Know the exam and set targets
BPSC has three stages: Prelims (objective GS), Mains (descriptive: General Hindi, GS‑1, GS‑2, Optional, Essay), and Interview. Build your plan to cover overlapping GS for both Prelims and Mains while tracking Bihar‑specific topics throughout.
Month-by-month roadmap
Months 1–2: Build strong foundations
- Cover NCERTs (Classes 6–12) for History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and Science; start Bihar basics (history, economy, culture) in parallel. Begin daily current affairs notes. Start optional subject fundamentals if chosen.
- Aim to finish core texts for Polity and Economy (e.g., Laxmikanth, Ramesh Singh) and map each chapter to past BPSC questions.
Months 3–4: Integrate and start answer writing
- Move to advanced texts (Spectrum/Bipan Chandra for Modern History, GC Leong/Majid Husain for Geography). Start daily Mains answer writing (2–3 questions) and a weekly essay. Track Bihar issues in news and add examples/data to your notes.
- Begin sectional tests for Prelims; write one Mains mini test per week for GS and Optional.
Months 5–6: Mock tests, revision, and exam polish
- Take full-length Prelims mocks (2–3/week) with deep analysis; maintain Mains writing (1–2 answers/day) and revise Hindi/Essay weekly. Prioritize PYQs and high‑yield notes; ensure 2–3 rounds of revision before the exam.
- Tighten time management, accuracy for Prelims, and structure/content for Mains (intro–body–conclusion, subheadings, maps/diagrams, Bihar examples).
Daily and weekly schedule
- Study 6–8 hours daily with built‑in revision; read the newspaper daily; reserve weekly time for PYQs and mocks.
Sample day (adapt to your rhythm)
- 2h GS Core (rotating: Polity/History/Geography/Economy)
- 1h Bihar‑specific (Economic Survey/state reports/history)
- 1h Current Affairs (notes + one monthly magazine segment)
- 1h Optional subject
- 1h Mains writing (2 questions) or Prelims MCQs (50–75)
- 1h Revision (yesterday’s notes + formulae/maps)
Lean booklist and resources
| Area | Core resources |
|---|---|
| History | NCERTs; Spectrum; Bipan Chandra (as needed) |
| Geography | NCERTs; GC Leong or Majid Husain |
| Polity | M. Laxmikanth |
| Economy | Ramesh Singh; basics from NCERT |
| Science | NCERTs (Class 6–10) |
| Bihar-specific | Bihar Economic Survey; Bihar Board texts; state publications |
| Current affairs | The Hindu/Indian Express; Yojana/Kurukshetra; monthly compilations |
| Practice | PYQs, sectional/full-length mocks; regular revision cycles |
Keep the list tight; finish, revise, and extract notes instead of hoarding material.
Current affairs that score
- Daily newspaper with targeted clipping; weekly consolidation. Use Yojana/Kurukshetra for analysis and add Bihar angles (schemes, economy, social data) to your answer fodder.
PYQs, mocks, and analysis
- Solve PYQs to learn patterns and depth; take regular mocks to build speed and accuracy. Analyze errors, update notes, and reattempt weak areas systematically.
Optional, Hindi, and Essay
- Optional: Choose one with synergy and your comfort. Finish basics in Months 1–2, write answers from Month 3, and do topic‑wise tests by Month 5.
- General Hindi: Practice grammar, précis, and comprehension weekly in Months 5–6 to secure easy marks.
- Essay: Build a template (intro with context/definition, 3–4 thematic bodies with data/case studies, balanced conclusion). Write one essay per week from Month 3.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Overcollecting books/PDFs, under‑revising. Ignoring Bihar‑specific content. Skipping answer writing. Not analyzing mocks. Fix these early with a revision-first schedule and an error log.
Checkpoints (self-audit)
- End of Month 2: GS basics done once; 2000+ Prelims MCQs; 20+ Mains answers.
- End of Month 4: Advanced texts done; 8–10 sectional mocks; 50+ Mains answers; optional halfway.
- End of Month 6: 12–16 full Prelims mocks; 100+ Mains answers; 2–3 revisions of notes; Hindi/Essay practiced.
Helpful videos (optional)
- Strategy for 71st BPSC in 60 Days — crisp planning ideas.
- How to prepare for BPSC Mains — paper‑wise tips and writing focus.
- First‑attempt strategy, booklist, and interview pointers — long‑form walkthrough.
Why 6 months can work
A structured six‑month plan that aligns with the exam pattern, leverages syllabus overlap, and builds revision/mocks into the timetable is challenging but achievable with discipline and targeted resources.
If you share your optional subject and daily availability, I’ll tailor this into a week-by-week plan just for you. You bring the consistency; we’ll make every hour count. 💪📘
