If you grew up in Bihar hearing "Daroga saab aa gaye" and thought that badge would suit you too, this is the post to read carefully. The Bihar Police Sub Inspector exam, conducted by BPSSC, is one of the most respected state police jobs around. It comes with real authority, a decent salary, and a career path that can take you up the ranks if you play the long game.
This post covers the 2026 cycle, the one currently open for applications, plus what you need for prelims, mains and the physical test. No fluff, just what you need to plan your next few months.
Quick Answer
Yes, the Bihar Police SI 2026 notification is out. BPSSC released it on July 3, 2026 for 150 Sub Inspector posts, with online applications open from July 9 to August 9, 2026. The exam has three stages: a prelims screening test, a mains written exam, and a physical efficiency test (PET). Exam dates are not announced yet, so treat any date beyond August 2026 as tentative until BPSSC confirms it.
Latest Notification and Important Dates
The current cycle is smaller than the massive 1799-vacancy Bihar Police SI drive from 2025, but it is a live, real notification, not a rumor. Here is what's confirmed so far.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification released | July 3, 2026 | Confirmed |
| Online application starts | July 9, 2026 | Confirmed |
| Last date to apply | August 9, 2026 | Confirmed |
| Last date for fee payment | August 9, 2026 (tentative, usually same as apply date) | Tentative |
| Correction window | To be announced | Tentative |
| Admit card for prelims | Not announced | Tentative |
| Prelims exam date | Not announced | Tentative |
| Mains exam date | Not announced | Tentative |
| PET/PST | Not announced | Tentative |
| Final result | Not announced | Tentative |
If you're reading this after August 2026 and the dates above look old, check the official site bpssc.bihar.gov.in directly, and also keep an eye on pareeksha.in exam news for updates as they land.
What the Job Actually Is
A Bihar Police Sub Inspector is a field-level investigating officer, in plain terms, the "Daroga" who runs a police station beat, registers FIRs, investigates cases, and leads constables on the ground. You are not sitting behind a desk all day. Expect night patrols, law and order duty during festivals and elections, court appearances, and paperwork that nobody warns you about in advance.
Postings can be anywhere in Bihar, from a quiet rural thana to a busy town station. Some SIs get posted to specialised wings like Traffic, Prohibition (liquor enforcement, since Bihar is a dry state), or the Special Task Force after gaining experience. It's a job with real responsibility from day one, once training ends.
Vacancy Details
There are 150 posts on offer in this cycle. The category-wise split is:
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 60 |
| EWS | 15 |
| EBC | 27 |
| BC | 18 |
| BC (Women) | 4 |
| SC | 24 |
| ST | 2 |
| Total | 150 |
Within this, 35% of seats are reserved horizontally for women, around 49 posts, plus 3 posts horizontally for freedom fighter dependents. Compare this to the 1799 vacancies announced in the 2025 cycle and you'll see this round is small, so competition per seat will be sharp.
Eligibility
Education: You need a bachelor's degree from a recognised university, completed (or completing) by the cut-off date mentioned in the notification, roughly August 1 of the application year. No specific subject is required, any graduate can apply.
Age Limit: For male candidates the range is roughly 20 to 37 years, and for female candidates it extends a bit further due to relaxation. Always check the exact age reckoning date in the official notification since BPSSC sometimes shifts it by a few weeks.
| Category | Upper Age Limit (Male) | Upper Age Limit (Female) |
|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 37 years | 40 years |
| BC/EBC | 40 years | 40 years |
| SC/ST | 42 years | 42 years |
Domicile: Bihar domicile is required for reserved category benefits; general category candidates from outside Bihar can usually apply too.
Physical Standards: These matter a lot for this post since it involves active field duty.
| Parameter | General/BC/EBC Male | SC/ST Male | All Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm | 160 cm | 155 cm |
| Chest (unexpanded/expanded) | 81-86 cm | 79-84 cm | Not applicable |
| Minimum weight | Not specified | Not specified | 48 kg |
Application Process and Fee
The whole process is online, no offline forms accepted. Here's the fee structure for this cycle.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All categories (male & female) | ₹100 |
That's an unusually low, flat fee compared to most Bihar exams, so don't let cost stop you from applying.
