BPSC 72nd CCE Syllabus 2026: Complete Prelims & Mains Guide

The BPSC 72nd CCE Syllabus 2026 is the most important document for every aspirant targeting the Bihar Civil Services examination this year, as per official notice. With 1,186 vacancies across Group A and Group B posts — including SDO, DSP, Sub Registrar, District Commandant, Rural Development Officer and more — and the Prelims exam scheduled on 26 July 2026, time is short and a structured approach is essential. This article provides a complete, topic-by-topic breakdown of the BPSC 72nd CCE Syllabus for Prelims, Mains General Hindi, Mains GS Paper I, Mains GS Paper II, and Optional Subjects — along with the exam pattern, marks distribution, recommended preparation strategy, and important study resources, all in one place. Bookmark this page and start your preparation today, as per official notice.

BPSC 72nd CCE 2026 — Exam Overview

📝 Complete Exam Pattern — All Stages

Stage 1 — Preliminary Examination

Stage 2 — Main Examination

Stage 3 — Interview

📚 BPSC 72nd Prelims Syllabus — Complete Topic-wise Guide

The Prelims paper is a single General Studies paper of 150 marks. It is qualifying in nature — only those who clear the BPSC-set cut-off appear in Mains. Topics covered, as per official notice:

1. General Science

• Basic principles of Physics — Motion, Force, Energy, Light, Sound, Electricity, Magnetism.
• Basic Chemistry — Acids, Bases, Salts, Chemical Reactions, Common Elements and Compounds.
• Biology — Cell structure, Human body systems (Digestive, Respiratory, Circulatory, Nervous), Diseases and their causes, Nutrition.
• Environmental Science — Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change basics.
• Everyday science — How common devices and phenomena work.

2. Current Events of National and International Importance

• Current Affairs of the last 12–18 months — Government schemes, policy changes, new laws.
• International events — Summits, treaties, organizations (UN, IMF, WHO, WTO, SCO, BRICS).
• Awards and honours — Padma awards, Nobel Prize, Bharat Ratna, Oscars, Booker, etc.
• Sports — Recent championships, Indian sports achievements, Olympic updates.
• Economic news — Budget highlights, RBI decisions, inflation, GDP data.
• Science and Technology — Space missions (ISRO, NASA), new inventions, AI developments.
• Deaths of important personalities — Indian and international.

3. History of India — with Special Focus on Indian National Movement

• Ancient India — Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic period, Maurya Empire, Gupta Empire, Buddhist and Jain movements.
• Medieval India — Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Vijayanagara, Maratha Empire, Bhakti and Sufi movements.
• Modern India — British colonization, 1857 revolt, formation of INC, partition of Bengal 1905, Home Rule movement.
• Freedom Movement — Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience, Quit India Movement, role of Subhas Chandra Bose and INA.
• Constitutional development — Simon Commission, Round Table Conferences, Government of India Acts.
• Independence and Partition 1947.
• Bihar's role in Freedom Struggle — Champaran Satyagraha 1917, Sinha and Bihar leaders, participation in all major movements.

4. Geography of India — Physical, Social and Economic

• Physical Geography — Location, physiographic divisions, Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coastal plains, Islands.
• Rivers — Major river systems (Ganga, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery), their tributaries and significance.
• Climate — Monsoon mechanism, seasons, cyclones, drought-prone areas, Western disturbances.
• Soils — Types (Alluvial, Black, Red, Laterite, Desert, Mountain), their distribution and crops.
• Natural Vegetation — Forest types, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, biosphere reserves.
• Economic Geography — Agriculture (major crops, Green Revolution, irrigation), minerals, industries, transport.
• Population — Census data, density, literacy, sex ratio, urbanization trends.
• Bihar Geography — Location, districts, rivers (Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Sone), climate, agriculture, minerals, and economy.

5. Indian Polity and Economy

• Constitution of India — Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Fundamental Duties.
• Parliament — Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, legislative procedure, constitutional amendments.
• President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers — powers and functions.
• Judiciary — Supreme Court, High Courts, Judicial Review, PIL.
• Panchayati Raj — 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, three-tier system, functions.
• Community Development Programs — important central and state schemes.
• Five Year Plans (historical) and NITI Aayog.
• Budget, RBI, banking system, monetary policy.
• Poverty, unemployment, economic indicators — GDP, GNP, per capita income, inflation.
• Agriculture — land reforms, crop insurance, MSP, PM-KISAN.
• Industry — Make in India, Startup India, PLI scheme, industrial policy.

