Block Development Officer or BDO is a gazetted officer which is a well-reputed and powerful government post. To become a BDO, candidates need to clear the state civil services exam of their respective state. The Public Service Commission organizes the state civil services exam/PSC exam every year.
The exam is conducted for each state separately. Candidates who want to become a Block Development Officer should apply for the PSC exam of their state and clear it with a good rank to get the job. Through this article, candidates can check the information regarding how to become a BDO officer in 2023, eligibility criteria, selection process, etc.
Table of Contents
BDO Officer Exam Highlights
| Post Name | BDO Recruitment |
| BDO Full form | Block Development Officer |
| Conducting Body | Public Service Commission |
| Recruitment Type | Government |
| Selection process | Based on PSC prelims, mains scores followed by the Interview process |
| Application Process | Online |
What is the role of a BDO officer?
BDO or the Block Development Officer is the governing official who is an administrative head of a specific block. An administrative division or a Bock is the subdivision under a district that is generally made to plan and develop a specific area.
A BDO plays an important role within a block and controls the planning and operation of all the block region developments. A BDO officer is responsible for any turn of procedures and the satisfaction of any task in a block. Every small or big project in a block is supervised by a BDO officer.
BDO Officer Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who want to become a BDO officer, need to satisfy the necessary eligibility criteria before applying for the entrance exam. The basic eligibility requirements for a BDO post-2023 are as follows.
Indian nationals are eligible to apply for the exam.
Candidates must have passed the 12th grade in any stream with at least 40% marks or an equivalent examination from a recognized board.
Apart from this, candidates must have done graduation in any branch with minimum qualifying marks to be eligible for the exam.
The minimum age of candidates must be 21 years. The upper age limit for the general category is 32 years.
Relaxation in the upper age limit is given to the candidates belonging to the reserved categories.
BDO Officer Salary
The salary of a Block Development Officer varies for different regions. However, the average monthly salary for a BDO officer in India is Rs 9,300 to Rs 34,800/-. Apart from this, the BDO officer receives Rs 4800/- in grade pay.
When the service period of a BDO increases, their monthly salary and incentives are also increased accordingly. After retirement, they also get a pension from the government as per the state government policy.
How to apply for BDO Post 2023
Candidates aspiring to become a BDO officer must submit their application form as per the prescribed schedule. Candidates are advised to check the eligibility criteria before applying for the entrance exam. The application process for BDO recruitment involves the following stages.
Candidates can apply online by visiting the official website of the State Public Service Commission after the release of the recruitment notification.
Complete the registration process by entering basic details like name, contact number, email id, etc.
After the registration, candidates should fill in the asked details in the application form such as personal details, educational qualification, address, category, etc.
Candidates are also required to upload passport-sized photographs, digital signature, mark sheet/ certification of 10th, 12th, and Bachelor’s degree as per the prescribed dimensions.
To complete the application process, candidates need to pay the necessary examination fees.
Recheck the details before submitting the application form.
Don’t forget to take the printout of the application form for further use.
BDO Exam Pattern 2023
To become a Block Development Officer, candidates have to clear the state PSC exam. The Public Service Commission Exam is conducted in three phases i.e., PSC Prelims, PSC Mains, and interview round. Each Indian state has its own website for the PSC test. Candidates are advised to check the PSC exam details on the official website of their respective state. The basic details regarding the BDO exam pattern are as follows:
Exam pattern for Prelims exam
| Exam | PSC Preliminary Exam |
| Number of papers | Two (General studies, civil aptitude test) |
| Exam duration | 2 hours for each paper |
| Number of questions | 100 questions in General studies and 80 questions in Civil Aptitude Test |
| Total marks | 200 (general studies), 200 (civil aptitude test) |
| Marking scheme | +2 for each correct answer (for general studies) +2.5 for each right answer (civil aptitude test) |
Exam Pattern for Mains Exam
Only those candidates who clear the prelims exam are allowed to appear in the mains exam. The exam includes 8 papers. The details are provided below.
Paper 1 – Language Test (Total marks-100, total time -3 hours)
Paper 2- Writing Essay (Total marks-100, total time -3 hours)
Paper 3- General Studies I- includes topics from Geography, History, and Society (Total marks-250, total time -3 hours)
Paper 4 – General Studies 2 – includes topics from Governance and International Relations, Indian Constitution, and Political Science (Total marks-250, total time -3 hours)
Paper 5 – General Studies 3- includes topics from Economy, Statistics, and Security issues (Total marks-250, total time -3 hours)
Paper 6– General Studies 4 – includes topics from Science and Technology, Environment, Problem Solving, and Decision Making (Total marks-250, total time -3 hours)
Optional Subject- Paper 1 (duration 3 hours)
Optional Subject- Paper 2 (duration 3 hours)
BDO Officer Recruitment 2023 Exam Syllabus
Candidates should check the syllabus carefully before applying for the exam. The syllabus is different for the Prelims and Mains exams. Some important topics covered in the BDO exam include Basic and International Politics, Atmosphere Soil Water, States of Matter, Indian History, Reforms Panchayati Raj, Communication Skills, All about the State and Economy of India, Data Analysis, Basic Mathematical Skills, Language and Essay, General Studies, Logical Reasoning, Literature, World Current Affairs, Statistics, Indian Politics, Telecommunication.
FAQs
Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university/institution.
The state public service commission conducts a competitive entrance examination before appointing someone as a Block Development Officer (BDO). You have to clear the entrance exam followed by an interview process with a good rank to become a BDO.
As per the difficulty level, the exam is very hard to crack. But with consistent efforts, hard work, and effective study plans one can achieve success.
The age limit of general candidates must be between 21 years to 32 years.
The salary of a BDO officer varies state-wise. In general, the average monthly salary of a BDO officer is Rs 18,500/- (without any perks).
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