How to apply:
- Go to bpssc.bihar.gov.in and find the active SI recruitment link.
- Register with basic details, mobile number and email ID, and save your registration ID.
- Fill education, category, and personal details carefully, mistakes here cost you later during verification.
- Upload photo and signature in the specified size and format.
- Pay the fee online through net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI.
- Review the form twice, then submit and download a copy for your records.
Don't wait for the last two days. Government portals slow down badly near the deadline.
Exam Pattern
Preliminary Exam
Prelims is a screening round, marks here don't count toward final merit.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies, General Science, Current Affairs, Mental Ability, Numerical Ability | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
Negative marking applies, roughly 0.2 marks cut per wrong answer. You need around 30% to clear this stage, though the real cut-off depends on how many candidates BPSSC calls for mains, usually 15-20 times the vacancy count.
Main Examination
Mains is where your real score comes from.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Hindi | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | General Studies, General Science, Current Affairs, Bihar-specific GK, Mental Ability | 200 | 2 hours |
Paper 1 is qualifying in nature but you still need to clear it comfortably. Paper 2 marks are what decide your final merit rank along with the PET score in some cycles.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
This is qualifying only, pass or fail, no marks added to merit.
| Test | Requirement (Male) |
|---|---|
| Race | 1.6 km within 6 minutes 30 seconds |
| Height, chest, weight | As per the eligibility table above |
If you fail PET, you're out of the process even if your written score was excellent. Don't treat this as an afterthought.
Detailed Syllabus
General Studies (History, Geography, Polity, Economy): Freedom struggle with focus on Bihar's role, Constitution basics, five-year plans, major rivers and geographical features, current government schemes.
General Science: Basic physics, chemistry and biology at class 10 level, everyday science, human body, inventions and discoveries.
Current Affairs: National and international news of the last 6-12 months, sports, awards, schemes, Bihar-specific news. Keep current affairs on pareeksha.in bookmarked for a running update.
Mental Ability / Reasoning: Analogies, coding-decoding, blood relations, series completion, direction sense, syllogism, non-verbal reasoning. A structured reasoning guide beats jumping between random videos.
Numerical/Quantitative Ability: Percentage, ratio and proportion, average, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, data interpretation. A good quantitative aptitude guide saves you weeks of confusion here.
General Hindi: Grammar (vyakaran), muhavare and lokoktiyan, sandhi-viched, paryayvachi and vilom shabd, essay and letter writing for mains.
Bihar General Knowledge: State geography, major districts, rivers, government departments, chief ministers, freedom fighters from Bihar, and recent schemes. This section trips up outside-state or under-prepared candidates, don't skip it.
Use free mock tests and topic-wise practice sets to find your weak areas fast instead of guessing where you stand.
Salary, Pay Scale and Career Growth
A Bihar Police SI sits in Pay Level 6 of the state pay matrix, with basic pay starting around ₹35,400. Add Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and other police-specific allowances, and in-hand salary typically works out to ₹49,000-₹54,000 a month, depending on posting and whether you get quarters or HRA in cash.
Beyond salary, you get accommodation or HRA, medical benefits, pension, and a uniform allowance. Promotion-wise, an SI can rise to Inspector, then DSP through departmental promotion, and further up with seniority and a good service record. It's a slow ladder but a steady one.
Previous Year Cut-off
Cut-offs vary year to year with vacancy count and paper difficulty. Here's the 2023 cycle for reference, since a fresh 2026 cut-off won't exist until this exam is conducted.
2023 Prelims Cut-off (out of 200)
| Category | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| General | 129.60 | 110.20 |
| EWS | 122.40 | 103.20 |
| BC | 125.20 | 104.60 |
| EBC | 120.80 | 94.80 |
| SC | 105.40 | 76.20 |
| ST | 103.20 | 83.60 |
2023 Mains Cut-off (out of 200, Paper 2)
| Category | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| General | 162.6 | 152.8 |
| EWS | 158.2 | 149.4 |
| BC | 160.4 | 150.0 |
| EBC | 158.2 | 145.0 |
| SC | 149.4 | 123.6 |
| ST | 145.0 | 128.0 |
These numbers tell you one thing clearly: General and EWS candidates need to be scoring 80%+ in mains to have a real shot. This is not an easy exam to clear on last-minute effort.
