Patna: The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has declared the results of the 70th combined mains competitive examination, with 5,401 candidates qualifying for the interview stage, the commission said on Tuesday.
The mains examination was held between April 25 and 30, 2025, across 32 centres in Patna, with a total of 20,034 candidates appearing. Those shortlisted will now be called for interviews, which will carry 120 marks. The interview schedule is expected to be announced shortly. According to the commission, results have been released in line with established procedures and will be available on its official website within a few hours.
Recruitment for 2,035 posts
The 70th combined examination aims to fill 2,035 posts across various state services. On average, around 10 candidates have been shortlisted per vacancy at the mains stage. The final merit list will be prepared based on a total of 1,020 marks — 900 from the mains written examination and 120 from the interview.
In case of tied scores, candidates will be ranked according to higher marks in the mains examination, followed by optional subject scores if required. Results will be published category-wise in accordance with reservation norms.
Earlier stages and examination disruptions
The preliminary test result for the 70th examination was declared on January 24, with 21,581 candidates qualifying. Nearly 4.83 lakh aspirants had applied for the exam, while 3.28 lakh candidates appeared across 912 centres on December 13.
However, the examination process was marred by controversy after allegations of irregularities surfaced at Patna’s Bapu Examination Complex, leading to the cancellation of the test at that centre. Around 12,000 candidates later appeared for a re-examination held on January 4, at 22 centres.
Protests and legal challenges
The decision to cancel the exam at only one centre triggered widespread protests, with candidates demanding cancellation of the entire preliminary examination. Demonstrations were held in Patna, including prolonged sit-ins at Gardanibagh, and petitions were filed in the high court seeking a fresh examination.
Further unrest followed disputes over score normalisation, culminating in protests on December 6, that saw police baton charges and the temporary detention of prominent coaching figures Khan Sir and Guru Rehman.
Frequent revisions to vacancies and schedules
The recruitment process has seen repeated changes since its inception. The number of advertised posts was revised multiple times, rising from 1,929 to 2,035. Examination dates and application deadlines were also extended several times, contributing to sustained criticism from candidates.
Despite the disruptions, the commission has maintained that the selection process has been conducted in accordance with established norms.
