Preparing for the BPSSC SI exam 2026? With 1,799 posts and lakhs of applicants, the Prelims is a pure screening filter — 100 GK questions, 200 marks, 2 hours, and only the top 10× vacancies (≈18,000 candidates) qualify for Mains. Your Prelims marks are NOT counted in the final merit. That changes how you should prepare: score above the cut-off efficiently, not chase the topper.
Prelims Exam Pattern at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|
| Subject | General Knowledge (GK) |
| Total Questions | 100 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 200 (2 marks per correct answer) |
| Negative Marking | 0.2 marks deducted per wrong answer |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Language | Hindi & English (bilingual paper) |
| Question Type | Objective (MCQ) |
| Shortlisting | 10× total vacancies qualify for Mains |
| Merit Impact | Prelims marks NOT counted in final merit |
⚠ Key Strategy Insight: Prelims is a filter, not a merit exam. You need ~110–130 marks out of 200 to clear the cut-off in a competitive year. Attempting 80–85 questions with 90%+ accuracy beats attempting all 100 with 70% accuracy because of the 0.2 negative marking.
Topic-wise Question Distribution (Expected)
| Topic Area | Expected Questions | Focus Level |
|---|
| Current Affairs & GK (last 6–12 months) | 35–40 | ★★★★★ |
| Indian History (with Bihar focus) | 10–15 | ★★★★☆ |
| Indian Geography + Bihar Geography | 8–12 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Indian Polity & Constitution | 8–10 | ★★★★☆ |
| General Science (Physics + Chemistry + Biology) | 10–12 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Bihar Special (GK, Schemes, Administration) | 8–12 | ★★★★★ |
| Sports, Awards, Books & Authors | 5–8 | ★★★☆☆ |
Bihar GK — High-Probability Questions
Bihar GK appears in 8–12 questions every year across Prelims and is the single most differentiating section. Candidates from Bihar often underestimate this assuming it is "common knowledge." Learn these precisely.
- Q: Bihar was carved out of which state, and on what date?
A: Bihar was part of Bengal Presidency until 1912, when it was separated. Jharkhand was carved from Bihar on 15 November 2000, making Bihar the 28th state of India.
- Q: Which river is called the "Sorrow of Bihar"?
A: Kosi river — it frequently changes course and causes devastating floods in north Bihar every year.
- Q: Who was the first Chief Minister of Bihar?
A: Sri Krishna Sinha — he served from 1946 to 1961, the longest tenure as Bihar CM.
- Q: What is Bihar's state animal, state bird, and state tree?
A: State animal — Gaur (Indian bison); State bird — House sparrow; State tree — Peepal (Ficus religiosa).
- Q: Which district of Bihar has the highest literacy rate?
A: Rohtas district — consistently leads Bihar's literacy rankings. Bihar's overall literacy rate is ≈61.8% (Census 2011), well below national average.
- Q: Where did the Champaran Satyagraha begin, and in which year?
A: Champaran (now West Champaran district), 1917 — Gandhi's first civil disobedience in India, against indigo planters. This was also Gandhi's first major involvement in Indian freedom struggle.
- Q: Name the famous Buddhist site in Bihar and its significance.
A: Bodh Gaya — where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Also: Nalanda (ancient university, Nalanda district), Rajgir (Bimbisar's capital, 1st Buddhist Council site), Vaishali (birthplace of Mahavira, 2nd Buddhist Council).
- Q: What is the Bihar Diwas celebration date and what does it commemorate?
A: 22 March — marks the formation of Bihar state in 1912 when it was separated from Bengal Presidency. Celebrated as Bihar Foundation Day.
- Q: Name the major dams and hydroelectric projects in Bihar.
A: Bihar has few dams due to its flat terrain. Key projects: Kosi Barrage (near Bhimnagar, controls Kosi flooding), Gandhi Setu (Patna, one of Asia's longest river bridges over Ganga, 5.575 km). Power projects are mostly in Jharkhand.
