MPPSC Exam 2026: Important Dates, Syllabus, Pattern & Strategy
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- 09 Jan 2026
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The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) has officially released the notification for the State Service Examination 2026 (Rajya Sewa Pariksha) on December 31, 2025. The commission has announced 155 vacancies for various Group A and Group B posts, including Deputy Collector and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the MP PCS 2026 exam, including the application process, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, and important dates.
MPPSC 2026: Key Highlights
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
MP State Service Examination 2026 |
|
Conducting Body |
Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) |
|
Application Mode |
Online |
|
Total Vacancies |
155 |
|
Selection Process |
Prelims (Screening) → Mains (Written) → Interview |
|
Official Website |
Important Dates for MPPSC 2026
Candidates must keep track of the following dates to avoid missing important deadlines:
|
Event |
Date |
|
|
Notification Release |
31 December 2025 |
|
|
Online Application Start Date |
10 January 2026 |
Apply Now |
|
Last Date to Apply |
09 February 2026 (12:00 Midnight) |
- |
|
Application Correction Window |
15 January 2026 to 11 February 2026 |
- |
|
Late Application (with ₹3,000 fee) |
10 Feb 2026 – 16 Feb 2026 |
- |
|
Late Application (with ₹25,000 fee) |
17 Feb 2026 – 01 Apr 2026 |
- |
|
Admit Card Availability |
16 April 2026 |
To be Released |
|
MPPSC Prelims Exam Date |
26 April 2026 |
Download Papers |
|
Mains Exam Date |
To be notified later |
- |
|
Personality Test/Interview Date |
To be notified later |
- |
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MPPSC 2026 Vacancy Details
For 2026, the commission has notified a total of 155 posts. The recruitment includes prestigious administrative and police services. Below is a breakdown of key posts:
- Deputy Collector (State Administrative Service): 17 Posts
- Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP): 18 Posts
- Commercial Tax Officer: 3 Posts
- Assistant Commissioner (Cooperatives): 1 Post
- Chief Municipal Officer (Category C): 4 Posts
- Chief Executive Officer (Janpad Panchayat): 15 Posts
- Naib Tehsildar: 4 Posts
- Development Block Women Empowerment Officer: 39 Posts
Note: The number of vacancies is subject to change based on requirements from the state government.
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Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, candidates must ensure they meet the specific age and educational qualifications required for MP PCS 2026.
1. Educational Qualification
- Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university.
- Final Year Students: Candidates appearing in the final year of graduation are eligible to apply for the Preliminary exam. However, they must produce proof of passing the degree before the deadline for the Mains application.
2. Age Limit (as of 01.01.2026)
- Non-Uniformed Posts (e.g., Deputy Collector): 21 to 40 years.
- Uniformed Posts (e.g., DSP, Excise): 21 to 33 years.
- Age Relaxation: A relaxation of 5 years (Upper age limit: 45 years) is available for MP Domicile candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC, PWD, Women (Unreserved/Reserved), and Govt Employees.
3. Domicile
- Candidates from other states can apply but will be treated as General (Unreserved) category candidates.
- Reservation benefits are exclusive to Domiciles of Madhya Pradesh.
4. Physical Standards (For Uniformed Posts)
For posts like DSP and Excise Sub-Inspector, candidates must meet the following criteria:
|
Category |
Height |
Chest (Without Expansion) |
Chest (Fully Expanded) |
|
Male |
168 cm |
84 cm |
89 cm |
|
Female |
155 cm |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
Comprehensive Test Series for MP PCS
MPPSC 2026 Exam Pattern
The State Service Exam consists of three stages:
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
The Prelims exam is a screening test consisting of two objective-type papers (OMR based) held on the same day.
|
Paper |
Subject |
Questions |
Marks |
Duration |
|
Paper I |
General Studies |
100 |
300 |
2 Hours (10 AM - 12 PM) |
|
Paper II |
General Aptitude (CSAT) |
100 |
300 |
2 Hours (2:15 PM - 4:15 PM) |
Key Rules & Marking Scheme:
- Marks per Question: Each correct answer awards 3 Marks.
- Negative Marking: Yes. There is a penalty of 1 Mark for every wrong answer (Formula: 3R - W).
