Bihar Police ASI Steno Syllabus 2026: Complete Exam Pattern & Typing Typing Rules

Bihar Police ASI Steno Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026: Master Guide

The Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) has released the official notification for the recruitment of 305 Assistant Sub-Inspectors (Stenographer). The ASI (Steno) post in Bihar Police is a high-respect, Level 5 job that requires a unique combination of administrative precision, language command, and technical shorthand speed. Unlike other uniformed services, this role does not require rigorous physical endurance tests (like running or high jump), making it an incredibly attractive option for desk-oriented professionals who want to wear the uniform.

To secure one of the 305 vacancies, candidates must clear a meticulously structured written examination followed by a strict skill test. This comprehensive guide breaks down the complete syllabus, paper pattern, and exact typing rules you must know to crack the Bihar ASI Steno Exam 2026.

The Selection Process: A Three-Tier System

Securing the ASI Steno badge involves clearing three distinct stages:

1. Stage 1: Written Examination (Paper 1 & Paper 2) — An offline OMR-based test evaluating language and general knowledge.
2. Stage 2: Skill Test — Practical, timed assessment of Hindi Shorthand speed and typing speed in both English and Hindi.
3. Stage 3: Physical Standards, Document Verification & Medical — Measurement of height/chest (no running rules) and verification of academic and category certificates.

Stage 1: Written Examination Pattern

The written examination is divided into two separate papers. Both papers are multiple-choice objective type.

Crucial Rule: If a candidate fails to score the minimum 30% marks in Paper 1 (General Hindi), their Paper 2 (General Knowledge) answer sheet will not be evaluated, resulting in immediate disqualification. However, Paper 1 marks are not added to the final merit list calculation.

Detailed Topic-Wise Syllabus

Paper 1: General Hindi (Vyakaran & Bhasha)

The General Hindi paper tests your functional command of the official administrative language of Bihar. This is essential, as an ASI Steno drafts official FIR translations, departmental letters, and court documentation.

Core Topics:

• Vyakaran (Grammar): Sandhi (Joinings), Samas (Compounds), Karak (Case), Ling (Gender), Vachan (Number), Sangya, Sarvanam, Visheshan, Kriya, Avyay.
• Vocabulary: Synonyms (Paryayvacchi Shabd), Antonyms (Vilom Shabd), Words with multiple meanings (Anekarthi shabd), One-word substitution (Anek shabdon ke liye ek shabd).
• Usage & Comprehension: Idioms and phrases (Muhavare aur Lokoktiyan), Sentence correction (Vakya shudhi), spelling correction (Vartani shudhi), Fill in the blanks.
• Reading Comprehension: An unseen passage (Gadyansh) followed by 5 related questions.

Paper 2: General Knowledge & Current Affairs

This paper dictates your rank. It is expansive and tests your awareness across history, sciences, and contemporary issues.

1. General Knowledge & History:

• History of India: Deep focus on the Indian Freedom Struggle (Gandhian era, key movements like Non-Cooperation and Quit India), Revolt of 1857 (Role of Kunwar Singh), ancient Indian empires (Mauryan, Gupta), and Buddhism/Jainism (high focus due to their origins in Bihar).
• Geography: Physical geography of India, important river systems, major dams, mountain ranges, agriculture, and specifically the geography and agricultural profile of Bihar (Kosi floods, soil types).
• Polity & Civics: The framework of the Indian Constitution, Preamble, Fundamental Rights & Duties, powers of the President and Governor, Parliament, functioning of the Panchayati Raj system.

2. General Science (Matriculation Level):

• Physics: Laws of motion, gravitation, work-power-energy, optics (light/mirrors), sound, basics of electricity and current.
• Chemistry: Atomic structure, states of matter, acids-bases-salts, metals & non-metals, important chemical compounds used in daily life.
• Biology: Human anatomy (digestive, respiratory, circulatory systems), vital vitamins & deficiency diseases, basic plant biology, cell structure.

3. Current Affairs & Bihar-Specific Knowledge:

• Recent national and international events (last 8-10 months).
• Key government schemes (Central and Bihar Govt).
• Awards and Honors (Nobel, Padma, Sahitya Akademi, sports awards).
• Important appointments, books & authors, sports updates.
• Bihar’s economy, cultural heritage, and recent policy changes.

