State Public Service Commissions recruit for Group A and Group B officer posts in each state — Deputy Collector, SDM, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Block Development Officer, Tehsildar, Commercial Tax Officer, Assistant Commissioner and District Supply Officer, among others. These are the most senior posts a graduate can enter at state level.
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The structure is broadly common — Prelims, Mains, Interview — but the eligibility is not. Age limits range from 35 to 42 years across states. Attempts range from four to unlimited. And domicile determines whether a candidate competes with reservation, without it, or at all.
Those three variables decide which state a candidate should target, and they are set state by state rather than nationally.
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Two cycles are live: UPPSC PCS 2026 is open with applications closing 27 July 2026, and the BPSC 72nd CCE Prelims is scheduled for 26 July 2026.
Overview
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recruiting bodies | UPPSC, BPSC, MPSC, MPPSC, RPSC, TNPSC, KPSC, JPSC, UKPSC, OPSC, APPSC, TSPSC, HPSC, PPSC, CGPSC, GPSC, APSC, WBPSC and others |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university |
| Age (General) | 19 to 42 depending on state |
| Attempts (General) | 4 to unlimited depending on state |
| Stages | Prelims (screening) → Mains → Interview |
| Final merit | Mains + Interview. Prelims marks do not count |
| Domicile | Determines reservation eligibility; in some states, eligibility itself |
| Salary | Approximately ₹30,000 to ₹1,50,000 per month by post |
1. The Posts
| Post | Nature |
|---|---|
| Deputy Collector / SDM / SDO | Revenue and general administration |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) | Police service |
| Block Development Officer (BDO) | Rural development |
| Tehsildar / Nayab Tehsildar | Revenue |
| Commercial Tax Officer / Sales Tax Inspector | Taxation |
| Assistant Commissioner | Departmental |
| District Supply Officer | Civil supplies |
| District Education Officer / BEO | Education administration |
| Assistant Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) | Health — qualification-specific |
| Circle Officer (CO) | Revenue and administration |
Salaries range from approximately ₹30,000 to ₹1,50,000 per month, depending on the post and level of responsibility. Senior posts such as District Magistrate and DSP attract higher pay and additional benefits.
Benefits typically include government accommodation, an official vehicle at senior levels, pension, and medical coverage for the family.
UPPSC PCS alone offers over 200 posts across Deputy Collector, DSP, BDO, ACMO and Commercial Tax Officer — the largest state administrative cadre in India, reflecting Uttar Pradesh’s population.
2. Domicile — The Variable That Decides Everything
This is the first thing to establish, and it is where candidates most often plan wrongly.
| Position | States |
|---|---|
| Other-state candidates may apply, but only as General / Unreserved — no caste reservation, no age relaxation, no fee concession | Most state PSCs, including UPPSC, BPSC, RPSC, MPPSC |
| Even General-category seats restricted to state domicile holders | TNPSC, KPSC, MPSC — commonly for language reasons |
What this means practically.
A candidate from Uttar Pradesh may sit BPSC — but only as a General candidate. No SC/ST/OBC reservation, no age relaxation, no fee concession, regardless of their category in their home state. The same applies to a UP candidate in MPSC or RPSC.
A candidate from outside Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Maharashtra may find even the General seats closed in TNPSC, KPSC and MPSC, which restrict all seats to domicile holders.
Domicile candidates receive additional advantages. In Bihar, for example, domicile candidates receive a home-posting advantage.
Check the domicile clause in the notification before preparing, not before applying. It is the difference between a viable target and a wasted year.
3. Age — Ranges by State
| State PSC | Age (General) |
|---|---|
| MPSC (Maharashtra) | 19 to 38 |
| CGPSC (Chhattisgarh) | 21 to 35 |
| JPSC (Jharkhand) | 21 to 35 |
| BPSC (Bihar) | 37; 38 for women |
| UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh) | 21 to 40 — since the 2022 revision |
| RPSC (Rajasthan) | 21 to 40 |
| MPPSC (Madhya Pradesh) | 21 to 40 |
| KPSC (Karnataka) | 21 to 40 |
| UKPSC (Uttarakhand) | 21 to 42 |
| PPSC (Punjab) | 21 to 42 |
| HPSC (Haryana) | 21 to 42 |
Relaxations: typically 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, 10 years for PwBD and 3 years for ex-servicemen — but rules differ by state.
The reference date differs too. UPPSC counts age as on 1 July of the notification year. Each state sets its own cut-off.
The planning point: a candidate at 38 is outside MPSC, CGPSC, JPSC and BPSC, but comfortably within UPPSC, RPSC, UKPSC, PPSC and HPSC. Age alone should shape which states you target.
BPSC removed its five-year age cap in 2024 — a change worth noting for candidates who assessed eligibility before that.
