The MPPSC, or Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission, conducts the civil service examinations in Madhya Pradesh. Aspirants who wish to pursue a career in the government sector in Madhya Pradesh must appear for the MPPSC examination. Generally, the candidates who clear MPPSC successfully can acquire a job as Group B and C officers of the MP state government.
One of the most common concerns that aspirants have is whether there is a negative marking in the MPPSC examination. Negative marking is a system in which marks are deducted for wrong answers. Keep reading this article for a detailed answer to your queries!
Exam Pattern of MPPSC
To begin with, it is essential to understand the examination pattern of the MPPSC. There are three stages of the MPPSC examination, namely, prelims, mains, and interviews. The MPPSC prelims examination consists of two papers: Paper I and Paper II. However, in the main examination, there are six papers in total. Candidates passing these two stages successfully are eligible for the interview section, which includes a personality test.
Here’s a list below to interpret the exam pattern in brief:
- MPPSC Prelims
General Studies (Paper I): Full Marks- 200
General Studies II [CSAT] (Paper II): Full Marks- 200
- MPPSC Main Exams
General Studies I: Full Marks 300
General Studies II: Full Marks 300
General Studies III: Full Marks 300
General Studies IV: Full Marks 200
Hindi Essay: Full Marks 100
General Hindi: Full Marks 200
- MPPSC Interview
Personality Test: Full Marks 175
Let’s take a look at each of the exam patterns in detail!
Exam Pattern of MPPSC Prelims
As already discussed, MPPSC Prelims consists of two papers. Paper-I is a general studies paper that covers subjects such as history, geography, economics, science, and technology. Paper II is a subject-specific paper that covers the chosen optional subject.
Aspirants will get 2 hours to solve each paper, i.e., 4 hours. There are 100 questions in each paper, and candidates need to answer in the OMR sheet in offline mode. If you circle multiple options for the same question, it will be marked as invalid.
Both papers consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), with four options provided for each question. The aspirant has to choose the correct option among the four provided. Each correct answer is awarded two marks, and there is no negative marking for wrong answers.
Exam Pattern of MPPSC Mains
Candidates clearing the MPPSC Prelims can appear in the MPPSC Mains examination. This examination has six papers on various subjects, including General Hindi. The mains examination runs weekly, and candidates get 3 hours to answer each paper.
The total marks for all these six papers are 1400, and the answers should be written in the essay or descriptive type, unlike prelims. MPPSC conducts the mains examination in offline mode. So, it would be best if you wrote the answers on paper. Previously, there were optional papers in MPPSC mains, but the revised exam pattern removed this subject.
Exam Pattern of MPPSC Interview
The MPPSC Exam’s last phase is an interview or personality test. Candidates who have successfully passed the prelims and mains are eligible to get a call for an interview. MPPSC elects a board to conduct the interview procedure. They prepare the questionnaires to be asked of the candidates during the interview. It is basically regarding the personality and aptitude test; the total marks for this round are 175.
The goal of the MPPSC interview is for a panel of knowledgeable and objective observers to decide if the candidate is individually qualified for a job in state services. Along with their academic studies, candidates for the personality test must be aware of both local and global events and problems affecting their state or nation. Therefore, this interview is like a planned conversation designed to test the candidate’s analytical and conceptual skills.
What are the Marking Attributes of the MPPS Examination?
Aspirants can attempt all the questions without the fear of losing marks for wrong answers. However, it is essential to note that attempting questions randomly without knowing the correct answer may reduce the overall score. Hence, aspirants must attempt only those questions for which they are sure of the correct answer.
Moreover, aspirants must also remember that the MPPSC examination is highly competitive. The examination is designed to test the aspirant’s knowledge, aptitude, and decision-making ability. Therefore, aspirants must prepare thoroughly and revise the concepts regularly to perform well in the examination.
In addition to the absence of negative markings, the MPPSC also provides some relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks for candidates belonging to reserved categories. Aspirants from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories require only 30% marks to qualify for the examination. In comparison, those in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) need 35% marks. There is no such relaxation for aspirants in the general category, who require a minimum of 40% marks to qualify.
Final Words
So, MPPSC does not entertain negative marking for any answers, even if it is wrong. As a candidate for MPPS prelims or mains examination, you can attempt all the questions even if there is a doubt regarding some of them. As, there is no scope for negative marking, a few wrong answers will not affect your overall result.
However, aspirants must prepare thoroughly and revise the concepts regularly to perform well in the examination. It is also essential to attempt only those questions for which they know the correct answer. With the proper preparation and approach, aspirants can crack the MPPSC examination and pave the way for a successful career in the government sector in Madhya Pradesh.