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About this exam

The MPSC Rajyaseva - the Maharashtra State Services Examination - is the Maharashtra Public Service Commission's competitive route to Group A and Group B gazetted posts in the state civil service. It is aimed at graduates who want a career in state administration rather than the Union services, and it is conducted by the Commission whose official portal is mpsc.gov.in. The Commission's site publishes a revised syllabus for the State Services Examination together with a corrigendum, and a revised pattern for the State Services Main Examination covering question paper structure and paper-specific instructions - candidates should read those documents directly rather than relying on second-hand summaries, because the Commission has explicitly revised both syllabus and pattern. The site also indicates that screening tests of objective format are conducted on a computer-based system, and separately publishes descriptive-type Main Examination material, so preparation must cover both objective screening practice and written answer writing. The Commission maintains previous question papers, a specimen answer booklet, general instructions, PwBD instructions and a mock test link for computer-based examinations; these are the highest-value free resources. A sensible preparation order is: read the current scheme and syllabus, work through previous papers under timed conditions, practise the answer booklet format for descriptive papers, then drill the computer-based mock test so the interface is familiar before the screening stage. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with the Commission.

What you'll study

Common questions

About MPSC Rajyaseva preparation

Where do I confirm the current exam pattern and syllabus?

Only on the Commission's own site, mpsc.gov.in, under Examination → Scheme of Examination and Syllabus of Examination. The site carries a revised syllabus for the State Services Examination plus a corrigendum, and a revised Main Examination pattern with question paper structure and paper-specific instructions. Treat any third-party summary as outdated until you have checked it against those pages.

Is the screening test written on paper or on computer?

The Commission publishes an announcement on answer keys of screening tests of objective format based on computer system, and provides a mock test link under Online Facilities → Computer Based Examinations. Practise on that mock test so the on-screen interface, navigation and answer-marking behaviour are familiar before the actual screening stage.

What is the Main Examination like?

The Commission publishes a State Services Main Examination revised pattern with question paper structure and question paper specific instructions, and separately a document on the Maharashtra Gazetted Civil Services Main Examination, descriptive type, with paper-specific instructions and structure. Read both, and use the specimen answer booklet so your handwriting, margins and page discipline match what evaluators expect.

How difficult is it, and what trips candidates up most?

The Commission does not publish difficulty data, so treat any difficulty ranking as opinion. The most common avoidable failures are structural: preparing from an older syllabus after the revision, ignoring the corrigendum, never practising descriptive answers in the prescribed booklet, and meeting the computer-based interface for the first time on exam day instead of in the mock test.

Can I retake the examination if I do not qualify?

The source page does not state a retake policy, number of attempts or age limits, so nothing can be asserted here. Those conditions sit in the advertisement for each examination cycle. Check Advertisements / Notifications / Corrigendums on mpsc.gov.in for the current cycle and read the eligibility clauses in the advertisement itself.

What free material does the Commission itself provide?

Previous Question Papers, a Specimen Answer Booklet, General Instructions (revised), instructions for PwBD candidates, Guidelines for Examination, a mock test for computer-based examinations, answer keys of examinations, and a question paper objection facility. There is also a Retotalling of Marks facility and an FAQ page. Start with these before buying anything.

In what order should I study?

First read the current scheme and syllabus and the corrigendum so your map is correct. Then work previous question papers under time pressure to find gaps. Build descriptive answer writing in parallel, using the specimen answer booklet. Finally, run the computer-based mock test repeatedly so the screening interface costs you no attention on the day.

How do I keep track of dates and results?

Use the Commission's own pages: Tentative Schedule of Competitive Examinations, Current Status of Competitive Examinations, Schedule for Interviews, and the Results section with merit lists, recommendation lists and provisional selection lists. Important notices are posted on the home page, including announcements on opting out and on certificate submission through DigiLocker.