MPSC Syllabus: The Maharashtra Public Service Commission administers the State Service Examination, popularly known as the Maharashtra Rajyaseva Pariksha. Get the most recent MPSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern changes below:
Table of Contents
Changes in MPSC Syllabus
The MPSC Mains Syllabus has been revised, according to a recent notification. The redesigned exam pattern is more descriptive and resembles the UPSC exam pattern. It will now have nine papers instead of six. The MPSC Mains test will now be worth 1,750 points rather than 800. The scores obtained in the two language papers will not be included in the merit scoring in the new MPSC Mains exam design, but will instead be considered qualified. Aside from these two, there are seven required papers, including one essay paper, four general studies papers, and two papers on one elective subject chosen from a list of 26. The new syllabus for the MPSC Rajyaseva Exam (Mains) is available in this article.
Changes in MPSC Exam Pattern
The Commission has changed the exam pattern in relation to negative marking in objective-type Question Papers. Instead of the previous 1/3 negative marking for each incorrect response, the commission now allows a negative marking of 25%, or 1/4 of the total marks, for each incorrect answer.
You can find the most recent MPSC State Service Syllabus and exam pattern in this article.
MPSC Exam Pattern [Revised]
The MPSC state services exam, like the UPSC civil services test, is divided into three stages:
- Prelims
- Mains
- Interview
A candidate must pass one level to be eligible for the next, i.e., if he or she passes the prelims, he/she advances to the mains, after which he/she would be summoned for the final stage (interview) of the MPSC exam.
MPSC Preliminary Exam Pattern
This test is divided into two papers, both of which are objective in nature. The details of the preliminary exam can be seen in the table below. Please keep in mind that both papers are required.
| Paper No. | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Standard | Medium | Duration | Nature of Paper |
| Paper I | 100 | 200 | Degree | English & Marathi | 2 hours | Objective |
| Paper II | 80 | 200 | Mix of Degree and School (depends on topic – refer below) | English & Marathi | 2 hours | Objective |
- Candidates should be aware that wrong answers will result in negative markings.
- Each erroneous response will cost the contestant 1/4 of the marks allotted to that question.
- For each question with two possible responses, a candidate will receive a negative marking of 25% of the total marks allotted to that question.
- Incorrect answers to decision-making questions (Paper II) do not result in negative marks. In Paper II, there are often questions 74–80.
- Both Paper I and Paper II are counted in the MPSC merit ranking for qualifying for the MPSC mains.
MPSC Mains Exam Pattern [Revised]
For the year 2023, the MPSC has announced a new exam pattern. The commission has made important changes to the examination pattern, which are detailed further below:
| MPSC Mains Exam Scheme | |
| Written Examination | 1750 Marks (Number of Question Papers – 9) |
| Interview and Personality Test | 275 Marks |
| Total Marks | 2025 Marks |
The detailed exam pattern of the MPSC Rajyaseva Mains exam is as follows:
| MPSC State Services Mains Exam Pattern [Revised] | |||
| Subject | Marks & Time Duration | Standard | Medium |
| (Qualifying with 25% marks) | |||
| Paper 1 – Marathi | 300 Marks; 3 Hours | Matriculation | Marathi |
| Paper 2 – English | 300 Marks; 3 Hours | Matriculation | English |
| Papers to be counted for Merit (Mandatory) | |||
| Paper 3 – Essay | 250 Marks; 3 Hours | Graduate | Marathi/ English |
| Paper 4 – General Studies -1 | 250 Marks; 3 Hours | Graduate | Marathi/ English |
| Paper 5 – General Studies -2 | 250 Marks; 3 Hours | Graduate | Marathi/ English |
| Paper 6 – General Studies -3 | 250 Marks; 3 Hours | Graduate | Marathi/ English |
| Paper 7 – General Studies -4 | 250 Marks; 3 Hours | Graduate | Marathi/ English |
| Paper 8 – Optional Subject Paper No.- 1 | 250 Marks; 3 Hours | Graduate | Marathi/ English |
| Paper 9 – Optional Subject Paper No.- 2 | 250 Marks; 3 Hours | Graduate | Marathi/ English |
Note:
- Candidates should be aware that they must select the medium for answering the papers when submitting their online application for the Main test.
- The question papers will be set in both Marathi and English (save for language papers, Marathi literature, and subjects where the medium has been specified as English).
MPSC Interview
Candidates who pass the mains exam are invited to an MPSC interview. During this phase, a panel of MPSC board members assesses the candidate’s suitability for an administrative career through a personal interview. This is more of a personality test in which the candidate’s traits such as aptitude, presence of mind, communication skills, and so on are evaluated in addition to knowledge.
MPSC Prelims Syllabus
The detailed syllabus for MPSC Prelims is given below:
Paper I (200 marks)
- Current events of state, national and international importance.
- History of India and Indian National Movement with some weightage to Maharashtra
- Maharashtra, India and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of Maharashtra, India and the World.
- India and Maharashtra – Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Urban Governance, Public Policy, Rights issues, etc.
- Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
- General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation.
- General Science.
Paper-II (200 marks)
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data Interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)
- Marathi and English language comprehension skills (Class X/XII level) Questions relating to this will be tested through passages from Marathi and English language without providing cross translation thereof in the question paper.
MPSC Mains Syllabus
The syllabus for the nine papers in the MPSC mains is given below.
Paper I – Marathi (300 Marks)
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :
- Comprehension of given passages.
- Precis Writing.
- Usage and Vocabulary.
- Short Essays.
- Translation from English to Marathi and vice-versa.
This paper will be of qualifying nature. The marks obtained in this paper will not be counted for ranking.
Paper II – English (300 Marks)
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :
- Comprehension of given passages.
- Precis Writing.
- Usage and Vocabulary.
- Short Essays.
This paper will be of qualifying nature. The marks obtained in this paper will not be counted for ranking.
Paper III – Essay (250 Marks)
In Essay Paper, candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and write concisely.
Candidates who are preparing for All India Services along with the state services examination may know that essay writing is very important for any exam. Hence, BYJU’S brought a post on essay paper writing which MPSC candidates can refer to for state service examination as well.
Paper IV – General Studies 1 (250 Marks)
[Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society with some weightage to Maharashtra]
- Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
- Bhakti movement and its philosophy with special reference to saints’ movement in Maharashtra.
- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
- The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
- History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on society.
- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
- Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies
- Effects of globalization on Indian society
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism, secularism
- Salient features of the world’s physical geography.
- Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
- Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Paper V – General Studies 2 (250 Marks)
[Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations with some weightage to Maharashtra]
- Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic
structure. - Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
- Separation of powers between various organs; dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
- Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
- Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary- Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
- Local self-government.
- Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
- Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
- Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
- Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
- Role of civil services in a democracy.
- India and its neighbourhood- relations.
- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.
- Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Paper VI – General Studies 3 (250 Marks)
[Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management with some weightage to Maharashtra]
- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
- Government Budgeting.
- Major crops- cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; etechnology in the aid of farmers.
- Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
- Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
- Land reforms in India.
- Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- Investment models.
- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
- Disaster and disaster management, Disaster Risk Resilience, Resilient Society
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
- Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
- Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
- Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
- Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Paper VII – General Studies 4 (250 Marks)
[Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude]
This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life, his problem-solving approach and decision making to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered:
- Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics- in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
- Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
- Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
- Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
- Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
- Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
- Case Studies on the above issues.
Paper VIII – Optional Paper 1 (250 Marks) & Paper IX – Optional Paper 2 (250 Marks)
Candidate may choose any optional subject from amongst the List of Optional Subjects mentioned below:
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce and Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Management
- Marathi Literature
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology