Chhattisgarh State Service Mains Exam Admit Card 2026

The Chhattisgarh State Service Mains Examination is conducted by the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) to recruit candidates for various Group A and Group B civil services positions in the Chhattisgarh state government. This is the second stage of the examination process, following the Preliminary examination. Candidates who qualify the Prelims are eligible to appear for the Mains examination, which tests candidates on their in-depth knowledge of subjects including General Studies, Essay Writing, Hindi, and optional subjects. Successful candidates in the Mains examination are then called for a personality test (interview) before final selection. The examination leads to prestigious administrative, revenue, and other state civil service positions across various departments in Chhattisgarh. The 2026 Mains Admit Card will be released for candidates who have cleared the Prelims examination and are eligible to appear for the detailed written examination.

Typical / Indicative Timeline

Typical / Indicative Vacancy Distribution

Note: Chhattisgarh has higher ST reservation (around 32%) due to significant tribal population. Exact vacancies vary annually based on departmental requirements.

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institution
• Candidates appearing in the final year of their degree examination are also eligible to apply provisionally
• For specific posts, relevant degree qualifications may be required as per service rules
• Degrees obtained through Distance Education from UGC/AICTE recognized institutions are valid

Age Limit

Age as on January 1, 2026

Age Relaxation

Nationality

• Candidate must be a citizen of India
• Domicile of Chhattisgarh state is mandatory
• Valid Chhattisgarh domicile certificate must be produced at the time of document verification

1. Visit the official CGPSC website at www.psc.cg.gov.in
2. Click on the 'Apply Online' link for Chhattisgarh State Service Examination 2026
3. For new users, complete one-time registration by providing basic details (name, email, mobile number) and create login credentials
4. Login using registered credentials and fill the detailed application form with personal, educational, and category details
5. Upload scanned documents: recent photograph (20-50 KB, JPG format), signature (10-20 KB, JPG format), ID proof, educational certificates, and caste certificate (if applicable)
6. Select examination centre preference from the available options
7. Review all filled information carefully and make corrections if needed before final submission
8. Proceed to payment gateway and pay the application fee using Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI
9. After successful payment, submit the application form and note down the Registration Number/Application Number
10. Download and save the application confirmation page and payment receipt for future reference
11. Take printout of the completed application form for personal records

Application Fees

Payment gateway charges as applicable

1. Preliminary Examination (Screening Test): Objective type exam consisting of 100 questions for 200 marks covering General Studies and Aptitude. Duration is 2 hours. This is a qualifying examination and marks are not counted for final merit. Candidates securing minimum qualifying marks are eligible for Mains examination.

1. Main Examination (Written Test): Comprehensive written examination consisting of 7 papers covering General Studies (4 papers), Essay Writing (1 paper), Hindi Language (1 paper), and Optional Subject (1 paper). Total marks are 900. This is the main selection stage and marks obtained are counted for final merit ranking.

1. Personality Test/Interview: Candidates who qualify the Mains examination based on their rank and availability of vacancies are called for personality test. The interview is conducted for 150 marks to assess candidate's personality, communication skills, general awareness, and suitability for civil services.

1. Document Verification: Candidates qualifying the interview undergo thorough document verification where original certificates of educational qualification, age proof, caste certificate, domicile certificate, and other relevant documents are checked for authenticity.

1. Medical Examination: Selected candidates undergo medical fitness examination as per state government norms to ensure they meet the required health standards for civil service positions.

1. Final Merit List: Final merit is prepared based on total marks obtained in Mains Examination (900 marks) and Personality Test (150 marks), totaling 1050 marks. Candidates are allocated services/posts based on their merit rank and preference.

Preliminary Examination Pattern

Negative Marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer (0.66 marks per incorrect response)

Main Examination Pattern

Note: Paper V (Hindi) is qualifying in nature (minimum 25% required). Marks obtained are not counted for final merit. Total merit marks = 900 + 150 (Interview) = 1050 marks.

Negative Marking in Mains: No negative marking in descriptive papers

Paper I - General Studies I

• Indian Heritage and Culture: Ancient Indian history, medieval Indian history, art forms, literature, architecture, cultural heritage sites
• Modern Indian History: Freedom struggle, national movement, social and religious reform movements, post-independence consolidation
• Indian Geography: Physical geography of India, climate, natural resources, agriculture, industries, economic geography
• Chhattisgarh History: Ancient kingdoms, medieval period, freedom struggle in Chhattisgarh, formation of state
• Chhattisgarh Geography: Physical features, rivers, minerals, forest resources, tribes and culture of Chhattisgarh

Paper II - General Studies II

• Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution of India, fundamental rights and duties, directive principles, constitutional bodies, Parliament, Judiciary, federalism
• Chhattisgarh Administration: State government structure, state legislature, local governance, Panchayati Raj institutions
• Social Justice: Welfare schemes, vulnerable sections of society, mechanisms for protection of rights
• International Relations: India's foreign policy, bilateral and multilateral agreements, international organizations
• Governance Issues: Transparency, accountability, e-governance initiatives, citizen charters, RTI