- Qualifying Nature:
- Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature. Marks from Paper II are not included in the merit list for Mains selection.
- Merit List: The selection list for Mains is prepared based only on marks obtained in Paper I (General Studies).
- Minimum Qualifying Marks:
- Unreserved / General: 40% in each paper.
- SC / ST / OBC / EWS / PwD: 30% in each paper.
Stage 2: Mains Examination
Candidates selected from Prelims (approx. 20 times the vacancies) will appear for the Mains. It consists of 6 descriptive paper:
|
Paper |
Subject |
Duration |
Marks |
|
Paper I |
General Studies I (History & Geography) |
3 Hours |
300 |
|
Paper II |
General Studies II (Polity, Sociology) |
3 Hours |
300 |
|
Paper III |
General Studies III (Economy, Science, Health) |
3 Hours |
300 |
|
Paper IV |
General Studies IV (Ethics, Psychology, Pub Ad) |
3 Hours |
300 |
|
Paper V |
General Hindi & Grammar |
2 Hours |
200 |
|
Paper VI |
Hindi Essay & Draft Writing |
2.5 Hours |
100 |
|
Total |
1500 |
||
|
Papers I, II, III, and IV are divided into Part A and Part B. Candidates must answer questions from both parts. |
|||
Stage 3: Interview
- Personality Test: 185 Marks.
- Final Merit List: Based on Mains (1500) + Interview (185) = 1685 Marks.
MPPSC Syllabus 2026: Brief Overview
The syllabus for 2026 has specific emphasis on MP-specific knowledge.
Preliminary Syllabus (Paper I)
- History of India: Ancient knowledge traditions, Vedas, Republics, Independence movement.
- History, Culture & Literature of MP: Dynasties, Freedom struggle, Arts, Tribes, Festivals.
- Geography of India: Physical features, Climate (El-Nino/La-Nina), Natural resources, Population.
- Geography of MP: Forests, Rivers, Climate, Minerals, Energy sources.
- Constitutional System (India & MP): President, Parliament, Supreme Court, MP Governor, Panchayati Raj, Constitutional/Statutory Bodies.
- Economy (India & MP): MP's economy (ODOP, IPR progress); Indian Economy; Financial Institutions.
- Science, Environment & Health: Human body, Satellite technology, Genetic diseases (Sickle Cell), SDGs, Pollution.
- Current Events: International, National, and MP-specific.
- ICT: Electronics, Robotics, AI, Cyber Security, E-Governance.
- Tribes of MP: Detailed study of heritage, folk culture, dialects, and literature.
Note: Paper II (Aptitude) covers Comprehension, Reasoning, Decision Making, and Basic Numeracy (Class X level).
Mains Syllabus Breakdown
- GS Paper I:
- Part A (History): Indian History (Ancient to Modern), MP Dynasties (Holkar, Scindia, Gondwana).
- Part B (Geography): Physical Geography, Water Resources, Disasters, Advanced Techniques (GIS/GPS), MP Geography.
- GS Paper II:
- Part A (Polity): Constitution, Political Thinkers, MP Administration, Accountability Commissions.
- Part B (Sociology): Social Harmony, Rural/Urban Sociology, Industrialization, Tribes of MP.
- GS Paper III:
- Part A (Economics): Indian Economy, Taxation, MP Economy, Statistics & Probability.
- Part B (Science/Tech & Health): General Science, Computer Science (AI/Cloud), AYUSH, Health Programs, Environment.
- GS Paper IV:
- Part A (Ethics): Philosophers, Emotional Intelligence, Corruption.
- Part B (Management): Entrepreneurship, Business Org, Management, Personality Development.
Targeted Preparation Strategy for MPPSC 2026
To succeed in the MPPSC 2026 exam, candidates must adopt a disciplined approach that aligns with the established syllabus structure and the negative marking pattern.
1. Mastering the Core Mains Structure
- Sociology (Paper II - Part B): This section is highly scoring and static. Focus on "Tribes of MP" and "Rural Sociology" as these topics have significant overlap with the Prelims MP GK syllabus. Prepare concise notes on social issues, family structures, and welfare schemes.