6. Mental Ability Testing

• Number Series — finding missing numbers in sequences.
• Alphabetical Series — letter pattern identification.
• Coding–Decoding — cracking coded messages.
• Blood Relations — family tree problems.
• Direction and Distance — navigation problems.
• Analogy — identifying relationships between word/number pairs.
• Classification — odd one out problems.
• Syllogism — logical deduction from given statements.
• Ranking and Order — position-based puzzles.
• Time and Work, Time and Distance — basic arithmetic-based reasoning.

7. Bihar-Specific Topics

• History of Bihar — Ancient Bihar (Magadh, Maurya, Gupta empires), Medieval Bihar (Sher Shah Suri), Modern Bihar.
• Culture of Bihar — Folk art (Madhubani, Manjusha), festivals (Chhath, Sonepur Mela), languages (Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi), dance forms.
• Economy of Bihar — Agriculture (paddy, wheat, maize, litchi, makhana), industries, handicrafts.
• Geography of Bihar — Districts (38), divisions (9), rivers, terrain, climate.
• Bihar Government Schemes — Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana, Bihar Student Credit Card, Har Ghar Bijli, Jal-Jeevan Hariyali.
• Important personalities from Bihar — Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Jayaprakash Narayan, Maulana Mazharul Haque, Kunwar Singh.
• Current Affairs of Bihar — Development projects, new appointments, economic data.

📄 Mains Paper 1: General Hindi Syllabus (100 Marks — Qualifying)

Minimum qualifying marks: 30% (30 out of 100). Marks are NOT added to final merit. This paper tests your command over Hindi language, as per official notice.

Topics Covered

• Nibandh (Essay) — Write a 300–400 word essay on a given topic (social, economic, political, or literary).
• Patra Lekhan (Letter Writing) — Official letter, unofficial letter, application writing.
• Sandesh Lekhan (Message Writing) — Concise message communication.
• Apathit Gadyansh (Unseen Passage) — Reading comprehension with questions.
• Shabd Gyan (Vocabulary) — Synonyms (Paryayvachi), Antonyms (Vilom Shabd), One-word substitutions (Ek Shabd).
• Vyakaran (Grammar) — Sandhi, Samas, Karak, Vachya, Kal (tenses), Muhavare and Lokoktiyan (idioms and proverbs).
• Saar Lekhan (Précis writing) — Summarising a passage in one-third of its original length.
• Anuvad (Translation) — English to Hindi translation of simple sentences/paragraphs.

📘 Mains Paper 2: General Studies I — Complete Syllabus (300 Marks)

This is the main scoring paper covering national-level topics in detail. Questions are long-answer descriptive type, as per official notice.

Unit 1 — Modern History of India (1757–1947)

• Establishment and expansion of British rule — Battle of Plassey, Battle of Buxar, Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse.
• Administrative policies — Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, Mahalwari.
• 1857 Revolt — Causes, course, centres, reasons for failure and impact.
• Reform movements — Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, social reforms by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
• Indian National Congress — founding, Moderate phase, Extremist phase, role of Tilak, Gokhale, Lala Lajpat Rai.
• Gandhian era — Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India, Dandi March, Round Table Conferences.
• Revolutionary nationalism — Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Surya Sen.
• Subhas Chandra Bose and Indian National Army.
• Constitutional developments — Morley-Minto reforms, Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, Government of India Act 1935.
• Partition and Independence 1947.

Unit 2 — Geography, Economy, Social & Demographic Issues of India

• Physical features — mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, lakes, coastline.
• Economic Geography — agriculture, industries, mineral resources, power resources.
• Social issues — poverty, inequality, caste discrimination, communalism, regionalism.
• Demographic issues — population growth, Census data, demographic dividend, migration, urbanization.
• Environmental issues — deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, climate change, disaster management.

Unit 3 — Indian Polity and Governance

• Indian Constitution — making, features, Preamble, Schedule, Fundamental Rights and their limitations.
• Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties.
• Union Executive — President, Vice President, PM, Cabinet.
• Parliament — structure, functions, Sessions, legislation process, Question Hour, Zero Hour.
• Judiciary — Supreme Court, High Court powers, judicial activism, PIL.
• Federal structure — Centre-State relations, Governor's role, Finance Commission.
• Electoral system — Election Commission, EVM, NOTA, Electoral bonds, model code.
• Constitutional amendments — important amendments (42nd, 44th, 52nd, 73rd, 74th, 86th, 101st).
• Emergency provisions — National, State, Financial.
• Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies.

