Bihar SI Vacancy 2026

Reviewed by the OnJob Editorial Team — career researchers covering jobs, salaries and hiring across India. Questions? editorial@onjob.io

Sub-Inspector recruitment in Bihar is the state’s most competitive graduate-level uniformed entry, and the one where a candidate can be eliminated at four separate stages. This guide covers the announced vacancy, the eligibility and physical standards, the full examination pattern and syllabus, the pay, and what the selection process actually looks like end to end.

Who is recruiting and for how many posts?

The Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission has announced recruitment for 1,799 Sub-Inspector (Daroga) posts under Advertisement No. 05/2026, released on the commission’s website at bpssc.bihar.gov.in. The drive is open to graduates in any discipline and fills officer-grade posts in the Bihar Police Department.

Recruitment Details	Information
Recruiting Organization	Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC)
Post Name	Sub Inspector (SI) / Daroga
Total Vacancies	1799 Posts
Advertisement Number	05/2026
Application Start Date	26 September 2026
Last Date to Apply	26 October 2026
Preliminary Exam Date	18 & 21 January 2026
Admit Card Release	30 December 2026
Application Mode	Online
Official Website	bpssc.bihar.gov.in

Dates in circulation for this cycle have not been consistent, so confirm every one of them against the notification PDF on the commission’s own site before planning around it.

How are the posts distributed across categories?

Reservation is applied as per state norms, and the split matters because cut-offs are set category by category rather than on one common list. Women’s reservation is substantial in this recruitment: 614 of the 1,799 posts, roughly 35 per cent, are earmarked for female candidates.

Category	Male	Female	Total Vacancies
Unreserved (UR)	490	172	662
EBC	320	112	432
BC	165	58	223
SC	182	64	246
ST	13	5	18
Freedom Fighter’s Grandchildren	25	11	36
Total	1195	422	1799

What qualification do you need?

A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university is the only academic requirement, and there is no minimum percentage — passing marks are sufficient. The degree must be completed by 01 August 2026, which is the same cut-off date used for calculating age.

• Minimum qualification: bachelor’s degree in any discipline

• University: recognised university or equivalent qualification

• Completion date: degree completed by 01 August 2026

• Percentage: no minimum requirement

What is the age limit?

Age is counted as on 01 August 2026, and the upper limit varies by category and gender. The minimum is 20 years across every category. Candidates near the ceiling should note that no relaxation applies beyond what the table below sets out.

Category	Minimum Age	Maximum Age
General / Unreserved (Male)	20 years	37 years
General / Unreserved (Female)	20 years	40 years
EBC / BC (Male)	20 years	40 years
EBC / BC (Female)	20 years	40 years
SC / ST (Male & Female)	20 years	42 years
Transgender (All Categories)	20 years	42 years

What are the physical standards?

Physical standards are measured at the Physical Standard Test, and failing any single measurement ends the candidature regardless of written performance. Male candidates are measured on height and chest, with a mandatory 5 cm expansion; female candidates on height and weight.

Male candidates

Category	Height	Chest (Unexpanded)	Chest (Expanded)	Minimum Expansion
Unreserved / BC / EBC	165 cm	81 cm	86 cm	5 cm
SC / ST	160 cm	79 cm	84 cm	5 cm

Female candidates

Category	Height	Weight
All Categories	155 cm	Minimum 48 kg

What are the nationality requirements?

Applicants must be Indian citizens and must be able to produce valid proof of nationality — an Aadhaar card, voter ID or passport is accepted. Domicile preference may be given to residents of Bihar, and a domicile certificate is among the documents uploaded with the application.

What are the important dates?

The application window and the examination schedule are fixed in the advertisement, and each stage follows the previous one without a published gap. The table repeats the key dates announced for this cycle in one place.

Event	Date
Notification Release	23 September 2026
Online Application Start	26 September 2026
Last Date to Apply	26 October 2026
Preliminary Examination	18 & 21 January 2026
Admit Card Release	30 December 2026

How do you apply online?

The application is submitted entirely online through the commission’s portal, and the fee is a flat ₹100 for every category — one of the lowest for a graduate-level state recruitment. Registration comes first and produces the Registration ID you will need at every later stage.

