MPSC Exam Pattern & Syllabus (Manipur)

The examination is conducted by the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) and consists of three distinct stages:

StageName of ExaminationPurpose

• Stage I Preliminary ExaminationScreening test (Marks do not count for final merit)
• Stage II Mains ExaminationWritten examination (Marks count for merit)
• Stage III Interview / Personality TestFinal assessment of mental/analytical ability

Stage I: Preliminary Examination

The Prelims consist of two objective-type papers. Candidates must appear in both to be evaluated.

Paper	Subject	Marks	Duration	Type
Paper I	General Studies I	200	2 Hours	Objective (MCQ)
Paper II	General Studies II	200	2 Hours	Objective (MCQ)

Key Rules for Prelims:

• Negative Marking: One-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each wrong answer.
• Qualifying Criteria: Paper II is a qualifying paper with a fixed minimum mark of 33%.
• Manipur Content: Roughly 30-35% of questions in the General Studies Paper relate specifically to Manipur.

Preliminary Syllabus 

General Studies Paper I

Topic	Sub-Topics
Current Affairs	International/national events, awards, summits, sports, and global issues impacting India.
History of India	Ancient, Medieval, and Modern history; Indian National Movement; Social and cultural history.
Geography	Physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world; Climatic zones, rivers, and natural resources.
Politics & Governance	Constitution of India, Fundamental Rights, Panchayati Raj, and public policies.
Economics	Poverty, unemployment, inflation, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.
Environment	Ecology, biodiversity, climate change, and national parks/sanctuaries in India.
General Science	Basic Physics (Laws of motion), Chemistry (Elements/reactions), and Biology (Human body/diseases).

General Studies Paper II (CSAT)

Topic	Sub-Topics
Comprehension	Reading comprehension and interpretation of passages.
Interpersonal Skills	Effective communication, teamwork, empathy, and social awareness.
Decision Making	Situation-based questions and ethical decision-making.
Reasoning	Logical reasoning, coding-decoding, pattern recognition, and classification.
Basic Mathematics	Class 10th level arithmetic (ratios, averages), algebra, geometry, and data interpretation (charts/graphs).

Stage II & III: Mains and Interview

Only those who qualify for the Prelims (usually 12 to 13 times the number of vacancies) proceed to these stages.

Component	Paper	Marks	Notes
Qualifying Paper	Paper A: English Language	300	Class 10th level; marks not counted for merit.
Merit Papers	General Studies (II to V)	Varies	Conventional/Descriptive type papers.
Stage III	Interview / Personality Test	Varies	To analyze mental and analytical ability.

Final Ranking: Your final rank and service allotment are determined solely by the combined marks of the Mains (Written) and the Interview.

Stage II: Mains Examination (Written)

The Mains examination consists of six papers in total. One is a qualifying language paper, while the other five are counted for the final merit ranking. All papers are of conventional (essay) type and have a duration of 3 hours each.

1. Qualifying Paper

This paper must be passed to have your other merit papers evaluated.

Paper	Subject	Marks	Standard
Paper A	English Language	300	Matriculation (Class X) or equivalent

Syllabus: Comprehension, Precis Writing, Usage and Vocabulary, and Short Essay.

Qualifying Criteria: Candidates must attain at least 40% marks in this paper. Marks obtained here are not counted for final ranking.

2. Papers Counted for Merit

These five papers determine your written score for the final merit list. All are set in English and must be answered in English (except for the Essay paper, where a candidate may choose their medium).

Paper	Subject / Type	Marks	Key Syllabus Topics
Paper 1	Essay	250	Specific topic choice provided; candidates write in their chosen medium.
Paper 2	General Studies I	250	Indian Heritage & Culture, History (Modern/Freedom Struggle), Geography of World & India, Society & Diversity.
Paper 3	General Studies II	250	Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
Paper 4	General Studies III	250	Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.
Paper 5	General Studies IV	250	Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude, Human Values, and Case Studies.

Stage III: Interview / Personality Test

Candidates who qualify the written Mains examination are called for the final stage.

Component	Marks	Objective
Interview	150	To assess personal suitability for a career in public service.

Format: A directed and purposive conversation (not a strict cross-examination).

Qualities Judged: Mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety/depth of interest, social cohesion, leadership, and intellectual/moral integrity.

Final Merit Calculation

The final ranking is determined by the total marks obtained in the five merit papers of the Mains and the Interview score.

Stage	Total Marks
Total Written (Papers 1-5)	1250
Interview / Personality Test	150
Grand Total	1400

Note: The Commission has the discretion to fix qualifying marks for any or all of the merit-ranking papers.