- Economics (Paper III - Part A): Since this section is paired with Science in Paper III, maintain a balanced study plan. Focus on "MP Economy" (ODOP, MSME policies) and "Indian Economy" (Fiscal policy, Banking). Data interpretation (Statistics) is also part of this section—practice mean, median, and mode regularly to secure full marks.
- Management & Entrepreneurship (Paper IV - Part B): This section requires specific attention to definitions and concepts like "business organization," "branding/marketing," and "leadership styles".
- Case Studies (Paper IV - Part A & B): You have to answer two case studies.
- Part A (Philosophy/Pub Admin): One case study based on ethical/administrative issues (18 marks).
- Part B (Management/Entrepreneurship): One case study based on management/business scenarios (18 marks).
- Strategy: You must prepare for both ethical dilemmas and business problem-solving.
2. Prelims Strategy: Accuracy is Key
- The "MP Factor": With a massive portion of the paper dedicated to Madhya Pradesh, deep knowledge of MP History, Geography, and Polity is non-negotiable. Unit 10 is exclusively "Tribes of MP"—study tribal art, dialects, and personalities in depth.
- Negative Marking Management: The exam uses a 3R-W marking scheme (3 marks for correct, -1 for wrong). Avoid random guessing. Only attempt questions where you can eliminate at least two options. Accuracy is more valuable than high attempt rates.
- High-Yield Units:
- Unit 9 (ICT): Prepare short notes on AI, Robotics, and Cyber Security terminologies.
- Unit 7 (Science): Focus on public health policies, genetic diseases (especially Sickle Cell Anemia), and space technology.
3. Answer Writing Precision (Mains)
The Mains exam is strictly bound by word limits. Your ability to condense information is tested here.
- Very Short Answers (2 Marks): You have only 20 words. Write 2-3 specific facts (e.g., Date, Location, Key Figure). Do not write full sentences.
- Write short yet self-explanatory sentences to save word limit.
- Short Answers (7 Marks): Limit to 60 words. Use bullet points (4-5 points) to cover multiple dimensions (Social, Economic, Political) rather than writing a single long paragraph.
- Long Answers (11 Marks): The limit is 200 words. Structure is crucial: Brief Intro → Body (with headings) → Conclusion.
- Case Studies (36 Marks Total): Paper IV includes two major Case Studies (18 marks each). Practice solving both administrative and management-related dilemmas to improve your decision-making speed.
4. Language Papers: The Rank Deciders
- Hindi (Paper V): This paper is purely for grammar and translation.
- Focus On: Ras and Chhand (Doha, Soratha, Chaupai), Sandhi, Samas, and Translation (Hindi to English & vice versa).
- Essay & Drafting (Paper VI):
- Drafting: This is where you practice Letter Writing (Govt/Semi-Govt), Circulars, and Notifications (15 Marks).
- Report Writing: Practice Report Writing and Memos (15 Marks).
- Essay: Focus on current social issues and MP-specific development topics like "Viksit Bharat @2047" or "Atmanirbhar MP".
Detailed Strategy for MP PCS Preparation
Application Fee & Process
Candidates must apply online via mponline.gov.in or mppsc.mp.gov.in.
|
Category |
Application Fee |
|
MP Domicile (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD) |
₹ 250 |
|
Unreserved & All Other States |
₹ 500 |
|
Portal Charge (Extra) |
₹ 40 |
Steps to Apply:
- Visit the official website and click on the "Apply Online" link for "State Service Exam 2026".
- Read the advertisement and confirm eligibility.
- Fill in the basic details (Name, Father's Name, DOB as per High School mark sheet).
- Upload scanned photograph (25KB-200KB) and signature.
- Pay the fee via UPI, Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking.
- Print the application form labeled "Payment Done".
Success in the MPPSC 2026 examination depends on a balanced strategy that aligns strictly with the official syllabus structure. Candidates must master both the General Studies content and the high-scoring language and drafting papers to maximize their final score. Adhering to the prescribed word limits and adapting to the new marking scheme are essential for effective performance. Ultimately, a disciplined, syllabus-centric preparation is the surest path to securing a rank in the State Services.
