The BPSC Headmaster Syllabus 2026 is an important resource for candidates preparing for the Headmaster recruitment examination conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)
The exam covers General Studies and B.Ed.-related questions, with a total of 150 objective-type questions carrying 150 marks.
Candidates preparing for this examination should have a clear understanding of the section-wise syllabus, important topics, marking scheme, exam duration, and selection process.
In this article, candidates can check the complete BPSC Headmaster syllabus 2026, detailed General Studies topics, all major B.Ed.
units, exam pattern, selection process, preparation strategy, important books, and frequently asked questions to plan their preparation effectively.
Add notification24.in as Preferred Source on Google
The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) conducts the Headmaster Recruitment Examination for filling vacancies in Higher Secondary and Secondary schools across Bihar. The selection is based purely on a single-stage written examination followed by Document Verification (DV) — there is no separate interview round for this post.
The exam paper is divided into two sections: General Studies (100 Marks) and Questions Related to B.Ed Course (50 Marks). Both sections are compulsory and are attempted together in a single 2-hour paper of 150 objective-type questions.
Note: The syllabus structure below is based on the official General Studies and B.Ed curriculum applicable to Headmaster/Head Teacher cadre exams in Bihar. Candidates should always cross-check the final exam pattern and any updates against the latest official notification released by BPSC on its website.
BPSC Headmaster Exam Pattern 2026 — Section-Wise Marks Distribution
Section
Subject
No. of Questions
Marks
Section-I
General Studies
100
100
Section-II
Questions Related to B.Ed Course
50
50
Total
150
150
Note: Both sections are attempted in a single combined paper within the 2-hour time limit — there is no separate sectional time division.
Section-I: General Studies Syllabus (100 Marks)
This section covers questions from the following core areas of knowledge:
General Science
Current Events of National and International Importance
History of India and Salient Features of the History of Bihar
Indian National Movement and the Part Played by Bihar in it
Geography (India and Bihar)
Indian Polity
Indian Economy
Elementary Mathematics and Mental Ability Test
Detailed Topic-Wise Breakdown (As per Official Curriculum)
General Science: Covers general appreciation and understanding of science, including everyday observation and experience — questions expected of any educated person, not requiring specialized study of any scientific discipline
Current Events: National and international events, with special focus on Bihar-related current affairs
History: Broad general understanding of the social, economic, and political aspects of Indian history, with emphasis on candidates being familiar with major events in Bihar’s history
Indian National Movement: Nature and character of the 19th-century resurgence, growth of nationalism, and attainment of Independence — candidates are expected to know Bihar’s role in India’s freedom struggle
Geography: Special focus on “India and Bihar” — covers social and economic geography of the country, including key features of Indian agriculture and natural resources
Indian Polity: Indian Constitution, the country’s political system, Panchayati Raj, and various development schemes
Indian Economy: Basic economy, the Indian economy overall, and specifically the economy of Bihar
Elementary Mathematics & Mental Ability: Basic arithmetic and reasoning/mental ability test questions
Section-II: B.Ed Based Questions Syllabus (50 Marks) — Unit-Wise Topics
This section is based on the B.Ed curriculum applicable in the Universities of Bihar and tests candidates’ understanding of child development, pedagogy, and educational philosophy. The syllabus is spread across 12 Units, as detailed below:
Unit
Key Topics Covered
Unit 1
Understanding Childhood: developmental perspective; dimensions of individual development (physical, cognitive, language, social, moral) with reference to Piaget, Erikson & Kohlberg; adolescence — assumptions, stereotypes, and factors affecting it; contextual realities of Bihar
Unit 2
Socialization and the context of school; impact of school entry; inequalities and resistance in society (access, retention, exclusion); impact of home language and socio-cultural context on learners; understanding differently-abled learners (slow learners, dyslexic learners); methods of assessing individual differences
Unit 3
Understanding identity formation; school as a site of identity formation for teachers and students; concept and meaning of education; modes of education (formal, informal, non-formal); constitutional provisions reflecting national ideals (democracy, equality, liberty, secularism, social justice); Education Commission (1964–66)
Unit 4
Philosophy and Education: meaning, branches, and relationship with educational issues; philosophical schools — Idealism, Naturalism, Pragmatism, Marxism, Humanism; Indian thinkers (Tagore, Gandhi, Vivekananda, Aurobindo Ghosh, J. Krishnamurthi, Gijjubhai Badheka); Western thinkers (Plato, Rousseau, Dewey)
Unit 5
Meaning of equality and constitutional provisions; forms of inequality (dominant and minor groups); inequality in schooling (public-private, rural-urban, single-teacher schools); differential quality in schooling; Right to Education Bill and its provisions
Unit 6
Concept and nature of learning; learning theories (Behavioural, Social, Cognitive, Humanistic); constructivist approach to learning; concept of motivation, types and techniques to enhance it; forgetting — meaning, causes, and strategies for retention; ways of developing self-study skills
Unit 7
Teacher’s roles and functions (pre-active, interactive, post-active phases); characteristics of effective teachers; teacher’s professional identity; decision-making on instructional goals and objectives; preparation of unit plan and lesson plan
Unit 8
Motivating learners and sustaining attention; questioning, illustration and explanation as teacher competencies; teaching strategies — Expository (presentation-discussion-demonstration, Advance Organizer Model) and Inquiry approach (concept attainment, inductive thinking, problem/project-based learning); small and whole group instruction — cooperative learning, brainstorming, role play, group discussion, debate, quiz, seminar
Unit 9
How children learn language — with special reference to Skinner, Chomsky, Piaget, Vygotsky; social, cultural, and political context of language; language and gender, identity, power, class; multilingual perspective of India and Bihar; constitutional provisions related to language (Articles 343–351, 350A)
