Bihar · Assistant Prosecution Officer
Bihar APO 2026: Syllabus, Previous Year Papers & Bare Acts
Bihar Assistant Prosecution Officer (APO) Competitive Examination
- 3
- Stages
- 4
- Past papers
- 17
- Acts in syllabus
The competitive examination recruits Assistant Prosecution Officers in Bihar and has three stages: an objective preliminary examination, a subjective written main examination and an interview. The preliminary examination tests General Studies and Law; the main examination adds Hindi, English and detailed criminal law papers set at the level of the Patna University law degree.
- Conducted by
- Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)
- Official website
- bpsc.bihar.gov.in
- Final selection
- Final merit includes the interview marks (100); a candidate must secure at least 35% marks in the final merit list.
Exam pattern and stages
- Preliminary examination (objective): Objective test with two papers, General Studies and Law, 200 marks in total; the pattern is stated as offline and per the 2024 notification.
Paper Questions Marks Duration Paper 1: General Studies one mark per correct answer 100 100 2 hours Paper 2: Law 100 100 2 hours - Main examination (subjective): Seven subjective papers of 3 hours each, 900 marks in total; leads to the interview.
Paper Questions Marks Duration General Studies 100 3 hours Hindi Language level of the compulsory Hindi paper of the Bihar School Examination Committee secondary examination 100 3 hours English Language 100 3 hours Indian Penal Code, 1860 / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 law graduation level of Patna University 150 3 hours Indian Evidence Act, 1872 / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 150 3 hours Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 150 3 hours Other Laws 150 3 hours - Interview: Interview of 100 marks whose marks count in the final merit list; a candidate must secure at least 35% in the final merit list.
Paper Questions Marks Duration Interview 100
Syllabus
Paper by paper, as the official syllabus lists it.
Preliminary examination: General Studies (100 questions)
- General science in everyday life
- General knowledge and current affairs
- Geography, Indian history and culture
- Indian political system
Preliminary examination: Law (100 questions)
- Fundamental knowledge of the Indian Constitution
- Indian Penal Code
- Indian Evidence Act
- Code of Criminal Procedure · Read the act
Main examination: General Studies
- Current events of international importance
- National affairs and general science
- Geography of India and Bihar
- General knowledge including current affairs
- History of India and salient features of the history of Bihar
- Indian culture
- Major geographical divisions of Bihar and important river systems
- Major changes in the economy of Bihar after independence
- Indian political system
- India's state system and economic system
Main examination: Hindi Language
- Grammar
- Essay writing
- Syntax
Main examination: English Language
- Essay writing
- Summary / precis writing
- Letter writing
Main examination: Law papers
- Indian Penal Code, 1860 / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Read the act
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872 / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Read the act
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Read the act
Main examination: Other Laws
- Arms Act, 1959 · Read the act
- Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 · Read the act
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 · Read the act
- Explosive Substances Act, 1908 · Read the act
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 · Read the act
Bare Acts for this exam
17 acts tagged for Bihar APO. Each opens section by section, free to read.
Central acts
- Arms Act, 1959
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
- Constitution of India
- Explosive Substances Act, 1908
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872
- Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Information Technology Act, 2000
- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
- Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
Bihar acts
- Bihar Police Act, 2007 (coming soon)
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 (coming soon)
Old law → new law tables: IPC → BNS · CrPC → BNSS · Evidence Act → BSA
Previous year papers
4 prelims papers, 2011 to 2020. All Bihar APO papers by year
2020
- Bihar APO Prelims 2020 (Paper I) 98 questions · attempt online
- Bihar APO Prelims 2020 (Paper II Law) 81 questions · attempt online
2013
- Bihar APO Prelims 2013 118 questions · attempt online
2011
- Bihar APO Prelims 2011 249 questions · attempt online
Eligibility
A degree in law from a recognised university; the notification has the full conditions.
Relaxations, attempts and category rules are in each cycle's notification.
Bihar APO: frequently asked questions
- What is the pattern of the Bihar APO exam?
- Bihar Assistant Prosecution Officer (APO) Competitive Examination has 3 stages. Preliminary examination (objective): Objective test with two papers, General Studies and Law, 200 marks in total; the pattern is stated as offline and per the 2024 notification. Papers: Paper 1: General Studies: 100 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours; Paper 2: Law: 100 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours. Main examination (subjective): Seven subjective papers of 3 hours each, 900 marks in total; leads to the interview. Papers: General Studies: 100 marks, 3 hours; Hindi Language: 100 marks, 3 hours; English Language: 100 marks, 3 hours; Indian Penal Code, 1860 / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: 150 marks, 3 hours; Indian Evidence Act, 1872 / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023: 150 marks, 3 hours; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023: 150 marks, 3 hours; Other Laws: 150 marks, 3 hours. Interview: Interview of 100 marks whose marks count in the final merit list; a candidate must secure at least 35% in the final merit list. Papers: Interview: 100 marks.
- Who is eligible for Bihar APO?
- A degree in law from a recognised university; the notification has the full conditions. The notification for each cycle has the full conditions and relaxations.
- Where is the Bihar APO notification published?
- Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) publishes the notification, dates and results on its official website, bpsc.bihar.gov.in. Check it for the current cycle.
- Which bare acts are in the Bihar APO syllabus?
- 17 acts are tagged for Bihar APO here, including the Arms Act, 1959, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Constitution of India, Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and more. Each can be read section by section.
- Which Bihar APO previous year papers are available?
- 4 papers from 2011 to 2020: 4 prelims papers to attempt online with answers.
Facts on this page are read from Bihar APO Syllabus Update (4 Sep 2025) and may change with each notification. Dates, vacancies and cut-offs for the coming cycle are not stated here; the official website has them.