Maharashtra Public Service Commission
State civil service exam for Maharashtra
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The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) recruits officers for Group A and Group B gazetted posts in the Maharashtra government. Its flagship exam is the State Services Examination, widely called MPSC Rajyaseva. It leads to posts such as Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tahsildar, Block Development Officer and Assistant Commissioner of State Tax. The 2026 cycle began with a combined preliminary examination held on 31 May 2026.
This page covers the full MPSC Rajyaseva 2026 cycle: dates, posts, eligibility, fees, the descriptive Mains pattern, syllabus, selection, pay and preparation. The cycle is in flux. The Mains due to start on 3 October 2026 has been postponed, and MPSC has announced a revised Mains scheme from 2027. Read the status notes below before you plan.
MPSC Rajyaseva 2026
Particular | Details |
|---|---|
Conducting body | Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) |
Exam | Maharashtra Gazetted Civil Services Combined Preliminary Examination 2026, followed by the State Services Main Examination 2026 |
Advertisement | No. 132/2025 (as reported) |
Posts | 79 State Services posts in the original advertisement; total posts were later increased through corrigenda (indicative, check the latest corrigendum) |
Stages | Prelims (objective, screening), Mains (descriptive), Interview |
Eligibility | Bachelor's degree, age 19 to 38 years for the Open category, with relaxation for other categories |
Prelims date | 31 May 2026 (held) |
Mains date | Postponed; revised dates not yet announced |
Merit total (2026 cycle) | 2,025 marks: Mains 1,750 plus Interview 275 |
Official website |
MPSC Rajyaseva 2026 notification and latest updates
MPSC released the advertisement for the combined preliminary examination in late December 2025, and online applications ran from 31 December 2025 to 20 January 2026. The same prelims screens candidates for State Services and for some other gazetted services named in the advertisement.
Prelims result: The prelims result and category-wise cut-offs were published on 22 June 2026.
Mains postponed: On 29 September 2026, MPSC postponed the State Services Main Examination 2026, which was scheduled to begin on 3 October 2026. The Civil Engineering Services Mains and Group B (Non-Gazetted) Mains were postponed at the same time. New dates will be announced separately.
2025 cycle re-evaluation: MPSC has ordered re-evaluation of the 2025 State Services Mains answer sheets, and a state committee is reviewing the exam system.
Pattern debate: News reports from September and October 2026 say the state is considering whether to keep the descriptive Mains or return to an objective format. No final decision had been announced as of 11 October 2026.
Change from 2027: MPSC has announced that optional subjects will be removed from the State Services Mains from the 2027 exam onwards.
Older pages may still show old dates or the pre-2025 objective Mains, so follow the latest notices on the official website.
Important dates
Event | Date |
|---|---|
Online application | 31 December 2025 to 20 January 2026 |
Combined Preliminary Examination | 31 May 2026 (held) |
Prelims result | 22 June 2026 |
State Services Mains | Originally from 3 October 2026; postponed, new dates awaited |
Interview | To be announced |
Dates after the prelims are tentative and can change. Track the announcements section on mpsc.gov.in and your registered email and mobile number.
MPSC Rajyaseva vacancy 2026
The original advertisement listed 79 State Services posts. Reported post-wise figures are below. Later corrigenda added posts to the combined exam, and different sources report different revised totals, so treat the table as indicative.
Post | Group | Posts (original advertisement) |
|---|---|---|
Deputy Chief Executive Officer / Group Development Officer | A | 13 |
Assistant Director, Maharashtra Finance and Accounts Service | A | 32 |
Assistant Group Development Officer | B | 30 |
Industries Officer (Technical) | B | 4 |
Total | - | 79 |
MPSC Rajyaseva eligibility
Educational qualification
Candidates need a bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Some posts need a specific degree, such as commerce or finance for Assistant Director (Finance and Accounts) and a technical degree for Industries Officer (Technical). Final-year students can usually apply for the prelims but must hold the degree by the stage set in the advertisement.