Best Books and Preparation Strategy
Don't buy ten books. Buy two or three good ones and finish them properly instead of half-reading a stack.
- General Studies: Lucent's General Knowledge is still the go-to for Bihar-level exams, it's cheap and covers most of what's asked.
- Bihar GK: Get a dedicated Bihar-specific GK book, this section alone can be worth 30-40 marks and most candidates underprepare it.
- Reasoning: R.S. Aggarwal's reasoning book covers the pattern well.
- Quantitative Aptitude: R.S. Aggarwal or a similar standard aptitude book for the basics.
- Hindi Grammar: Any standard Bihar Board level Hindi vyakaran book for the mains paper.
Rough month-wise plan if you have 4-5 months: Month 1 is for building your GS and Bihar GK base with Lucent's, plus daily reasoning and aptitude basics. Month 2 is current affairs plus weekly prelims-level mocks. Month 3 shifts to mains-level prep, Hindi essay writing, and deeper current affairs. From month 4 onward, run full-length timed mocks, add daily physical fitness practice for the race, and stop touching new topics, revise only.
Check pareeksha.in's study plan tool to build a schedule around your actual exam date once it's announced.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most candidates lose marks not because the syllabus is hard, but because of poor time management in the exam hall. Practice full mocks under real time pressure, not just chapter-wise questions. Ignoring physical fitness until the last month is another common trap, the 1.6 km run in 6:30 minutes sounds easy until you actually try it after months of sitting and studying. Start jogging from day one, alongside the books. And don't skip Bihar-specific GK thinking general GK will cover it. It won't. BPSSC asks pointed questions about Bihar's districts, schemes and history that a generic book doesn't cover.
FAQ
Is the Bihar Police SI 2026 notification out? Yes, released July 3, 2026 for 150 posts, applications open July 9 to August 9, 2026.
How many vacancies are there in Bihar Police SI 2026? 150 total, across General, EWS, EBC, BC, SC and ST, with 35% reserved for women.
What is the application fee for Bihar Police SI? ₹100 for all categories, male and female, in this cycle.
What is the age limit for Bihar Police SI? Roughly 20 to 37 years for general male candidates, up to 40 for women, with further relaxation for SC/ST and BC/EBC.
What is the salary of a Bihar Police SI? Basic pay starts around ₹35,400 under Pay Level 6; in-hand with allowances is typically ₹49,000-₹54,000 a month.
What is the selection process for Bihar Police SI? Prelims (screening only), mains (decides merit), and a Physical Efficiency Test that is qualifying in nature.
Is there an interview in Bihar Police SI recruitment? No. Selection is based on mains marks after clearing the PET.
What is the minimum qualification for Bihar Police SI? A bachelor's degree from a recognised university, completed by the cut-off date in the notification.
When will the Bihar Police SI exam date be announced? Not yet, as of August 2026. Check bpssc.bihar.gov.in or pareeksha.in exam guides for updates.
What is a good cut-off score to target for General category? Based on 2023 data, aim for 130+ in prelims and 165+ in mains Paper 2.
Related reads on Pareeksha
If you're preparing for Bihar Police SI, these related posts on pareeksha.in are worth a look too:
- Bihar Police Constable recruitment guide
- BPSC 72nd CCE notification and syllabus
- SSC GD Constable exam guide
- RRB Group D recruitment details
Final Word
This exam isn't easy, but it's fair. The syllabus is fixed, the pattern repeats year after year, and the people who clear it studied consistently for months, they didn't just get lucky. With only 150 posts this time, competition will be intense, so treat every mock test seriously and don't leave physical fitness prep for later.
Start today with a realistic study plan, track your progress honestly, and use free practice sets on pareeksha.in to see where you actually stand before the real exam. For official updates, cross-check with bpssc.bihar.gov.in directly since aggregator sites sometimes carry stale information.
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