4. Mathematics & Mental Ability:

• Mathematics: Simplification, Number System, Decimals & Fractions, LCM & HCF, Ratio & Proportion, Percentages, Average, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Time & Work, Time & Distance.
• Reasoning: Analogies, Series completion (number/alphabet), Coding-Decoding, Blood relations, Direction sense, Visual memory, Venn diagrams.

Stage 2: The Skill Test (Shorthand & Typing Rules)

Thousands clear the written test, but the majority fail at this stage. BPSSC maintains incredibly strict and zero-compromise rules for the technical skill test.

You will be tested in three areas:

1. Hindi Stenography (Shorthand Dictation Test)

• Dictation Speed: You will be dictated text in Hindi at a speed of 80 Words Per Minute (WPM).
• Dictation Duration: Uninterrupted dictation for 5 Minutes (totals roughly 400 words).
• Transcription Phase: Candidates are given a specified time limit (typically 20-30 minutes) to type out their shorthand notes on a computer.
• Error Tolerance: The maximum permissible error margin is 10%. Committing faults/errors above 10% will lead to immediate disqualification.

2. Hindi & English Typing Test

You must prove competency in both languages.

• Hindi Typing Test:

  • Minimum Required Speed: 30 Words Per Minute (WPM).
  • Test Structure: Typing 300 words in 10 minutes.
  • Font Restrictions: Generally, BPSSC uses the Mangal font with Inscript layout, or Remington Gail (Kruti Dev). Check the official admit card for the exact mandated layout for 2026.
  • Error Margin: Up to 5% exceptions max.

• English Typing Test:

  • Minimum Required Speed: 30 Words Per Minute (WPM).
  • Test Structure: Typing 300 words in 10 minutes on a standard QWERTY keyboard layout.
  • Error Margin: Up to 10% exceptions max.

3. Computer Proficiency Test

A practical evaluation to determine your baseline capability in managing modern administrative tasks.

• Creating documents and formatting in MS Word.
• Basic spreadsheet operations in MS Excel.
• Navigating the internet and basic email operations.

Physical Standards

Even though there is no running test, you must meet the police force’s basic measurement standards:

• Height: Unreserved/OBC Male (165 cm), EBC/SC/ST Male (160 cm), All Females (155 cm).
• Chest (Males Only): UR/OBC/EBC (81-86 cm), SC/ST (79-84 cm). Minimum expansion of 5 cm is mandatory.
• Weight (Females): Minimum 48 Kg.

Salary Profile of an ASI Steno

The financial perks attached to this post are highly competitive for state-level positions.

• Pay Level: Level-5 (As per Bihar Govt 7th CPC).
• Pay Band: ₹29,200 – ₹92,300.
• Allowances: In addition to the basic pay, ASI Stenos receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Medical Allowance, Transport Allowance, and Ration Money Allowance.
• In-Hand Estimate: Expect an initial starting salary between ₹42,000 to ₹48,000 per month, heavily dependent on your posting district (Patna vs. rural deployments).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is the Computer Diploma mandatory at the time of application? Yes. Candidates must possess a minimum 1-year Diploma in Computer Application (DCA) or Advanced Diploma (ADCA) from an institute recognized by the Govt of India/State Govt, alongside their 10+2 passing certificate.

Q2. Can I apply if I don’t know shorthand yet, but I plan to learn it? Technically, you can apply. However, learning Hindi shorthand to a professional speed of 80 WPM takes at least 6 to 9 months of dedicated, daily practice. Attempting to learn it after written exam results is highly discouraged and usually guarantees failure at the skill stage.

Q3. Is there a negative marking in Paper 1 (Hindi)? Typically, Paper 1 does not carry negative marking, making it easier to secure the minimum 30% qualifying marks. However, exact instructions printed on the question paper/admit card for the 2026 cycle must be read carefully. Note that Paper 2 (GK) definitely has a 0.2 negative markup per wrong answer.

Q4. Can female candidates from outside Bihar apply? Yes, candidates from other states can apply. However, all interstate candidates (irrespective of their category in their home state) will be treated as Unreserved/General category candidates during the recruitment process and must fulfill general category age limits and merit cut-offs.

Disclaimer: Information curated in this comprehensive guide has been drawn from BPSSC norms and the official Advt. No. 01/2024. Candidates are urged to download, carefully read, and adhere strictly to the official notification issued on the official bpssc.bihar.gov.in portal before making any application-related decisions.