JPSC Combined Civil Services Examination 2025: Complete Details, Exam Calendar & Strategy
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• 07 Jan 2026

Table of Contents

1. JPSC Civil Services 2025: Exam Highlights 
2. Important Dates (Official Calendar 2026) 
3. Exam Pattern Overview 
4. JPSC Syllabus Overview 
5. Selection Process 
6. Strategy for JPSC Preparation 
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) conducts the Combined Civil Services Examination (CCS) to recruit for prestigious state-level positions such as Deputy Collector, DSP, and other Group A and Group B services. With the release of the Exam Calendar 2026, aspirants now have a clear timeline for the upcoming Combined Civil Services (Regular) Examination-2025. 

This article provides a complete preparation guide, updated exam dates, and a syllabus breakdown for serious aspirants. 

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JPSC Civil Services 2025: Exam Highlights

Particulars	Details
Conducting Authority	Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC)
Exam Name	Combined Civil Services (Regular) Examination-2025
Eligibility	Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
Age Limit	21 to 35 years (General). Relaxations apply for BC, SC/ST, and Female candidates.
Selection Stages	Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, Interview (Personality Test).
Posts	Deputy Collector, DSP, District Coordinator, Jail Superintendent, etc.
Exam Mode	Prelims: Offline (OMR-based Objective)  Mains: Offline (Written Subjective)
Negative Marking	No Negative Marking in Prelims (as per current trends).
Total Marks	Prelims: 400 Marks Mains: 950 Marks Interview: 100 Marks
Official Website	www.jpsc.gov.in

Important Dates (Official Calendar 2026) 

According to the official Exam Calendar 2026 released on January 6, 2026, the schedule for the Combined Civil Services (Regular) Examination-2025 is as follows. Mark these dates in your planner. 

Event	Date
Official Calendar Release	6th January 2026	View pdf
JPSC Prelims (PT) Exam 2025	8th March 2026	Click to Download Paper-I Paper-II
JPSC Mains Examination	2nd, 3rd and 4th May 2026	Click to Download Paper-I Paper-II Paper-III Paper-IV Paper-V Paper-VI
Interview (Personality Test)	16th, 17th, 18th and 19th June 2026

Note

• Dates are tentative and subject to revision by JPSC. 
• The calendar also lists the Combined Civil Services (Backlog) Examination-2025 with Prelims on 15th March 2026 and Mains on 09th-11th May 2026. Aspirants should ensure they are preparing for the correct cycle. 

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Exam Pattern Overview 

The JPSC exam is conducted in three stages. Unlike UPSC, the JPSC Prelims marks are not counted for the final merit list, but the Paper II (Jharkhand Specific) plays a massive role. 

1. Preliminary Examination (Screening Test)

• Structure: Two Compulsory Papers (Objective Type). 
• Total Marks: 400 (200 each). 
• Duration: 2 Hours per paper. 
• Negative Marking: None. 

Paper	Subject	Questions	Marks
GS Paper I	General Studies (History, Geography, Polity, etc.)	100	200
GS Paper II	Jharkhand Specific General Knowledge	100	200

2. Mains Examination (Written)

There are 6 compulsory papers. There is no optional subject in JPSC, which levels the playing field. 

Paper	Subject	Marks
Paper I	General Hindi & General English (Qualifying - Min 30 marks)	100
Paper II	Language & Literature (Selected from 15 languages)	150
Paper III	Social Sciences (History & Geography)	200
Paper IV	Indian Constitution, Polity, Pub Admin & Good Governance	200
Paper V	Indian Economy, Globalization & Sustainable Development	200
Paper VI	General Science, Environment & Technology Development	200
Total	(Merit Counting)	950

3. Interview / Personality Test

• Marks: 100 
• Final Merit: Based on Mains (950) + Interview (100) = 1050 Marks.

JPSC Syllabus Overview 

Prelims Syllabus 

General Studies Paper I: 

• History of India: Ancient (5 Questions), Medieval (5 Questions), Modern (5 Questions). 
• Geography of India: General (3 Questions), Physical (3 Questions), Economic (2 Questions), and Social & Demographic Geography (2 Questions). 
• Indian Polity & Governance: Constitution (4 Questions), Public Administration (4 Questions), Panchayati Raj (2 Questions). 
• Economic & Sustainable Development: Basic features (4 Questions), Sustainable Development (4 Questions), Economic Reforms (2 Questions). 
• Science & Tech: General Science (6 Questions), Agriculture (6 Questions), ICT (3 Questions). 
• Jharkhand Specific: History, Society, Culture, and Heritage (10 Questions). 
• Current Events: National & International (15 Questions). 
• General Questions of Miscellaneous Nature: Human Rights, Environment, Urbanization, Sports, Disaster Management, Poverty, Awards, UN and other International Agencies (15 Questions). 

General Studies Paper II (Jharkhand Special): 

This paper is the game-changer. It focuses entirely on the state. 

• History of Jharkhand: Munda, Nagvanshi, Manjhi Pargana governance systems (8 Questions). 
• Jharkhand Movement: Tribals, Freedom Fighters, Formation of State (7 Questions). 
• Specific Identity: Social, Cultural, Political, Economic status (5 Questions). 
• Folk Literature, Dance, Music: Folk culture and traditional arts (5 Questions). 
• Jharkhand Literature and Writers (5 Questions). 
• Major Educational Institutions of Jharkhand (3 Questions). 
• Sports in Jharkhand (5 Questions). 
• Land Laws: CNT Act (Chotanagpur Tenancy) (5 Questions), SPT Act (Santhal Pargana Tenancy) (5 Questions) and others (2 Questions). 
• Geographical (Forest, River, Mountain, Mines) and Economical History of Jharkhand since 1947 (10 Questions). 
• Industrial Policy (6 Questions) and major industries (5 Questions) of Jharkhand. 
• Major Schemes of Jharkhand (5 Questions). 
• Forest Management and Wildlife Conservation (5 Questions). 
• Environment related facts of Jharkhand (7 Questions). 
• Disaster Management in Jharkhand (5 Questions). 
• Various Facts and Current Events related to Jharkhand (7 Questions).

