BPSC 72nd Prelims Exam Date 2026: The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has officially announced that the 72nd Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) Preliminary Exam will be held on 26 July 2026 (Sunday) across various examination centres in Bihar.
The recruitment aims to fill 1,186 vacancies for prestigious Group A and Group B posts, including Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), District Commandant, and other administrative services.
The preliminary examination will be conducted in
offline OMR-based mode and will serve as a screening test for the Mains examination. Candidates are advised to continue their preparation and regularly check the official website
bpsc.bihar.gov.in for updates regarding the admit card, exam city, and further instructions.
BPSC 72nd Prelims Exam Date 2026 Out – Complete Details
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| 72nd Combined Competitive Examination — Prelims on 26 July 2026 (Sunday) |
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| Particulars |
Details |
| Conducting Body |
Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) |
| Exam Name |
72nd Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2026 |
| Total Vacancies |
1,186 (Revised from Originally Announced 1,230) |
| Posts Covered |
Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO)/Senior Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), District Commandant, Sub-Election Officer and other administrative/Group A & B posts |
| Prelims Exam Date |
26 July 2026 (Sunday) |
| Exam Mode |
Offline (OMR-Based), Conducted on a Single Day Across Multiple Centres in Bihar |
| Admit Card Status |
Expected 10–15 Days Before the Exam (Mid-to-Late July 2026) |
| Official Website |
bpsc.bihar.gov.in |
Important Dates 2026 — Complete Timeline
- Notification Released: 05 May 2026
- Online Application Start Date: 07 May 2026
- Online Application Last Date: 31 May 2026
- Exam Calendar Released: 17 February 2026
- Admit Card Release: Expected 10–15 Days Before Exam
- Prelims Examination Date: 26 July 2026 (Sunday)
- Prelims Answer Key: To Be Notified After Exam
- Prelims Result: To Be Notified
- Mains Examination Date: To Be Announced Later
- Interview (Personality Test): To Be Notified After Mains
Note: All dates beyond Prelims are tentative and subject to change; BPSC will announce Mains exam dates separately once the Prelims result is declared. Candidates should regularly check bpsc.bihar.gov.in for updates.
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Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: Candidate must be an Indian citizen
- Educational Qualification: Candidate must hold a Graduation Degree from a recognized university (specific posts like DSP may have additional requirements as per the post-wise eligibility in the notification)
- Age Limit (as on 01 August 2026): Minimum 20 Years; Maximum 37 Years (General/Unreserved) to 42 Years (Category-Wise, for Reserved Categories including SC/ST/EBC/BC/Women of Bihar)
- Age relaxation is applicable as per Bihar Government norms for reserved categories
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Complete Selection Process
- Stage 1: Preliminary Examination — Objective Type (MCQ), Qualifying/Screening Only
- Stage 2: Main Examination — Descriptive Type, Higher Weightage in Final Merit
- Stage 3: Interview (Personality Test)
Important Points
- Prelims marks are NOT added to the final merit list — it is purely a qualifying/screening stage to shortlist candidates for Mains
- Approximately 10 times the total number of vacancies are shortlisted from Prelims to appear in the Mains examination
- Mains includes papers such as General Hindi, General Studies Paper I, General Studies Paper II, Essay, and an Optional Subject (post-dependent) — final merit is based on Mains + Interview marks combined
- Candidates must clear each stage successfully to proceed to the next
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BPSC 72nd Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
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| Particular |
Details |
| Paper |
General Studies (Single Paper) |
| Total Questions |
150 Questions |
| Total Marks |
150 Marks |
| Exam Duration |
2 Hours |
| Question Options |
5 Options per Question (A, B, C, D, E) |
| Negative Marking |
1/3rd (0.33) Mark Deducted per Wrong or Multiple-Marked Answer |
| Selection Ratio for Mains |
Approximately 10 Times the Number of Vacancies |
| Note: Unlike UPSC, BPSC Prelims has only one General Studies paper (no separate CSAT paper), and negative marking applies even when multiple options are marked for the same question. |
Prelims Syllabus Overview
- Current Events of National & International Importance
- History of India (with special emphasis on Bihar)
- Indian Polity and Governance — Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues
- Indian and Bihar Economy — Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives
- Geography of India (with special emphasis on Bihar)
- General Science
- General Mental Ability
- Bihar-Specific General Knowledge — History, Culture, Government Schemes and Recent Developments
Note: Bihar-specific topics (history, geography, culture, current affairs) carry significant weightage across all sections and should not be treated as a minor add-on.
