MPSC syllabus – 5 things to know before you prepare

Public services are one of the most lucrative and successful careers in India, which is why scores of students compete each year to crack exams of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). If you are one of these aspirants, then you need to know these 5 things about the MPSC syllabus before you begin your exam preparations.

1. What is MPSC?

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) was created under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution as a body that selects candidates to work in the Maharashtra Civil Services. It is affiliated with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and follows all the relevant rules and criteria for candidate selection stipulated by the UPSC. The exams conducted by MPSC have quite a vast syllabus, and you will have to prepare exhaustively if you want to crack these tests.

2. MPSC exam pattern

There are essentially two levels in the MPSC examination process- the Prelims and the Mains. The former serves as a qualifier round for the latter, and each of these rounds has its own unique examination pattern.

• MPSC Prelims

The Prelims round comprises two compulsory papers of 200 marks each. Paper-I is an objective-type paper and has 100 questions (each having 2 marks). And Paper-II of the MPSC Prelims contains 80 questions (each having 2.5 marks). The time limit for these papers is 2 hours each.

• MPSC Mains

The MPSC Mains syllabus is significantly tougher and you may need a few months of preparation to cover it. You can sit for this round of examinations only if you qualify the Prelims. For this round of the examination, you will need to answer six mandatory papers . However, you would be relieved to know that unlike in the Prelims, a wrong answer in the Mains gets you only 1/4th negative marks instead of 1/3rd. 

3. MPSC Mains subjects

The MPSC Mains exam has six papers, each spanning across a vast area of knowledge. You need to be up to date and have a proper understanding of these six subjects to qualify for the Maharashtra Civil Services.

Here are 6 the subjects that are a part of the MPSC syllabus 2022-

Paper No.	Subject	Medium	Type of Question	Maximum Marks	Time Limit
1	Marathi & English Language (Essay/Translation/Precis)	English and Marathi	Subjective	100	3 hours
2	Marathi & English Language (Essay/Grammar/ Comprehension)	English and Marathi	Objective MCQ	100	1 hour
3	GS Paper I: History, Geography, and Agriculture	English and Marathi	Objective MCQ	150	2 hours
4	GS Paper II: Indian Constitution and Indian Politics	English and Marathi	Objective MCQ	150	2 hours
5	GS Paper III: Human Rights and Human Resource Development	English and Marathi	Objective MCQ	150	2 hours
6	GS Paper IV: Economy and Planning, Economics of Development and Agriculture, Science and Technology Development	English and Marathi	Objective MCQ	150	2 hours

4. MPSC Personality Test

The final round of the MPSC examination is the MPSC Personality Test. This round is typically a face-to-face interview round that every candidate needs to clear to get selected as a Maharashtra Civil Servant. This round tests your –

• Knowledge of current affairs and how they impact the state of Maharashtra as well as the rest of the country.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the core subjects of the GS Papers I through IV.
• Communication skills.
• How well you perform under pressure.
• Mental ability, which includes your ability for rational thought and investigative insight.

The MPSC Personality Test round is judged by an experienced panelists who record your scores in an unbiased manner. They also recommend candidates for the final selection list for civil servants of the state of Maharashtra. 

5. How to prepare for MPSC exam 2022

If you aim to join the Maharashtra Civil Services and work as a part of the administrative services, police services, or forest services, then the MPSC exam is your only gateway. The key to getting there, as you know, is to crack the three levels of MPSC examinations we have mentioned above (Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test).

Here is what you need to do-

Get the updated syllabus

Although the MPSC syllabus is rarely altered or updated, it is always best to procure the latest years’ syllabus beforehand. You can simply log on to “mpsc.gov.in” and download the latest syllabus for all the different exams.

Gather study material

Although the MPSC exam syllabus is vast, you can cover it within due time if you study from the right sources. So-

• Firstly, procure the MPSC Exam Books in Marathi and English.
• Then, find reliable sources to remain updated on current affairs. You can do this by regularly reading newspapers like The Hindu, magazines like the Yojana Magazine and releases of the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
• Finally, you will also need to refer to NCERT textbooks, because many of the questions in the MPSC Mains are based on the concepts stated here.

Create a studying plan

Next, you will need a robust schedule to go about your MPSC exam preparations. You can create and follow a weekly or even daily schedule, so that you are able to efficiently manage your time and cover a greater number of subjects during your period of study. It is always a good practice to refer to the MPSC syllabus books when charting such a study routine.

Give mock tests

In order to test your learning regularly, you will have to appear for mock tests. There are several such MPSC mock tests available online. If you are enrolled in any MPSC coaching institute, then these mock test papers will usually be provided by your institute.

Taking up these mock tests time and again will help you understand the areas where you are lacking. This way, you can focus more on the topics and/or subjects that need more effort from your side in order to pass the MPSC exam. Taking mock tests will also help you gain confidence for the real Prelims and Mains examinations and teach you to manage your time more effectively during the real examination. 

Solve previous years papers

Since the MPSC combined syllabus usually follows the same pattern, it can be helpful if you take a look at some of the question papers from previous years. Aspirants who have given the MPSC exams for consecutive years have found that a few of these questions repeat each year.

Study current affairs

You may become adept at the other subjects tested by the MPSC exam, but Current Affairs is more dynamic. You will have to stay in tune with the recent happenings in the social and political sphere in order to ace this section of the exam. This means that as an MPSC aspirant, you will need to become an expert on the subject of current affairs, so much so that you can talk about subjects discussed in the news not just descriptively, but analytically as well. 

Prepare study notes

When it comes to preparing for the MPSC exams, note-making has been proven as a tried and tested method. Preparing study notes is effective because you are using not just your visual senses but also your sense of touch to write down important concepts. Moreover, these notes can also serve as revision material just a few hours before the exam.

Give mock interviews

Since the Personality Test or interview round of the MPSC exams is arguably the toughest, it is wise to give a few mock interviews before attempting the final round. 

Last thoughts

Armed with the knowledge of the different levels of the MPSC examination and the relevant subjects to study, you can now enroll yourself for the MPSC Prelims exam. If you have the dedication and perseverance required for this career path, then you are bound to shine as a state of Maharashtra civil servant and make a positive impact on society.

All the best!