🗓️Last Updated: June 2026

State PSC Exams 2026: UPPSC, BPSC, MPSC, TNPSC — Complete State-wise Guide

Every Indian state has a Public Service Commission (PSC) that conducts competitive examinations to recruit officers for State Civil Services, including State Administrative Service (SDM/BDO), State Police Service (DSP), State Finance Service, and other Group A/B posts. This guide covers all major State PSCs — their portals, eligibility conditions, exam structure, and selection process.

🔗UPPSC — uppsc.up.nic.in — Official Portal →

📋 Overview

State Public Service Commissions are constitutional bodies established under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution. Each state PSC conducts civil services examinations for state-level administrative, police, finance, and other services. The selection process broadly mirrors the UPSC pattern: Preliminary (objective screening) → Mains (descriptive written) → Interview. However, each state has its own syllabus, number of papers, medium of examination, and optional subjects. State civil services officers are placed in positions like Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Block Development Officer, Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, Treasury Officer, and similar roles. Key PSCs covered: UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh), BPSC (Bihar), MPSC (Maharashtra), TNPSC (Tamil Nadu), KPSC (Karnataka), RPSC (Rajasthan), and WBPSC (West Bengal).

✅ Eligibility

  • ✓General: Must hold a Bachelor's degree from any recognized university. Some posts require specific degrees (e.g., Engineering/Medical).
  • ✓Age: Generally 21–40 years for most state PSCs. Exact upper limit varies by state — typically 35–42 years. SC/ST: 5-year relaxation; OBC: 3-year relaxation; PwBD: 10-year relaxation.
  • ✓Domicile: Most state PSCs require domicile/residence of the respective state. Some PSCs (like TNPSC) have stricter domicile rules including language requirements.
  • ✓UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh): Age 21–40 (General), Graduation required. Domicile of UP or UP permanent resident. Hindi knowledge mandatory.
  • ✓BPSC (Bihar): Age 20–37 (General), 20–40 (OBC), 20–42 (SC/ST). Graduation required. Knowledge of Hindi/Urdu/Maithili/Bangla as specified.
  • ✓MPSC (Maharashtra): Age 19–38 (General), 19–43 (SC/ST/OBC). Graduation required. Knowledge of Marathi mandatory. Domicile of Maharashtra.
  • ✓TNPSC (Tamil Nadu): Age 18–32 (General), 18–35 (OBC). Graduation required. Knowledge of Tamil language essential. Tamil Nadu domicile required.
  • ✓KPSC (Karnataka): Age 21–35 (General), 21–38 (OBC), 21–40 (SC/ST). Graduation required. Kannada knowledge required for Group A/B posts.
  • ✓RPSC (Rajasthan): Age 21–40 (General). Graduation required. Knowledge of Hindi and Rajasthani culture preferred.
  • ✓WBPSC (West Bengal): Age 21–36 (General). Graduation required. Knowledge of Bengali/Nepali/Urdu (for specific posts). West Bengal domicile.

📁 Documents Required

▸Graduation degree certificate and marksheets
▸Class X certificate (age proof)
▸Domicile / Residence certificate of the respective state
▸Category certificate — SC/ST/OBC/EWS from competent authority of the state
▸OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate (not older than 1 year)
▸Language proficiency proof (where required by state PSC)
▸Aadhaar Card / Voter ID / Passport (photo identity)
▸Recent passport-size photographs as specified
▸Sports/NCC certificate (for additional marks, if applicable)
▸Ex-servicemen certificate (if applicable)
▸PWD/disability certificate (if applicable)

💰Fees & Processing Time

Fee
Application fees vary by state and category. Typical range: General — ₹500–₹1,500; OBC — ₹300–₹800; SC/ST — Free to ₹300; PwBD — Free to ₹200. UPPSC Combined State Services: ₹125 (General), ₹65 (OBC), ₹25 (SC/ST). BPSC: ₹600 (General/OBC), ₹150 (SC/ST Bihar domicile). TNPSC: ₹150 (General), ₹50 (OBC Differently Abled), Free (SC/ST/Destitute Widow). Check respective PSC notification for exact current fees.
Processing Time
State PSC civil services examination cycles typically take 12–18 months from notification to final result. Preliminary exam is usually held 3–4 months after notification. Mains exam follows 4–6 months after Prelims result. Interview rounds take 2–4 months after Mains result. State PSC timelines can be irregular — some states have had delays of 2–3 years in the past.

🖥️ How to Apply Online

  1. 1Identify the relevant State PSC based on your domicile state and the post you want. Visit the official portal listed below.
  2. 2Register on the PSC portal with your email ID and mobile number to create a candidate account.
  3. 3Fill the online application form: personal details, educational qualifications, category, exam centre preference, and optional subject (if applicable).
  4. 4Upload required documents — photo, signature, and supporting certificates as specified in the notification.
  5. 5Pay the application fee online via Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or e-Challan. Some PSCs also accept offline SBI challan.
  6. 6Submit the application and download the confirmation/printout. Note your application number / registration ID.
  7. 7Download admit card from the respective PSC portal when released (typically 2–3 weeks before exam).
  8. 8After Prelims result, fill the Detailed Application Form (DAF) / Main Application Form for the Mains stage within the specified time.

