Preparation strategy for the 70th BPSC Exam

The 70th BPSC notification of 2024 has been released. Preparing for the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam requires a well-structured strategy, a disciplined study routine, and comprehensive syllabus coverage.

Broad Preparation strategy

Step 1 : Know the Selection process and exam pattern of BPSC recruitment.

BPSC conducts the exam in three stages - Prelims, Mains, and Interview.

Step 2: Know the syllabus

Step 3: Strengthen the basics

Studying standard books like NCERTs can help cover the basics of General Studies subjects.

Step 4: Read the standard books of each subject to cover the syllabus comprehensively.

Step 5: Practice Previous Year Question Papers

Solving previous years’ question papers gives a clear idea of the type of questions asked.

Step 6: Attempt Mock Tests

Mock tests are critical for both Prelims and Mains as they help in time management and developing a better understanding of the questions.

Step 7: Regular revision

Continuous revision is key to retaining information.

The above steps are crucial to be included in the broad preparation strategy for the exam. Though all three stages of the exam should be prepared simultaneously, each stage requires a specific approach to get through it.

Here is a detailed preparation strategy for each stage of the exam:

BPSC Prelims Strategy

The Prelims exam consists of a single objective-type paper based on General Studies.

S. No.	Key focus areas	Preparation tips	Standard Books
1.	General Science	Questions are asked from the basic concepts of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. So, to prepare for this area, concepts of these basics should be brushed up.	NCERTs - 6th to 10th Class Lucent’s General Knowledge
2.	History of India and Bihar	Indian History should be covered specifically from the start of the 19th century with a focus on the Indian freedom struggle. Special focus should be given on Bihar’s history and its role in the freedom struggle.	Ancient Indian History: India's Ancient Past by RS Sharma (Old NCERT) Medieval Indian History: A History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra (Old NCERT) Spectrum’s Modern History Indian Art and Culture - Nitin Singhania
3.	Geography	Both Indian and Bihar geography should be covered, including physical, economic, and social geography.	NCERTs from Class 6th to 12th G.C. Leong’s Physical Geography World Geography by Majid Hussai
4.	Polity	Indian Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, and the role of Bihar in governance and politics should be given focus in Indian polity.	M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity
5.	Economy	Study the Indian economy, budgeting, planning, and Bihar’s economic status and development plans.	NCERTS of 11th and 12th Standard Ramesh Singh’s Indian Economy Economic Survey and Annual Budget of India Economic Survey and Annual Budget of Bihar

Bihar specific books

KBC Nano by KBC Nano Publication
Bihar Ek Parichay by Imtiyaz Ahmed
Bihar General Knowledg by Crown Publications by Ritesh Kumar
Know Your State Bihar by Arihant
Bihar Land, People and Economy by V.P. Sinha, M Nazim, P Firoz Ahmed

Key Preparation Tips for Prelims

First, brush up on the basic concepts through NCERTs of 6th to 12th standard and then take up a standard book for each subject to cover the syllabus thoroughly.
Solve at least 10 years' worth of BPSC Prelims papers to understand the pattern and weightage of topics.
Regularly attempt Prelims mock tests to improve accuracy and time management.

Mains Preparation Strategy

The Mains exam is mainly descriptive and consists of five papers out of which two are qualifying.

Paper wise strategy

Paper 1: Hindi

This is a qualifying paper, so focus on basic grammar, essay writing, and sentence correction. You need to score 30% to qualify for this paper. Marks of this paper are not added to the merit.

