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.