Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPCS) Pattern | 09 Jan 2025

Introduction

The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) is responsible for organising various subordinate services, including posts related to state-specific administration.

The MPPSC primarily manages recruitment for state government, semi-government, judicial, state forest services, and other subordinate services within Madhya Pradesh.

The 'Madhya Pradesh State Service Examination (SSE)' is commonly referred to as 'MPPSC'.

MPPSC Exam Pattern Overview

  • The MPPSC examination comprises three distinct stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. 
    • Each stage is designed with a unique pattern to test the candidates' aptitude, knowledge, and personality comprehensively. 
  • Below is the detailed structure of the MPPSC exam:
Stage Key Features Number of Papers Marks Details
Prelims Objective in Nature 2

Paper 1: 200 marks

Paper 2: 200 marks

(consists of 100 questions in papers A and B respectively)

 Assesses general awareness, reasoning ability, and analytical skills
Mains Descriptive examination for candidates qualifying for the Prelims 6 1400 Evaluates in-depth knowledge across various subjects, including general studies, essay writing, and optional subjects
Interview Final stage to assess candidates' suitability for public service - 185 Evaluates personality, communication skills, confidence, and understanding of administrative roles
  • Selection and Recruitment:
    • Candidates who qualify in the Prelims and Mains are shortlisted for the Interview.
    • Those who clear the Interview round are eligible for recruitment to the posts they have applied for.

Prelims Exam Pattern 

  • MPPSC SSE Prelims exam will be held on 16th February, 2025. 
  • The exam pattern for MPPSC prelims is different compared to the mains round.
Subject Total Questions Total Marks Exam Duration
Paper 1: General Studies 100 200 2 Hours

Paper 2: General Aptitude Test (Also known as CSAT)

 100 200 2 Hours

MPPSC Prelims Exam Pattern Details 

  • Negative Marking: The MPPSC Prelims exam does not have negative markings; no marks will be deducted for incorrect answers.
  • Qualification Criteria: Candidates will qualify for the MPPSC Prelims and proceed to the Mains exam only if they pass both papers (GS and CSAT paper) and meet the cutoff scores set by the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission.
    • The marks obtained in Prelims are not added in the final score which contains the marks of the Mains (written) exam or interview.
  • Language: The MPPSC Prelims question paper is available in both Hindi and English languages.

Note: Since 2017, a common Preliminary Examination has been conducted for both 'Madhya Pradesh State Service Examination' and the 'Madhya Pradesh State Forest Service Examination,' while the Mains Examination continues to be held separately as before.

Mains Exam Pattern

  • As per the MPPSC Mains marks division, papers 1, 2 and 3 are 300 marks each, whereas papers 4 and 5 are 200 marks each and finally paper 6 is 100 marks. 
  • Candidates who qualify for the MPPSC Mains Exam by meeting the specified cut-off will be eligible to appear for the MPPSC interview.
Subject Names Total Marks Exam Duration
Paper 1: General Studies - I 300 3 Hours
Paper 2: General Studies - II 300 3 Hours
Paper 3: General Studies - III 300 3 Hours
Paper 4: General Studies - IV 200 3 Hours
Paper 5: General Hindi 200 2 Hours
Paper 6: Hindi Essay 100 2.5 Hours

General Studies - First Paper, Second Paper, and Third Paper

For both Sections 'A' and 'B,' candidates can write their answers only in Hindi or English. In all three papers, the distribution of marks and word limits for each section ('A' and 'B') will be as follows:

Nature of Questions Number of Questions Marks (Per Question) Maximum Word Limit Per Question Total Marks
01. Very Short Answer Questions 15 02 20 words 30
02. Short Answer Questions 10 07 60 words 70
03. Long Answer Questions 05 10 20 words 50

Total: 30 Questions, Maximum Marks: 150

General Studies - Fourth Paper

For both Sections 'A' and 'B,' candidates can write their answers only in Hindi or English. The distribution of marks and word limits for each section ('A' and 'B') in the question paper will be as follows:

Nature of Questions Number of Questions Marks (Per Question) Maximum Word Limit Per Question Total Marks
01. Very Short Answer Questions 16 02 20 words 32
02. Short Answer Questions 08 07 60 words 56
03. Long Answer Questions 04 11 200 words 44
04. Case Study 01 18 As directed 18

Total: 29 Questions, Maximum Marks: 150

General Hindi

The fifth paper focuses on General Hindi and Hindi Grammar and will be conducted only in Hindi medium. The paper carries a total of 200 marks. Details regarding marks allocation are included in the syllabus. The duration of the paper will be 2 hours.

Hindi Essay

This paper will be conducted only in Hindi medium. The detailed structure of the paper is as follows:

Type of Question Number of Questions Maximum Word Limit Per Question Marks Duration
First Essay 01 1000 words 50 2.5 Hours
Second Essay 01 500 words 20
Draft Writing 01 500 words 15
Report Writing 01 250 words 15

Total Marks: 100

Note:

  • Depending on the requirement, any question can also have sub-questions. To ensure clarity and brevity in answers, candidates must adhere to the word limit specified for each question in the examination.
    • In each question paper of the Main Examination (including parts ‘A’ and ‘B’), it is mandatory for candidates of unreserved (UR) category (including women candidates of UR category) to secure a minimum of 40% marks.
    • For candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and those from the Divyang category, it is mandatory to secure a minimum of 30% marks.

Interview 

  • MPPSC interview is the last stage for candidates appearing in the examination. Only those candidates who qualify for MPPSC prelims and mains will be eligible to appear for the interview round. 
  • In the year 2024, a total of 185 marks were fixed for the interview in this exam of MPPSC (earlier it was 175 marks).
  • The Merit list is prepared on the basis of the aggregate of marks obtained in the mains examination and interview.