Paper 2: General studies - I

S. No.	Broad subjects	Preparation strategy	Study material
1.	Modern History of India	Focus on India’s struggle for independence, significant events, and personalities, especially Bihar’s contribution to the freedom movement. Frequently asked topics -	Spectrum’s Modern History India’s Struggle for Independence - Bipin Chandra
2.	Current Events of National and International Importance		Daily Newspaper Any monthly Current Affairs Magazine
3.	Statistical Analysis, Diagrams, and Graphs		NCERTs

Paper 3 : General Studies - II

S. No.	Broad subjects	Preparation strategy	Study material
1.	Polity	Focus should be on on Indian Constitution, governance, federal structure, Panchayati Raj, and issues specific to Bihar’s governance system. Track current political issues, government schemes, and international relations.	M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity Introduction to the Constitution of India
2.	Economy	Both India’s and Bihar’s economies need to be covered with special emphasis on Bihar’s developmental issues, government policies, and initiatives. Stay updated with current policies of the Bihar government, particularly those related to agriculture, education, and rural development.	NCERTS of 11th and 12th Standard Ramesh Singh’s Indian Economy Economic Survey and Annual Budget of India Economic Survey and Annual
3.	Geography	Both Indian and Bihar Geography must be covered. Read in-depth about Bihar's geography, including rivers, minerals, agriculture, and developmental issues.	NCERTs from Class 6th to 12th G.C. Leong’s Physical Geography World Geography by Majid Hussain
4.	Science and Technology	Focus should be on recent developments, the role of technology in governance, and issues like climate change, environmental challenges	Current affairs from Newspapers and monthly magazines.

Paper 4: Essay

This paper is the new addition to the 70th BPSC exam. Essays will be of 2 main types -

Philosophical or Abstract topics, for example, “Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.” (UPSC CSE 2023)
Issue-based topics ( can be social, political, economic, environmental, or technological).For example, “Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India.” (UPSC CSE 2017)

Key elements required to write a good quality essay

Clarity of topic
Fresh perspective rather than just common ideas
Simple language
Smooth flow of ideas
Balanced views ( Both positive and negative aspects of a topic should be touched but the overall approach to the topic should be optimistic)
Use of Quotes and Anecdotes

Preparation strategy for Essay paper

To develop your thought process, read widely from books, newspapers, and magazines like The Hindu, Yojana, Kurukshetra, etc.
Past years’ essay papers of UPSC CSE can be used for brainstorming and practice.
A list of quotes from famous personalities, Anecdotes, Case studies, and examples on different issues should be prepared.

Paper 5: Optional

The optional paper will be objective-type and will be of 100 marks.
It will be a qualifying paper whose marks will not be considered for merit.
Choose an optional subject you are comfortable with and have either studied during graduation or are interested in.
Strategy for the optional paper includes -
- Understand the syllabus thoroughly.
- Use subject-specific books to cover all topics of the syllabus comprehensively.
- Use mock tests for practice

Answer writing tips

Understand the question and identify the keywords in the question to ensure that your answer stays on-topic.
Structure the answer into an Introduction, Body, and a Conclusion or Way forward
Be concise and stick to the word limit.
Use simple, formal language to make your points clear.
Back up your points with relevant examples, data, or case studies.
Be optimistic while approaching the answer.
Relate your answer to recent developments, government policies, and international events.
Where applicable, include diagrams, flowcharts, or maps.
Practice answer writing regularly in a time-bound manner adhering to the word limit.
Attempt mock tests. It will help you manage time effectively during the exam.

Interview/ Personality test strategy

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) interview is a crucial part of the selection process, and it requires a well-rounded strategy to perform successfully.

Here are the key areas to focus on while preparing for the Interview -

Be thoroughly familiar with what you've written in your Detailed application form (DAF)
Keep yourself updated on recent events at both national and international levels, especially concerning Bihar.
Revise your mains notes for the static part.
Prepare your graduation and optional subjects thoroughly.
Prepare Questions about Bihar’s problems (e.g., poverty, unemployment, agriculture) and possible solutions.
Take mock interviews to simulate the real interview environment. This helps in building confidence and improving communication skills.

By following this detailed strategy and maintaining a disciplined approach, you can prepare effectively for the BPSC exam and improve your chances of securing a top rank. All the best!

Preparation strategy for the 70th BPSC Exam