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MEGHALAYA · CIVIL SERVICES

Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) Examination: syllabus and eligibility

Meghalaya MCS key facts
Conducting bodyMeghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC). Official website ↗
PostsMeghalaya Civil Service (MCS) officer
QualificationA degree from any recognised university, acquired by the last date for applications. The result date of your final exam counts as the date you acquired it.
Age limit21–32 years on 1 January 2025 (general category)
DomicileNot required
Selection stagesPreliminary examination: two objective papers of 200 marks each; Paper II is qualifying at 33% → 15 candidates per vacancy are declared passed for the main examination → Main examination: seven essay-type papers, including a qualifying English paper; six papers worth 1,500 marks count for merit → Personal interview (150 marks) for 1.5 candidates per vacancy, with original documents checked before the interview → Final ranking on mains Paper I to VI plus the interview, out of 1,650 marks
Latest notificationMPSC Advt. No. 18/2025: Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) · 36 vacancies

Last checked . Sources

About Meghalaya MCS

MPSC fills Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) posts through a three-stage competitive exam: prelims, a written mains and an interview. Advertisement No. 18/2025, dated 10 October 2025, offered 36 posts at Level 15 of the revised pay structure: 6 unreserved, 14 Khasi-Jaintia, 14 Garo and 2 for other STs/SCs, with one sports-person post each in the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo quotas. The exam follows the pattern notified by the Personnel & A.R. Department on 11 August 2025, which includes a separate 250-mark paper on Meghalaya.

Eligibility

Age limit

General category: 21–32 years, counted on 1 January 2025.

Age relaxation

  • SC: 5 years
  • ST: 5 years
  • PwBD: 10 years
  • SC and ST candidates get 5 more years on the upper limit.
  • Persons with disabilities get 10 years (15 years for SC/ST) for Group A and B posts filled through an open competitive exam, under the state notification of 18 January 2023.
  • There is no age bar for regular government employees who entered service within the prescribed age limit.

Qualification

A degree from any recognised university, acquired by the last date for applications. The result date of your final exam counts as the date you acquired it.

Other conditions

  • The advertisement invites applications from citizens of India. Reserved posts go to Khasi-Jaintia, Garo and other ST/SC candidates.
  • Your date of birth is taken only from the Matriculation/SSLC certificate or an accepted equivalent; affidavits and horoscopes are not accepted.

Selection process

  1. Preliminary examination: two objective papers of 200 marks each; Paper II is qualifying at 33%
  2. 15 candidates per vacancy are declared passed for the main examination
  3. Main examination: seven essay-type papers, including a qualifying English paper; six papers worth 1,500 marks count for merit
  4. Personal interview (150 marks) for 1.5 candidates per vacancy, with original documents checked before the interview
  5. Final ranking on mains Paper I to VI plus the interview, out of 1,650 marks

Exam pattern

Preliminary examination

Mode: Objective (multiple choice) · Duration: 2 hours per paper

SUBJECTMARKS
Paper I: General studies200
Paper II: comprehension, reasoning and numeracy (qualifying, 33% needed)200

Main examination (written)

Mode: Conventional essay type · Duration: 3 hours per paper

SUBJECTMARKS
Qualifying English paper (Matriculation standard; 33% needed, not counted for rank)300
Paper I: Essay250
Paper II: General Studies-I250
Paper III: General Studies-II250
Paper IV: General Studies-III250
Paper V: General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)250
Paper VI: Meghalaya250

Interview / personality test

SUBJECTMARKS
Personality test150

Meghalaya MCS syllabus

Prelims Paper I (General studies)

  • Current events of national and international importance
  • History of India and the Indian National Movement
  • Indian and world geography: physical, social and economic
  • Indian polity and governance: Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues
  • Economic and social development: sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives
  • Environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change (general level)
  • General science
  • General knowledge and current affairs of Meghalaya

Prelims Paper II (qualifying)

  • Comprehension
  • Interpersonal skills including communication skills
  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability
  • Decision making and problem solving
  • General mental ability
  • Basic numeracy and data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency) of Class X level

Mains General Studies papers

  • GS-I: Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world and society
  • GS-II: governance, Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations
  • GS-III: technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management
  • GS-IV: ethics, integrity and aptitude

Mains Paper VI: Meghalaya

  • History
  • Polity
  • Socio-economic issues
  • Culture and heritage
  • Literature
  • Geography

Mains qualifying and essay papers

  • English of Matriculation standard (qualifying)
  • Essay

What they ask

Prelims Paper I is objective general studies: current events, Indian history and the national movement, geography, polity, economic and social development, environment, general science, and a section on Meghalaya GK and current affairs. Paper II tests comprehension, communication, reasoning, decision making and Class X level numeracy and data interpretation; you must score 33% in it, but it is only qualifying. The mains is fully written: an essay, four general studies papers (the fourth on ethics, integrity and aptitude), and a 250-mark paper on Meghalaya's history, polity, socio-economic issues, culture, literature and geography. The interview checks your suitability for public service and your interest in current affairs in and outside the state.

How to prepare

  • Give Meghalaya its own study block. Paper VI on the state carries 250 marks, the same as each GS paper, and prelims Paper I has a separate section on Meghalaya GK and current affairs.
  • Do not ignore prelims Paper II. You need 33% (66 of 200 marks), so practise Class X level numeracy, data interpretation and comprehension alongside GS.
  • Practise full three-hour answers before the mains. Six papers worth 1,500 marks and the 150-mark interview decide your rank, and only 1.5 candidates per vacancy reach the interview.
  • The English paper is of Matriculation standard and only qualifying, but you still need 33% of 300 marks, so write a few timed English answers before the mains.
  • For prelims polity, history and general science, daily topic-wise practice quizzes on the free Improvam app help you revise in short sessions.
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Practise Meghalaya MCS syllabus topics a few minutes a day with short quizzes in the Improvam app.

How to apply

  1. Register once on the MPSC online application portal (rpa.meghalaya.gov.in, linked from mpsc.meghalaya.gov.in) and update your profile before applying.
  2. Select the advertisement and choose an exam centre: Shillong, Tura, Jowai, Williamnagar or Nongstoin. The centre cannot be changed later.
  3. Pay the fee of Rs 460 by e-Challan at an SBI branch or online through the SBI payment gateway. SC/ST permanent residents of Meghalaya pay half; PwD candidates are exempt on submitting a disability certificate.
  4. After submitting, check the application status under 'My Applications'.

Previous papers and answer keys

Meghalaya MCS FAQs

21 to 32 years on 1 January 2025. SC and ST candidates get 5 more years, and candidates with disabilities get 10 years (15 for SC/ST). Regular government employees who joined within the age limit have no age bar.

Sources

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

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