You must answer every question in the BPSC exam; leaving even a single one blank will result in a deduction of marks..

BPSC Exam Pattern Change 2026: The Bihar Public Service Commission is experimenting with new measures to enhance transparency in its examinations. However, the Commission's latest decision has not gone down well with the examinees. Following the lead of Rajasthan (RPSC) and Haryana (HPSC), the BPSC has also introduced a "fifth option" on its OMR sheets. As a result of this change, candidates are no longer stressed merely by the need to identify the correct answer; they are now also compelled to fill in a specific bubble for every question to which they do not know the answer.

The Bihar Public Service Commission argues that this step has been taken to curb malpractice, ensuring that no one can tamper with a blank OMR sheet at a later stage. However, from social media platforms to the streets of Patna, the candidates' outrage is reaching a fever pitch. They contend that comparing Bihar with other states is inappropriate and that this new rule could potentially undermine all their hard work. Will this fifth option truly streamline the examination system, or will it merely become a time- management nightmare for diligent candidates?

BPSC 5-Option Formula: What exactly is the BPSC's new rule?
The Bihar Public Service Commission has implemented a major overhaul in the design of the OMR sheets for its upcoming recruitment examinations. Until now, examinees were presented with four options: A, B, C, and D. However, a fifth option (Option E) has now been added to the mix.

Mandatory Bubble: You can no longer leave any question unanswered (blank). If you do not know the answer to a question, you are required to fill in the bubble corresponding to 'Option E'.

The Negative Marking Trap: If a candidate fails to fill in any of the five bubbles for a given question, the Commission may deem it an incorrect response, potentially subjecting the candidate to negative marking penalties.
The RPSC and HPSC Influence: This rule has proven successful in Rajasthan and Haryana, where candidates are disqualified if they leave more than 10% of the questions unanswered.

Why are BPSC candidates upset? The protests by candidates preparing for the BPSC examination stem not merely from a fear of change, but also from several valid arguments:

**Severe Time Constraints:** Solving 150 questions in the BPSC examination was already a daunting task. Now, the requirement to carefully consider and fill in the fifth option—even for questions where the answer is unknown—is consuming the candidates' precious time.

**Mental Pressure:** During the final 10 minutes of the BPSC examination, candidates typically review the questions they had previously skipped. Now, within those same 10 minutes, they must ensure that the ‘E’ option has been filled for every unanswered question; failure to do so will result in a deduction of marks.

**A Mountain of Confusion:** The presence of five options renders the ‘option elimination’ technique ineffective; consequently, let alone making an educated guess, even arriving at the correct answer has become significantly more difficult.

**The Commission’s Attempt to Put an End to Malpractices**

You might now be wondering: despite such widespread opposition, why does the Bihar Public Service Commission remain adamant in its decision? The answer lies in—**Security**. Reports frequently surfaced alleging that candidates who had arranged for some form of ‘fixing’ or collusion in the BPSC examination would leave their OMR sheets blank, only to have them filled in later through illicit collusion at the examination center or at the Commission level. However, this will no longer be possible:

**No Scope for Tampering:** Since an option must now be marked for every single question, it becomes impossible for anyone else to subsequently mark or alter anything on the sheet.

**Serious Candidates:** The Commission aims to ensure that only those candidates who seriously engage with and attempt every question appear for the examination—rather than those who enter the fray relying solely on luck.

In the BPSC examination, if you leave any question unanswered, one-third of the marks allotted to that question will be deducted. To avoid this penalty, it is essential to prepare thoroughly and to fully understand the BPSC examination pattern.

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