It is a common question amongst the civil service aspirants whether BPSC is easier than UPSC or not while they are trying to compare the level of toughness, preparation method, and passing percentage of these two competitive examinations. Below are the detailed explanations that address all the possible questions and allow you to determine the difference in the level of difficulty.
What is the key difference between BPSC and UPSC exams?
Criteria |
BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) |
UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) |
---|---|---|
Exam Level |
State-Level (Bihar) |
National-Level (All India) |
Number of Candidates |
Fewer compared to UPSC |
Highest number of applicants among all Indian exams |
Syllabus Depth |
Moderately detailed |
Very detailed and extensive |
Attempt Limit |
Higher (depending on state rules) |
Restricted attempts (General category: 6 attempts) |
Language Preference |
Often more candidates choose Hindi |
English & Hindi both equally used |
Competition Level |
Less competitive than UPSC |
Extremely competitive |
Selection Ratio |
Relatively better chances |
Very low selection ratio |
Is BPSC Easier to Crack than UPSC?
Yes, many of the candidates do find BPSC relatively easier than UPSC, and this is largely due to the size of the examinations. UPSC is a national level examination that aims at recruiting the candidates for the administrative posts like IAS, IPS, IFS, etc. Competition and the extent of coverage are high, and hence make the course very competitive.
On the other hand, BPSC is for Bihar state services, and the syllabus, as compared to the UPSC, is not as broad and rigorous. This makes it even more accessible for many a candidate, especially those from Bihar that have a background on the state’s socio-political setting.
Read More: Which Subject is Important for BPSC?
Are there any Correlations Between the Syllabus of BPSC and UPSC?
Yes, to a large extent. Some of the frequently asked subjects are Indian Polity, History, Geography and Current Affairs. Hence, the candidates who are preparing for UPSC can also prepare for BPSC in parallel and vice versa.
However, UPSC is comparatively tougher and calls for more critical and extensive thinking, and therefore, UPSC sample papers should be solved, and UPSC books should be read thoroughly.
BPSC, however, needs good preparation, but it largely comprises of questions relevant to Bihar only. Candidates can prepare well for BPSC by practicing through the BPSC solved papers and the best BPSC books that consist of questions and topics of the Bihar state syllabus.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, it can be said that BPSC is comparatively less competitive than UPSC in terms of competition, syllabus, and time required for preparation. However, this does not in any way suggest that it should be approached in a non-serious manner. It should be noted that proper planning, a proper book list, and practicing solved papers of BPSC can help a candidate to a great extent.
Likewise, those who want to crack the UPSC exam have to prepare intensively with the help of the UPSC books and practice through sample UPSC papers because it is one of the most competitive examinations in India.