Indian Polity — Must-Know Articles & Facts
| Constitutional Article / Provision | What It Says |
|---|
| Article 14 | Right to Equality — equality before law |
| Article 19 | Right to Freedom — 6 freedoms including speech, movement, occupation |
| Article 21 | Right to Life and Personal Liberty — most litigated fundamental right |
| Article 32 | Right to Constitutional Remedies — Dr. Ambedkar called it "heart and soul" of constitution |
| Article 44 | Uniform Civil Code — Directive Principle (not enforceable) |
| Article 72 | Pardoning power of President (mercy petition) |
| Article 108 | Joint sitting of Parliament — called by President to resolve deadlocks |
| Article 123 | President can issue Ordinance when Parliament is not in session |
| Article 356 | President's Rule (imposition) in state — needs Cabinet recommendation |
| Article 370 | Special status of J&K — abrogated on 5 August 2019 |
General Science — Quick-Reference Facts
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|
| pH of pure water | 7 (neutral); below 7 = acidic; above 7 = basic/alkaline |
| Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) | Deficiency causes Scurvy — bleeding gums, weak immunity; found in citrus fruits |
| Vitamin D | Deficiency causes Rickets (children) / Osteomalacia (adults); synthesised by sunlight |
| Blood groups — who is universal donor? | O− (O negative) — can donate to all groups |
| Universal recipient | AB+ — can receive from all blood groups |
| Atomic number of Gold (Au) | 79; Silver (Ag) = 47; Iron (Fe) = 26; Copper (Cu) = 29 |
| Lightest gas | Hydrogen (H₂) — used in balloons; Helium is lightest noble gas |
| Newton's 2nd Law | F = ma — Force equals mass times acceleration |
| Speed of light | 3 × 10⁸ m/s (approximately 3 lakh km/second) |
| Photosynthesis equation | 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ (glucose + oxygen) |
| Largest gland in human body | Liver — also performs 500+ functions including detoxification |
| Ozone layer location | Stratosphere (15–35 km altitude); absorbs UV-B radiation |
Modern History — Bihar & Freedom Struggle
Bihar features prominently in modern history questions. These are the most frequently tested events:
| Event | Year | Significance |
|---|
| Champaran Satyagraha | 1917 | Gandhi's first Satyagraha in India; against indigo cultivation |
| Non-Cooperation Movement | 1920–22 | Launched by Gandhi; Bihar had major participation |
| Bihar earthquake | 1934 | Devastating quake (8.1 magnitude); Gandhi linked it to untouchability |
| Quit India Movement | 1942 | Bihar had intense participation; JP Narayan led underground movement |
| JP Movement | 1974 | Jayaprakash Narayan led student movement from Bihar against Indira Gandhi |
| Emergency period | 1975–77 | Bihar was centre of resistance; led to Emergency being lifted |
| First Battle of Plassey | 1757 | British defeated Siraj ud-Daulah (Nawab of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa) |
Current Affairs Strategy (6–12 Month Window)
✅ High-Yield Current Affairs Topics for BPSSC SI 2026:
- Bihar Cabinet decisions and new schemes — any scheme announced by Nitish Kumar government (especially welfare schemes for SC/ST, women, youth)
- National awards — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri recipients with Bihar connection
- Sports — recent medal winners at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Olympics; BCCI decisions
- Defence acquisitions — major weapons/aircraft purchased by Indian Army/Navy/Air Force
- G20 / BRICS / SCO summits — host countries and key outcomes
- New appointments — CJI, CAG, CEC, RBI Governor, UPSC Chairman
- World records and firsts — India's first in space, technology, sports
Computer Shortcuts Table
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected text/file |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo last action |
| Ctrl + S | Save file |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + F | Find (search in document/browser) |
| Ctrl + P | Print |
| Alt + F4 | Close active window |
| Windows + D | Show desktop |
| F2 | Rename selected file/folder |
Cut-Off Analysis (Previous Years)
| Category | Expected Cut-off (Prelims) | Out of 200 Marks |
|---|
| General / UR | 120–135 marks | 60–67.5% |
| EWS | 115–125 marks | 57.5–62.5% |
| OBC / BC | 110–120 marks | 55–60% |
| SC | 100–110 marks | 50–55% |
| ST | 95–105 marks | 47.5–52.5% |
| Female (all categories) | 5–10 marks below male cut-off | — |
⚠ Note: Cut-offs vary based on difficulty level and number of candidates. Exact official cut-offs should be verified from the BPSSC official website (bpssc.bih.nic.in). These figures are indicative based on typical Bihar state exam patterns.