Prelims Syllabus 

Mains Syllabus Highlights 

• Paper I (General Hindi & General English): A qualifying paper covering Essay (400 words), Grammar, Comprehension, and Precis writing for both languages (50 marks each). Standard is Matric level; marks are not added to the merit list.  Every candidate will have to secure minimum 30 marks 
• Paper II (Language & Literature): Candidates must choose one language from 15 options (e.g., Hindi, English, Urdu, Bengali, Santhali, Khortha, etc.). The syllabus generally covers the history of the language, grammar, and specific prose/poetry texts. Marks are counted for the merit list. 
• Paper III (History & Geography): Covers Ancient to Modern Indian history and Physical/Human Geography of India, with a special focus on Jharkhand's natural resources. 
• Paper IV (Polity): Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Judiciary, and Good Governance. 
• Paper V (Economy): Inflation, National Income, Globalization, and Jharkhand’s economy. 
• Paper VI (Science): Physical Science, Life Science, Agriculture Science, and Environmental Science.

Mains Syllabus 

Selection Process 

The selection process involves three rigorous stages: 

1. Prelims: Serves as a screening test. The marks obtained here are not added to the final result, but clearing the cutoff is mandatory to appear for Mains. 

2. Mains: This is the deciding phase. The total marks of Paper II to Paper VI (Total 950) are used to shortlist candidates for the interview. Paper I marks are NOT counted (qualifying nature). 

3. Interview: Assesses the candidate's personality, leadership, and mental alertness. 

(i)Minimum Qualifying Marks: Candidates must secure minimum aggregate marks (e.g., 40% for UR) to be considered for the merit list.

Strategy for JPSC Preparation 

1. Master the CNT & SPT Acts: For GS Paper II (Prelims), the Land Laws of Jharkhand (CNT & SPT Acts) carry significant weightage. Detailed study of these acts is non-negotiable. 
2. Focus on "Jharkhand Special": Between Prelims Paper II (100 questions) and the Jharkhand sections in Paper I, roughly 110-120 questions out of 200 in Prelims are directly related to the state. 
3. No Negative Marking Advantage: Since there is no negative marking in Prelims, attempt all questions. Use intelligent guessing for doubtful options. 
4. Mains Answer Writing: JPSC Mains requires long-form answers. Practice writing 500-600 word answers for 40-mark questions found in History, Geography, and Polity papers. 
5. Current Affairs: Focus on Jharkhand-specific schemes, budget, and economic survey, along with national events. 

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Jharkhand PCS is not just an examination—it is a pathway to leadership and governance in one of India’s most resource-rich and culturally diverse states. With structured preparation, strategic revision, and consistent practice, aspirants can confidently clear the Jharkhand PCS examination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When is the JPSC Prelims 2025 exam date? +

According to the official JPSC Exam Calendar, the Combined Civil Services (Regular) Examination-2025 Preliminary exam is tentatively scheduled for 08th March 2026.

2. What are the dates for the JPSC Mains and Interview for the 2025 cycle? +

The Mains Examination is scheduled for 02nd, 03rd, and 04th May 2026. Candidates who qualify will proceed to the Interview (Personality Test), which is scheduled for 16^th, 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th June 2026.

3. Is there negative marking in JPSC Prelims? +

No, traditionally JPSC does not have negative marking in the Preliminary examination.

4. What is the syllabus for JPSC Paper II? +

Paper II is dedicated entirely to General Knowledge of Jharkhand, covering its history, movement, culture, land laws (CNT/SPT), and geography.

5. Can final year students apply? +

Yes, final year students can apply, provided they produce their degree/mark sheet by the time of the Mains application or Interview (as per specific notification rules).

6. Can UPSC aspirants prepare simultaneously for JPSC? +

Yes, absolutely. The core syllabus for General Studies (History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science) overlaps significantly (approx. 60-70%). However, UPSC aspirants must make two specific adjustments:

1. Jharkhand Special: You must dedicate separate time to master JPSC Paper II (Prelims) and the state-specific sections in Mains, particularly the CNT & SPT Acts and Jharkhand geography/culture.
2. Nature of Exam: JPSC Prelims is more factual compared to UPSC's analytical approach. Also, JPSC Mains has no "Optional Subject" but requires a specific "Language & Literature" paper.

7. Is the CSAT paper qualifying like UPSC? +

JPSC does not have a separate "CSAT" aptitude paper. Both papers are General Studies. However, Paper I acts as the general GS, and Paper II is state-specific. Both marks are added for the Prelims cutoff.

8. What is the syllabus for JPSC Paper II (Jharkhand Special)?
+

Paper II covers 100 objective questions (200 marks) strictly focused on Jharkhand. Key topics include:

• History of Jharkhand (Governance systems like Munda, Nagvanshi).
• Jharkhand Movement and State Formation.
• Specific Land Laws (CNT & SPT Acts).
• Literature, Dance, Music, and Tourist places of Jharkhand.
• Industrial Policy, Displacement, and Rehabilitation Policy.

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