Step 1 — open the official website

• Go to bpssc.bihar.gov.in or police.bihar.gov.in

• Open the police recruitment section

Step 2 — register

• Click the Sub-Inspector recruitment link

• Register with an email ID and mobile number

• Note down your Registration ID

Step 3 — fill the form

• Log in with the Registration ID

• Enter personal, educational and contact details

Step 4 — upload documents

• Recent passport-size photograph

• Signature

• Educational certificates

• Caste certificate, if applicable

• Domicile certificate

Step 5 — pay the fee

• ₹100 for all categories

• Payment by net banking, credit card, debit card or UPI

Step 6 — submit and print

• Verify every detail before submitting

• Submit the form and take a printout

Category	Application Fee
All Categories (General, EBC, BC, SC, ST, Transgender)	₹100

How does the selection process work?

Selection runs through four stages, and each one eliminates. The preliminary paper only screens candidates for the mains; the mains decides merit; the physical tests are pass-or-fail; and document verification with a medical examination completes the process before appointment.

1. Preliminary examination — objective questions on general knowledge and current affairs, qualifying in nature

2. Main examination — two papers, General Hindi and General Studies

3. Physical tests — Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

4. Document verification and medical examination

What is the prelims exam pattern?

The preliminary paper is a two-hour objective test carrying 200 marks across 100 questions, with two marks awarded for a correct answer and 0.2 deducted for a wrong one. It screens candidates at twenty times the number of vacancies, and its marks do not carry into the final merit.

Exam Details	Information
Paper Type	Objective (MCQs)
Total Questions	100 Questions
Total Marks	200 Marks
Duration	2 Hours (120 Minutes)
Subject	General Knowledge & Current Affairs
Marking Scheme	+2 for correct answer
Negative Marking	-0.2 for wrong answer
Qualifying Marks	30% (Minimum)
Selection Ratio	20 times the number of vacancies

What is the mains exam pattern?

The mains runs two papers of 200 marks each. Paper I in General Hindi is qualifying only and its marks are not counted for merit; Paper II in General Studies is the paper that decides the merit list. Both carry the same negative marking as the prelims.

Paper I — General Hindi (qualifying)

Details	Information
Questions	100 MCQs
Total Marks	200 Marks
Duration	2 Hours
Minimum Marks	30% (Qualifying)
Merit Consideration	No (Qualifying Nature)
Negative Marking	-0.2 per wrong answer

Paper II — General Studies (counted for merit)

Details	Information
Questions	100 MCQs
Total Marks	200 Marks
Duration	2 Hours
Subjects	General Studies, Science, Civics, History, Geography, Maths, Mental Ability
Negative Marking	-0.2 per wrong answer
Merit List	Based on this paper

What does the prelims syllabus cover?

The preliminary paper is built almost entirely on general knowledge and current affairs, with a distinct Bihar-specific component that national study material does not cover. That state portion is where prepared candidates gain the clearest advantage over those using generic guides.

National and international events

• Current national and international news

• Important government schemes

• Recent appointments and awards

• Sports events and championships

• Books and authors

Bihar-specific general knowledge

• Bihar history and culture

• Geography of Bihar

• Economy and development

• Important personalities from Bihar

• Bihar government policies

General topics

• Indian Constitution

• Indian Economy

• Science and Technology

• Environment and Ecology

• Defence and Security

What does the Hindi paper cover?

Paper I tests grammar, composition and literature in Hindi, and it is qualifying at 30 per cent — a low bar that candidates nonetheless miss by neglecting it entirely. Grammar carries the largest share of questions and is the most efficient section to prepare.

व्याकरण (Grammar)

• संधि और संधि विच्छेद

• उपसर्ग और प्रत्यय

• पर्यायवाची और विलोम शब्द

• मुहावरे और लोकोक्तियाँ

• वाक्य शुद्धिकरण

• समास और समास विग्रह

रचना (Composition)

• निबंध लेखन

• पत्र लेखन (औपचारिक और अनौपचारिक)

• संक्षेपण

• अनुवाद

साहित्य (Literature)

• हिंदी साहित्य का इतिहास

• प्रमुख कवि और लेखक

• रचनाएं और रचनाकार

What does the General Studies paper cover?

Paper II spans six areas and decides the merit list, so its coverage deserves the bulk of preparation time. Science, mathematics and reasoning are scoring sections for most candidates, while history, geography and polity reward systematic revision more than last-minute reading.

