NPSC Exam Pattern 2026, Check Detailed Prelims and Mains Pattern
NPSC 2026 exam pattern is structured into the prelims, mains and interview round. The prelims exam serves as a screening test and consists of objective-type questions carrying 200 marks. Candidates who qualify the prelims are eligible to appear for the Mains Exam, which includes 2 descriptive and an objective paper. The mains exam is evaluated on a total of 600 marks. Finally, shortlisted candidates of NPSC 2026 are called for an interview round to evaluate their knowledge, communication skills, and overall suitability for administrative roles.
NPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
NPSC Prelims 2026 is conducted as an objective-type test, which is evaluated on a total of 200 marks. The detailed NPSC Prelims 2026 exam pattern is given in the table below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of Questions | Objective Type |
| Marks | 200 |
| Number of Questions | 200 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Negative Marking | -0.33 for each wrong answer |
NPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2026
NPSC Mains 2026 exam consists of 3 papers, which are totalled out of 600 marks. The detailed NPSC mains exam pattern is given in the table below:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Type of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Essay, Comprehension, and Grammar | 200 | 3 hours | Descriptive |
| Paper 2 | General Studies Paper 1 | 200 | 3 hours | Objective |
| Paper 3 | General Studies Paper 2 | 200 | 3 hours | Descriptive |
| Total | 600 |
NPSC Interview 2026
Candidates qualifying the mains exam will be shortlisted for NPSC 2026 interview. It assesses their leadership skills, communication abilities, confidence, aptitude skills, ability for administration, general awareness, etc.
Candidates who clear the interview round will proceed to the document verification stage. During this process, they must submit their original documents, such as the domicile certificate, proof of passing of bachelor’s, valid ID proof, category certificate (if applicable), class 10 certificate, etc.
NPSC Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
Ques: Is there negative marking in NPSC 2026?
Ans: Yes. There is negative marking for objective-type questions. 0.33 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer. Descriptive questions do not have negative marking.
Ques: Are the marks of NPSC prelims counted in the final merit list?
Ans: No, the prelims marks of NPSC exam is not counted in the final merit list. The prelims is evaluated out of 200 marks.
Ques: Is the exam pattern same for all NPSC posts?
Ans: Yes, the exam pattern for all NPSC posts are the same. It consists of 3 rounds, namely the prelims, the mains and an interview.
Ques: Are all the papers in NPSC mains descriptive in nature?
Ans: No, all papers of NPSC mains are not descriptive in nature. General studies 1 (paper 2) is of an objective type.
Ques: What are the topics included in NPSC Prelims exam?
Ans: NPSC Prelims exam has included the topics general science, general awareness, history and geography, cultural aspects of Nagaland, reasoning ability, etc.
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