BPSC Exam Pattern 2024: Revised Prelims & Mains Test Pattern

Hafsha Qureshi
Hafsha Qureshi

Updated on - Jan 9, 2024

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.

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