General Science

• Physics: laws of motion; work, energy and power; heat and temperature; light and reflection; electricity and magnetism; sound and waves

• Chemistry: atomic structure; periodic table; chemical reactions; acids, bases and salts; basics of organic chemistry; environmental chemistry

• Biology: cell structure and functions; human body systems; genetics and evolution; diseases and immunity; nutrition and health; ecology and environment

Mathematics and mental ability

• Arithmetic: number system, HCF and LCM, percentage, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, ratio and proportion, time and work, time and distance, average, mensuration, data interpretation

• Reasoning: analogies, series completion, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, logical reasoning, puzzles and seating arrangement, statement and conclusion, Venn diagrams

Indian history

• Ancient, medieval and modern India

• The freedom movement and freedom fighters

• Important dynasties and major historical events

• Post-independence India

Indian geography

• Physical geography of India

• Rivers and river systems

• Mountains and plateaus

• Climate and seasons, soil types

• Natural resources, agriculture and irrigation

• Population and demographics, major cities and states

Civics and political science

• Constitution: preamble and features, fundamental rights, fundamental duties, directive principles, constitutional bodies

• Polity: union government, state government, local government, judiciary, election process, political parties

Current affairs

• National and international events

• Sports and games, awards and honours

• Books and authors, important days and dates

• Science and technology news, economic developments, government schemes

What is the exam day schedule?

The preliminary examination is conducted in two shifts on each of the two announced dates, with reporting an hour before the paper begins. Candidates are allotted one shift and one centre, both printed on the admit card.

Date	Shift	Reporting Time	Exam Time
18 January 2026	First Shift	9:00 AM	10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
18 January 2026	Second Shift	1:00 PM	2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
21 January 2026	First Shift	9:00 AM	10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
21 January 2026	Second Shift	1:00 PM	2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

How do you download the admit card?

Admit cards are released on 30 December 2026 and downloaded from bpssc.bihar.gov.in using the Registration ID and date of birth. Print it as soon as it is available, because entry to the centre depends on carrying it alongside a valid photo identity document.

Documents to carry

• Printed admit card

• Valid photo ID (Aadhaar, voter ID or driving licence)

• Recent passport-size photographs

• Self-declaration form, if required

What does the physical efficiency test involve?

The PET follows the mains result and is scored on completion time rather than being purely pass-or-fail. Male candidates run 1.6 km within 6 minutes 30 seconds; female candidates run 1 km within the time fixed by the commission. Field events are conducted alongside the run.

Male candidates

• Running: 1.6 km (1600 metres) in 6 minutes 30 seconds, marked on completion time

• Field events: high jump, long jump and shot put, as per commission standards

Female candidates

• Running: 1 km (1000 metres), time limit as per commission norms, marked on completion time

• Field events: long jump and high jump, as per commission standards

What is the salary of a Bihar Sub-Inspector?

The post sits at Level 6 of the pay matrix with a basic pay of ₹35,400 per month. In-hand pay works out to roughly ₹35,000 to ₹40,000 once allowances and deductions are applied, and the annual package across the career band runs from about ₹4.24 lakh to ₹13.48 lakh.

Component	Amount
Pay Matrix Level	Level 6
Basic Pay	₹35,400 per month
Annual Package	₹4,24,800 to ₹13,48,800
In-Hand Salary	₹35,000 - ₹40,000 (approx)

Allowances and benefits

• Dearness Allowance (DA)

• House Rent Allowance (HRA)

• Travel Allowance (TA)

• Medical allowance

• Uniform allowance

• Other government benefits, including pension after retirement

Which books work for this exam?

Standard reference books cover this syllabus adequately, and the state-specific titles are the ones worth adding, since national guides do not cover Bihar general knowledge in the depth the paper demands.

• General knowledge: Lucent’s General Knowledge, Manorama Yearbook, Bihar Daroga GK by Kiran Publication

• Mathematics: Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal, Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma

• Reasoning: A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal, Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey

• General science: Lucent’s General Science, NCERT books for classes 6 to 10

• Bihar-specific: Bihar Daroga Complete Guide by Arihant, Bihar GK by Upkar Publication

How should you prepare?

Preparation has to run on two tracks at once — the written syllabus and physical training — because candidates who leave the running until after the mains result rarely have enough time. Six to eight hours of daily study covers the syllabus if it starts early enough.