Unit 10
What are academic disciplines? Perspectives on classification of human knowledge (philosophical, anthropological, sociological, historical, management, educational); research methods in a subject/discipline; concept of interdisciplinary learning and quality assurance criteria
Unit 11
Equity and equality in relation to caste, class, religion, ethnicity, disability, and region; paradigm shift from women’s studies to gender studies; historical background of women’s education movements; gender, culture, and institution; teaching methods — inductive, deductive, lecture, discussion, project, problem-solving with their advantages/limitations
Unit 12
Determinants of curriculum at national/state level (social-political-cultural-geographical-economic diversity, national priorities, governance, international context); concept of test, measurement, examination, appraisal, evaluation and their relationship; purpose of assessment; reporting student performance (progress reports, cumulative records, portfolios); concept of inclusive school and health needs of children/adolescents; understanding peace as a dynamic social reality; developing school resources for guidance
Selection Process for BPSC Headmaster Recruitment
Stage 1: Written Examination — Single-stage objective type exam of 150 marks (150 questions, 2 hours)
Stage 2: Document Verification (DV) — Shortlisted candidates based on merit list are called for verification of original educational certificates, category certificates, and other documents
There is no interview for the Headmaster post — final merit is based purely on written exam marks
Final selection and posting depend on category-wise merit list, reservation policy, and choice of school/district filled by the candidate
Subject-Wise Preparation Strategy
General Studies (100 marks): Allocate maximum preparation time here since it carries two-thirds of total marks. Focus heavily on Bihar-specific History, Geography, Economy, and Current Affairs, as the syllabus explicitly emphasizes Bihar alongside national topics
Current Affairs: Read daily newspapers and monthly current affairs compilations covering both national/international events and Bihar-specific developments
History & Indian National Movement: Focus on Bihar’s role in the freedom struggle — this is explicitly tested as a sub-topic, not just general Indian history
Geography & Economy: Study “India and Bihar” together — agriculture, natural resources, and economic indicators of Bihar are commonly asked
B.Ed Section (50 marks): Focus on child development theories (Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg, Vygotsky), learning theories, teaching strategies, and Indian/Western educational philosophers — these are frequently repeated across units
Elementary Mathematics & Mental Ability: Practice basic arithmetic, percentage, ratio, and reasoning questions daily, as this is a scoring, low-time-consuming section if practiced well
Since there is no negative marking in the current teaching-cadre exam pattern, attempt all 150 questions rather than leaving any blank
Solve previous year BPSC Headmaster/Head Teacher question papers to understand the actual difficulty level and recurring topics
Best Books & Resources for BPSC Headmaster Exam
NCERT Books (Class 6–12) for General Science, History, Geography, and Polity basics
Bihar-specific General Knowledge books covering Bihar’s history, geography, and economy
Lucent’s General Knowledge (for quick revision of General Studies topics)
Standard B.Ed textbooks covering Child Development & Pedagogy, Learning Theories, and Educational Philosophy
Monthly current affairs magazines/compilations focused on Bihar and national events
Q1. What is the BPSC Headmaster Exam Pattern 2026?
The BPSC Headmaster examination consists of 150 objective-type questions carrying 150 marks. The paper includes 100 questions from General Studies and 50 questions related to the B.Ed. course. The total duration of the examination is 2 hours (120 minutes).
Q2. How many questions are asked in the BPSC Headmaster exam?
A total of 150 questions are asked in the BPSC Headmaster examination. Each question carries 1 mark, making the total paper of 150 marks.
Q3. What is the BPSC Headmaster syllabus for General Studies?
The General Studies section carries 100 marks and includes General Science, Current Affairs, Indian History, History of Bihar, Indian National Movement, Geography of India and Bihar, Indian Polity, Indian Economy, Elementary Mathematics and Mental Ability.
Q4. What topics are covered in the B.Ed section of the BPSC Headmaster exam?
The B.Ed.-based section carries 50 marks and covers topics such as childhood development, socialization, educational philosophy, equality and education, learning theories, teacher roles, teaching strategies, language learning, academic disciplines, gender and education, curriculum, assessment, inclusive education and guidance.
Q5. Is there negative marking in the BPSC Headmaster examination?
According to the exam pattern provided in the syllabus, there is no negative marking. However, candidates should verify the final marking scheme from the latest official BPSC notification before appearing for the examination.
Q6. Is there an interview for BPSC Headmaster recruitment?
As per the provided selection process, there is no separate interview round for the Headmaster post. Candidates are selected through the written examination followed by Document Verification.
Q7. What is the duration of the BPSC Headmaster exam?
The total duration of the BPSC Headmaster examination is 2 hours (120 minutes). Candidates have to attempt all 150 questions within the given time.
Q8. How many marks are there in the BPSC Headmaster exam?
The examination carries a total of 150 marks. General Studies accounts for 100 marks, while B.Ed.-related questions account for 50 marks.
Q9. Is Bihar-specific General Knowledge important for the BPSC Headmaster exam?
Yes. The syllabus specifically gives importance to Bihar’s history, geography, economy, national movement and current affairs. Therefore, candidates should include Bihar-specific topics in their preparation along with national-level General Studies.
Q10. How should candidates prepare for the BPSC Headmaster examination?
Candidates should give priority to the 100-mark General Studies section while also preparing all major B.Ed. topics. Regular revision, Bihar-specific current affairs, basic mathematics and mental ability practice, and solving previous-year BPSC teaching-cadre question papers can help candidates understand the syllabus and improve preparation.
Rama shankar tiwari
Verified
admin|9 + experience
654 Articles
admit card
result
answer key
Rama Shankar Tiwari is the founder of Notification24.in and has been working in the education and government-job content space since 2017. With close…
