State Service Exam Pattern
The Maharashtra State Government conducts various exams every year in order to recruit people into the different wings of the state administration.
The exams are conducted and overseen by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).
The State Service Exam, also called the MPSC Rajyaseva exam is conducted every year and this recruits officers into the administrative departments under the Maharashtra State Government.
The MPSC also conducts other examinations such as Subordinate Services, Class C Services, Engineering Services, Agriculture Services, Judicial Services, etc. In this article, you can read all about the MPSC State Service exam syllabus and paper pattern.
The examination is conducted in following three stages :
- Preliminary Examination
- Main/Written Examination
- Interview/Personality Test
A candidate has to clear one stage in order to be eligible for the subsequent stage, i.e, if he/she clears the prelims, he/she moves onto the mains, clearing which he/she would be summoned for the final stage (interview) of the MPSC exam.
Preliminary Examination
This exam consists of two papers, both of which are objective in nature. Take a look at the following table for the details of the prelims exam. Please note that both papers are compulsory.
General Studies (GS)
Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) carrying 200 marks for each paper.
GS paper contains 100 questions and CSAT paper contains 80 questions of multiple choice type.
Time allotted is 2 hours for each paper.
For both, the papers 1/3 negative marking system is applicable, which means deduction of 33% marks for each wrong answer.
- Candidates should note that there is negative marking for incorrect answers.
- For every incorrect answer, the candidate will be penalised 1/3rd of the marks allocated to that question.
- The questions on decision making (Paper-II) do not attract negative marks if incorrectly answered. These generally question numbers from 74 to 80 in Paper-II.
- In MPSC, both Paper I and II are counted for the merit ranking for qualifying for the MPSC mains
All other rules regarding this are same as UPSC. Questions are set in English and Marathi medium but for some passages in CSAT paper and questions based on them which are supposed to test candidate’s knowledge of English language, the Marathi translation is not available.
The Preliminary Examination is held at most of the district places in Maharashtra. After the result of the Preliminary Examination is declared, the successful candidates are called to appear for the Main Examination. Marks scored in the Preliminary Examination are not counted for the final selection of the candidates.
Main/Written Examination
Generally, the Main Examination is supposed to be held three and a half or four months after the result of the Prelims exam is declared.
This examination is held at four centers viz. Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur.
The candidates who qualify in the Preliminarily Examination and hold University degrees of graduation level are eligible to appear for Main Examination.
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From 2012 MPSC state services Mains there has been sea changes.
The optional subjects have been removed from the exam and 4 papers for General Studies have been introduced. MPSC has provided detailed syllabus for these papers.
There are total 6 papers in this exam; among them 4 are GS papers.
But unlike UPSC the nature of GS papers is multiple choice types.
But language papers for English and Marathi are still subjective (essay type).
There is a 1/3 negative marking system for all the GS papers.
The scope of General Studies has been expanded.
The paper for Marathi language is compulsory for everyone and the marks of Marathi & English languages are counted for deriving the final selection list.
In case of posts in the Police Department the candidates must also fulfill the prescribed requirements of physical ability
Nature of Exam:
SubjectMarks
Marathi (3 hours)100
English (3 hours)100
GS Paper I (2 hours) History, Geography and agriculture150
GS Paper II (2 hours) Indian polity and laws150
GS Paper III (2 hours) Human resource development and human rights150
GS Paper IV (2 hours) Science and Technology, Economy150
Total800
Interview/Personality Test
The candidates coming out successfully in the written examination (Mains) are called for the interview.
According to the changes made in 2012 state civil service examination, the marks for interview have been reduced. Now the interview carries 100 marks.
In the interview, eligibility required for the candidate’s post opted for, his / her personality, his / her study level of social and national issues, awareness regarding events occurring around him / her, capacity to take decisions, presence of mind are the factors supposed to be considered.
The final merit list is declared after considering the candidate’s marks in the Main exam and the Interview.
Accordingly, eligible candidates are appointed at various posts. Eventually they get the appointment letters to join the government.
