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BPSSC Bihar Police: Complete Recruitment Guide for SI 2026
Master the pathway to becoming a Sub-Inspector in Bihar Police. Everything you need to know about recruitment, physical standards, exam patterns, and preparation strategy.
What is BPSSC Bihar Police? (Authority Foundation)
The Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) is a constitutional recruitment body established by the Government of Bihar to conduct transparent, merit-based recruitment for subordinate-level police positions across the state. According to SarkariResult’s latest recruitment analysis, BPSSC ensures fair selection through multi-stage examinations, physical tests, and document verification.
BPSSC manages recruitment for multiple departments: Bihar Police (primary), Prohibition & Excise Department, Transport Department, and Forest Department. As documented on the official BPSSC portal, the organization publishes recruitment notifications (called “Advertisements”) sequentially. The latest notification (Advt. No. 03/2026) released in January 2026 opens 78 Sub-Inspector positions in the Prohibition Department specifically.
The BPSSC recruitment framework reflects India’s constitutional commitment to transparent public service recruitment under the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) model, adapted for state-level subordinate services.
Sub-Inspector (SI) Posts Recruited by BPSSC
BPSSC conducts periodic recruitment across multiple cadres under various departments:
Primary Positions
Sub-Inspector (SI) – Police: Rank-and-file police supervisory role across all district police forces
Sub-Inspector – Prohibition Department: Enforcement of Bihar’s alcohol prohibition law; currently recruiting 78 positions (2026)
Sub-Inspector – Transport Department: Enforcement of motor vehicle laws and traffic regulations
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI): Junior supervisory role, recruited through special notifications
Sergeant: Support rank in specialized units
Enforcement Sub-Inspector (Excise/Prohibition): Tax and law enforcement in excise operations
Each post carries identical or similar exam patterns and salary structures (Level 6 pay matrix), though physical standards and subject-specific job requirements may vary slightly.
Eligibility Criteria: The Screening Foundation
Educational Qualification
A Bachelor’s degree (graduation) from a university recognized by the Government of India is mandatory. Candidates completing final-year degrees can apply provided they produce proof of graduation before document verification. Field-specific degrees (e.g., Law for certain posts) may be required for specialized roles; the official notification specifies such requirements.
Age Limits (Calculated as of 01.08.2025)
Age relaxation follows the standard Indian government framework, as confirmed by the official source:
Category
Minimum Age
Maximum Age
General Male
20 years
37 years
General Female
20 years
40 years
OBC/BC/EWS
20 years
40 years
SC/ST
20 years
42 years
Ex-Servicemen
20 years
Varies (post-dependent)
Critical Point: Age is calculated as on August 1, 2025 for the current 2026 recruitment cycle. Applicants must ensure accurate date-of-birth documentation.
Citizenship & Domicile
Applicants must be Indian citizens as per Article 5 of the Indian Constitution.
No strict domicile requirement for applying, but Bihar Police recruits primarily serve within Bihar state.
Objective: Screen candidates for conceptual knowledge and current awareness.
Format: Objective Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ)
Questions: 100
Marks: 200
Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
Subject: General Knowledge & Contemporary Issues (combined)
Negative Marking: 0.2 marks per wrong answer
Candidates scoring in the top 20x (where x = number of vacancies) advance to the mains exam. For the current 78-post notification, approximately the top 1,560 candidates qualify.
Key Insight: The prelims serve as a merit-based filter, not a qualifying exam—scores directly contribute to final ranking.
Stage 2: Main Written Exam
Objective: Assess comprehensive knowledge across Hindi, General Studies, and problem-solving ability.
Paper
Subject
Format
Questions
Marks
Duration
Paper I
General Hindi (Grammar, Comprehension, Essay, Letter)
MCQ+Descriptive
100
200
2 hours
Paper II
General Studies (Civics, History, Geography, Science, Math, Reasoning)
MCQ+Descriptive
100
200
2 hours
Total
—
—
200
400
4 hours
Marking: Each correct answer = 2 marks; Each wrong answer = -0.2 marks (equivalent to 1/10 penalty). As explained in Adda247’s detailed Bihar SI syllabus guide, this penalty structure significantly impacts final scores.
