Bihar SI Prohibition Vacancy 2026: 78 Posts Apply Now

Understanding the Application Timeline and Strategic Planning

The Critical Importance of the Application Opening Date (27 January 2026)

The Bihar Police Sub-ordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) will commence the online application process for Sub-Inspector Prohibition posts on 27 January 2026. This date marks the beginning of a crucial one-month window for submission. Starting your application early provides significant advantages. Firstly, it allows sufficient time to gather all mandatory documents including graduation degree certificates, caste certificates (if applicable), domicile certificates, and the latest EWS certificate for the financial year 2024-25. Many candidates face delays in obtaining updated caste or EWS certificates from authorities, so early preparation is essential. Secondly, beginning early helps avoid last-minute technical issues with document scanning, photo size adjustments, or payment gateway problems that commonly occur when thousands of applicants try to apply in the final days. The BPSSC portal may experience heavy traffic as the deadline approaches, potentially causing system slowdowns or submission failures. Early applicants also have the opportunity to seek clarifications from the official helpdesk if they encounter eligibility doubts or technical difficulties.

The Final Deadline: Consequences of Missing the Cut-off (27 February 2026)

The absolute last date for application submission is 27 February 2026. This deadline is strict and non-negotiable—the online portal will automatically close at midnight, and no extensions will be granted regardless of circumstances. A common mistake candidates make is assuming that initiating the application before the deadline guarantees completion. They often overlook that final submission requires multiple steps: registration, fee payment, detailed form filling, document upload, and final submission with printout of acknowledgement. Payment failures, last-minute document format issues, or portal congestion can prevent successful completion. Crucially, the eligibility cut-off date of 01 August 2025 applies to all parameters—age, educational qualification, and physical standards. Your age, graduation completion, and other eligibility criteria must be met as of this specific date, not the application date. Candidates who complete their graduation after 01 August 2025 or whose age exceeds the limit as of this date cannot apply for this recruitment cycle, regardless of when they submit their application.

Detailed Analysis of Age Eligibility and Physical Requirements

Understanding Age Calculation with Real Examples and Relaxation Rules

The age calculation for Bihar Police SI Prohibition recruitment is based on 01 August 2025 as the reference date. This means your age as of this specific date determines your eligibility. For example, if you were born on 15 March 1988, your age as of 01 August 2025 would be 37 years, 4 months, and 17 days. Since this is exactly at the upper limit for UR Male category, you would be eligible. However, if you were born on 15 July 1988, your age would be 37 years and 17 days, making you ineligible for UR Male category but potentially eligible if you belong to a reserved category with age relaxation. A common mistake candidates make is calculating age based on the application date or exam date—both are incorrect. Only the cut-off date matters. For SC/ST candidates, the maximum age becomes 42 years, and for BC/EBC candidates, it becomes 40 years. Women in UR category get 3 years relaxation, making their maximum age 40 years. Bihar Government employees with at least 3 years of service get 5 years additional relaxation. Ex-servicemen receive relaxation of 3 years plus their actual service period, with an absolute maximum age cap of 57 years.

Minimum Age Requirement and Physical Standards: What Candidates Must Know

The minimum age requirement of 20 years as of 01 August 2025 is non-negotiable. Candidates born after 01 August 2005 cannot apply. This minimum age ensures candidates have attained sufficient maturity for law enforcement duties. Equally important are the physical standards which are mandatory and carry no marks—they are purely qualifying. Failure to meet any physical standard during the measurement at the PET stage leads to immediate disqualification, regardless of written exam performance. Candidates should note that the chest measurement for male candidates requires both unexpanded and expanded measurements with a minimum 5 cm difference. Female candidates have weight requirements instead of chest measurements. Third Gender candidates are classified under EBC category and must meet the physical standards specified for that category. A medical examination after PET will verify these standards, and any attempt to provide false information or use artificial means to meet standards will lead to disqualification and possible legal action.

