By Aaditya Vikram Parmar, Director, Career Power Mumbai Centres
MPSC has rewritten the State Services exam for 2027. By a notice dated 25 June 2026, the optional subject is gone, the Mains drops from nine papers to seven, and the Prelims moves to computer-based mode. If you are starting now, prepare for the new pattern only.
What changed
| Feature | 2026 cycle (old) | 2027 cycle (new) |
| Prelims mode | Offline | Online, computer-based |
| Mains papers | 9 | 7 |
| Optional subject | Two papers, 500 marks | Removed |
| Mains merit marks | 1,750 | 1,250 |
| Interview | 275 | 175 |
| Total for final merit | 2,025 | 1,425 |
The 2026 cycle, which had 79 vacancies and Prelims on 31 May 2026, continues under the old nine-paper pattern.
Stage 1: Preliminary exam
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time | Note |
| General Studies | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | Decides the cut-off |
| CSAT | 80 | 200 | 2 hours | Qualifying at 33 percent |
Objective papers in Marathi and English, with a quarter of the marks deducted for each wrong answer.
Stage 2: Main exam from 2027
| Paper | Marks | Counts for merit? |
| Marathi | 300 | No. Qualifying at 25 percent |
| English | 300 | No. Qualifying at 25 percent |
| Essay | 250 | Yes |
| General Studies I | 250 | Yes |
| General Studies II | 250 | Yes |
| General Studies III | 250 | Yes |
| General Studies IV | 250 | Yes |
All papers are descriptive. The detailed 2027 scheme will be set out in the notification; read it as soon as it is published.
Stage 3: Interview
The personality test carries 175 marks from 2027, as clarified by a corrigendum of 22 July 2026.
Eligibility
What the new pattern means for you
Frequently asked questions
Should I still study an optional subject for 2027?
No. It has been removed from the 2027 cycle onward.
Is the Rajyaseva Mains objective or descriptive?
Descriptive. The objective Mains was retired after 2024.
Do language paper marks count?
No. Marathi and English are qualifying papers.
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