State PSC Exams — Complete Guide
What are State PSC Exams?
Every Indian state has a Public Service Commission (PSC) that recruits for Group I, II, and III posts in the state government. These are among the most prestigious jobs in each state.
Major State PSCs and Their Exams
| State | PSC | Major Exam | Key Posts |
|---|
|-------|-----|------------|-----------|
| Tamil Nadu | TNPSC | Group I/II/IV | DSP, BDO, Commercial Tax Officer, Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | KPSC | KAS | Deputy Collector, DSP, Tahsildar |
| Maharashtra | MPSC | Maharashtra Civil Services | Deputy Collector, DSP, Revenue Officer |
| Andhra Pradesh | APPSC | Group I/II/III | Deputy Collector, DSP, Assistants |
| Telangana | TSPSC | Group I/II | Deputy Collector, DSP |
| Uttar Pradesh | UPPSC | PCS | SDM, CDPO, Dy. SP |
| Madhya Pradesh | MPPSC | State Services | Deputy Collector, DSP, Child Development Officer |
| Rajasthan | RPSC | RAS | Administrative Services, Police Service |
| Bihar | BPSC | Combined Civil Services | Deputy Collector, DSP |
| West Bengal | WBPSC | WBCS | Executive Officer, Police Service |
| Kerala | Kerala PSC | KAS | Deputy Collector, DSP |
| Gujarat | GPSC | Gujarat Civil Services | Deputy Collector, DSP |
Common Exam Pattern (Group I Level)
Preliminary Examination
Main Examination (Written — Descriptive)
Paper 1: General Studies I (History, Geography, Social Issues)
Paper 2: General Studies II (Polity, Governance, Economy)
Paper 3: General Studies III (Technology, Environment, Disaster Management)
Paper 4: General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude)
Optional Paper 1 & 2 (Subject chosen by candidate — literature, history, public admin, economics, etc.)
Language Paper (State language + English)
Essay (1–2 essays on social/contemporary topics)
Interview/Personality Test
State-Specific Content — What to Prepare
History
Geography
Polity (State-specific)
Current Affairs (State-focused)
Preparation Strategy
UPSC + State = Efficient Preparation
70% of the syllabus overlaps with UPSC Civil Services. Preparing for UPSC gives a strong foundation for State PSC exams.
State-specific additions (30%):
Resources:
Key difference from UPSC Mains: State PSC mains tests more state-specific knowledge. Generic UPSC answers about national schemes need to be supplemented with state implementation details.