The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has officially prescribed the syllabus for the Assistant Town Planner / Town Planning Supervisor competitive examination. This recruitment is conducted under the Urban Development & Housing Department, Government of Bihar, and is one of the most important opportunities for candidates with Planning, Urban Studies, Architecture, Remote Sensing, and GIS backgrounds.
Many aspirants miss out or prepare incorrectly due to unclear syllabus understanding, wrong optional subject choice, or confusion about eligibility equivalence. This article solves those problems by providing a clear, structured, and exam-focused breakdown of the syllabus, exam pattern, and qualification criteria—exactly as per the official notification.
⚡ Quick Review – BPSC Assistant Town Planner Exam
- 📌 Exam Authority: Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)
- 🏢 Department: Urban Development & Housing Department, Bihar
- 📝 Exam Type: Written Competitive Examination
- 📚 Total Papers: 2
- ⏱️ Duration: 2 hours each
- 🎯 Total Marks: 200
- 📖 Paper-II Choice: Planning OR Remote Sensing & GIS
- 🎓 Eligible Degrees: B.Plan / Master in Planning / PG Diploma or Degree in GIS & Remote Sensing
📝 BPSC Assistant Town Planner Exam Pattern
The examination consists of two written papers, both of descriptive nature.
📄 Paper-I: General Studies (Compulsory)
- Marks: 100
- Duration: 2 Hours
📄 Paper-II: Optional Subject (Choose One)
- Option A: Planning
- Option B: Remote Sensing & GIS (Urban & Regional Studies)
- Marks: 100
- Duration: 2 Hours
➡️ Total Marks: 200
Common Problem Solved:
Many candidates assume there are two optionals or technical papers only. In reality, General Studies is compulsory, and only one optional subject has to be chosen.
📘 Paper-I Syllabus: General Studies
This paper tests awareness and analytical understanding, not rote facts.
🔹 Topics Covered
- Current national and international events
- Issues related to daily life and society
- Scientific developments and their applications
Standard: Equivalent to General Studies level of Indian universities
Preparation Tip:
Do not over-prepare like UPSC GS. Focus on current relevance + conceptual clarity.
🏗️ Paper-II (Option A): Planning – Detailed Syllabus
This option is ideal for candidates from Town Planning, Architecture, Urban Planning, or Civil Planning backgrounds.
🏘️ Evolution of Settlements
- City in history
- Settlement patterns and structure
- Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman civilizations
- Medieval and Renaissance town planning
🌆 Planning Concepts (Post-Industrial Era)
- Garden City
- City Beautiful
- Linear City
- Contributions of planning masters
- Urban growth and rural-urban migration
📐 Theories of Urbanization
- Concentric Zone Theory
- Sector Theory
- Multiple Nuclei Theory
- Land Value Theory (William Alonso)
- Land use concepts
🏢 Building & Structural Systems
- Forces on buildings
- Stress, strain, elasticity, Hooke’s law
- Shear force and bending moment
- RCC and steel structures
🧱 Building Materials & Construction
- Brick, timber, stone, cement, glass
- RCC, FRP, paints, varnishes
- Foundations, slabs, beams, columns
- Retaining walls, waterproofing, expansion joints
📊 Statistics
- Mean, median, mode
- Dispersion and deviation
- Skewness and kurtosis
🏠 Architectural Design & Planning
- Anthropometry
- Room layout and furniture planning
- Building circulation and space use
- Architectural space standards
- Residential, commercial, institutional buildings
💰 Economics
- Scope of economics
- Demand and supply
- Theory of firm and production
🌱 Environmental & Urban Management
- Air quality management
- Solid waste management
- Urban pollution control
- Laws, standards, and best practices
🗺️ Urban & Regional Planning
- Urban Development Plans
- Regional Plans and planning hierarchy
📜 Constitutional Provisions
- 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments
- District and metropolitan planning committees
🛰️ Paper-II (Option B): Remote Sensing & GIS (Urban & Regional Studies)
This option is best for candidates with GIS, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, or Spatial Planning backgrounds.
🧭 Key Topics
- Fundamentals of Urban & Regional Planning
- Geospatial technologies for urban analysis
- Urban resources, services, and facilities analysis
- Basics of Remote Sensing
- Photogrammetry and cartography
- Digital image processing
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Statistics and programming
Common Problem Solved:
Candidates often fear GIS due to programming. The syllabus focuses more on application and fundamentals, not advanced coding.
🎓 Eligibility & Equivalent Qualifications
✅ Eligible Qualifications
- B.Plan (SPA Delhi/Bhopal/Vijayawada/Mysore, CEPT Ahmedabad, Amity University)
- PG Diploma in Remote Sensing & GIS (Urban & Regional Studies) – IIRS Dehradun
- Master’s Degree in:
- Town Planning
- Urban Planning
- Regional Planning
- City Planning
- Country Planning
🔁 Recognised Equivalent Degrees
- PG Diploma in RS & GIS (BHU, Jamia, IIRS, CBIP Delhi)
- PG Diploma in Geoinformatics (CDAC Noida)
- M.Sc / M.Tech in Remote Sensing, GIS, Geoinformatics
- Master’s in Urban Transport, Housing, Infrastructure, Environment Planning
Important:
Equivalence is accepted only if course content matches the prescribed syllabus.
🌐 Important Links
- Official Syllabus Pdf Download here
- Official Link to Online Apply
- Official Website : bpsc.bihar.gov.in
📌 You can also check Live & Upcoming Govt Exams here
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❓ Common Questions Answered
❔ Which optional is better – Planning or GIS?
- Choose Planning if your background is architecture/town planning.
- Choose GIS if you have studied remote sensing or spatial technologies.
❔ Is this exam technical or general?
It is technical + conceptual, not purely theoretical.
❔ Can syllabus change later?
Yes. BPSC and the department reserve the right to revise syllabus if required.
📌 Final Words
The BPSC Assistant Town Planner / Town Planning Supervisor exam is a high-value opportunity for planning and GIS professionals aiming for a stable government career in Bihar’s urban development sector.
Understanding the syllabus correctly is the first competitive advantage. Use this guide as your foundation, then move towards previous year trends, answer writing, and subject-wise preparation.