The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) has announced a major change to the State Services Main Examination pattern. From the 2027 exam, candidates will no longer have to choose an optional subject, as the commission has decided to remove it from the exam schedule.In a press release issued on June 25, the commission said that candidates currently appearing for the Maharashtra Civil Services Main Examination (Gazetted Group A and Group B) are required to write two papers in an optional subject. However, this requirement ends by the 2027 exam.Explaining the decision, MPSC said that the public service commissions in states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have already removed optional subjects from their State Services Main Examination. “They instead adopted a more uniform and standardized evaluation system,” the commission said.After a review of all aspects, the commission said it has decided to introduce a similar model in Maharashtra. Under the revised scheme, applicants will have to submit seven mandatory documents. These include papers in both Marathi and English, an essay in Marathi or English, and four General Studies papers.The language papers will remain of a qualifying nature, with candidates required to obtain at least 25 percent. The written exam will carry 1,250 points, while the interview will continue to carry 275 marks, bringing the total to 1,525 marks.The commission also said that the revised detailed exam pattern will be published separately on its official website.MPSC has clarified that this change applies only to the State Services Main Examination. The optional subject will continue for the Maharashtra Forest Service Main Examination. He also said that there will be no changes to the existing exam patterns for Maharashtra Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering Services, Maharashtra Agriculture Services, Food and Drug Administration Services, Maharashtra Veterinary Services and Inspector of Legal Metrology Main Examinations.