Unit 4 — Indian Economy and Economic Development

• Planning in India — Five Year Plans (overview), NITI Aayog vs Planning Commission.
• Agricultural sector — land reforms, Green Revolution, White Revolution, crop patterns, MSP, food security.
• Industrial sector — Industrial policy evolution, LPG reforms 1991, Make in India, PLI scheme.
• Banking and Finance — RBI, commercial banks, monetary policy, financial inclusion, Jan Dhan Yojana.
• Budget — Union Budget, fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, tax structure (direct and indirect taxes), GST.
• External sector — Balance of Payments, FDI, FII, WTO, trade policy.
• Social sector — education, health, poverty alleviation programs (MGNREGS, PM Awas Yojana, PMGSY).
• Economic indicators — GDP, GNP, NNP, per capita income, HDI, GINI coefficient.

Unit 5 — Role and Impact of Science and Technology

• Space technology — ISRO missions (Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, Gaganyaan), satellite applications.
• Defence technology — indigenisation, DRDO, Agni, BrahMos missile.
• Information Technology — Digital India, Aadhaar, UPI, 5G, AI, cybersecurity.
• Biotechnology — GM crops, vaccines, biofuels.
• Nuclear energy — India's nuclear programme, civil nuclear agreements.
• Environment and technology — renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro), electric vehicles.

Unit 6 — Indian National Movement (with Bihar's Role)

• Champaran Satyagraha 1917 — first civil disobedience, role of Gandhi and Bihar farmers.
• Non-Cooperation Movement in Bihar.
• Civil Disobedience in Bihar.
• Role of Bihar leaders — Jayaprakash Narayan, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Mazharul Haque, Kunwar Singh.
• Total Revolution movement by Jayaprakash Narayan (1974).

📗 Mains Paper 3: General Studies II — Bihar Focus (300 Marks)

This paper is entirely focused on Bihar — its history, geography, economy, polity, culture and development. Aspirants from Bihar have an advantage here if they stay updated, as per official notice.

Unit 1 — History of Bihar

• Ancient Bihar — Magadh Mahajanapada, Haryanka dynasty, Nanda dynasty, Maurya Empire (Chandragupta, Ashoka), Gupta Empire, Nalanda University.
• Medieval Bihar — Impact of Turkish invasion, Sher Shah Suri (born in Sasaram, Bihar) — administrative reforms, Grand Trunk Road.
• Modern Bihar — British rule in Bihar, Indigo Revolt, Bihar's contribution to 1857, Champaran Satyagraha.
• Formation of Bihar as a separate province (1912), Bihar and Orissa separation, formation of Jharkhand (2000).

Unit 2 — Bihar's Geography

• Location and boundaries — bordering states (UP, Jharkhand, West Bengal) and Nepal.
• Physical divisions — North Bihar Plains, South Bihar Plains, Chhota Nagpur Plateau (now Jharkhand).
• Rivers — Ganga (main river), Gandak, Bagmati, Budhi Gandak, Kosi (Sorrow of Bihar), Kamla, Mahananda, Sone, Punpun, Falgu.
• Climate — hot summers, monsoon (June–September), foggy winters.
• Forests and wildlife — Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary.
• Natural disasters — floods (North Bihar), droughts (South Bihar), earthquakes (high-risk zone).

Unit 3 — Economy of Bihar

• Agriculture — main crops (paddy, wheat, maize, sugarcane, potato, litchi, makhana), crop seasons (Kharif, Rabi, Zaid).
• Horticulture — Bihar is India's largest producer of makhana (fox nut) and 2nd largest producer of litchi.
• Industries — sugar, silk (Bhagalpuri silk), handloom, leather.
• Mineral resources — limited minerals, coal reserves in Gaya and Aurangabad.
• MSME sector in Bihar.
• Tourism — Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Patna Sahib, Sonepur Mela.
• Infrastructure — road, rail, bridges (Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Vikramshila bridge).

Unit 4 — Political System of Bihar

• Bihar Legislative Assembly — composition, elections, current political scenario.
• Bihar Legislative Council — composition, functions.
• Governor's role and powers in Bihar.
• Panchayati Raj in Bihar — Mukhiya, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad.
• Urban Local Bodies — Nagar Panchayat, Nagar Parishad, Municipal Corporation.
• District Administration — DM, SDO, CO roles.

Unit 5 — Culture of Bihar

• Folk art — Madhubani (Mithila) painting, Manjusha art, Patna Kalam.
• Folk music and dance — Jat-Jatin, Bidesia, Sohari, Kajri, Sama-Chakeva.
• Festivals — Chhath Puja (most important, UNESCO recognition), Sonepur Mela (Asia's largest cattle fair), Rajgir Mahotsav.
• Languages — Hindi (official), Maithili (8th Schedule), Bhojpuri, Magahi, Angika, Bajjika.
• Literature — Vidyapati (father of Maithili literature), Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (Rashtrakavi).
• Religious sites — Bodh Gaya (Buddha attained enlightenment), Vaishali (birthplace of Mahavira), Rajgir (Jain and Buddhist), Sitamarhi (birthplace of Sita).