Age limit
The minimum age is 19 years and the upper limit is 38 years for the Open category, counted on the date given in the advertisement. Indicative upper limits for other categories, based on previous MPSC advertisements, are below.
Category | Upper age limit (indicative) |
|---|---|
Open | 38 years |
Backward classes, EWS, orphans | 43 years |
Persons with disabilities | 45 years |
Eligible sportspersons | 43 years |
Other conditions
Candidates must be Indian citizens and must be able to read, write and speak Marathi.
Application fee and how to apply
Category | Fee (bank charges and taxes extra) |
|---|---|
Open | Rs. 544 |
Backward classes, EWS, orphans, persons with disabilities | Rs. 344 |
Create a profile: Register on the MPSC online portal, mpsconline.gov.in, and complete your personal, education and category details.
Choose the advertisement: Select the combined preliminary examination when it opens and confirm the posts you want.
Upload documents: Upload your photograph and signature in the format the portal asks for.
Pay and save: Pay the fee online and keep the confirmation for later stages.
Common reasons for rejection include profile details that do not match certificates, claiming a category without a valid certificate, and missing the qualification deadline.
MPSC Rajyaseva exam pattern
Prelims
Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Paper I: General Studies | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
Paper II: CSAT (qualifying, 33%) | 80 | 200 | 2 hours |
One-fourth of a question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer. Prelims marks only decide who reaches the Mains.
Mains (descriptive, 2026 cycle)
Paper | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|
Marathi and English (two papers) | 300 each | Qualifying, 25% in each |
Essay | 250 | Merit |
General Studies I to IV | 250 each | Merit |
Optional Paper I and II | 250 each | Merit |
Merit total | 1,750 | Plus 275-mark interview |
What this means for you: the Mains now rewards answer writing, not recall alone. Start timed writing practice early, and do not neglect the language papers, because failing either one ends your attempt.
MPSC Rajyaseva syllabus summary
Subject | Stage | Important topics |
|---|---|---|
General Studies | Prelims | Current events, history with Maharashtra focus, polity, geography, economy, environment, general science |
CSAT | Prelims | Comprehension, reasoning, decision making, data interpretation, Class X numeracy |
GS I to IV | Mains | Heritage and society, polity and governance, economy and technology, ethics and integrity |
Essay and languages | Mains | Essay writing, comprehension, precis, translation |
Selection process
Prelims: Screening only. You must clear the CSAT qualifying mark and the GS cut-off for your category.
Mains: Nine descriptive papers in the 2026 cycle. The two language papers are qualifying; the other seven count for merit.
Interview: 275 marks for the 2026 cycle.
Final merit: Mains merit marks plus interview marks, out of 2,025, with post allotment by merit and preference.
Salary and career growth
Group | Pay scale (as reported) |
|---|---|
Group A | Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500 |
Group B | Rs. 41,800 to Rs. 1,32,300 |
These are pay-matrix ranges, not in-hand salary. Allowances vary by post and city, so check the pay level for each post in the advertisement. Officers in services such as Deputy Collector can later be considered for promotion to higher state and all-India posts as per service rules.
How to prepare for MPSC Rajyaseva
Prelims: Build GS from standard school-level books, add Maharashtra-specific history, geography and economy, and read current affairs daily.
CSAT: Take a diagnostic test early. If you are close to the 33% line, give it fixed weekly time.
Mains: Write two to three answers a day from the start, and one full essay a week in your chosen medium.
Revision: Keep short notes and an error log, and revise them every week.
MPSC Rajyaseva cut-off reference
Prelims (as reported) | Open (General) | Open (Female) |
|---|---|---|
2026 | 98.00 | 92.00 |
2025 | 116.00 | 111.00 |
Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and applicants. Treat these as benchmarks only. Full tables are on the MPSC cut-off page.
Other MPSC exams
MPSC also runs combined exams for Group B (Non-Gazetted) and Group C posts, the Maharashtra Civil Engineering Services exam, the Maharashtra Forest Service exam and several departmental and post-specific recruitments. Each has its own advertisement, pattern and syllabus, so check the specific advertisement before you prepare.