MPPSC SSE syllabus

Madhya Pradesh's state civil services examination: two objective prelims papers of 300 marks and 2 hours each, then a written Main Examination and an interview. Prelims Paper II is qualifying and is not added to the prelims merit.

State Service (Preliminary) Examination

General Studies

100 questions, 300 marks · 2 hours

3 marks for a right answer. A wrong answer takes away 1 mark. Four options, A to D. Set in Hindi and English; if they differ, the Hindi version is followed. These marks, among candidates who also qualify Paper II, decide the call for the Main Examination.

  • History of India
  • History, culture and literature of Madhya Pradesh
  • Geography of India
  • Geography of Madhya Pradesh
  • Constitutional system of India and Madhya Pradesh
  • Economy of India and Madhya Pradesh
  • Science, environment and health
  • Information and communication technology
  • Tribes of Madhya Pradesh
  • International, national and Madhya Pradesh events

General Aptitude Test

100 questions, 300 marks · 2 hours

Qualifying only. 3 marks for a right answer and 1 mark off for a wrong answer, the same scheme as Paper I. Not counted in the prelims merit. An unreserved candidate needs 40% and a candidate of the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Class, Economically Weaker Section or a person with disability needs 30%. The 21 January 2026 revision amended this paper's syllabus; the marks and time were left as in the plan of 5 January 2026.

  • Comprehension
  • Communication skill
  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability
  • Decision making and problem solving
  • General mental ability
  • Basic numeracy, order of magnitude and data interpretation, generally up to Class X
  • Hindi language comprehension, generally up to Class X, from a Hindi passage with no English translation

State Service (Main) Examination and interview

General Studies, Paper I

300 marks (two parts of 150) · 3 hours

Answered in Hindi or English. Each part of 150 marks has 15 very short answers of 2 marks (about 20 words), 10 short answers of 7 marks (about 60 words) and 5 long answers of 10 marks (about 200 words): 30 questions. Counts for merit. An unreserved candidate needs 40% on the paper as a whole; the categories named in the plan need 30%.

  • Part A: History
  • Part B: Geography

General Studies, Paper II

300 marks (two parts of 150) · 3 hours

Same question pattern and qualifying minimum as Paper I. Counts for merit.

  • Part A: Political science
  • Part B: Sociology

General Studies, Paper III

300 marks (two parts of 150) · 3 hours

Same question pattern and qualifying minimum as Paper I. Counts for merit.

  • Part A: Economics
  • Part B: Science, technology and public health

General Studies, Paper IV

300 marks (two parts of 150) · 3 hours

Each part of 150 marks has 16 very short answers of 2 marks (about 20 words, 32 marks), 8 short answers of 7 marks (about 60 words, 56 marks), 4 long answers of 11 marks (about 200 words, 44 marks) and 1 case study of 18 marks: 29 questions. Both parts may be answered only in Hindi, or only in English. Counts for merit. The same 40% or 30% minimum applies to the paper as a whole.

  • Part A: Philosophy, psychology, public administration and a case study
  • Part B: Entrepreneurship, management, personality development and a case study

General Hindi and grammar

200 marks · 2 hours

Fifth paper. Hindi only. 200 marks, 2 hours. Counts for merit. The same 40% or 30% minimum applies.

  • General Hindi and grammar, in Hindi, with the mark split given in the syllabus

Hindi essay and draft writing

100 marks · 2 hours 30 minutes

Sixth paper. Hindi only. The plan of 5 January 2026 printed 500 words against the draft. The notice of 31 July 2026 says the syllabus line of about 250 words is the one to follow for the 2025 and 2026 mains. Counts for merit.

  • First essay, about 1,000 words, 50 marks
  • Second essay, about 500 words, 20 marks
  • Draft writing, about 250 words, 15 marks
  • Report, about 250 words, 15 marks

Interview

185 marks · A board interview, not a written paper

Counts for merit. The written papers (1,500) plus the interview (185) make 1,685.

  • An interview of candidates who qualify the written Main Examination