Note on Language: General Hindi paper tests proficiency in official correspondence, making it critical for Bihar police administration roles.
Stage 3: Physical Efficiency Test (PET) & Physical Standards Test (PST)
Objective: Validate physical fitness and meet constitutional police force requirements.
Physical Standards Test (PST): Height, Chest, Weight
Category
Height
Chest (Unexpanded)
Chest (Expanded)
Male: General/OBC
165 cm
81 cm
86 cm
Male: EBC/SC/ST
160 cm
79 cm
84 cm
Female: All Categories
155 cm
N/A
N/A
Female: Weight
All categories
—
48 kg (minimum)
Measurement Standards: Height measured without shoes; chest measurements taken with appropriate apparatus (unexpanded = resting state; expanded = deep inhalation).
Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Running, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put
Event
Male (General/OBC)
Male (EBC/SC/ST)
Female (All)
Running
1.6 km in 6 min 30 sec
1.6 km in 6 min 30 sec
1 km in 6 minutes
High Jump
4 feet (minimum)
4 feet (minimum)
3 feet (minimum)
Long Jump
12 feet (minimum)
12 feet (minimum)
9 feet (minimum)
Shot Put
16 pound ≥ 16 feet
16 pound ≥ 16 feet
12 pound ≥ 10 feet
Status: PET is a qualifying test—candidates must meet all standards. Performance is scored but contributes to final merit ranking.
Pro Tip: Physical training should begin from Day 1 of exam preparation; do not delay until after mains results. According to Adda247’s preparation strategy insights, early physical conditioning is critical.
Stage 4: Medical Examination & Document Verification
Candidates advancing after PET undergo:
Medical Test: Vision, hearing, general health, BMI, cardiovascular fitness
Document Verification: Educational credentials, age proof, category certificate, citizenship proof, character assessment
Only candidates cleared at all stages are offered appointment.
Detailed Exam Syllabus: What You Must Know
Prelims Exam Syllabus (General Knowledge & Current Issues)
The Bihar Police SI position falls under Pay Level 6 of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) structure, aligning with Central government salary matrices. According to Adda247’s latest Bihar SI salary analysis, compensation packages are highly competitive.
Pension Benefits: Defined contribution or defined benefit pension under the National Pension System (NPS) or legacy schemes, depending on joining year
Additional Perks
Subsidized housing for unmarried officials
Free medical care (Central Government Health Scheme – CGHS equivalent)
Uniform allowance
Earned leave (1 month per year, encashment allowed)
Extraordinary leave provisions
Child education allowance
Physical Standards & PET Preparation: Training Blueprint
Why Physical Fitness Matters
Bihar Police SI roles involve field operations, rapid response, pursuit of suspects, and extended duty hours—physical fitness ensures operational capacity and officer safety.
Category-Wise Physical Standards Summary
Males (General/OBC Category)
Height: 165 cm minimum (measured without shoes)
Chest: 81 cm unexpanded; must expand to 86 cm (6 cm expansion mandatory)
Running: 1.6 km in 6 minutes 30 seconds
High Jump: 4 feet minimum (48 inches)
Long Jump: 12 feet minimum (approximately 3.66 meters)
Shot Put (Gola Fek): 16-pound ball thrown ≥16 feet
Males (EBC/SC/ST Category)
Height: 160 cm minimum (5 cm relaxation)
Chest: 79 cm unexpanded; 84 cm expanded
All PET events identical to General/OBC category
Females (All Categories)
Height: 155 cm minimum
Weight: 48 kg minimum
Chest Measurement: Not applicable
Running: 1 km in 6 minutes (easier standard than males)
High Jump: 3 feet minimum
Long Jump: 9 feet minimum (3 feet relaxation vs. males)
Shot Put: 12-pound ball thrown ≥10 feet
PET Training Strategy (3-Month Timeline)
Weeks 1–4: Foundation Building
Daily 2–3 km running at moderate pace (build aerobic base)
A: No. BPSSC recruitment is notification-based, not annual. The organization publishes advertisements when vacancies arise due to retirements, promotions, or policy expansion. According to StudyIQ’s recruitment timeline, the current 2026 recruitment (78 posts) follows a previous large-scale recruitment (1,799 posts) in 2023. Candidates must monitor https://bpssc.bihar.gov.in/ for notifications.
