BPSC 72nd CCE

BPSC 72nd Prelims: Common Confusions Aspirants Have Before the Exam

Academic Editorial Board (Candidate Counseling Cell) • 9 min read • Published: 2026-09-09

Clarify top student confusions about the BPSC Prelims: Option E requirements, negative marking penalties, non-domicile eligibility, medium of exam, current affairs timeline, and booklist paralysis.

Daily Mock Test Series for All Bihar Exams All topics in this guide are tested in our unified Daily Test Series (Sets 1 to 27+).

Attempt Daily Test Series →

1. Confusion 1: Option E vs Leaving Questions Blank

Confusion: "Can I simply leave an unattempted question blank without bubbling any circle?"

Clarification: Under the updated BPSC OMR guidelines, candidates who decide to skip a question must darken Option E ("Not Attempted"). Leaving all options blank triggers an unattempted penalty (-0.33) in automated OMR evaluations. Always ensure every row on your OMR sheet has exactly one darkened bubble.

Crucial OMR Rule

Never leave blank rows on your BPSC OMR sheet. Darken Option E for every question you choose to skip without penalty.

2. Confusion 2: How Negative Marking is Calculated

Confusion: "Does negative marking apply to every unattempted question?"

Clarification: No. If you mark Option E, you receive 0 marks (no penalty). If you mark Options A, B, C, or D incorrectly, -0.33 marks (1/3rd) is deducted from your total score.

3. Confusion 3: Domicile vs Non-Domicile Reservation

Confusion: "Can candidates from outside Bihar apply, and do they get reservation benefits?"

Clarification: Any Indian citizen meeting the graduation and age criteria can apply for BPSC CCE under the General (Unreserved) category. Category reservations (EWS, BC, EBC, SC, ST) and female horizontal reservation benefits apply exclusively to candidates holding a valid Bihar domicile certificate.

4. Confusion 4: Hindi vs English Medium Disadvantage

Confusion: "Is English medium scoring higher or lower than Hindi medium in BPSC?"

Clarification: The preliminary examination is 100% bilingual (questions presented in both English and Hindi side-by-side). Evaluation is strictly objective via optical scanning, with zero subjective bias regarding medium.

5. Confusion 5: How Many Months of Current Affairs are Required?

Confusion: "Should I study 6 months or 2 years of current affairs?"

Clarification: Focus 80% of your current affairs preparation on the 12 months immediately preceding the exam date. For major state policies (e.g. Saat Nischay-2, Agriculture Roadmaps), understand the full scheme horizon.