BPSC 72nd CCE Eligibility 2026: Age, Qualification & Reservation Rules
BPSC 72nd CCE 2026 has 1,230 vacancies across Bihar's most sought-after civil services. Eligibility is deliberately broad — any graduate can apply, age limits are generous, and the application fee is just ₹100 for every category. Here is every eligibility condition explained precisely.
👉 BPSC 72nd CCE Salary 2026 — see what BAS, BPS, and BFS officers earn across their career
Posts and Services at a Glance
| Service | Posts | Key Role |
|---|---|---|
| Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) | ~400+ | SDO, Block Development Officer, CDPO, Planning Officer |
| Bihar Police Service (BPS) | ~200+ | Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) |
| Bihar Finance Service (BFS) | ~100+ | Finance and accounts officer in state departments |
| Bihar Education Service (BES) | Variable | Educational administration roles |
| Revenue Officer | Variable | Revenue and land record management |
| Other BPSC posts | ~1,077 total for general group | Statistical Officer, Child Dev Project Officer, etc. |
| FAO and specialist posts | 153 | Financial Administrative Officer and others |
Educational Qualification
Any Bachelor's degree from a university recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) is sufficient. There is no requirement for:
- Minimum percentage (no 50% or 60% cutoff)
- Specific stream (Arts, Science, Commerce — all accepted)
- Correspondence or distance learning disqualification — UGC-recognised distance education degrees are valid
Exception: Financial Administrative Officer and Statistical Officer posts may require a degree in Commerce, Economics, Mathematics, or Statistics. Check the detailed notification for post-specific requirements.
Age Limits
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| General / Unreserved (UR) | 21 years | 37 years |
| OBC (EBC / BC) — Bihar domicile | 21 years | 40 years |
| BC Female — Bihar domicile | 21 years | 40 years |
| SC / ST — Bihar domicile | 21 years | 42 years |
| Unreserved Female — Bihar domicile | 21 years | 40 years |
| PH (any category) | +10 years additional relaxation | |
| Ex-Serviceman | Military service period + 3 years | Subject to upper limit |
Age is calculated as on the last date of application (31 May 2026 for BPSC 72nd CCE).
Bihar Domicile — Who Needs It?
Bihar domicile is required only to claim reserved category (OBC/EBC/BC/SC/ST/female) benefits. A candidate from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, or any other state can apply in the unreserved (General/UR) category without any domicile requirement. However:
- OBC certificate for Bihar state reservation must be a Bihar state OBC certificate (not central OBC list or another state OBC certificate)
- Female candidates claiming age relaxation must be Bihar domicile
- SC/ST certificate must be Bihar state issued
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹100 |
| SC / ST (Bihar domicile) | ₹100 |
| Female (Bihar domicile) | ₹100 |
| PH (Divyangjan) | ₹100 |
₹100 for everyone — this is among the lowest exam fees in India for a prestigious state civil service exam.
Category-Wise Vacancy (1,077 general posts)
| Category | Posts |
|---|---|
| UR (Unreserved) | 466 |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 105 |
| EBC (Extremely Backward Class) | 180 |
| BC (Backward Class) | 124 |
| BC Female | 31 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 162 |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 9 |
| Total | 1,077 |
Myths vs Facts
| Common Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| "Need 60% marks to apply for BAS" | False. No minimum percentage — any graduate qualifies. |
| "Only Bihar residents can apply for BPSC" | False. UR candidates from any state can apply without domicile. |
| "Arts graduates cannot apply" | False. Any degree from any stream is accepted. |
| "PT score is added to final merit" | False. PT only qualifies you for Mains; PT marks are NOT counted. |
| "BPSC requires physical fitness test" | False for most posts. BPS (Police) requires a medical after final selection; no physical test during the exam. |
| "OBC from another state valid for Bihar reservation" | False. Must hold Bihar state OBC/EBC/BC certificate. |
| "Attempting all 150 PT questions is always better" | False. With ¼ negative marking, wrong answers cost you; accuracy beats coverage. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I apply if my final year results are not yet declared?
BPSC generally requires the qualifying degree to be completed. However, some notifications allow "appeared" candidates. Check the official notification for BPSC 72nd — if it allows appearing candidates, you must produce the degree certificate before the Mains interview stage.
Q: How many attempts are allowed for BPSC?
BPSC does not have an attempt limit — you can apply as long as you are within the age limit. If the upper age for your category is 40, you can attempt every BPSC exam until you turn 40.