4. Attempts — The Range Is Wider Than Candidates Expect
| State PSC | General | OBC | SC/ST |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPPSC | 4 | 6 | Unlimited |
| BPSC | 4 | 5 | Unlimited |
| RPSC | No limit | No limit | No limit |
| General pattern elsewhere | 6 | 7 to 9 | Often unlimited up to the maximum age |
This is a material difference and it is frequently missed.
UPPSC allows a General candidate four attempts. RPSC imposes no limit at all. A candidate planning a multi-year attempt strategy on the assumption of UPSC’s six attempts will misjudge both.
Verify the attempt limit for your target state before committing years to it.
5. Educational Qualification
A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university is the general requirement across state PSCs.
For some specific posts, the subject of graduation matters — ACMO and technical posts, for example. Always check the post-wise qualification in the notification.
Final-year students — and this differs by state:
| State | Position |
|---|---|
| UPPSC | Final-year students may apply |
| BPSC | Reported as not permitted; other sources indicate final-year candidates may enrol for the 72nd CCE subject to producing results |
Sources conflict on the BPSC position. Candidates in their final year should verify the clause directly in the current BPSC notification rather than rely on secondary guidance — the consequence of getting it wrong is disqualification after the examination.
A Class 12 qualification does not suffice. The minimum is a bachelor’s degree.
6. The Three Stages
| Stage | Nature |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | Objective screening. Typically 2 papers of 2 hours each. Marks do not count toward final merit |
| Main Examination | Descriptive. Paper structure and marks vary sharply by state |
| Interview / Personality Test | 100 to 275 marks, depending on state |
Final selection = Mains + Interview marks. The Prelims is only a screening filter.
Mains Structure — State by State
| State | Papers | Total marks |
|---|---|---|
| UPPSC PCS Main | 8 — General Hindi (qualifying), General Essay, GS I–IV, Optional I–II | 1,500 |
| MPSC Mains | 6 — Marathi + English compulsory, GS I–IV — after the 2025 reform | 1,750 |
| BPSC Main | 6 — General Hindi (qualifying), GS I, GS II, Essay, Optional I, Optional II | 900 |
| RPSC RAS Main | 4 GS papers | 800 |
| TNPSC Group I Main | 3 GS papers + Tamil | 750 |
Note the spread: 750 marks in TNPSC against 1,750 in MPSC. The examinations are not equivalent in scale, and preparation cannot be transferred between them unmodified.
Language papers are qualifying but mandatory — General Hindi in UPPSC and BPSC, Marathi and English in MPSC, Tamil in TNPSC. A candidate who cannot clear the state language paper cannot be selected, whatever their GS performance.
The Interview
Held at the State PSC headquarters. Questions commonly cover the candidate’s native district, state current affairs, administrative challenges, ethical dilemmas and subject knowledge.
Answers may generally be given in Hindi or English in the Hindi-belt commissions.
7. Fees — And One Provision Worth Knowing
| State PSC | General | Reserved |
|---|---|---|
| UPPSC PCS | ₹125 | ₹65 (SC/ST) · ₹25 (PwBD) |
| TNPSC Group I | ₹150 one-time registration + ₹100 per exam | — |
| RPSC RAS | ₹400 | ₹350 (SC/ST/Sahariya, PwBD) |
| MPPSC | ₹500 | ₹250 (+₹40 portal charge for non-MP candidates) |
| MPSC | ₹544 | ₹344 |
| BPSC CCE | ₹600 | ₹150 (Bihar SC/ST/Female/PwBD) |
Payment modes: net banking, debit or credit card, UPI, and in some states an SBI challan offline.
Most state PSCs do not refund the fee on attendance — unlike RRB, which does. The fee is a sunk cost regardless of whether you sit the paper.
Note the spread: ₹125 for UPPSC against ₹600 for BPSC. For a candidate applying across several states, the cumulative fee is not trivial.
8. Sitting Multiple Examinations
Different state PSCs are separate authorities. A candidate may appear for two or more state PSC examinations in the same year, subject only to date clashes.
Many candidates appear for UPPSC, BPSC and UPSC in parallel.
The syllabus overlap between UPSC and State PSC is approximately 60 to 70%. The core General Studies is common. What differs is the state-specific content — state history, geography, culture and current affairs — which must be studied separately.
The practical strategy: prepare the common GS core, add state-specific material for each target, and check the examination calendar for clashes before applying. A state PSC also functions as a backup for a UPSC attempt, and many candidates clear both.
State PSC examinations weight state-specific topics heavily; UPSC weights national and international topics.
9. The 2026 Cycle
| Examination | Status |
|---|---|
| UPPSC PCS 2026 | Notification out — 500+ vacancies; registration open, apply by 27 July 2026 |
| BPSC 72nd CCE | Notification 5 May 2026; Prelims 26 July 2026 |
| MPSC Rajya Seva 2026 | Prelims held 31 May 2026 |
| MPPSC 2026 | New cycle expected following the 2025 results |
| RPSC RAS 2026 | 607 vacancies notified |
BPSC 70th final result was declared with 2,035 candidates recommended.
