BPSC Syllabus 2024: Prelims and Mains PDF

Last Updated: May 2024

Download the Officially Latest Syllabus

Preliminary Test

General Studies

• General Science
  • Questions on General Science will cover general appreciation and understanding of science, including matters of everyday observation and experience, as may be expected of a well-educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific discipline.
• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and salient features of the history of Bihar.
  • In History, the emphasis will be on the broad general understanding of the subject in its social, economic, and political aspects.
  • The candidates are expected to be familiar with the broad aspects of the history of Bihar.
• General Geography and geographical division of Bihar and its major river systems.
  • In Geography, emphasis will be on the geography of India and Bihar.
  • Questions on the Geography of India and Bihar will relate to the physical, social, and economic Geography of the country including the main features of Indian agricultural and natural resources.
• Indian Polity and Economy and major changes in the economy of Bihar in the post-independence period.
  • Questions of Indian Polity and Economy will test knowledge of the country’s political system, panchayati raj, community development, and planning in India and Bihar.
• Indian National Movement and the part played by Bihar in it and also Questions on General Mental Ability.
  • Questions on the Indian National Movement will relate to the nature and character of the nineteenth-century resurgence, growth of nationalism, and attainment of Independence and candidates will be expected to answer questions on the role of Bihar in the freedom movement of India.

Main Exam

Compulsory subjects of the main exam:

General Hindi

The questions in this paper will be of the secondary level of the Bihar School Examination Board. In this exam, the ability to express your thoughts clearly and correctly in simple Hindi and the power of natural understanding will be tested.

The details of the marks will be as follows-

Essay                –      30 marks

Grammar        –       30 marks

Syntax             –       25 marks

Summation    –       15 marks

General Studies

General studies papers I and paper II will cover the following areas of knowledge:-

General Studies Paper- I

1. Modern History of India and Indian culture.
2. Current events of national and international importance.
3. Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams.

• In this paper, I, Modern History of India and Indian Culture will cover the broad history of the country (with special reference to Bihar) from about the middle of the nineteenth century.
• The modern history of Bihar will include questions on the introduction and expansion of Western education (including technical education).
• It will also have questions on Bihar’s role in the freedom struggle of India.
• Questions will relate to the Santhal Uprising, of 1857 in Bihar, the Birsa movement, Champaran Satyagrah, and the Quit India Movement in 1942.
• Knowledge of the chief features of Mauryan and Pal art and Patna Kalam painting will be expected from the examinees.
• It would also include questions or Gandhi, Tagore, and Nehru.
• The part relating to statistical analysis, graphs, and diagrams will include exercises to test the candidate’s ability to draw common sense conclusions from information presented in statistical, graphical, or diagrammatic form and to point out deficiencies, limitations, or inconsistencies therein.

General Studies Paper- II

1. Indian Polity
2. Indian Economy and Geography of India
3. The role and impact of science and technology in the development of India.

• Paper II, the part relating to Indian Polity, will include questions on the political system in India including Bihar.
• In the part pertaining to the Indian Economy and Geography of India, questions will be put on planning in India and the physical, economic, and social geography of India and Bihar.
• In the third part relating to the role and impact of science and technology in the development of India, questions will be asked to test the candidate’s awareness of the role and impact of science and technology in India and Bihar Emphasis will be on applied aspects.

Essay

• On UPSC Pattern
• Bihar Related Topics

The essay paper will be of 300 marks. This question paper will be divided into three parts. The essay of the first and second part will be based on UPSC pattern while the third part will have an essay on Bihar oriented topic.

Optional Paper

• There will be only one optional subject exam for 100 marks and the questions will be MCQ based. It will be qualifying in nature. It will be mandatory to obtain minimum qualifying marks of 40% for general candidates, 36.5% for Backward classes, 34% for Extremely Backward classes and 32% for SC/ST, Women and Disabled candidates.
• These marks are not added to the merit list.
• The candidates have to select one optional subject out of the subjects mentioned in the notification.
• The choices are given below and the syllabus for optional subjects can be viewed in the BPSC Syllabus PDF.
• Optional Subjects in the BPSC Syllabus are:
  • English Language and Literature, Urdu Language and Literature, Hindi Language and Literature, Persian Language and Literature, Arabic Language and Literature, Pali Language and Literature, Maithili Language and Literature, Bangla Language and Literature, Sanskrit Language and Literature, Chemistry, Sociology, Physics, Agriculture, Statistics, Botany, Zoology, Philosophy, Political, Science and International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Labour and Social Welfare, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Civil Engineering, Economics, Commerce and Accountancy, Electrical Engineering, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Anthropology.