BCS viva marks to remain at 100 to ensure greater transparency: State minister

State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari told parliament that the government has decided to retain 100 marks for the viva voce component of the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination to make the recruitment process more transparent and free from irregularities.

Responding to a written question from Noakhali-6 lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud yesterday (21 June), the state minister said the change had been implemented through a special government notification (SRO No. 412-I/2024) issued on 11 December 2024.

He said the marks allocated for the oral examination were reduced from 200 to 100 under Sub-rule (1) of Rule 18 of the notification. The revised system is currently being applied in the ongoing 47th BCS examination.

Abdul Bari also informed parliament that the 48th and 49th BCS examinations, both conducted as special BCS recruitments, were held with a 100-mark viva component.

According to the state minister, the examinations were conducted under the special provisions of the amended Bangladesh Civil Service (Age, Qualification and Examination for Direct Recruitment) Rules, 2014, which were revised on 27 May 2025.

Highlighting the government’s future plans, he said the 100-mark viva system would continue in the upcoming 50th BCS examination and all subsequent BCS recruitments.

“The decision will help make the BCS examination process more transparent, dynamic and free from discrimination,” he told the house.