CGPSC Exam Pattern 2026, Check Prelims and Mains Pattern
CGPSC Exam Pattern 2026 consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Prelims include two objective papers of General Studies and Aptitude. Each carries 200 marks with negative marking. The Mains examination consists of seven descriptive papers covering Language, Essay, and 5 General Studies subjects. Candidates who qualify Mains exam are called for the Interview. Final selection is based on Mains and Interview performance, which helps to assess overall knowledge, analytical ability, and suitability for administrative roles.
CGPSC 2026 Prelims Exam Pattern
Check the table to get an idea about CGPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2026:
| Paper | Duration | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (General Studies) | 2 hours | 100 | 200 |
| Paper 2 (Aptitude Test) | 2 hours | 100 | 200 |
CGPSC 2026 Mains Exam Pattern
Check the table to get an idea about CGPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2026:
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Language | 3 hours | 200 |
| Paper 2 | Essay | 3 hours | 200 |
| Paper 3 | General Studies 1 | 3 hours | 200 |
| Paper 4 | General Studies 2 | 3 hours | 200 |
| Paper 5 | General Studies 3 | 3 hours | 200 |
| Paper 6 | General Studies 4 | 3 hours | 200 |
| Paper 7 | General Studies 5 | 3 hours | 200 |
| TOTAL | 1400 |
CGPSC Interview 2026
CGPSC Interview round is attended by candidates who qualify the Mains exam. The interview is conducted for a total of 150 marks. It evaluates the candidate’s personality, communication skills, leadership qualities, decision-making ability, and overall suitability for administrative roles.
CGPSC interview marks are added to the final merit list along with the Mains exam scores. Candidates who qualify the interview round are then called for the next stage of the selection process, which is document verification.
CGPSC 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques: Are CGPSC Prelims marks included in the final merit list?
Ans: No, CGPSC Prelims marks are not counted in the final merit list. Only the marks from the Mains exam and the Interview are included in the final ranking.
Ques: What is the pattern of the CGPSC 2026 Prelims exam?
Ans: The CGPSC 2026 Prelims exam consists of 2 papers: Paper I: General Studies and Paper II: Aptitude Test (including reasoning, general mental ability, Chhattisgarhi/Hindi language etc.) Both papers are objective type, with negative marking (1/3rd mark for each wrong answer).
Ques: What is the pattern of the CGPSC 2026 Mains exam?
Ans: The CGPSC 2026 Mains exam consists of seven descriptive papers (each of 200 marks), including: Paper 1: Language (Hindi & English), Paper 2: Essay, and Papers 3 to 7: Various General Studies papers covering history, Constitution & public administration, science & technology, geography & economy, etc.
Ques: Is there negative marking in CGPSC 2026 Prelims?
Ans: Yes, there is negative marking in CGPSC 2026 Prelims. 0.33 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
Ques: What is the total aggregate score for CGPSC 2026 Prelims + Mains + Interview?
Ans: According to the standard pattern, the total includes 1400 from Mains, and 100 from the Interview.
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