In order to align state civil services recruitment standards with the UPSC, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has included IAS and IPS officers in its interview panels. The inclusion will be effective for the 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) interview phase, which started in January and will conclude this month.
In a three-tier exam system comprising prelims, mains, and an interview, BPSC members and subject experts currently form the panel. The new panels feature a mix of academicians and serving high-ranking bureaucrats.
The move is considered part of broader structural reforms undertaken between 2023 and 2026. A BPSC source states that the inclusion of serving bureaucrats enhances their ability to assess a candidate’s on-ground decision-making skills and temperament for managing administrative crises. The panel will also continue to have subject experts.
BPSC source points out that an IAS officer helping choose a state-level administrator and an IPS officer having a say in selecting a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) would add value to the panel.
An official said, like the UPSC, the current system now operates on a strict annual calendar. After clearing the 150-mark prelims, candidates must take the 900-mark mains—General Studies-I, General Studies-II, and Essay papers of 300 marks each—and a 120-mark interview or personality test. The mains also include a 100-mark optional paper, which is qualifying and does not count toward the total.
According to him, candidates are now expected to demonstrate mental agility and a profound understanding of Bihar’s specific socio-economic challenges.
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