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Salary & Pay Scale (Indicative)
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| Pay Level |
Level-9 (7th Pay Commission) for Most Posts |
| Approximate Salary Range |
₹61,500 – ₹72,000 per month (Approx.) + DA, HRA and other allowances |
| Note: Salary varies post-wise; senior administrative and police posts like DSP typically carry higher pay levels than others under this recruitment. |
How to Download BPSC 72nd Prelims Admit Card (Once Released)
- Visit the official BPSC website — bpsc.bihar.gov.in
- Go to the Candidate Login section on the homepage
- Log in using your Registration Number/Username and Password (or Date of Birth, as applicable)
- Click on “72nd CCE Prelims Admit Card 2026”
- Your admit card will display your roll number, exam centre, date, shift and reporting time
- Download the PDF and take at least 2 printouts for the exam day
- Verify all details carefully and report any discrepancy to BPSC immediately
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Documents to Carry to the Examination Centre
- Printed BPSC 72nd Prelims Admit Card
- One Valid Original Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, Passport or Driving Licence)
- Passport-size photographs (if specifically mentioned in the admit card instructions)
- Blue/Black ballpoint pen (as generally required for OMR-based exams)
Note: Since this is a strict offline OMR exam, candidates should carry only permitted stationery and avoid electronic gadgets, which are typically prohibited in BPSC exam centres.
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Preparation Strategy — 2 Months Before Exam Day
- Complete your syllabus at least one month before the exam — with the exam date already known, work backward from 26 July 2026 to build a realistic revision schedule
- Prioritize Bihar-specific topics — history, geography, culture, economy and current affairs specific to Bihar carry significant weightage and are a key differentiator from generic UPSC-style preparation
- Cover at least 12–18 months of current affairs from reliable sources, with special focus on Bihar government schemes and developments
- Manage negative marking carefully — since 1/3rd mark is deducted per wrong answer (and even for multiple-marked answers), attempt only questions you’re reasonably confident about
- Take weekly full-length mock tests to build accuracy, speed and time management within the 2-hour window
- Solve previous year BPSC CCE question papers to understand recurring themes and question difficulty
- Do multiple revisions in the final weeks — retention of factual General Studies content improves significantly with repeated review
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important links
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| Download Admit Card (Once Released) |
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| Check Exam Calendar / Notification |
click here |
| Official Website (BPSC) |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When is the BPSC 72nd Prelims Exam 2026?
Ans. The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 26 July 2026 (Sunday).
Q2. How many vacancies are there in BPSC 72nd CCE 2026?
Ans. A total of 1,186 vacancies, revised down from the originally announced 1,230.
Q3. What is the exam pattern for BPSC 72nd Prelims?
Ans. The Prelims consists of a single General Studies paper with 150 questions for 150 marks, to be completed in 2 hours, with 1/3rd negative marking per wrong answer.
Q4. Are Prelims marks added to the final merit list?
Ans. No, Prelims is purely a qualifying/screening stage; only Mains and Interview marks count toward final merit.
Q5. When will the admit card be released?
Ans. The admit card is expected to be released approximately 10–15 days before the exam, i.e., in mid-to-late July 2026.
Q6. What is the age limit for BPSC 72nd CCE 2026?
Ans. Candidates must be between 20 and 37 years (General) to 42 years (category-wise, for reserved categories) as on 01 August 2026.
Q7. When will the Mains exam be conducted?
Ans. The Mains exam date has not yet been announced; BPSC will notify it separately after the Prelims result is declared.
Q8. Are these exam dates final?
Ans. The Prelims date (26 July 2026) is officially confirmed via the BPSC Exam Calendar, though candidates should note that dates can occasionally change due to administrative reasons — always verify from the official website.