
Bihar's most competitive state civil services recruitment race is hitting its final stretch. The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has announced the 72nd Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2026 for 1,186 vacancies, and the last date to submit the online application is May 31, 2026. With just two days left on the clock, lakhs of aspirants across the state are scrambling to complete their registration — and for good reason. This single exam can land you a posting as a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub-Divisional Officer, Revenue Officer, or dozens of other sought-after Group A and Group B roles in the Bihar government.
FAQ: When is the last date to apply for BPSC 72nd CCE 2026? The last date to submit the online application form is May 31, 2026. Do not wait — server load increases dramatically in the final hours.
The BPSC Combined Competitive Examination is Bihar's equivalent of the UPSC Civil Services exam at the state level — a gateway to administrative power, a stable government salary, and a career that shapes communities. The Bihar Public Service Commission conducts this examination every year to recruit eligible graduates for various prestigious administrative posts in Bihar, including Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and other state services.
The BPSC 72nd Exam 2026 notification was released on May 5, 2026, with online applications opening on May 7, 2026. That gives candidates a tight window of just 24 days to register, fill the form, upload documents, and pay the fee.
Sharp-eyed candidates will notice a discrepancy between earlier announcements and the current official figure. A corrigendum was issued in relation to the advertisement dated May 5, 2026. According to the notification, 44 vacancies of Cane Officers from the Sugarcane Industry Department were deleted. The reason cited was that, under the Bihar Sugarcane Development Rules 2025, these posts come under Assistant Director, Sugarcane Development and similar roles, which carry different eligibility criteria and an examination pattern that is incompatible with the Combined Competitive Examination. As a result, these posts were excluded from the recruitment process, bringing the total vacancy count down to 1,186.
FAQ: Why was the BPSC 72nd CCE vacancy revised from 1,230 to 1,186? 44 Sugarcane Officer posts were removed because they fall under different eligibility rules and exam patterns as per the Bihar Sugarcane Development Rules 2025. The revised total stands at 1,186 posts.
The vacancies include important positions such as Sub Divisional Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Commandant, Sub Registrar, Assistant Director, and other administrative roles spanning administrative, police, revenue, welfare, and development-related services across Bihar government departments.
These are not clerical postings — these are leadership roles that place officers at the helm of district and sub-district governance in Bihar.
Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a graduation degree or equivalent from a recognised university. Certain posts have subject-specific eligibility, such as CDPO and Financial Administrative Officer, with optional subject requirements for the mains where applicable.
Age Limit: The minimum age varies by post and is 20, 21, or 22 years as of August 1, 2026, depending on the service or cadre applied for. The upper age limit is relaxed for candidates from reserved categories. For general category candidates, the upper age limit is 37 years.
Domicile: Reservation benefits are available only for permanent residents of Bihar. Candidates from outside Bihar can apply, but they will be treated under the unreserved category.
FAQ: Can candidates from outside Bihar apply for BPSC 72nd CCE 2026? Yes, non-Bihar candidates can apply, but they will not receive any reservation benefit and will be evaluated under the general/unreserved category.
The application link is available at bpsconline.bihar.gov.in. One Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory before proceeding to fill the application form. Candidates can apply online from May 7 to May 31, 2026.
Here's the complete process:
Visit bpsc.bihar.gov.in or bpsconline.bihar.gov.in
Click on "One Time Registration (OTR)" if you haven't registered before
Fill in personal, educational, and contact details accurately
Upload required documents: educational certificates, domicile certificate, caste/EWS/disability certificate as applicable
Pay the application fee online
Review all details carefully before final submission
Download and save your application confirmation for future reference
BPSC has made it clear that candidates must keep all relevant certificates ready before applying, including educational documents, domicile certificate, caste certificate, non-creamy layer certificate, EWS certificate, and disability certificate wherever applicable.
Pro tip: Apply today, not on May 31. Government exam portals are notorious for crashing on the last day due to peak traffic.
The fee structure is deliberately accessible:
All categories (General/OBC/SC/ST): ₹100 (online payment only)
Additional biometric charge: ₹200, applicable only for candidates who do not have Aadhaar authentication
This makes BPSC 72nd CCE one of the most affordable civil services examinations in India.
FAQ: What is the application fee for BPSC 72nd CCE 2026? The examination fee is ₹100 for all categories. Candidates without Aadhaar authentication must pay an additional ₹200 as a biometric charge.
The BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims Exam 2026 will be conducted on July 26, 2026 (Sunday) at various examination centres across Bihar. The preliminary examination will be held in a single shift on the same day.
The commission has not yet released the BPSC 72nd Mains Exam Date 2026. The detailed schedule for the mains examination and interview round will be announced separately on the official website.
| Event | Date |
| Notification Released | May 5, 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | May 7, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | May 31, 2026 |
| Prelims Exam | July 26, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Mains Exam Date | To be announced |
| Admit Card | July 2026 (expected) |
Preliminary Examination: The prelims will consist of 150 objective-type multiple choice questions. There is a negative marking penalty — one-third of marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer. The total duration of the exam is two hours. This is a single paper covering General Studies.
An important question from candidates: Is there negative marking in BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims? Yes. One-third of marks will be deducted for every wrong answer. Avoid guessing blindly.
Shortlisting for Mains: Candidates shortlisted in the prelims will appear for the mains examination. The commission will shortlist candidates nearly 10 times the total number of vacancies from the preliminary examination for the mains stage. That means approximately 11,860 candidates will be called for mains.
Mains Examination Papers: The mains includes the following papers:
General Hindi
General Studies Paper I
General Studies Paper II
Essay Paper
Optional Subject Paper
Final Selection: The final merit list is prepared based on the performance of candidates in the online-based examination of the mains stage and interview. The final cut-off marks are determined by the recruitment body.
The Bihar Public Service Commission released the 72nd CCE 2026 notification on May 5, 2026. Applications opened on May 7, 2026, and the last date to apply online is May 31, 2026. Vacancies have been notified for 1,186 posts and the Prelims exam is scheduled for July 26, 2026. The three-stage selection process involves Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The official portal is bpsconline.bihar.gov.in.
Q1. How many vacancies are there in BPSC 72nd CCE 2026? There are 1,186 vacancies after revision. Originally 1,230 posts were announced; 44 Sugarcane Officer posts were subsequently withdrawn.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for BPSC 72nd CCE 2026? May 31, 2026. This is the final deadline and is unlikely to be extended.
Q3. When is the BPSC 72nd Prelims exam date? The prelims will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2026.
Q4. What is the educational qualification required for BPSC 72nd CCE? A Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognised university is required. Some specific posts require subject-specific qualifications.
Q5. What is the age limit for BPSC 72nd CCE 2026? The minimum age is 20–22 years (varies by post) and the upper age limit is 37 years for general category candidates, as calculated on August 1, 2026. Age relaxation applies for reserved categories.
Q6. Is there negative marking in BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims? Yes. One-third of marks will be deducted for each wrong answer in the preliminary examination.
Q7. What posts are available under BPSC 72nd CCE 2026? Key posts include Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), District Commandant, Sub Registrar, Assistant Director, Revenue Officer, Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), Financial Administrative Officer, and more.
Q8. Where to apply for BPSC 72nd CCE 2026? Visit the official website: bpsc.bihar.gov.in or bpsconline.bihar.gov.in
Q9. Is OTR mandatory for applying? Yes. One Time Registration (OTR) on the BPSC portal is a mandatory prerequisite before filling the application form.
Q10. Will the application deadline be extended? No official extension has been announced. Candidates should apply well before May 31, 2026 to avoid last-minute technical issues.