The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has announced the recruitment for the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) positions for 2025, offering a significant opportunity for graduates aspiring to join the Bihar state administration. Understanding the exam pattern, syllabus, and selection process is crucial for effective preparation.
Selection Process
The examination will be conducted in two stages:
- Preliminary Competitive Examination
- Main Competitive Examination
Candidates successful in the preliminary examination will be required to apply separately for the main examination. Any discrepancy in the application for the two exams may lead to disqualification.
Preliminary Examination
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 50 | 50 |
| General Science & Mathematics | 50 | 50 |
| Mental Ability Test | 50 | 50 |
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
Language: Hindi / English (English will prevail in case of discrepancy)
Open Book Policy: Candidates may bring one book per subject (max 3). Only original NCERT/BSEB/ICSE or other board textbooks are allowed. Guides, photocopies, and handwritten notes are not permitted.
Syllabus for Preliminary Examination
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Studies |
Current affairs, scientific progress, awards, Indian languages, books, sports, important events. India and neighbours: History, culture, geography, economy, freedom movement, Indian agriculture, natural resources, Constitution, polity, Panchayati Raj, five-year plans. |
| General Science & Mathematics |
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography. Number system, whole numbers, decimals, fractions, basic arithmetic, percentage, ratio, average, interest, profit and loss. |
| Mental Ability | Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, analogy, similarities, spatial visualization, problem solving, analysis, visual memory, discrimination, relationships, numerical series, coding-decoding. |
Main Examination
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration | Qualifying Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Hindi | 100 | 100 | 2h 15m | 30% required; not counted in merit |
| Paper II | General Knowledge | 150 | 150 | 2h 15m | Mandatory for merit |
Syllabus for Main Examination
| Paper | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Hindi | Based on BSEB Secondary level. Covers grammar, comprehension, sentence formation, clauses, nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, synonyms/antonyms, idioms. |
| General Knowledge |
Section A – General Studies: Same as preliminary: current affairs, India & neighbours, Constitution, agriculture, polity, Panchayati Raj, five-year plans. Section B – General Science & Mathematics: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, arithmetic operations, percentages, ratios, averages, profit/loss. Section C – Mental Ability: Analogies, reasoning, numerical series, coding/decoding, visual memory, classification. |