🏢 How to Apply Offline

  1. 1Most state PSCs have moved to online-only applications. However, some older notifications from states like WBPSC and BPSC may still accept applications by post — always check the current notification.
  2. 2For fee payment via bank challan: Download the challan from the portal, pay at the designated bank branch, and re-login to confirm payment within the deadline.
  3. 3For grievances related to applications, visit the respective State PSC office in person during working hours with original documents.
  4. 4For states without complete online infrastructure: Download forms from official website, fill manually, and submit by post/in person to the PSC office address mentioned in the notification.

⚠️Common Problems & Solutions

✗State PSC application portal not loading or login issues
→State PSC portals often experience heavy traffic during application windows. Try applying during off-peak hours (early morning or late night). Use Chrome or Firefox — avoid Internet Explorer. Clear browser cache. If the portal is down, check the PSC's official Twitter/Facebook page for maintenance updates. Most PSCs extend deadlines if the portal faces technical issues.
✗Domicile certificate not accepted — born in one state, residing in another
→Domicile requirements vary strictly by state. Most PSCs require a domicile certificate issued by the competent authority (SDM/Tehsildar) of the respective state. Residence proof of 15+ years in the state is usually needed. If you are not eligible due to domicile, you cannot apply — there is no waiver. Consider UPSC or Central Government jobs which have no domicile restrictions.
✗OBC certificate issued by another state — will it be accepted?
→State PSC OBC reservations apply only to OBC castes listed in the state's OBC list. An OBC certificate from another state is not valid for state PSC reservations. You need to obtain a fresh OBC certificate from your current state of domicile, and only if your caste is listed in that state's OBC schedule. Central list OBC is different from state list — check carefully.
✗State PSC exam delayed for years — what can I do?
→Exam delays are unfortunately common in some state PSCs. If you are approaching the upper age limit, you may file a writ petition in the High Court seeking age relaxation or stay on age limit proceedings — some courts have granted this relief. Join candidates' associations that are legally pursuing such matters. Continue preparing for UPSC CSE or other central government exams in parallel.
✗Exam centre allocated in a distant city — can I change?
→Most state PSCs allow exam centre change requests within a specific window after form submission. Log in to your PSC portal and check if a 'Centre Change' option is available. If not, you must appear at the allotted centre. Centres are allocated on availability basis — popular districts fill up quickly. Apply early to get preferred centres.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q.Which is the largest and most competitive State PSC exam in India?

UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission) Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) exam is considered among the largest and most competitive state PSC exams, receiving 4–5 lakh+ applications. BPSC (Bihar) and MPSC (Maharashtra) are also very competitive. TNPSC Group I is one of the most reputed in South India. Competition levels have increased across all states in recent years.

Q.What posts are filled through State PSC civil services exams?

Typical posts filled through State Civil Services exams: Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Block Development Officer (BDO), Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Tax, Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, District Social Welfare Officer, District Food Marketing Officer, Treasury Officer, and other Group A/B Gazetted posts.

Q.Is the State PSC exam harder or easier than UPSC?

UPSC is generally considered the most rigorous exam due to its comprehensive national-level competition and the depth of Mains evaluation. State PSCs have their own complexity — deep knowledge of state-specific topics (geography, history, economy, schemes, polity) is essential. Language medium (state language vs. English) is also a key factor. State PSC competition has intensified significantly in recent years with lakhs of applicants for limited posts.

Q.Can I apply to multiple state PSCs simultaneously?

Yes, there is no restriction on applying to multiple state PSC exams simultaneously, provided you meet the eligibility (domicile and age requirements) of each state. Many candidates apply to both UPSC and their home state PSC simultaneously. However, domicile restrictions mean you can realistically apply as a resident of only one or two states.

Q.What is the medium of examination for State PSCs?

The medium of examination varies: UPPSC — Hindi and English both permitted for GS papers. BPSC — Hindi primarily, English permitted for certain papers. MPSC — Marathi mandatory, English for some sections. TNPSC — Tamil mandatory (English permitted for some posts). KPSC — Kannada mandatory for most posts. WBPSC — Bengali/English. Check each PSC notification carefully as medium rules affect answer writing language.

Q.How do State PSC scores compare to UPSC for prestige and salary?

UPSC IAS officers are in the senior-most administrative positions and report to state governments. State PSC officers (PCS/SCS) are directly serving in state administration. Salary: State PSC officers receive state government pay scales (7th CPC-based for most states). Starting basic for SDM-rank is typically ₹56,100–₹67,700. With DA, HRA and other allowances, gross salary is ₹80,000–₹1,20,000+. UPSC IAS officers draw centrally-determined scales which are comparable.

Q.What is the interview/personality test pattern in State PSCs?

State PSC interviews (personality tests) carry 100–200 marks and are conducted by a panel at the PSC headquarters. The interview tests general awareness, personality, communication, current affairs, and state-specific knowledge. Duration is typically 20–40 minutes. Some PSCs like BPSC have higher interview weightage (120 marks out of total). Interview preparation should include current state government schemes, state budget, state-specific issues, and your graduation subject.

Q.Are there combined PSC notifications that cover multiple posts?

Yes, most state PSCs release a Combined State Services notification that fills multiple posts under one exam. For example: UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services fills SDM, DSP, BDO, and 20+ other posts through one exam. BPSC 70th Combined Competitive Exam fills Group A, B, and C posts together. MPSC State Services fills Class A and Class B Maharashtra state services. This allows candidates to appear once and be considered for multiple posts based on rank.

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