4-Week Prelims Strategy Plan
| Week | Focus Area | Daily Time |
|---|
| Week 1 | Bihar GK (history, geography, schemes, current) + Polity Articles 1–150 | 3–4 hours |
| Week 2 | Indian History (Ancient → Modern) + Geography (Physical + Indian rivers) | 3–4 hours |
| Week 3 | General Science (Biology → Chemistry → Physics) + Economics basics | 3–4 hours |
| Week 4 | Current Affairs revision + 3 full mock tests (100Q each) + weak area revision | 4–5 hours |
📚 Recommended Resources:
- Bihar GK: "Bihar: Ek Parichay" (Bihar Rajya Pustak Nigam) or any Bihar-specific GK book for competitive exams
- Indian History: Lucent's GK (History section) — covers Ancient/Medieval/Modern in compact form
- Polity: M. Laxmikanth "Indian Polity" (at least first 20 chapters)
- General Science: Lucent's General Science — sufficient for Prelims level
- Current Affairs: Any monthly GK magazine + Bihar's official press releases
- Mock Tests: Practice previous BPSC 67th/68th Prelims papers — similar GK pattern to BPSSC SI
Mains Strategy (After Clearing Prelims)
Once Prelims is cleared, your focus shifts entirely to Mains — which is the merit exam. See the dedicated article for the complete Mains breakdown:
Bihar Police Sub-Inspector — Law & Legal GK Practice Questions
A Bihar Police SI is a commissioned officer — the first officer rank in the police hierarchy. SI needs strong knowledge of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Bihar-specific policing. These Q&As cover what's tested in the written exam and the interview.
Q5. What is the difference between a cognizable and non-cognizable offence under CrPC?
Answer:
Cognizable Offence (Section 2(c) CrPC): An offence where police can arrest without a warrant, investigate without magistrate's permission. Examples: Murder (IPC 302), Robbery (IPC 392), Rape (IPC 376). FIR (First Information Report) must be registered immediately.
Non-Cognizable Offence: Police cannot arrest without a warrant. Investigation requires magistrate's permission. Examples: Cheating (IPC 420), Defamation (IPC 499). Complaint filed instead of FIR.
BPSSC SI relevance: SI is usually the first officer to receive FIR. SI must correctly classify offences, decide whether to arrest, and initiate investigation — these are daily duties governed directly by this distinction.
Q6. What is Section 144 CrPC and when can an SI invoke it?
Answer: Section 144 CrPC — Empowers a District Magistrate (DM) or Executive Magistrate to issue orders restricting assembly, movement, or certain activities in an area to prevent danger to human life or public tranquility.
SI cannot directly invoke Section 144 — it requires a Magistrate's order. However, SI plays a key role in: enforcing the order, dispersing gatherings, filing reports on the situation, and providing ground intelligence to the DM. Section 144 is typically invoked during: communal tensions, political demonstrations, post-election situations, and curfew imposition.
Under Section 144(3), the order can be passed ex parte (without hearing the affected parties) if the situation is urgent.
Q7. What is a Charge Sheet (Challan) and how is it different from an FIR?
Answer:
FIR (First Information Report): Lodged at a police station when a cognizable offence is reported. It initiates the investigation. SI registers it and begins inquiry.
Charge Sheet (Police Report/Challan under Section 173 CrPC): Filed after investigation is complete. It is submitted to the Magistrate's court listing the accused, charges, evidence, and witnesses. If evidence is insufficient, SI files a "Final Report" (closure report) instead.
Timeline: Section 167 CrPC — if charge sheet is not filed within 60 days (for offences punishable with 10+ years) or 90 days (for lesser offences), the accused gets default bail. This is a critical responsibility for SI — delay in charge sheet filing can allow accused to walk free.
BPSSC SI Exam Tip: IPC + CrPC together form the backbone of the legal paper. Learn the most-tested sections: IPC 302 (Murder), 307 (Attempt), 376 (Rape), 379 (Theft), 392 (Robbery), 420 (Cheating); CrPC 41 (Arrest), 154 (FIR), 161 (Statement), 164 (Confession), 173 (Charge Sheet), 438 (Anticipatory Bail), 439 (Regular Bail).
BPSSC SI Additional FAQs
Q: What is the BPSSC SI physical standard?
Bihar Police SI physical standards (verify from current official BPSSC notification):
Male (General): Height 165 cm, Chest 81–86 cm (5 cm expansion), Weight proportionate to height.
Female: Height 155 cm (or as notified), chest not measured.
1.6 km run must be cleared within the prescribed time. Verify current PET standards from bpssc.bihar.gov.in — norms are updated with each recruitment cycle.
Q: Is there an interview for BPSSC SI?
BPSSC SI selection typically includes: Preliminary Written Test → Mains Written Test → Physical Efficiency Test → Medical Examination → Character Verification. Many recent BPSSC SI cycles have removed the interview — merit is determined entirely by written exam and PET performance. Confirm from the current official notification.
