MPPSC State Service Exam Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission’s State Service Examination runs in three stages: a two-paper Preliminary examination, a six-paper Main (written) examination and an interview. Here’s the structure and what each stage tests, with a link to the official notification for this cycle’s exact marks, timing and vacancies.
Current affairs free every morning: today's PDF (in Hindi) · on Telegram
The stages
Preliminary examination
Two objective papers: General Studies (Paper I) and a General Aptitude Test (Paper II). It is an eligibility test only: Paper I marks decide who is shortlisted for the Main examination, Paper II is qualifying, and neither is counted in the final merit.
Main (written) examination
Six descriptive papers, all compulsory: four General Studies papers (each in two parts), General Hindi and Grammar, and Hindi Essay and Drafting. The General Studies papers can be answered in Hindi or English.
Interview
Candidates shortlisted on Main examination marks are called for an interview. The final merit list adds Main examination and interview marks.
What’s tested
Preliminary Paper I: General Studies
History of India (ancient and medieval India, reform movements, the freedom struggle and post-independence consolidation); history, culture and literature of Madhya Pradesh; geography of India and of Madhya Pradesh; the constitutional system of India and Madhya Pradesh; the economy of India and Madhya Pradesh; science, environment and health; international, national and Madhya Pradesh current affairs; information and communication technology; and the tribes, heritage, folk culture and folk literature of Madhya Pradesh.
Preliminary Paper II: General Aptitude Test
Comprehension; communication skills; logical and analytical ability; decision-making and problem-solving; general mental ability; basic numeracy (number relations, magnitudes, data interpretation, Class X level); and Hindi comprehension (Class X level), set in Hindi only.
Main Paper I: History and Geography
Indian history from the Harappan civilisation to the freedom movement and the post-independence period, with Madhya Pradesh’s dynasties, princely states and tribal heroes; and the geography of India and Madhya Pradesh: physical features and climate, agriculture and water, natural resources and industries, and disasters.
Main Paper II: Political Science and Sociology
The Indian Constitution and governance, constitutional and statutory bodies, Indian political thinkers, and Madhya Pradesh’s political and administrative structure; sociological concepts, diversity and challenges in Indian society, rural and urban sociology, industrialisation and globalisation, population and social welfare schemes.
Main Paper III: Economics; Science, Technology and Public Health
The Indian and Madhya Pradesh economy, taxation and policy, statistics and data analysis; general science, computer science, AYUSH and health systems, national health programmes and the environment.
Main Paper IV: Philosophy, Psychology, Public Administration, Entrepreneurship and Management
Indian philosophy and thinkers, nation building and moral concepts, human behaviour and moral values in public administration; entrepreneurship, business organisation and management, administration and overall personality development. Each part ends with a case study.
Main Paper V: General Hindi and Grammar
A Hindi-medium language paper testing Hindi usage and grammar.
Main Paper VI: Hindi Essay and Drafting
Essays, drafting of official and semi-official letters, circulars, forms, advertisements, orders, endorsements and reminder letters, and report writing, all in Hindi.
The exact marks, number of questions, timing and negative marking are set by each cycle’s own notification and exam plan (the 2026 plan was revised on 21 January 2026) and can change. Treat the subjects above as the stable shape to study toward, and check MPPSC’s own website.
See the exact marks, timing, negative marking, age limit and cut-offs for this exam →
What the State Service Examination recruits for
The 2026 notice (Advt. No. 29/2025) names posts such as Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Commercial Tax Officer, District Registrar, Block Development Officer, Chief Municipal Officer, Naib Tahsildar, Excise Sub-Inspector and Sub-Registrar. The post-wise vacancy table is in the notice.
What Pariksha Saathi offers for MPPSC
Free topic-wise lessons and practice for the General Studies paper of the Preliminary examination: history, polity, geography, economy, environment, general science, art and culture, plus Madhya Pradesh General Knowledge. They do not cover the General Aptitude Test.
Official source & latest updates
Start studying for MPPSC free →
Pariksha Saathi