Q2: What is the negative marking scheme, and how does it affect scores?
A: For every incorrect answer, 0.2 marks are deducted (1/5 of the 2-mark award). This means:
1 wrong answer = 0.2 marks lost
10 wrong answers = 2 marks lost (equivalent to 1 correct answer)
Strategic Implication: Avoid random guessing unless absolutely certain. According to exam strategy videos on YouTube, if you can eliminate 2–3 options, attempting the question becomes statistically favorable.
Example: If you answer 80 correctly and 20 incorrectly:
Correct: 80 × 2 = 160 marks
Incorrect: 20 × 0.2 = -4 marks
Net Score: 156/200
Q3: Can final-year students apply?
A: Yes, final-year students are eligible. However, they must produce a degree certificate (not just marksheet) at the document verification stage before final selection. If the exam is held before graduation completion, the candidate forfeits the position.
Q4: Is the physical test qualifying or merit-based?
A: The Physical Efficiency Test (PET) is both:
Qualifying Nature: Candidates must meet minimum standards in height, chest, and all four events (running, jumping, shot put) to pass.
Merit-based Scoring: Among those who pass PET, performance is scored (timing in running, distance in jumps, etc.) and contributes to final merit ranking.
Thus, clearing PET standards is mandatory, but performance variation affects rank position.
Q5: What is the cutoff score for the prelims exam?
A: BPSSC does not publish a fixed cutoff. Instead, the top ~20x candidates qualify to mains (x = vacancies). For the current 78-post recruitment, approximately the top 1,560 prelims candidates advance. The cutoff varies based on:
Number of applicants
Overall difficulty level
Category-wise representation
Strategy: Aim for a score of 110–120 out of 200 on prelims to ensure safety margin.
Q6: Can OBC candidates get age relaxation?
A: Yes. The OBC category gets 3 years additional age relaxation:
OBC Male: Maximum age 40 years (vs. 37 for General)
OBC Female: Maximum age 40 years
BC (Bihar-specific backward caste): 40 years
EBC (Extremely Backward Caste) and SC/ST get further relaxation up to 42 years.
Q7: What is the expected salary after 5 years of service?
A: Through annual increments of ₹2,800 per year and allowance increases (DA revised biannually), a Bihar Police SI typically earns:
After 5 years: ~₹60,000–₹62,000 per month in-hand (~₹7.2–₹7.4 lakh annually)
This estimate assumes no promotion; promotions to Inspector level (Pay Level 7–8) significantly increase earnings.
Q8: Is there a negative marking in the physical test?
A: No. The Physical Efficiency Test (PET) is pass/fail for standards, with performance scoring. There is no negative marking in PET; candidates either meet the minimum standard or do not. However, performance variation (e.g., 6 min 20 sec vs. 6 min 10 sec in running) affects merit ranking.
Preparation Strategy: Winning the Exam
Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1–2)
Daily Routine
Morning (6–9 AM): Physical training → 3 km running + strength exercises (30 min) + stretching (15 min)
Late Morning (9–12 PM): Static GK → Read NCERT Class 6–10 (History, Geography, Civics) for 2–3 hours; note key dates, names, places
Afternoon (1–4 PM): Current Affairs → Read one newspaper daily (The Hindu, Dainik Jagran) + track government schemes, appointments, sports news
Evening (5–8 PM): General Hindi → Grammar rules, vocabulary, sentence construction, past year papers (1–2 hours)
Night (8–10 PM): Revision → Revise morning’s GK notes (30 min) + Mental Math practice (30 min)
Bihar focus: State budget, Chief Minister initiatives, recent state elections, cultural events
Pro Tips for Maximum Performance
Avoid “AI Slop” Preparation
Do not rely solely on YouTube summaries or digests. Read original NCERT sources and newspapers—depth matters for differentiation.
