MPSC Group B 2026: eligibility, syllabus, salary and how to prepare

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) has released notification no. 011/2026 for 552 Group B vacancies across three posts — Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), State Tax Inspector (STI), and Assistant Section Officer (ASO). The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 14 June 2026, and the application deadline has been extended to 14 May 2026. For graduates in Maharashtra seeking a permanent state government job with strong career growth, this is one of the best opportunities available in 2026.

Important: All details below are based on MPSC notification 011/2026 available at mpsc.gov.in. Always download and read the official PDF before applying.

Posts and vacancies

Important dates

• Notification released: April 2026

• Application start date: 10 April 2026

• Last date to apply: 14 May 2026 (extended)

• Preliminary exam: 14 June 2026

• Mains exam: To be announced after Prelims result

Eligibility criteria

Educational qualification

• Graduation in any subject from a recognised university

• Final year students can apply for the Preliminary exam

• Knowledge of Marathi language is mandatory for all posts

Age limit

• ASO and STI: 18 to 38 years (General/Open category)

• PSI: 19 to 31 years (General/Open category)

• SC / ST / OBC / EWS / Orphan candidates: 5 years upper age relaxation

Physical standards for PSI

• Men: Minimum height 165 cm

• Women: Minimum height 157 cm

Domicile

• Candidates from other states can apply but will not be eligible for reservation benefits or fee concessions — those apply only to Maharashtra domicile candidates

Application fee

• Open / General category: ₹394

• Reserved categories: As per notification (concession applicable)

• Payment via Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or SBI Challan

• Fee is non-refundable under all circumstances

Salary

Additional allowances — DA, HRA, TA, medical — are paid on top of basic pay as per government rules.

Selection process

1. Preliminary exam — one common paper for all three posts; 100 questions, 100 marks, 1 hour; negative marking of 1/4 per wrong answer

2. Mains exam — Paper 1 is the same for all posts; Paper 2 is post-specific (different for PSI, STI, and ASO); 200 marks per paper, 1 hour each

3. Physical test — only for PSI post, 100 marks; minimum 60% required to proceed

4. Interview — only for PSI post, 40 marks; called after qualifying the Physical Test

Final merit is based on Mains + Interview scores combined.

Syllabus

Prelims — General Aptitude (100 marks, 100 questions, 1 hour)

• Current affairs — state, national and international

• History of India and Maharashtra — including the Indian freedom movement

• Geography — Maharashtra, India and World (physical, social, economic)

• Polity and governance — Constitution, Panchayati Raj, urban administration, public policy

• Economic and social development — poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector

• Environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change — general issues only

• General Science

• Basic numeracy — Class 10 level; Data Interpretation — charts, graphs, tables

Mains — Paper 1 (same for all three posts)

• Section A: Marathi and English — grammar, comprehension, translation

• Section B: General Knowledge — Maharashtra-focused current affairs and GK

• Section C: General Ability Test — reasoning and data interpretation

Mains — Paper 2 (post-specific)

• PSI: Police administration, criminal law, Maharashtra Police Act, crime investigation procedures

• STI: Tax law, GST, VAT, Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, taxation procedures

• ASO: General administration, office procedure, government rules, Maharashtra Government Manual

Key point: Prelims is a common exam — you apply for one post but all compete together on the same paper. Decide your preferred post before Mains, because Paper 2 syllabus is completely different for each post.

How to prepare

Step 1 — Start with the official notification PDF

Download notification 011/2026 from mpsc.gov.in. Confirm your own eligibility before paying the fee.

Step 2 — Build your Prelims foundation

• Focus heavily on Maharashtra-specific content — history, geography, polity, current affairs of Maharashtra are asked more than national topics

• NCERT books Class 9–12 for History, Geography, Polity, and Economy cover the base

• Read one Maharashtra newspaper daily — Loksatta or Maharashtra Times — 30 minutes is enough

Step 3 — Solve previous year papers

Solve at least 5–7 years of MPSC Group B Prelims and Mains papers. This tells you the actual difficulty level, question types, and which topics repeat most often.

Step 4 — Take MPSC-specific mock tests

Use Testbook, Adda247, or MahaCareers for MPSC Group B mock tests. After each test, analyse every wrong answer — do not skip this step.

Step 5 — Start Mains Paper 2 preparation alongside Prelims

Do not wait for the Prelims result to start Mains Paper 2 preparation. Start your chosen post's Paper 2 syllabus now — there is not enough time after Prelims.

Step 6 — Physical preparation for PSI applicants

If you are applying for PSI, start running and physical training immediately. Failing the Physical Test after clearing Prelims and Mains wastes months of preparation.

How competitive is this exam?

• Expected total applicants: Over 5–10 lakh across all three posts

• Open category PSI competition: Over 300 candidates per seat

• SC/ST category: Lower cutoffs — use your category advantage strategically

This exam is hard but structured. It rewards consistent preparation over intelligence. Unlike SSC or Railways, MPSC has a strong Maharashtra-specific component — candidates who deeply know Maharashtra's history, geography, and polity have a clear edge.

MPSC Group B 2026 offers 552 permanent Maharashtra government jobs with strong pay scales and career security. Apply at mpsc.gov.in before 14 May 2026, download the official syllabus, and start preparing today — Prelims is on 14 June 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Can candidates from other states apply for MPSC Group B 2026?

Yes, candidates from other states can apply and appear in the exam. However, reservation benefits and application fee concessions are available only to Maharashtra domicile candidates. Knowledge of Marathi language is mandatory for all applicants regardless of state.

Is the Prelims paper the same for PSI, STI, and ASO?

Yes. The Preliminary exam has one common General Aptitude paper — 100 questions, 100 marks, 1 hour — for all three posts. Mains Paper 1 is also the same for all posts. Only Mains Paper 2 differs by post, covering post-specific subject knowledge.

What is the difference between MPSC Group B and MPSC Rajyaseva?

MPSC Rajyaseva (Group A) recruits for Gazetted Officer posts like Deputy Collector and DSP — more prestigious but significantly more difficult. MPSC Group B recruits for Non-Gazetted posts like PSI, STI, and ASO — directly accessible after graduation. The Prelims syllabus for both exams overlaps considerably, so preparation for one supports the other.