Understanding Educational and Residential Eligibility Requirements

The Graduation Requirement: What Constitutes Valid Qualification

The primary educational requirement for Bihar Police SI Prohibition is graduation from a recognized university. This means any bachelor's degree (BA, BSc, BCom, BBA, BCA, etc.) from a university established by law in India or recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Distance education degrees from recognized institutions like IGNOU or state open universities are also acceptable. The critical condition is that the degree must have been completed on or before 01 August 2025. Candidates appearing for final semester exams or awaiting results as of this date are not eligible. Provisional certificates are accepted only if they clearly state that the degree has been awarded. A common mistake is assuming that appearing for final exams makes one eligible—it does not. The degree completion date mentioned on the final mark sheet or degree certificate must be on or before the cut-off date. Candidates with foreign degrees must provide equivalence certificates from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Domicile Requirements and Reservation Benefits: Critical Distinctions

A crucial aspect of this recruitment is the domicile requirement for reservation benefits. While the position is open to all Indian citizens, the reservation benefits in vacancies, age relaxation, and qualifying marks are applicable only to candidates who are bona fide residents of Bihar. To claim reservation in SC, ST, EBC, BC, or EWS categories, candidates must possess a valid domicile certificate of Bihar issued by competent authority. Candidates from other states can apply only under the Unreserved (UR) category, regardless of their caste or category certificates from their home states. They also do not get any age relaxation benefits. The EWS certificate must be for the financial year 2024-25 and issued by Bihar authorities. This distinction is vital because many candidates from neighboring states apply assuming their category certificates will be valid, only to face rejection during document verification. The commission strictly verifies domicile status, and false claims lead to cancellation of candidature.

Understanding Vacancy Distribution and Compensation Package

Analyzing the Category-wise Vacancy Pattern and Women Reservation

The Bihar Police SI Prohibition recruitment offers 78 total vacancies distributed across various categories as per Bihar's reservation policy. The distribution follows the Bihar Reservation Act 1992 and its amendments. A significant feature is the horizontal reservation of 35% for women across all categories. This means within each category's vacancies, 35% are reserved for women candidates. For example, in the UR category with 41 vacancies, 14 posts are reserved for UR women. If sufficient women candidates are not available in a particular category, these vacancies may be transferred to women of other categories or to male candidates of the same category as per rules. The BC Female category with 2 posts is a separate vertical reservation specifically for backward class women. Additionally, there's a 2% horizontal reservation for Freedom Fighter Dependents amounting to 2 posts across all categories. Candidates claiming this benefit must produce valid certificates.

Salary Structure and Career Benefits: Understanding the Complete Package

Selected candidates will be placed in Pay Level-6 of the 7th Pay Commission with a pay scale of approximately ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400. The starting basic pay will be around ₹35,400, to which various allowances are added. These include Dearness Allowance (currently around 46% of basic), House Rent Allowance (depending on posting city classification), Travel Allowance, Uniform Allowance, and other special allowances applicable to police personnel. The approximate in-hand salary for a newly appointed SI Prohibition ranges from ₹45,000 to ₹55,000 per month depending on place of posting and allowances. Additionally, employees are covered under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) with contributions from both employee and government. They receive comprehensive medical facilities for self and family, leave travel concession, and other benefits standard for Bihar government employees. The position offers stable government employment with opportunities for promotion to Inspector and higher ranks based on seniority and departmental examinations.

Understanding Reservation Benefits and Qualification Concessions

Age Relaxation Rules: How Multiple Benefits Work

The age relaxation benefits in Bihar Police SI recruitment follow specific rules that candidates must understand clearly. SC/ST candidates receive 5 years relaxation, which means if the UR male upper age is 37 years, SC/ST candidates can apply up to 42 years. BC/EBC candidates get 3 years relaxation, allowing them up to 40 years. Women in UR category get 3 years relaxation compared to UR males, so their upper age is 40 years. The important principle is that age relaxations are not cumulative. For example, an SC woman does not get both SC relaxation (5 years) and women relaxation (3 years)—she gets only the higher benefit, which is 5 years. Similarly, a Bihar government employee who is also from SC category would get only one benefit, whichever is more beneficial. Ex-servicemen get a unique calculation: 3 years plus their actual service period, with an absolute cap of 57 years. These relaxations apply only if proper category certificates are submitted during application.