1. Understand the syllabus — download the official syllabus, identify high-weight topics and build a topic-wise plan

2. Fix a study schedule — six to eight hours daily, covering every subject systematically, with extra time on weak areas

3. Follow current affairs — read newspapers daily, track government schemes and stay current on Bihar news

4. Practise mock tests — solve previous year papers, take timed online tests and analyse each attempt

5. Revise regularly — keep short notes and revise before exam day

6. Train physically — start running practice early and build stamina gradually

Why do previous year papers matter?

Past papers show the actual weight given to each topic, which no syllabus document conveys. They also build the timing instinct the paper demands, since 100 questions in 120 minutes with negative marking punishes candidates who read every option carefully.

Benefits

• Understand the exam pattern

• Identify high-frequency topics

• Practise time management

• Build confidence

Where to find them

• The official commission website

• Educational websites and study material portals

• Coaching institutes

What do the exam trends show?

Recent prelims papers have leaned heavily on general knowledge, with 50 to 60 questions from GK, 20 to 30 from current affairs and 15 to 20 on Bihar-specific topics, at a moderate to difficult level. The mains weights General Studies more heavily, with Hindi purely qualifying.

How does this exam compare with others?

Candidates preparing for one state police examination often sit others in the same year, and the syllabus overlap makes that practical. The comparison below sets this recruitment against two commonly attempted alternatives.

Feature	Bihar SI	SSC CGL	UP Police SI
Authority	BPSSC	Staff Selection Commission	UPPBPB
Level	State Government	Central Government	State Government
Pay Scale	Level 6	Varies (Level 4-8)	Level 7
Scope	Bihar State	All India	UP State
Competition	High	Very High	Very High

What mistakes cost candidates a cycle?

Most eliminations happen for reasons that have nothing to do with knowledge. At the application stage it is careless data entry and missed deadlines; at the preparation stage it is neglecting physical fitness and Bihar general knowledge until it is too late to fix either.

During application — avoid

• Skipping document verification

• Providing incorrect information

• Uploading unclear photographs

• Missing the last date

• Paying an incorrect fee amount

During application — do

• Double-check every detail

• Upload clear documents

• Apply before the deadline

• Keep the payment receipt and a printout of the form

During preparation — avoid

• Ignoring physical fitness

• Skipping current affairs

• Not practising mock tests

• Leaving preparation to the last minute

• Neglecting Bihar general knowledge

During preparation — focus on

• Balanced preparation across subjects

• Regular practice and physical training

• Time management and strong fundamentals

How should you handle negative marking?

Every wrong answer costs 0.2 marks, which across a 100-question paper is enough to move a candidate out of a 20:1 shortlist. The practical rule is to answer when you can eliminate two or three options, and to leave a question untouched when the topic is entirely unfamiliar.

When to attempt a guess

• You can eliminate two or three options

• The question relates to a topic you have studied

• Logical deduction narrows the answer

When not to guess

• The topic is completely unknown

• Every option looks equally plausible

• You are under time pressure at the end of the paper

What is BPSSC?

The Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission is the official recruitment body for police services in the state. Alongside Sub-Inspector recruitment it conducts examinations for Assistant Sub-Inspector, Constable, Head Constable and other police posts, and it publishes all of them at bpssc.bihar.gov.in.

Its office is in Patna, and contact details including the helpline are listed on the official portal.

How is the result declared?

Results are published in stages, each one shortlisting for the next. The prelims result produces a category-wise merit list at twenty times the vacancies; the mains result is computed from Paper II and decides who appears for the physical tests; the final list follows document verification.

Where to check

• The official website, bpssc.bihar.gov.in

• Result aggregator portals and employment news websites

How to check

• Open the results section of the official website

• Enter your roll number

• Download the result PDF

Aggregators are useful for alerts, but the commission’s own PDF governs if the two ever disagree.

What does the job involve?

A Sub-Inspector holds charge of investigation and law-and-order work at station level, which makes it an operational post rather than an administrative one. Duties cover crime investigation, case management, supervision of constabulary staff, public liaison and the paperwork that accompanies all of it.

Promotion hierarchy

1. Sub Inspector (SI) — entry level

2. Inspector

3. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)

4. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP)

5. Superintendent of Police (SP)

6. Senior ranks thereafter

What do candidates ask most often?

