The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has formally published the competitive notification for the 71st Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2026. As Bihar’s premier state civil service examination, the 71st CCE aims to induct 1,050+ Administrative, Police, Financial, and Executive Officers into Bihar Administrative Service (Sub-Divisional Magistrate / SDM), Bihar Police Service (Deputy Superintendent of Police / DSP), Revenue Officers, Commercial Tax Officers, and Block Development Officers across state departments under Pay Level 7 and Pay Level 9.
This authoritative analysis delivers an exhaustive breakdown of cadre-wise seats, revised negative marking schemes, dynamic three-phase selection structure, mains essay requirements, and online registration instructions.
BPSC 71st CCE 2026: Executive Blueprint
| Recruitment Aspect | Official Details & Criteria |
|---|---|
| Exam Authority | Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC, Patna) |
| Exam Name | 71st Combined (Preliminary & Main) Competitive Examination 2026 |
| Total Openings | 1,050+ Gazetted & Non-Gazetted State Service Posts |
| Pay Scales | Pay Level-9 (Basic ₹53,100/-) & Pay Level-7 (Basic ₹44,900/-) + State Dearness & Housing Allowances |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation Degree in any stream from a recognized University or Institute |
| Age Eligibility | 20/21/22 to 37 Years (General Male) with statutory state relaxations up to 42 Years |
| Selection Flow | Preliminary Exam (150 Marks) ➔ Mains Written (900 Marks) ➔ Personality Test / Interview (120 Marks) |
| Official Portal | www.bpsc.bih.nic.in / onlinebpsc.bihar.gov.in |
Key Cadres & Departmental Vacancies
| Post Cadre / Designation | Department | Pay Level | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-Divisional Magistrate (BAS) | General Administration Dept | Level 9 | 110 |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) | Home (Police) Department | Level 9 | 85 |
| Assistant Commissioner of State Tax | Commercial Taxes Department | Level 9 | 130 |
| Revenue Officer (RO / CO) | Revenue & Land Reforms | Level 7 | 285 |
| Block Development Officer (BDO) | Rural Development Department | Level 7 | 240 |
| Other Executive & Municipal Officers | Various State Directorates | Level 7 & 9 | 200+ |
| Total 71st CCE Openings | Bihar Civil Services | Combined | 1,050+ |
Eligibility Conditions: Education & Age Parameters
- Educational Qualification: Must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline (Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, etc.) from a University recognized by UGC or equivalent state qualification.
- Age Limit (Calculated as on Cutoff Date):
- General (Unreserved) Male: 20/21/22 to 37 Years.
- Backward Class (BC) & Extremely Backward Class (EBC) (Male & Female): 40 Years.
- General (Unreserved) Female: 40 Years.
- Scheduled Caste (SC) & Scheduled Tribe (ST) (Male & Female): 42 Years.
- Physical Measurement for DSP Post: Minimum height 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm), chest 32 inches unexpanded with minimum 33 inches expanded for General/BC males (Relaxable for SC/ST and female candidates).
BPSC 71st CCE Three-Tier Examination Scheme
Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (150 Marks / 2 Hours)
The preliminary exam consists of 150 objective multiple-choice questions covering General Science, Current Affairs, History of India and Bihar, Geography, Indian Polity and Economy, Indian National Movement & Bihar’s contribution, and General Mental Ability.
Negative Marking Rule: Negative marking of 1/3rd (0.33) marks applies for every wrong answer. Prelims is screening in nature.
Phase-II: Mains Examination (Descriptive – 900 Marks Merit Component)
| Paper / Subject | Marks | Duration | Evaluation Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Hindi | 100 | 3 Hours | Qualifying (30% Minimum Required) |
| General Studies Paper-I | 300 | 3 Hours | Counted for Merit |
| General Studies Paper-II | 300 | 3 Hours | Counted for Merit |
| Essay Paper | 300 | 3 Hours | Counted for Merit |
| Optional Subject (MCQ Format) | 100 | 2 Hours | Qualifying Only (Not in Merit) |
| Total Written Merit Base | 900 Marks | – | GS-I (300) + GS-II (300) + Essay (300) |
Phase-III: Personality Test (Interview – 120 Marks)
Candidates qualifying Mains are invited for a personal interview at BPSC Patna. The final merit list is compiled out of 1020 Marks (Mains 900 + Interview 120).
Step-by-Step BPSC Application Guidelines
- Access the official portal at onlinebpsc.bihar.gov.in.
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) with valid email, mobile number, and photo identification.
- Access 71st Combined Competitive Examination link on the dashboard.
- Input graduation degree percentage, university details, community certificate, and domicile records.
- Capture live webcam photograph and upload scanned signatures in both Hindi and English.
- Pay the examination fee of ₹600 (₹150 for SC/ST of Bihar, Female residents, and PwBD).
- Submit the application and save the printable PDF for recordkeeping.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Are candidates from outside Bihar eligible to appear in BPSC 71st CCE?
Yes, candidates from all Indian states are eligible to apply under the Unreserved (General) category regardless of reservation entitlements in their native state.
Q2: Is the Optional subject marks counted in the final merit ranking?
No. As per the reformed BPSC examination pattern, the Optional Subject paper is in MCQ format and is purely qualifying in nature. Final merit is determined from GS-1 (300) + GS-2 (300) + Essay (300) + Interview (120).
Q3: What is the negative marking penalty in the preliminary exam?
For each incorrect answer, 1/3rd (0.33) marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.
Q4: Can final year appearing degree students apply for BPSC?
Candidates must possess the final graduation degree certificate or mark sheet proving completion on or before the closing date of application submission.
Ram Avtar is the Founder and Lead Career Analyst at Govt Results Alert. With over 6 years of experience analyzing Government Recruitment Notifications, SSC, Banking, and Railway examination patterns, he leads our fact-checking team to deliver authentic, timely, and verified job alerts directly from official government gazettes.