Minimum Qualifying Marks: Category-wise Variations and Implications

The Bihar Police SI Prohibition recruitment has different minimum qualifying marks for different categories in the merit-based Paper-2 of the Main Examination. UR candidates must score at least 40% to qualify, while BC candidates need 36.5%, EBC candidates 34%, and SC/ST/Women candidates only 32%. This significant difference (8% less for SC/ST/Women compared to UR) provides substantial advantage to reserved category candidates. However, candidates must understand these are only qualifying marks—the final selection is based on merit ranking within each category. Scoring just the minimum does not guarantee selection if other candidates in your category score higher. Also, these percentages apply only to Paper-2. Paper-1 (Hindi) has a uniform 30% qualifying mark for all categories and is not counted in merit. The Preliminary exam also has a uniform 30% cutoff for all categories to shortlist candidates for the Main exam. These varying cutoffs level the playing field while maintaining competition within each category.

Step-by-Step Application Process and Compliance Requirements

Complete Online Application Procedure for Bihar Police SI

Step 1: Visit Official Website - Go to bpssc.bihar.gov.in, the only authentic portal for application. Step 2: Navigate to Advertisement - Find and open the "Prohibition Dept." tab and click on Advt. No. 03/2026. Step 3: Registration - Register using an active mobile number and email ID. OTP verification is mandatory. Step 4: Payment of Fee - Pay ₹100 through available online payment modes. Save the transaction ID. Step 5: Fill Detailed Application - Complete Part-2 with personal, educational, and category details accurately. Step 6: Upload Documents - Upload scanned photo (recent color, light background) and signature as per specifications. Step 7: Final Submission - Preview all details, submit the application, and immediately print the acknowledgement slip. Step 8: Important Note - Only ONE application per candidate is allowed. Multiple applications lead to cancellation.

Critical Document Requirements and Common Mistakes to Avoid

Document preparation is crucial for successful application. The photo must be recent (taken within 3 months), colored, with light background, and sized between 15-25 KB in JPG/JPEG/GIF format. The signature should be in Hindi or English on white paper with black ink, scanned properly. For educational documents, the Matric certificate is mandatory for date of birth proof—no other document is accepted for DOB. Graduation marksheets and degree certificate must show completion by 01 August 2025. For category certificates, SC/ST/BC/EBC certificates must be issued by competent Bihar authorities. The EWS certificate must be for financial year 2024-25 in the prescribed format. Bihar domicile certificate is mandatory to claim reservation benefits. Freedom Fighter dependents and Ex-Servicemen must produce valid certificates. All documents should be clear, legible scans—blurred or incomplete documents lead to rejection. Candidates must keep originals of all uploaded documents ready for verification at PET and document verification stages.

Understanding the Selection Methodology and Physical Tests

The Written Examination Structure: Preliminary and Main Exams

The selection process begins with the Preliminary Written Examination consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions on General Knowledge and Current Affairs, carrying 200 marks (2 marks per question) with a duration of 2 hours. There's negative marking of 0.2 marks per wrong answer. All candidates must score at least 30% to qualify, regardless of category. The top 20 times the number of vacancies (approximately 1560 candidates) are shortlisted for the Main Examination. The Main Examination has two papers: Paper-1 is General Hindi (qualifying only, not counted in merit) with 100 questions for 200 marks, requiring 30% to pass. Paper-2 is the merit-based paper covering General Knowledge, Science, Civics, History, Geography, Mathematics, and Reasoning, with 100 questions for 200 marks and negative marking of 0.2 per wrong answer. The category-wise minimum qualifying marks for Paper-2 are: UR-40%, BC-36.5%, EBC-34%, SC/ST/Women-32%. The final merit list is prepared based only on Paper-2 marks. If the exam is conducted in multiple shifts, normalization may be applied.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Mandatory Qualifying Events