The questions below cover the eligibility, schedule and examination details that generate the most confusion each cycle. Every answer here restates information set out above; the notification PDF remains the authority if anything is disputed.

How many vacancies are there?

The advertisement announces 1,799 Sub-Inspector posts in the Bihar Police Department, of which 614 — about 35 per cent — are reserved for women. The remainder is distributed across unreserved, EBC, BC, SC, ST and freedom fighters’ descendants categories as set out in the notification.

What is the last date to apply?

Applications close on 26 October 2026, having opened on 26 September 2026. The form is accepted online only, and no offline route exists. Candidates applying in the final days routinely encounter payment failures, so completing the form in the first week is the safer approach.

What is the age limit?

The minimum age is 20 years for every category. The upper limit is 37 years for general male candidates, 40 for general female candidates and for EBC and BC candidates of either gender, and 42 for SC, ST and transgender candidates, counted as on 01 August 2026.

What is the height requirement?

Male candidates in the unreserved, BC and EBC categories need 165 cm, and SC and ST male candidates need 160 cm, both with a chest expansion of at least 5 cm. Female candidates of every category need 155 cm and a minimum weight of 48 kg.

When is the examination?

The preliminary examination is scheduled for 18 and 21 January 2026, conducted in two shifts on each day. Admit cards carrying the allotted shift and centre are released on 30 December 2026 and must be downloaded from the commission’s website.

What does the syllabus include?

The preliminary paper covers general knowledge and current affairs, including a Bihar-specific component. The mains covers General Hindi in Paper I and General Studies in Paper II, the latter spanning science, mathematics, mental ability, history, geography, civics and current affairs.

Is there negative marking?

Yes, 0.2 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in both the preliminary and the main examinations. Across a paper of 100 questions that penalty is large enough to decide selection, which is why disciplined attempting matters more here than raw coverage.

What is the salary?

Basic pay is ₹35,400 per month at Level 6 of the pay matrix, with dearness, house rent, travel, medical and uniform allowances added on top. In-hand pay is roughly ₹35,000 to ₹40,000, and the annual package across the band runs from about ₹4.24 lakh to ₹13.48 lakh.

Which graduation subject is required?

Any subject qualifies — the requirement is a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, with no minimum percentage. Preparation matters far more than the degree stream, and it should centre on general knowledge, current affairs, mathematics, reasoning and general science.

What are the full eligibility conditions?

Three conditions apply together: a graduation degree completed by the cut-off date, an age within the category-wise band of 20 to 37, 40 or 42 years, and the prescribed physical standards — height and chest for male candidates, height and weight for female candidates.

How do you download the admit card?

Visit bpssc.bihar.gov.in from 30 December 2026, enter your Registration ID and date of birth, and download the file. Print at least one copy and carry it with a valid photo identity document, since candidates without both are refused entry at the centre.

What is the overall exam pattern?

Selection runs prelims, mains, then physical tests. The prelims is 100 questions for 200 marks in two hours; the mains is two papers of 200 marks each, with only Paper II counted for merit. Physical standard and efficiency tests follow the mains result.

Is the syllabus available in Hindi?

Yes, the syllabus is published in both Hindi and English on the commission’s website and can be downloaded in either language. That matters practically, since Paper I of the mains is a Hindi paper and much of the recommended state-specific material is in Hindi.

When did applications open?

The online application window opened on 26 September 2026 and runs until 26 October 2026. Both dates come from the advertisement, and any extension would be published as a corrigendum on the commission’s website rather than announced through social media.

How many attempts are allowed?

There is no cap on attempts. A candidate may sit the examination in every cycle for which they remain within the age limit for their category, which makes the age ceiling the effective limit on how many times the paper can be attempted.

What should you do from here?

Confirm the dates on the official notification, apply in the first week of the window, and start running practice at the same time as syllabus revision rather than after the mains result. Prepare Bihar-specific general knowledge deliberately — it is the section that separates candidates at a 20:1 shortlist.

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Disclaimer: This information is compiled from official sources and multiple reliable websites. Candidates are advised to visit the official BPSSC website (bpssc.bihar.gov.in or police.bihar.gov.in) for the most accurate and updated information about this recruitment.

Official Website: https://bpssc.bihar.gov.in