BPSC 71st Prelims Exam 2025: Moderate Paper, Cutoff Likely Between 90–95 for General Category

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) conducted the 71st Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) Preliminary Test on September 13, 2025 across various centres in the state. The one-day examination drew significant participation, with an attendance of around 64.3 per cent, according to official data. The Prelims consisted of a single paper on General Studies, carrying 150 questions worth 150 marks, with a duration of two hours. This year, the commission introduced negative marking of one-third for every wrong answer, making accuracy a crucial factor in performance.
Exam Difficulty and Question Pattern

Candidates described the paper as moderate in difficulty, neither too easy nor overly tough. The question paper displayed a balanced mix of subjects, with a strong focus on current affairs (national and Bihar-specific), history, geography, Indian polity, and general science. History and geography questions were widely regarded as easier, whereas economy and policy-related questions were of moderate complexity. Current affairs carried a substantial weightage, once again proving their importance in state civil services examinations.

Good Attempts and Accuracy
Based on student feedback and expert reviews, a good number of attempts this year fell in the range of 110–130 questions. However, with negative marking in effect, accuracy played a decisive role. Blind guesswork or excessive attempts without certainty could lower scores drastically, making careful selection of questions more rewarding than sheer volume of attempts.

Expected Cutoff Trends
To estimate the cutoff, experts consider several factors: the level of difficulty, the number of serious candidates, attendance percentage, and previous years’ cutoffs. Looking back at the 70th BPSC Prelims, cutoffs reflected how relatively easier papers pushed scores higher, while tougher exams kept them low. With this year’s moderate paper, the cutoff is expected to be in the middle range.

For the General category, the cutoff is projected at around 90–95 marks. For Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), the range is likely 80–85, while for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Backward Classes (BC) it could be 85–95. The Extremely Backward Class (EBC) category is expected to fall between 80–90 marks. Meanwhile, cutoffs for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates are estimated at 75–85 and 70–80 respectively. Experts suggest that candidates should aim for the higher end of these ranges to remain on the safer side.

Looking Ahead
The 71st BPSC Prelims marks another important stage for thousands of civil service aspirants in Bihar. The exam analysis suggests that while the paper was balanced, the competition remains stiff. Those who combined high attempts with accuracy stand a better chance of clearing the Prelims. The official cutoff will be released with the results, and only those who qualify will move forward to the Mains examination, the second and more comprehensive stage of the selection process.

Importance of Official Answer Key
The release of the official answer key will play a vital role in helping candidates assess their performance. With negative marking in play, accurate calculation of scores will help aspirants determine whether they are likely to clear the cutoff. The commission is expected to release the provisional answer key shortly, inviting objections before publishing the final result.

In conclusion, the 71st BPSC Prelims 2025 has tested candidates with a moderately challenging paper, heavy on current affairs and state-related knowledge. With expected cutoffs hovering around 90–95 marks for General category, aspirants now await the official key and results with anticipation, hoping their performance meets the benchmark required to move one step closer to Bihar’s most prestigious administrative services.