Unit 6 — Bihar Government Development Programs

• Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana — financial incentive for girl child education.
• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme — interest-free loan up to ₹4 lakh for higher education.
• Har Ghar Bijli (HEVY) — 100% rural electrification in Bihar.
• Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali — water conservation and green Bihar initiative.
• Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana (SJY) — livelihood for ultra-poor families.
• SATH-E (Supporting Andhra's Learning Transformation in Education) equivalent in Bihar.
• Bihar Skill Development Mission.
• PM Gati Shakti and road/railway projects in Bihar.

Unit 7 — Urbanization and Social Issues in Bihar

• Urbanization trends — growth of Patna, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Gaya.
• Migration — large-scale migration from Bihar to other states, causes and impact.
• Social issues — gender inequality, female literacy, child marriage, dowry, SC/ST issues.
• Educational challenges — dropout rate, quality of education, higher education access.
• Health — IMR, MMR, malnutrition, ICDS, health infrastructure.

📋 Optional Subjects — All 34 Options Listed

Candidates choose one optional subject from the list below for the Mains Paper 4 (300 marks). The optional subject should ideally align with your graduation background, as per official notice.

Most popular optionals among BPSC toppers: Public Administration, Sociology, History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Psychology — all offer manageable syllabus overlap with GS papers, as per official notice.

🎤 Interview (Personality Test) — 120 Marks

The Interview is conducted by BPSC for candidates who clear the Mains examination, as per official notice:

• Marks: 120 marks — fully counted in final merit.
• Purpose: Tests personality, communication skills, presence of mind, current awareness, and suitability for administrative service.
• Topics asked: Your optional subject, current affairs, Bihar-specific topics, your background (home district, graduation subject), ethical scenarios, role of an officer, women's issues, environment, governance.
• Language: Can be conducted in Hindi or English as per candidate's preference.
• Duration: Approximately 20–30 minutes.

🎯 BPSC 72nd CCE 2026 — Preparation Strategy & Study Plan

Phase 1: Prelims Focus (Now – 25 July 2026)

• Bihar GK first — This is the differentiator. 20–30 questions come from Bihar specifically. Cover History, Geography, Economy, Culture and current Bihar events thoroughly.
• Current Affairs — Read a monthly magazine or follow reliable digital sources. Cover last 12 months thoroughly.
• NCERT foundation — History (6-12), Geography (6-12), Polity (9-12), Economy (9-12) NCERTs are sufficient for concept clarity.
• Mental Ability — Practice 20–30 reasoning questions daily. Focus on speed and accuracy.
• Daily routine: 5–6 hours minimum — 2 hrs Bihar GK, 1.5 hrs Current Affairs, 1.5 hrs History+Polity, 1 hr Reasoning.
• Practice previous year papers — Solve BPSC Prelims papers from 67th to 71st CCE to understand question style.

Phase 2: Mains Preparation (August – After Result)

• Start Mains preparation alongside Prelims — GS I and GS II topics largely overlap with Prelims.
• Focus on answer writing — Mains is descriptive. Practice writing 150-word and 250-word answers daily.
• Choose your Optional Subject early — start at least basic reading during Prelims prep itself.
• General Hindi — practice essays, letter writing and grammar daily for 45 minutes.

Phase 3: Interview Preparation

• Start mock interviews with peers or coaching groups.
• Be thorough with your home district, optional subject, and Bihar current affairs.
• Practice expressing views on governance, ethics and social issues clearly and concisely.

📖 Recommended Books & Resources for BPSC 72nd CCE

For Prelims & Mains GS

• NCERT (Class 6–12) — History, Geography, Polity, Economy (must read — free on ncert.nic.in).
• Bihar: Ek Parichay — for Bihar-specific topics (available at local bookstores).
• Modern Indian History — Spectrum's A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir.
• Indian Polity — M. Laxmikanth (standard reference for all competitive exams).
• Indian Economy — Ramesh Singh (Economic Survey + Budget highlights to be added from official sources).
• Geography — NCERT + Majid Husain for extra depth.
• Current Affairs — Pratiyogita Darpan / Arihant Monthly Current Affairs (last 12 months).
• Previous Year Papers — BPSC 67th–71st CCE question papers (available online).

For Optional Subject

• Refer standard graduation-level textbooks for your chosen optional.
• For popular optionals like Public Administration — Nicholas Henry, Avasthi & Maheshwari are standard references.
• For Sociology — Haralambos and Holborn (English medium) or IGNOU study material (Hindi medium).