Candidates who qualify the Main Exam are called for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) which consists of four events that must be completed successfully. For male candidates: 1 mile (1.6 km) run within 6 minutes 30 seconds, High Jump of minimum 4 feet, Long Jump of minimum 12 feet, and Shot Put (16 lb) throw of minimum 16 feet. For female candidates: 1 km run within 6 minutes, High Jump of minimum 3 feet, Long Jump of minimum 9 feet, and Shot Put (12 lb) throw of minimum 10 feet. The running event is conducted first—failure in running leads to immediate disqualification from further PET events. Candidates get up to three attempts for each jump and throw event (except running). Pregnant women are not allowed to participate in PET and must produce a medical certificate; they can appear after delivery in future PET if vacancy exists. The PET is purely qualifying—no marks are awarded, but failure in any event leads to disqualification regardless of written exam performance. Candidates should train specifically for these events as they require both endurance and technique.

1. Can candidates from other states apply for Bihar Police SI Prohibition?

Yes, candidates from other states can apply for Bihar Police SI Prohibition posts as the recruitment is open to all Indian citizens. However, there's a crucial restriction: only Bihar domicile candidates can claim reservation benefits in vacancies, age relaxation, and minimum qualifying marks. Candidates from other states will be treated under the Unreserved (UR) category regardless of their caste or category from their home state. They also do not get any age relaxation benefits. They must compete in the UR category with 40% minimum qualifying marks in Main Exam Paper-2. Their applications will be accepted, but they won't get the advantages that Bihar domicile candidates get in their respective categories.

2. Is there any relaxation in physical standards for female or reserved category candidates?

No, there is no relaxation in physical standards based on category or gender. The physical standards specified for each category (height, chest for males, weight for females) are minimum requirements that must be met by all candidates in that category. For example, all UR/EBC male candidates must have minimum 165 cm height regardless of whether they are from UR or EBC category. Similarly, all female candidates must have minimum 155 cm height regardless of category. The only variation is between categories (UR/EBC males have 165 cm while SC/ST/Extremely EBC males have 160 cm). Within a category, all candidates must meet the same physical standards. Third Gender candidates are treated at par with EBC category for physical standards.

3. How is the final merit list prepared for Bihar Police SI Prohibition?

The final merit list is prepared based only on marks obtained in Paper-2 of the Main Examination. Paper-1 (Hindi) is only qualifying and not counted in merit. The Preliminary exam is also only qualifying to shortlist candidates for the Main exam. There are no marks for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET)—it's purely qualifying. The medical examination and document verification are also qualifying stages. So, the entire selection hinges on Paper-2 performance. The merit list is prepared category-wise based on vacancies reserved for each category. If normalization is applied due to multiple exam shifts, the normalized scores are used. Tie-breaking rules, if needed, will be specified by BPSSC.

4. What happens if a candidate submits multiple applications?

The notification explicitly states that only ONE application per candidate is allowed. If multiple applications are detected from the same candidate (using same or different credentials), all applications will be cancelled and the candidate will be disqualified. The application fee is non-refundable in such cases. The commission uses various parameters like name, father's name, date of birth, mobile number, and payment details to detect multiple applications. Even if you make a mistake in your first application, do not submit a second one. Instead, you may contact the helpdesk for guidance. Submitting multiple applications is considered an attempt to manipulate the process and can lead to disqualification from future recruitments too.