Negative Marking Discipline
Maintain a question-attempt accuracy ratio:
Conservative approach: Attempt only questions where you are 75%+ confident (skip doubtful ones)
Risk-based approach: Eliminate 2–3 options, then attempt (favorable odds at 0.2 penalty).
Bihar-Specific GK Edge
BPSSC prioritizes Bihar knowledge:
Memorize: All 38 districts, major rivers (Ganga, Son, Kosi), ancient kingdoms (Magadha, Maurya)
State figures: Capital (Patna), area, population, literacy rate, major cities
Cultural heritage: Nalanda University, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Vaishali’s historical significance
Time Management in Exam
Prelims: 100 Qs in 120 min = 72 sec per question; allocate 60 sec to solve, 12 sec to mark
Mains Paper I (Hindi): Grammar (40 min) → Comprehension (40 min) → Essay (40 min)
Mains Paper II: Distribute evenly: 24 min per topic (Civics, History, Geography, Science, Math, Reasoning)
Sleep & Recovery
Maintain 7–8 hours sleep nightly; avoid last-minute cramming. A rested mind scores 10–15% higher.
Why BPSSC Bihar Police is a Smart Career Choice
Financial Security
At ₹35,400 base salary (₹49,772–₹54,212 in-hand), a Bihar Police SI earns 40–50% above average college graduate starting salaries in India. After 5 years, earnings cross ₹60,000/month—outpacing private sector counterparts in equivalent roles.
Job Security & Benefits
Government employment offers:
Lifetime tenure: Cannot be arbitrarily terminated (subject to disciplinary rules)
Pension eligibility: 50% of final salary post-retirement, plus family pension
Medical coverage: Free hospitalization under CGHS-equivalent schemes
Housing assistance: Subsidized/free government quarters in most postings
Promotion pathway: Clear career progression to Inspector, DSP, and beyond
Social Prestige & Authority
Police officers command respect in Indian society; SI rank qualifies for social privileges (uniform, reserved status, administrative authority) that elevate personal standing.
Skill Development
The role develops leadership, decision-making, and crisis management skills applicable across sectors. Many officers transition to public administration or security consulting post-retirement.
Final Action Checklist: Next Steps
Verify Eligibility: Confirm graduation date, age, and category status
Register on www.bpssc.bih.nic.in: Create account before February 27, 2026 deadline
Join Study Community: Find 2–3 peer study partners or join coaching institute batch for accountability
Critical Disclaimer & Official Source Confirmation
This guide synthesizes information from official BPSSC notifications, Government of Bihar employment circulars, and 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrices (as of January 2026).
Important Caveat: Exam patterns, syllabus, physical standards, and salary structures may undergo revision per government directives. Always cross-verify with the official BPSSC website before application. This guide reflects January 2026 information and should not be treated as legally binding recruitment documentation.
Link Status: All external links in this guide were manually verified as working and accurate on 28 January 2026. If any link stops working later, search the same source name directly on Google (e.g., “Adda247 Bihar Police SI salary”, “Indis Academy Bihar SI syllabus”).
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
Your Bihar Police SI career starts with decisive action today.
Apply now, prepare consistently, and secure your government position in 2026.
Primary Sources Referenced in This Guide (All Links Verified)
All information in this blog has been sourced from the following authoritative platforms and official websites (✓ = link manually checked and working as of 28 Jan 2026):
Meet our accomplished author, Ms. Riya Sharma, a passionate educator and mentor with over 15 years of experience in the field of education. With a Master's degree in education from Delhi University, she has dedicated her career to empowering and inspiring students, especially young, enthusiastic students, to excel in their academic pursuits. Her expertise lies in exam preparation, and she has helped numerous students achieve academic success through her innovative teaching methodologies. With her in-depth knowledge of the education system and career options in India, she provides insightful analysis and guidance to students looking to chart their career paths after completing their 12th grade.