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MAHARASHTRA · CIVIL SERVICES

Maharashtra Civil Services Gazetted Combined Preliminary Examination (MPSC Rajyaseva): syllabus and eligibility

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MPSC Rajyaseva key facts
Conducting bodyMaharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). Official website ↗
PostsDeputy Superintendent of Police / Assistant Commissioner of Police, Deputy Chief Executive Officer / Block Development Officer (higher grade), Assistant Director, Maharashtra Finance and Accounts Service, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Chief Officer / Assistant Commissioner (municipal), Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, State Excise, Assistant Block Development Officer, Industry Officer (Technical), Desk Officer, Mantralaya departments, Accounts Officer, Veterinary Officer (Maharashtra Veterinary Service), Assistant Engineer and Assistant Executive Engineer, Civil (Maharashtra Civil Engineering Service)
QualificationA degree from a recognised university, or a qualification the Maharashtra government treats as equal to one. Some posts ask for more: Assistant Director (Finance and Accounts) needs a commerce degree with at least 55%, or CA/ICWA final, M.Com or MBA (Finance); Industry Officer (Technical) needs an engineering or technology degree outside civil and allied branches, or a science degree; Veterinary Officer needs a veterinary science degree with registration; the Civil Engineering Service needs a civil engineering degree.
Age limitUp to 38 years on 1 April 2026 (general category)
DomicileSee the notification
Selection stagesCombined preliminary exam (400 marks, two objective papers) → Service-wise main exam: 1750 marks (descriptive) for the State Service; 400 marks each for the Veterinary Service and the Civil Engineering Service → Interview: 275 marks for the State Service, 50 marks for the Veterinary and Civil Engineering services
Latest notificationAdvt. No. 132/2025: Maharashtra Civil Services Gazetted Combined Preliminary Examination 2026 · 265 vacancies

Last checked . Sources

About MPSC Rajyaseva

Rajyaseva is MPSC's combined recruitment for gazetted Group A and Group B officers of the Maharashtra government. The scheme covers posts such as Deputy Collector, DySP, Tahsildar and Block Development Officer, but each year's list depends on what departments send to MPSC. Everyone sits one common prelims, and each service then runs its own mains. The 2026 cycle opened with 87 posts under Advertisement No. 132/2025; a corrigendum of 17 June 2026 raised this to 265 and added the Civil Engineering Service.

Eligibility

Age limit

General category: Up to 38 years, counted on 1 April 2026.

Age relaxation

  • OBC: 5 years
  • SC: 5 years
  • ST: 5 years
  • EWS: 5 years
  • PwBD: 7 years
  • Ex-servicemen: 5 years
  • Minimum age is 18 or 19 years; the advertisement gives both figures for all cadres, so check the service rules for your post
  • Backward class, EWS and orphan candidates: up to 43 years
  • Meritorious sportspersons and ex-servicemen: up to 43 years
  • Divyang candidates: up to 45 years
  • Only one relaxation applies, whichever gives the highest limit
  • For Industry Officer (Technical) and Veterinary Officer, age is counted on 20 January 2026

Qualification

A degree from a recognised university, or a qualification the Maharashtra government treats as equal to one. Some posts ask for more: Assistant Director (Finance and Accounts) needs a commerce degree with at least 55%, or CA/ICWA final, M.Com or MBA (Finance); Industry Officer (Technical) needs an engineering or technology degree outside civil and allied branches, or a science degree; Veterinary Officer needs a veterinary science degree with registration; the Civil Engineering Service needs a civil engineering degree.

Other conditions

  • Indian citizenship
  • Knowledge of Marathi is required
  • Final-year degree students can apply for the prelims but must hold the degree by the last date of the mains application
  • State Excise posts have physical standards: men at least 165 cm with 79 cm chest and 5 cm expansion; women at least 155 cm
  • Reservation benefits are available only to candidates domiciled in Maharashtra

Selection process

  1. Combined preliminary exam (400 marks, two objective papers)
  2. Service-wise main exam: 1750 marks (descriptive) for the State Service; 400 marks each for the Veterinary Service and the Civil Engineering Service
  3. Interview: 275 marks for the State Service, 50 marks for the Veterinary and Civil Engineering services

Exam pattern

Combined preliminary exam

Mode: Objective multiple choice, Marathi and English · Duration: 2 hours per paper · Negative marking: One-fourth of the question's marks cut for each wrong answer; decision-making and problem-solving questions in Paper 2 carry no negative marking

SUBJECTMARKS
Paper 1: General Studies (degree level)200
Paper 2: CSAT (qualifying, at least 33% needed)200

State Service main exam

Mode: Descriptive, written · Duration: 3 hours per paper

SUBJECTMARKS
Marathi (qualifying, 25% needed)300
English (qualifying, 25% needed)300
Essay250
General Studies 1250
General Studies 2250
General Studies 3250
General Studies 4250
Optional subject Paper 1250
Optional subject Paper 2250

MPSC Rajyaseva syllabus

Prelims Paper 1: General Studies

  • Current events of state, national and international importance
  • History of India and the Indian National Movement, with weightage to Maharashtra
  • Physical, social and economic geography of Maharashtra, India and the world
  • Polity and governance of India and Maharashtra: Constitution, Panchayati Raj, urban governance, public policy, rights issues
  • Economic and social development: sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector schemes
  • Environment, biodiversity and climate change
  • General science

Prelims Paper 2: CSAT

  • Comprehension
  • Interpersonal and communication skills
  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability
  • Decision-making and problem-solving
  • General mental ability
  • Basic numeracy and data interpretation (Class 10 level)
  • Marathi and English comprehension (Class 10/12 level), with no cross translation

Mains (State Service)

  • Marathi and English language papers (Class 10 standard, qualifying)
  • Essay
  • General Studies papers 1 to 4
  • Two papers in the optional subject you choose at the prelims application stage

What they ask

Paper 1 is a 200-mark general studies paper where Maharashtra keeps coming up: state geography, state polity and governance, and history with extra weight on the state. Paper 2, the CSAT, only has to be cleared at 33%, but it has Marathi and English passages with no translation, reasoning sets and Class 10 level data questions. A wrong answer costs a quarter of the marks for that question, except for the decision-making questions in Paper 2. The State Service mains is all descriptive, so answer writing needs as much practice as reading.

How to prepare

  • Pair NCERT-level basics with Maharashtra material for Paper 1: state geography, the state's history and reform movements, local government in Maharashtra and state schemes.
  • Solve past CSAT papers early. Paper 1 marks decide the cut-off only after you clear 33% in Paper 2.
  • Read Marathi passages regularly, because Paper 2 sets them without an English version.
  • Fix your mains optional subject and answer medium before you apply; MPSC does not allow either to change after the prelims form is in.
  • Take daily topic-wise practice quizzes on the free Improvam app for polity, history and current affairs to build speed for Paper 1.
FREE ON ANDROID & IOS

Practise MPSC Rajyaseva syllabus topics a few minutes a day with short quizzes in the Improvam app.

How to apply

  1. Create or update your profile on mpsconline.gov.in and complete the account KYC
  2. Choose the services you want to be considered for, your mains optional subject and answer medium
  3. Upload certificates only for claims such as sportsperson, divyang, ex-serviceman, orphan or EWS
  4. Pay the fee online or by SBI challan before the deadline
  5. Select a district centre; centre changes are not allowed later

Previous papers and answer keys

MPSC Rajyaseva FAQs

Yes, for the prelims. You must hold the degree by the last date of the mains application, otherwise you cannot move ahead.

Sources

Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.

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