5. Are there any eye vision requirements for Bihar Police SI Prohibition?

Yes, there are specific eye vision requirements that will be tested during the medical examination after PET. The exact standards will be specified in the medical guidelines, but generally for police positions, distant vision should be 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other without correction (without glasses). Near vision should be J1 in one eye and J2 in the other. Color blindness is typically a disqualification. Candidates who use glasses or contact lenses should check the detailed medical standards when released. The medical examination is thorough and includes general health check, vision test, hearing test, and other parameters essential for police duty.

6. Can final year graduation students apply for this recruitment?

No, final year students cannot apply unless they have completed their graduation degree on or before 01 August 2025. The eligibility cut-off date is fixed, and candidates must possess the graduation degree certificate or provisional certificate stating that the degree has been awarded by this date. Candidates appearing for final semester exams or awaiting results as of 01 August 2025 are not eligible. This is a strict requirement, and no exceptions are made. Candidates should wait for the next recruitment cycle if they will complete graduation after the cut-off date.

7. Is there any interview or personality test in the selection process?

No, there is no interview or personality test in the Bihar Police SI Prohibition selection process. The selection is based entirely on written examinations (Preliminary and Main) followed by Physical Efficiency Test, medical examination, and document verification. This makes the process more objective and transparent. The written exams test knowledge, the PET tests physical fitness, and medical examination ensures health standards. Document verification confirms eligibility. This pattern is common for subordinate police positions in Bihar.

8. How long is the entire selection process likely to take?

The official notification mentions that the entire selection process may take up to 6 months from the last date of application. Typically, the Preliminary exam is conducted 2-3 months after application closure, Main exam after 1-2 months of Prelims result, PET after Main result, and final selection after that. However, these are approximate timelines and depend on various factors including number of applicants, administrative arrangements, and any unforeseen circumstances. Candidates should regularly check the BPSSC website for updates as all communications are through the website only.

Final Compliance Guidelines and Strategic Preparation Tips

Critical Compliance Requirements for Successful Application

The Bihar Police SI Prohibition notification includes several strict compliance requirements. Providing false information regarding category, age, qualification, or documents leads not only to cancellation at any stage but may also involve legal action. The application fee of ₹100 is mandatory for all categories with no exemptions—attempting chargeback or refund leads to cancellation. Only one application per candidate is allowed—multiple applications from same candidate result in disqualification. For female candidates, pregnancy detected during PET leads to disqualification—they can reapply in future recruitments after delivery. No corrections are allowed after final submission, so review all details carefully. Reservation benefits require valid Bihar domicile certificate—candidates from other states are treated as UR only. The entire process is transparent but strict—adherence to all guidelines is essential for successful candidature.

Strategic Preparation Tips for Maximum Success Probability

To maximize success chances, candidates should: Start preparation early focusing on General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Science, and Reasoning for Paper-2. Practice previous years' question papers to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. Begin physical training for PET immediately—running, jumping, and shot put require specific training and technique. Gather all documents well in advance—especially updated caste, domicile, and EWS certificates. Apply early, not on last date to avoid technical issues. Choose category carefully based on valid certificates—wrong category selection cannot be corrected later. Read the complete notification thoroughly to understand all requirements and avoid common mistakes. Regularly check the BPSSC website for updates—don't rely on third-party information. Prepare for all stages simultaneously—written exam, PET, and medical standards.

Understanding the Role and Long-term Career Prospects

Sub-Inspector Prohibition in Bihar's Excise Department is a challenging but rewarding law enforcement position focused on implementing prohibition laws, preventing illegal liquor trade, and maintaining social order regarding alcohol regulations. The role involves field duties, investigations, raids, and public interaction. It offers job security, attractive salary with allowances, and promotional avenues to Inspector and higher ranks. The position commands respect in society and provides opportunities to contribute significantly to social welfare through effective prohibition enforcement. Selected candidates undergo training at Bihar Police Academy where they learn laws, procedures, investigation techniques, and physical training. The career offers stability, pension benefits, and opportunities for specialization or deputation to other departments. Candidates should be prepared for demanding duties, irregular hours, and challenging field situations inherent in police work.