Paper III - General Studies III

• Indian Economy: Economic development, planning, budgeting, taxation, banking, economic reforms
• Chhattisgarh Economy: State finances, industries, agriculture, mineral resources, state budget
• Science and Technology: Latest developments in science and technology, space technology, biotechnology, IT sector
• Environment and Ecology: Biodiversity, climate change, environmental pollution, conservation efforts
• Disaster Management: Types of disasters, mitigation strategies, disaster management in Chhattisgarh
• Internal Security: Security challenges, border management, role of external agencies

Paper IV - General Studies IV (Ethics)

• Ethics and Human Values: Essence, determinants and consequences of ethics, dimensions of ethics, ethics in public and private relationships
• Attitude: Content, structure, function, influence and relation with thought and behaviour
• Aptitude and Foundational Values: Integrity, impartiality, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance
• Emotional Intelligence: Concepts, utilities and application in administration
• Case Studies: Ethical dilemmas and case studies on probity in governance

Paper V - Hindi Language (Qualifying)

• Essay Writing: Essay on social, economic, political topics (300-350 words)
• Grammar: Sandhi, Samas, Prefix-Suffix, Idioms and Phrases, Synonyms and Antonyms, One-word substitution
• Comprehension: Unseen passage with questions
• Precis Writing: Summarizing given passage
• Letter Writing: Official and personal correspondence

Paper VI - Essay Writing

• Essays on topics of national and state importance
• Current issues, social themes, development issues, governance topics
• Analytical and argumentative essay writing
• Word limit: 1000-1200 words
• Choice of topics provided (usually 3-4 topics, write on any 2)

Optional Subject (Paper VII)

Candidates can choose ONE optional subject from the following list:

• Agriculture
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
• Anthropology
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Commerce and Accountancy
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Geography
• Geology
• History
• Law
• Management
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science and International Relations
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Zoology

Detailed syllabus for each optional subject is available in official notification

Typical / Indicative Salary Structure for Chhattisgarh State Service Officers

Additional Benefits: Medical facilities for self and family, LTC (Leave Travel Concession), government accommodation or HRA, pension benefits under National Pension Scheme (NPS), contributory provident fund, leave encashment, and various other allowances as per state government rules. Annual increments and promotions lead to salary progression within the pay scale.

Chhattisgarh State Service officers enjoy excellent career progression opportunities within the state administrative framework. Officers typically start at Group B level and can be promoted to Group A positions such as Deputy Collector, SDM, and higher administrative roles based on seniority, performance appraisals, and departmental promotion examinations. With experience of 10-15 years, officers can reach positions equivalent to Collector, Commissioner, or Secretary-level posts in various state departments, offering both professional growth and substantially enhanced pay scales reaching up to ₹2,25,000 per month at senior levels.

The CGPSC releases the Mains Admit Card approximately 2-3 weeks before the scheduled examination date on its official website www.psc.cg.gov.in. Candidates who have qualified the Preliminary examination can download their Mains Admit Card by logging into their account using their registration number and password or date of birth. The admit card contains crucial information including candidate's name, roll number, photograph, examination centre details, reporting time, and important instructions. Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid photo ID proof to the examination centre, as entry is strictly prohibited without these documents.

The Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission declares the Mains examination result typically 2-3 months after the completion of all papers. Results are published on the official CGPSC website in PDF format containing roll numbers of qualified candidates. The result includes category-wise cut-off marks and the list of candidates shortlisted for the Personality Test/Interview stage. Candidates can check their individual scorecard by logging into their account on the CGPSC portal. The final result, after completion of interviews, is declared with merit-wise allocation of services and posts based on candidates' preferences and rank secured.

The cutoff marks for Chhattisgarh State Service Mains examination vary annually based on exam difficulty, number of vacancies, and candidate performance. Typically, General category candidates need to score around 50-55% marks (450-495 out of 900) to qualify for the interview stage, while OBC candidates require approximately 45-50% (405-450 marks), and SC/ST candidates need around 40-45% (360-405 marks). The final selection cutoff after interview is usually higher, with General category candidates requiring around 55-60% aggregate marks (578-630 out of 1050 total marks including interview). Cutoffs can fluctuate by 2-3% based on yearly variations in vacancy numbers and overall candidate performance.

Chhattisgarh State Service Mains Examination Centres:

Within Chhattisgarh: Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg-Bhilai, Rajnandgaon, Korba, Raigarh, Jagdalpur, Ambikapur, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kanker, Kondagaon

Outside Chhattisgarh (if permitted):

• Central: Bhopal, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
• North: Delhi, Jaipur
• East: Ranchi, Patna
• West: Nagpur (Maharashtra)

Note: The primary examination centres are located within Chhattisgarh state. Most candidates appear at centres within the state. External centres may be arranged based on demand and administrative feasibility. Candidates can choose their preferred centre during application, subject to availability and CGPSC's final allocation.