Previous Year Current Affairs Questions in BPSC Mains Exam: A Year-Wise Compilation

bpsc previous years questions

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Mains examination is a critical stage for aspirants aiming for administrative roles in Bihar. The General Studies (GS) papers, particularly GS Paper 1 and GS Paper 2, frequently incorporate questions on current affairs, reflecting national and international events, socio-economic developments, governance issues, science & technology, and Bihar-specific contemporary topics. These questions test analytical skills, requiring candidates to link static knowledge with dynamic events.

Current affairs questions in BPSC Mains typically appear in the form of essay-type answers, data interpretation, or analytical discussions. They cover themes like economic policies, environmental challenges, international relations, government schemes, and regional issues. Below is a year-wise list of key current affairs-related questions from the last 5 years (68th to 70th BPSC Mains, plus 71st where applicable based on recent exams). The selection focuses on 3-5 representative questions per year from GS Paper 1 and GS Paper 2, drawn from official papers and reliable compilations. This compilation will help aspirants identify trends and prepare effectively.

70th BPSC Mains (2024-2025)

The 70th BPSC Mains, held in April 2025, emphasized post-pandemic recovery, Bihar’s development, and global issues like climate change. Current affairs questions were balanced between national policies and Bihar-specific events.

  • GS Paper 1:
  1. Analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bihar’s migration patterns and suggest measures for skill development in rural areas (20 marks).
  2. Based on the provided graph, discuss the trends in Bihar’s literacy rate from 2011-2021 and its correlation with economic growth (15 marks).
  3. Examine the role of digital initiatives like Digital India in bridging the urban-rural divide in Bihar (20 marks).
  • GS Paper 2:
  1. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme in promoting self-reliance in Bihar’s agriculture sector (20 marks).
  2. Discuss India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its implications for energy security in Bihar (15 marks).
  3. How has the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 influenced higher education in Bihar? Suggest reforms (20 marks).

69th BPSC Mains (2023-2024)

The 69th Mains, conducted in January 2024, focused on economic reforms, environmental concerns, and international diplomacy, with a strong emphasis on data-driven analysis in GS Paper 1.

  • GS Paper 1:
  1. Using the given statistical data, assess the progress of women’s empowerment in Bihar under schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (15 marks).
  2. Discuss the socio-economic impacts of the 2023 floods in Bihar and the role of disaster management policies (20 marks).
  3. Analyze the contribution of Bihar to India’s renewable energy targets in the last five years (20 marks).
  • GS Paper 2:
  1. Critically examine the institutional relationship between the President and the Prime Minister, highlighting changes in the last decade (20 marks).
  2. Evaluate the success of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in boosting manufacturing in Bihar (15 marks).
  3. Discuss the challenges and opportunities of India’s G20 presidency in 2023 for Bihar’s global trade linkages (20 marks).

68th BPSC Mains (2022-2023)

Held in May 2023, this exam highlighted governance reforms, health crises, and Bihar’s role in national schemes. Questions often required linking current events to constitutional provisions.

  • GS Paper 1:
  1. Interpret the diagram on Bihar’s urbanization trends from 2001-2021 and discuss its implications for sustainable development (15 marks).
  2. Examine the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on food security in Bihar (20 marks).
  3. Discuss the role of Bihar in the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission over the past eight years (20 marks).
  • GS Paper 2:
  1. Assess the impact of GST reforms on Bihar’s revenue generation since 2017 (20 marks).
  2. Analyze India’s neighborhood first policy with reference to recent developments in Nepal and Bangladesh (15 marks).
  3. How has the Ayushman Bharat scheme transformed healthcare access in rural Bihar? (20 marks).

67th BPSC Mains (2021-2022)

The 67th Mains in 2022 stressed pandemic management, economic recovery, and environmental sustainability, with several questions on Bihar’s post-COVID challenges.

  • GS Paper 1:
  1. Based on the provided graph, evaluate the employment trends in Bihar during the COVID-19 lockdown period (15 marks).
  2. Discuss the environmental consequences of rapid industrialization in Bihar in the last five years (20 marks).
  3. Analyze the role of social media in the 2020 farmers’ protests and its impact on Bihar’s agrarian economy (20 marks).
  • GS Paper 2:
  1. Examine the effectiveness of the PM-KISAN scheme in alleviating farmer distress in Bihar (20 marks).
  2. Discuss India’s vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic and its benefits for Bihar (15 marks).
  3. Evaluate the progress of the Smart Cities Mission in Patna and suggest improvements (20 marks).

66th BPSC Mains (2020-2021)

Conducted in 2021, this exam was heavily influenced by the ongoing pandemic, with questions on health, economy, and international relations amid global uncertainty.

  • GS Paper 1:
  1. Using statistical data, discuss the rise in reverse migration to Bihar during the 2020 lockdown (15 marks).
  2. Analyze the impact of climate change on Bihar’s flood-prone regions in recent years (20 marks).
  3. Examine the socio-economic effects of demonetization on Bihar’s informal sector (20 marks).
  • GS Paper 2:
  1. Discuss the challenges in implementing the National Health Mission in Bihar post-COVID (20 marks).
  2. Evaluate India’s Act East Policy and its relevance to Bihar’s border trade (15 marks).
  3. How has the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) aided economic recovery in Bihar? (20 marks).

Trends and Preparation Tips

  • Common Themes: Over the last 5 years, BPSC has increasingly focused on Bihar-specific current affairs (e.g., floods, migration, schemes like Jal Jeevan Hariyali), integrated with national/global events (e.g., G20, COVID-19, climate summits). Data interpretation questions in GS Paper 1 have become more frequent.
  • Weightage: Approximately 40-50% of GS Paper 1 and 30-40% of GS Paper 2 questions relate to current affairs.
  • Tips: Read The Hindu/Indian Express daily, follow Yojana/Kurukshetra for analysis, and practice answer writing with diagrams/graphs. Refer to Bihar Economic Survey for state-specific data. Solving these PYQs under timed conditions will enhance your analytical depth.

This compilation serves as a quick revision tool. For full papers, download from official BPSC website . Stay updated with ongoing events for the 71st BPSC!