BPSC is described as offering moderate competition relative to its vacancy count — a reasonable target for Bihar candidates or those preparing at state level.
Always cross-check dates and vacancy figures against the official PSC website of your state. State PSC calendars shift frequently, and secondary listings lag.
10. Application Procedure
- Open the official State PSC portal for your target state.
- Complete registration — some states operate one-time registration.
- Complete the application, entering particulars accurately and selecting post preferences.
- Pay the fee by net banking, card, UPI or challan.
- Preview, then submit. An application number is generated — download the PDF for your records.
- Download the admit card from the portal under Admit Card / Hall Ticket / Pravesh Patra.
Carry to the examination: the printed admit card, one original photo ID, and your own pen — most states require a black ball-point pen for the OMR sheet.
After the final result, the service allotment list is published on the portal. Posting orders follow from the state government three to twelve months later.
11. Documents Checklist
- ☐ Bachelor’s degree — certificate and mark sheets
- ☐ Class 10 certificate — age proof
- ☐ Domicile / permanent residence certificate — decisive for reservation and, in some states, eligibility
- ☐ Caste / category certificate in the state format
- ☐ EWS certificate, where applicable
- ☐ PwBD certificate, where applicable
- ☐ Ex-servicemen discharge certificate, where applicable
- ☐ Photograph and signature to specification
- ☐ Printed admit card, original photo ID and a black ball-point pen
12. Assessment
State PSC is the most under-considered graduate opportunity in India, and the reason is that candidates evaluate it against UPSC rather than on its own terms.
What favours it:
- 60 to 70% syllabus overlap with UPSC — the preparation is largely shared
- Age limits to 40 or 42 in several states, against 32 for UPSC
- Attempts unlimited in RPSC, against 6 for UPSC General
- Higher vacancy counts relative to the applicant pool in several states
- Domicile advantage — home-state candidates compete against a smaller, defined field
- Hindi medium available across the Hindi-belt commissions
- Posts of genuine authority — Deputy Collector, DSP, BDO — with accommodation, vehicle and pension
What constrains it:
- Domicile — other-state candidates lose reservation entirely, and in TNPSC, KPSC and MPSC may be excluded altogether
- Attempts as low as 4 in UPPSC and BPSC for General candidates
- Age as low as 35 in CGPSC and JPSC
- Language papers are mandatory and qualifying
- Fees are not refunded
The recommendation: identify your domicile state first, then check its age limit, attempt limit and final-year clause. Those three determine whether it is a viable target. Then apply to your own state plus any state that permits General-category outside applicants — UPPSC, BPSC and RPSC among them — and run them in parallel with UPSC on a shared GS core.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I apply for another state’s PSC? Generally yes, but only as a General / Unreserved candidate — no caste reservation, no age relaxation, no fee concession. TNPSC, KPSC and MPSC restrict even General seats to state domicile holders, so verify the domicile clause before applying.
Q2. What is the age limit? It varies materially: MPSC 19–38, CGPSC and JPSC 21–35, BPSC 37 (38 for women), UPPSC, RPSC, MPPSC and KPSC 21–40, UKPSC, PPSC and HPSC 21–42. Relaxations differ by state, and the reference date differs — UPPSC counts age as on 1 July.
Q3. How many attempts do I get? UPPSC: 4 (General), 6 (OBC), unlimited (SC/ST). BPSC: 4 / 5 / unlimited. RPSC: no limit. Elsewhere the general pattern is 6 for General and 7–9 for OBC. Verify for your target state.
Q4. Can I prepare for UPSC and State PSC together? Yes, and many candidates clear both. The General Studies syllabus overlaps approximately 60 to 70%. Study state-specific topics — state history, geography, culture and current affairs — separately alongside UPSC preparation.
Q5. Can I sit two State PSC exams in the same year? Yes. Different state PSCs are separate authorities. Many candidates appear for UPPSC, BPSC and UPSC in parallel. Check that the examination dates do not clash.
Q6. Do Prelims marks count in the final merit? No. The Prelims is only a screening filter. Final selection is on Mains plus Interview marks.
Q7. Can final-year students apply? It depends on the state. UPPSC permits it. The BPSC position is reported inconsistently across sources — verify directly in the current notification.
Q8. Which State PSC is toughest? MPSC, TNPSC and UPPSC are consistently regarded as the most demanding, on account of large applicant volumes, high cut-offs and detailed syllabi. UPPSC and TNPSC also recruit the highest numbers across all groups in a given year, and Kerala PSC issues the highest number of individual notifications annually.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Eligibility, age limits and reference dates, attempt limits, domicile rules, final-year eligibility, examination structure, fees and dates are set individually by each State Public Service Commission and are revised periodically. Figures cited are drawn from recent and current cycles and differ between states. Secondary sources conflict on certain particulars, including BPSC’s final-year eligibility and age limit. Candidates must read the official notification of the concerned State Public Service Commission before applying and treat it as the final authority.