Read this before comparing cut-offs

Sources for tables below: BPSC CCE result notices dated between 24/03/2021 and 20/06/2026 (Prelims 66–71; Mains/Final 66–70). 71st final cut-off is not included because that stage had not been published in the compiled source set used here.

Also see: 69th & 68th solved framework · Bihar+National CA · Constitution study notes.

Prelims cut-off 66th → 71st (category-wise)

Declared successful for Mains (from notices): 71st — 13,368; 70th — 21,581; 69th — 4,037; 68th — 3,590; 67th — 11,607; 66th — 8,997.

Mains written & Final cut-offs 66th → 70th

Final Exam cut-off (after interview)

*68th UR (Female) final cut-off 529 after corrigendum (printed figure differed). 68th BC written cut-off corrected to 432; 66th ST written cut-off corrected to 363.

Selected written (Mains) cut-offs — Unreserved

Mains written cut-off — all categories (66th → 70th)

*Corrigendum-adjusted values (68th UR-F/EWS-F/BC; 66th ST corrected from misprinted 398 to 363). 66th notice did not list ST (Female) separately in the compiled table.

Reading the gap: UR written-to-final jump was +83 (70th), +86 (69th), +85 (68th), +82 (67th) and +83 (66th) — interview credit (out of 120) consistently decided the last mile.

Exam pattern (Prelims → Mains → Interview)

Prelims (screening)

Mains (post-68th reformed structure)

BPSC’s 68th CCE reform notice reworked Mains as follows (carried into later integrated CCEs with the Essay + qualifying Optional design):

Some secondary articles still describe a 300-mark optional for older patterns; do not mix pre-68th and post-68th templates.

What the cut-off trend says

• 67th UR Prelims 113 looks “high” partly because there was no negative marking.
• After negative marking arrived, UR Prelims stabilised near the 88–92 band across 68th–71st.
• 70th & 71st pulled much larger Mains fields (21k / 13k) than 68th/69th — expect fiercer Mains competition even when Prelims cut-offs look moderate.
• Final UR scores hovering roughly 528–553 across 66–70 show interview + essay variance inside a relatively tight band at the top.

Strategy keyed to cut-offs

Category rules that confuse aspirants

• Female sub-rows: BPSC publishes separate cut-offs for women within each category because Bihar provides horizontal reservation for women in state services. Check your sub-row, not just the main category.
• BCL: “Backward Class Ladies” — a separate row in BPSC notices.
• Grandchild of Ex-Freedom Fighter: a separate horizontal category with its own cut-off.
• Disabled sub-types: VI (visual), DD (deaf/dumb — BPSC’s label), OH (orthopaedic), MD (multiple disabilities). Each has a different cut-off.
• Domicile: reservation benefits apply to Bihar domicile candidates as per state rules; non-domicile candidates compete under Unreserved. Check the specific advertisement.

Interpreting the 71st cycle

The 71st Prelims result (18/11/2025) declared 13,368 candidates successful for Mains, with UR at 88.00 under −1/3 marking. The 71st final-selection cut-off is not included here; it will be added from BPSC’s final-result notice. Expect the final UR range to stay in the 520s–550s band seen over the 66th–70th cycles, but treat that only as a planning assumption.

Choosing a qualifying optional (post-68th)

Since the optional is now a 100-mark qualifying MCQ paper, choose the subject that lets you clear the floor with the least time, not the one with the “highest scoring” reputation from the 300-mark era.

• Pick your graduation subject if it is on BPSC’s optional list. Revising it costs the least time.
• General Hindi (100 marks) is qualifying with a minimum of 30 marks; check the optional paper’s qualifying standard in your cycle’s advertisement.
• Give it 1–2 hours a week through Prelims and 10–12 days of focused revision before Mains.
• Spend the time you save on Essay (300 marks) and GS answer writing.

Bihar-specific GS priorities that move cut-offs

Candidates who clear Prelims but stall in Mains usually under-write Bihar examples. Build a revolving notebook on:

• Bihar economy: agriculture patterns, industrial corridors, migration remittances, disaster (flood) management.
• Schemes interface with national missions (without inventing statistics — quote Economic Survey/Bihar budgets when you have them).
• Art & culture: major schools, festivals, Buddhist circuit — Prelims favourites.
• Bihar polity: Panchayati Raj practice, recent Assembly developments via newspapers (fact-check dates).
• Environment: wetlands, wildlife sanctuaries, pollution hotspots.

How to use cut-offs inside a 90-day plan

1. Week 1: diagnostic Prelims mock → note gap vs your category’s 70th/71st cut-off.
2. Weeks 2–6: 60% Prelims / 40% Mains notes (because Mains depth needs early planting).
3. Weeks 7–10: flip to 40/60 if Prelims date is >6 weeks away; otherwise stay Prelims-heavy.
4. Post-Prelims: Essay weekly + GS answers alternate days; Optional MCQ bank every Sunday.
5. Interview: DAF + Bihar + national issues only after Mains attempt — but keep a running current-affairs spine via the daily CA hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated October 2026. Prelims/final figures transcribed from BPSC result notices (66th–71st) as compiled with notice dates; pattern details from BPSC 68th reform coverage and standard CCE explainers. Check any single cell against the PDF on bpsc.bih.nic.in before legal/RTI use.