Online Resources (Free)

• BPSC official website: bpsc.bih.nic.in — for notifications, syllabus PDF, previous papers.
• Bihar Government website: bihar.gov.in — for schemes, budget, statistical data.
• NCERT PDFs: ncert.nic.in — free textbook downloads.
• Economic Survey and Union Budget: indiabudget.gov.in
• PIB (Press Information Bureau): pib.gov.in — for government scheme updates.

🔗 Important Links

📚 Official Sources Used

• Bihar Public Service Commission Official Website — bpsc.bih.nic.in
• BPSC 72nd CCE 2026 Official Notification dated 05 May 2026
• NCERT Official Website — ncert.nic.in

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims syllabus?

The BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims covers General Science, Current Events (National/International), History of India (with focus on National Movement), Geography of India (Physical, Social, Economic), Indian Polity & Economy, Mental Ability Testing, and Bihar-specific topics covering History, Culture, Geography and Economy, as per official notice.

Q2. How many marks is the BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims exam?

The Prelims examination is for 150 marks, conducted in 2 hours, in offline OMR-based mode. It is qualifying in nature — marks are not counted in the final merit list, as per official notice.

Q3. Is there negative marking in BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims?

No, there is no negative marking in the BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims examination, as per official notice.

Q4. How many papers are there in BPSC 72nd Mains?

There are 4 papers in the Mains — General Hindi (100 marks, qualifying at 30%), General Studies I (300 marks), General Studies II (300 marks), and Optional Subject (300 marks). Total Mains marks = 900, as per official notice.

Q5. What is the total marks of BPSC 72nd CCE including Interview?

Total marks = Mains (900) + Interview (120) = 1020 marks. The final merit list is prepared based on these 1020 marks, as per official notice.

Q6. Which optional subject is best for BPSC 72nd CCE?

Popular choices among BPSC toppers include Public Administration, Sociology, History, Geography, Political Science and Economics — as these have significant overlap with the GS papers, reducing overall preparation load. Choose the subject you studied at graduation level for best results, as per official notice.

Q7. What is the role of Bihar-specific topics in BPSC 72nd CCE?

Bihar-specific topics are crucial in both Prelims and Mains GS Paper II. In Prelims, 20–30 out of 150 questions typically come from Bihar History, Geography, Culture, Economy and current state affairs. GS Paper II (300 marks) in Mains is entirely Bihar-focused, making Bihar-specific preparation the key differentiator for serious aspirants, as per official notice.

Q8. When is the BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims exam date?

The BPSC 72nd CCE Preliminary Written Examination is scheduled on 26 July 2026 (Sunday) at various centres across Bihar, as per official notice.

Q9. What is the minimum qualifying marks for General Hindi in BPSC 72nd Mains?

Candidates must score a minimum of 30 marks out of 100 (30%) in the General Hindi paper to qualify for the merit calculation. The Hindi paper marks are NOT added to the final merit, as per official notice.

Q10. How is BPSC 72nd CCE different from UPSC Civil Services?

BPSC 72nd CCE is a state-level examination for Bihar Government posts, while UPSC is national level. BPSC has a heavier focus on Bihar-specific topics, has only one GS paper in Prelims (vs 2 in UPSC), and the Mains has 2 GS papers plus 1 Optional (vs UPSC's 9 papers). BPSC is considered a strong stepping stone before attempting UPSC, as per official notice.

📰 Related Posts You May Like

• BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims 2026 — 1,186 Vacancies, Apply by 31 May
• UPSC Civil Services Syllabus 2026 — Complete IAS Guide
• Coal India MT Recruitment 2026 — 660 Posts
• UPCISB Recruitment 2026 — 2,085 Bank Posts
• More Syllabus Guides →

✅ Conclusion

The BPSC 72nd CCE Syllabus 2026 is comprehensive but manageable with a structured approach, as per official notice. The Prelims on 26 July 2026 tests General Studies with a strong Bihar focus, while the Mains rewards depth of knowledge in GS I (national topics), GS II (Bihar-specific), and your chosen Optional Subject. With 1,186 vacancies across prestigious Group A and Group B posts and applications open till 31 May 2026, now is the perfect time to begin preparation. Use this complete syllabus guide as your preparation roadmap — cover every topic listed, practice answer writing for Mains from day one, and keep your Bihar GK sharp. Sarkari Nokrii will keep this page updated with admit card, answer key, result, and cut-off alerts for BPSC 72nd CCE 2026. Bookmark this page and join our channels for instant updates.