation strategy
All the information in this article is totally based on the MyBestGuide research team. Our recommended strategy and booklist were completely designed at our own discretion taking into consideration the dynamism, time duration, pattern, and syllabus of the BPSC exam. In case of any ambiguity in information, it is always recommended to visit the official website.
Conclusion for BPSC preparation strategy
The BPSC exam requires your full attention and hard work. It is one of the most competitive exams that attracts lakhs of aspirants every year but less than 1% get the final selection. Therefore, any serious aspirant must design his schedule to cover every aspect of the syllabus with multiple revisions. Book sources should be limited to avoid confusion and attempting multiple mock tests is the most crucial part of the preparation. Students must have a faith in their capabilities and always remember that perseverance is the key to attain success in this highly competitive exam.
FAQs regarding BPSC preparation strategy
For a beginner, clearing BPSC Prelims with less than 2 months of preparation can be really difficult, but with right strategy it can be accomplished.
The salaries of different posts varies as per their pay scale. They start from 30,000-45,000 per month for respective posts.
Yes, there is 0.25 negative marking in preliminary examination.
Yes, BPSC civil services exam is held every year.
BPSC is one of the most difficult State level exams in India. It has a high competition which further increases its difficulty.
