The Bihar Staff Selection Commission has started the application process for two major recruitment drives. The first is the Combined Graduate Level Exam, also known as BSSC CGL 4. The second is the Office Attendant recruitment for various state departments. Together, these drives offer a total of 5208 vacancies.

For BSSC CGL 4, recruitment will be done for 1481 posts across six government departments. For Office Attendant recruitment, 3727 posts are available in multiple ministries and offices. The application link has been activated on both official portals — bssc.bihar.gov.in and onlinebssc.com.

The online registration process started on 25 August 2025. Candidates can submit applications until 26 September 2025. The deadline for paying the examination fee has been set as 25 September 2025.

Fee Reduction: A Major Relief for Aspirants

The most important change in this recruitment cycle is related to the application fee. The commission has reduced the application fee to 100 rupees for all categories. This is a major relief for candidates compared to the previous structure.

Earlier, male candidates from General, OBC, and Extremely Backward Classes had to pay 540 rupees. Candidates belonging to SC and ST categories, women from Bihar, and PwD candidates were charged 135 rupees. For candidates from outside Bihar, the fee was also 540 rupees. Now, all applicants, regardless of category, will pay only 100 rupees.

This decision has been welcomed by aspirants across Bihar. Many candidates preparing for government jobs expressed that the reduced fee will allow more participation, especially from economically weaker backgrounds.

Office Attendant Recruitment 2025: Key Details

The Office Attendant recruitment will fill vacant positions across different departments of the Bihar government. The Animal and Fisheries Resources Department has the highest number of vacancies, with 1138 posts. The Building Construction Department follows with 500 posts. Other departments also have several openings.

The minimum educational qualification required for this recruitment is Class 10 pass. The age limit is 18 to 37 years for general category candidates. Women from the unreserved category are eligible for three years of relaxation in the maximum age. Candidates from OBC and Extremely Backward Classes will get three years’ relaxation, while SC and ST candidates will get five years’ relaxation. The cut-off date for age calculation is 1 August 2025.

The selection process includes a preliminary exam followed by a main exam. Only candidates who qualify in the preliminary exam will be eligible for the main exam.

Exam Pattern for Office Attendant Preliminary Test

The preliminary exam will have 100 objective-type questions. Candidates will be given two hours to complete the paper. Each correct answer will carry four marks, while one mark will be deducted for every wrong response.

The paper will cover General Mathematics, General Knowledge, and General Hindi. Mathematics will carry 30 marks, General Knowledge 40 marks, and General Hindi 30 marks.

Qualifying marks for different categories have also been set. Unreserved candidates must score 40 percent. Backward Classes require 36.5 percent. Extremely Backward Classes need 34 percent. SC, ST, women, and PwD candidates must score at least 32 percent to qualify.

The notification for the main exam will be released separately.

BSSC CGL Recruitment 2025: Overview

The BSSC CGL recruitment is one of the most anticipated exams in Bihar. This year, the commission has released 1481 vacancies under different categories. The minimum age to apply is 21 years, while the maximum age is 37 years for general candidates. Similar relaxations as the Office Attendant exam apply here too.

Vacancies include positions like Assistant Section Officer, Planning Assistant, Junior Statistical Assistant, Data Entry Operator, Auditor, and other posts. The qualifications vary according to the role but generally require graduation in relevant subjects.

For example, Assistant Section Officer requires graduation in any subject. Planning Assistant also requires graduation. Junior Statistical Assistant needs a degree in Mathematics, Economics, Commerce, or Statistics. Data Entry Operator requires graduation with additional qualifications like PGDCA, BCA, or BSc IT. Auditors need a degree in Commerce, Economics, Mathematics, or Statistics.

Exam Process for BSSC CGL

Like the Office Attendant recruitment, BSSC CGL selection will also be conducted in two phases. The preliminary exam will be held first, followed by the main exam.

The preliminary exam will have 150 multiple-choice questions. The paper will last two hours and fifteen minutes. Each correct answer will fetch four marks, while one mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

Subjects in the preliminary exam include General Studies, General Science, Mathematics, and Mental Ability.

Unique Feature: Open Book Exam for Prelims

One of the most significant changes in this recruitment drive is that the preliminary exam will be conducted in an open book format. Candidates will be allowed to carry three textbooks — one each for General Studies, Mathematics, and General Science.

Only NCERT, Bihar Board, ICSE, or other recognized board textbooks will be allowed. Guides, handwritten notes, or electronic devices will not be permitted. This is the first time such a pattern has been introduced in BSSC exams, and it is expected to reduce dependence on coaching materials while encouraging conceptual clarity.

Qualifying Marks for BSSC CGL Exam

The commission has set minimum qualifying marks for different categories. Unreserved candidates must secure 40 percent. Backward Classes require 36.5 percent. Extremely Backward Classes must achieve 34 percent. SC, ST, women, and PwD candidates need at least 32 percent to qualify.

These criteria will apply to both the preliminary and main exams.

Important Dates for BSSC CGL and Office Attendant Recruitment

The application process for both recruitments began on 25 August 2025. The last date to submit the online application is 26 September 2025. The last date for payment of fees is 25 September 2025.

Candidates must remember that the permanent address mentioned in the application form will be considered valid for domicile-based reservations. During the main exam application process, caste certificates and domicile certificates must be uploaded as proof.

Documents Required for Application

Candidates are advised to keep essential documents ready before filling the online form. These include educational certificates, caste certificates, non-creamy layer certificates, EWS certificates, and other relevant documents based on category claims. Uploading these certificates will be mandatory during the application or later stages.

The application fee has been reduced to 100 rupees for everyone. This step is expected to encourage more candidates to apply and ensure that financial barriers do not stop aspirants from appearing in the exams.

The BSSC CGL 2025 and Office Attendant Recruitment together present one of the biggest job opportunities in Bihar this year. With more than 5200 vacancies across government departments, aspirants have a strong chance to secure a government job.

The reduced fee has made the application process more inclusive. The open book exam pattern in the CGL preliminary exam is also a significant development, aiming to bring transparency and fairness to the recruitment process.

Candidates preparing for government exams in Bihar are advised to apply well before the deadline. They must also prepare according to the new exam pattern. A proper strategy focusing on NCERT and Bihar Board textbooks will be crucial for success in the open book format.

As the last date approaches, applicants should carefully fill the form on bssc.bihar.gov.in or onlinebssc.com. With proper preparation and awareness of the exam structure, aspirants can take advantage of this opportunity and move closer to a secure government career.