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BPSC exam pattern 2024 is set by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) for the Prelims and Mains exams. BPSC pattern includes three stages. The BPSC paper pattern includes the first stage of the Prelims exam, followed by a Mains exam, and finally, an interview round. Following the interview, the BPSC result 2024 will be published.
As per the BPSC Pre exam pattern, the test duration is 2 hours (or 120 minutes). There are no BPSC optional subjects in the Prelims paper. Applicants will face 150 questions for 150 marks in the BPSC 2024 exam pattern for the Prelims exam.
BPSC negative marking for the Prelims paper is set at 0.25 as per the new norms. On the other hand, the BPSC mains paper is 900 marks with 5 papers. Each paper lasts 3 hours (or 180 minutes) as per the BPSC mains exam pattern.
Apply Now: BPSC Application Form 2024
Also Check: BPSC 69th CCE Result 2024
| BPSC Syllabus 2024 | BPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 |
The final stage of selection is the interview round. The BPSC interview marks are capped at 120. Candidates willing to appear in the BPSC 2024 can read along to understand the exam pattern.
BPSC Exam Pattern 2024
Candidates must know that there have been some changes in the BPSC exam pattern for the Prelims round for 2024. As per the BPSC new pattern, the provision of negative marking is being added in the Prelims test. This change in the BPSC 2024 exam pattern is being introduced to restrict the high cut-offs noticed in the previous few exams.
BPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2024
Some of the highlights related to the Prelims paper as per the latest BPSC exam pattern 2024 are tabulated below.
| Highlights | Particulars |
| Exam Name | BPSC Prelims Exam |
| Conducting Body | Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) |
| Website | bpsc.bih.nic.in |
| Number of Papers | 1 |
| Paper Details | General Studies |
| Nature of the Paper | Qualifying |
| Total Number of Questions | 150 |
| Type of Questions | MCQs |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Paper Duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| Negative Marking | Yes |
BPSC Exam Pattern 2024: Marking Scheme for Prelims
Candidates must understand the new changes made in the marking scheme in the Prelims paper as per the BPSC exam pattern. The marking scheme for the BPSC Pre exam as per the new changes are provided below.
| Criteria | Marks Allotted |
| Correct Answer | 1 Marks Awarded per Correct Attempt |
| Wrong Answer | 1/4 or 0.25 Marks Deducted per Incorrect Attempt |
| Unattempted Answer | Nil Marks |
| Multiple Option Selection | 1/4 or 0.25 Marks Deducted per Incorrect Attempt |
BPSC Prelims Sectional Details
Candidates will appear for only one paper in the Prelims as per the BPSC exam pattern 2024. BPSC Pre exam is qualifying in nature. BPSC total marks for Pre paper is 150. The sectional details about the BPSC GS Paper 1 are provided below.
| Paper Name | Sectional Details |
| General Studies | General Science |
| Events of national and international importance | |
| History of Bihar and Indian History | |
| Geography(mainly Geography of Bihar) | |
| Indian Polity and Economy | |
| Indian National Movement and the Role of Bihar | |
| Changes in the economy of Bihar post-independence | |
| General Mental Ability |
BPSC Prelims Qualifying Marks
As per the BPSC exam pattern 2024, candidates must know that the Prelims paper is qualifying in nature. Candidates can refer to the table below to know the category-wise qualifying marks for the BPSC Pre exam.
| Caste Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
| General | 40% |
| Women/SC/ST/PwD | 32% |
| OBC | 34% |
| BC | 36.50% |
Also Read:
| BPSC 2024 Application Form | BPSC 68th Admit Card 2024 |
BPSC Exam Pattern 2024: Mains Old Pattern
The second stage of selection is the Mains paper as per the BPSC exam pattern. The BPSC mains paper has 4 papers. As per the BPSC mains exam pattern, the General Hindi paper is qualifying in nature.
Hence, when candidates are being evaluated for the final merit list, only 900 marks will be considered for evaluation. The BPSC mains total marks is 100, out of which 900 would be considered for evaluation.
BPSC Mains Exam Pattern: New Changes
As per the new changes in the BPSC Mains exam pattern, the General Hindi and Optional Paper are not to be considered during the final evaluation. This means that the optional paper in the Mains exam is qualifying in nature as per the BPSC new pattern. In addition, as per the latest BPSC exam pattern the optional paper has been changed from descriptive to MCQ type.
Some of the Highlights related to the BPSC exam pattern for Mains are provided below.
| Highlights | Particulars |
| Exam Name | BPSC Mains Exam |
| Number of Papers | 5 |
| Paper Details | General Hindi |
| General Studies Paper-1 | |
| General Studies Paper-2 | |
| Essay | |
| Optional Paper | |
| Nature of the Paper | Mixed |
| Total Marks | 100 for General Hindi and Optional |
| 300 for General Studies Paper 1 and 2 and Essay | |
| Paper Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
BPSC Exam Pattern 2024: Paper Nature
Candidates will appear for five papers under the BPSC Mains exam pattern. It is essential for candidates to understand the nature of all the paper as per the latest BPSC exam pattern. The nature of the Mains paper as per the BPSC exam pattern is provided below.
| Paper Name | Nature | Total Marks |
| General Hindi | Qualifying | 100 |
| General Studies Paper-1 | Scoring | 300 |
| General Studies Paper-2 | Scoring | 300 |
| Essay | Scoring | 300 |
| Optional Paper | Qualifying (As per New Norms) | 100 |
BPSC Exam Pattern 2024: Mains Optional Subjects
The new BPSC exam pattern 2024 changes the descriptive nature of the optional subject to MCQ type. The BPSC optional subject list for the Mains paper is available for the candidates on the official website.
However, candidates can also refer to the table below to know all about the BPSC optional subjects for Mains paper.
| S.No. | Subject Name |
| 1 | Agriculture |
| 2 | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science |
| 3 | Anthropology |
| 4 | Botany |
| 5 | Chemistry |
| 6 | Civil Engineering |
| 7 | Commerce & Accountancy |
| 8 | Economics |
| 9 | Electrical Engineering |
| 10 | Geography |
| 11 | Geology |
| 12 | History |
| 13 | Labour and Social Welfare |
| 14 | Law |
| 15 | Management |
| 16 | Mathematics |
| 17 | Mechanical Engineering |
| 18 | Philosophy |
| 19 | Physics |
| 20 | Political Science And International Relations |
| 21 | Psychology |
| 22 | Public Administration |
| 23 | Sociology |
| 24 | Statistics |
| 25 | Zoology |
| 26 | Hindi Language & Literature |
| 27 | English Language & Literature |
| 28 | Urdu Language & Literature |
| 29 | Bangla Language & Literature |
| 30 | Sanskrit Language & Literature |
| 31 | Persian Language & Literature |
| 32 | Arabic Language & Literature |
| 33 | Pali Language & Literature |
| 34 | Maithili Language & Literature |
BPSC Exam Pattern 2024: Interview Round
The last stage of selection is the Interview round or personality test as per the BPSC exam pattern 2024. There have been no changes in this round's pattern in the BPSC exam pattern. The total BPSC interview marks are 120. This round is counted when candidates are being evaluated for the final merit list.
BPSC appoints a board that assesses the candidate's personality and concludes whether they are fit for a career in state services. Only those candidates that have qualified for the Prelims and Mains papers are allowed to appear for the interview round as per the BPSC exam pattern.
