State PSC Exams Explained: TSPSC, APPSC, TNPSC, KPSC and MPSC

Last updated: 13 October 2026 · By the Asuraa Team

Quick answer: State PSC exams are run by each state's Public Service Commission, which Article 320 of the Constitution tasks with conducting examinations for appointments to the state's services. TSPSC, APPSC, TNPSC, KPSC and MPSC each set their own exam groups, age limits, language rules and stages, with degree-level exams for top posts. Because rules differ by state and cycle, check each commission's official notification before you apply.

Key takeaways

• Article 315 of the Constitution provides for a Public Service Commission for each state, and Article 320 tasks it with conducting examinations for appointments to the state's services.
• State PSC members are appointed by the Governor and hold office for six years or until age 62, whichever comes first, under Article 316.
• TSPSC, APPSC, TNPSC, KPSC and MPSC each set their own exam groups, age bands, language requirements and selection stages in each notification.
• Most state commissions use a one-time registration profile, and TSPSC asks candidates to update their OTR details to apply for upcoming notifications.
• State PSC papers give real weight to the state's own history, geography, economy and schemes, so a UPSC-only preparation leaves gaps.

What is a State PSC exam?

A State PSC exam is a recruitment exam run by a state's Public Service Commission to fill posts in that state's civil services, from deputy collector and police officer posts down to clerical and assistant posts. Telangana (TSPSC, now styled TGPSC), Andhra Pradesh (APPSC), Tamil Nadu (TNPSC), Karnataka (KPSC) and Maharashtra (MPSC) each run their own calendar and rules.

The constitutional basis is simple. Article 315 provides for a Public Service Commission for each state, and Article 320 makes it the commission's duty to conduct examinations for appointments to the state's services (Constitution of India, Part XIV). Members are appointed by the Governor and serve six years or until 62, whichever is earlier, and each commission reports annually to the Governor. That is why every state commission is independent, and why a rule in Tamil Nadu tells you nothing about the rule in Karnataka.

If you are weighing a state service career against a corporate one, read government job vs private IT job first.

How do the five state commissions compare?

Each commission runs a top-tier exam for gazetted officer posts and separate exams for middle and lower-grade posts, with its own eligibility and selection stages set in each notification.

Treat this table as a map, not a rulebook. The exact degree, minimum age, maximum age, local-language test and number of stages are fixed in each notification, and they change between cycles. For any exam you plan to sit, check the official notification on the commission's site.

Who is eligible for State PSC exams?

You are generally eligible for the top-tier State PSC exams if you hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised university and fall within the age band and other conditions of the notification; lower-grade exams may accept lower qualifications. Beyond that, the conditions differ by state and by post.

The age band is the condition most often misread. Each state sets its own minimum and maximum ages and its own relaxations for reserved categories, and some revise them by government order between notifications. Do not assume your state's limit matches UPSC's; our UPSC civil services guide covers the central rules separately.

How do you register for a State PSC exam?

Most commissions use a one-time registration (OTR) profile that you create once and then use to apply for each notification.

1. Create your OTR on the commission's official site with your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and email.
2. Fill your education, community and local-candidate details exactly as on your certificates.
3. Keep the OTR updated. TSPSC's site, for example, tells candidates to update their OTR details to apply for upcoming notifications, citing a new presidential order (TSPSC).
4. Apply to each notification separately within its window and pay the fee.
5. Download hall tickets only from the official site.

The TNPSC site lists a toll-free helpline, 1800 425 1002, for candidate queries (TNPSC). MPSC's site is an application that needs JavaScript enabled in your browser (MPSC), so use a full browser rather than a basic in-app viewer.

How do you read a State PSC notification quickly?

Read a State PSC notification in a fixed order: posts and qualifications, age and its reference date, reservation and local-candidate rules, scheme of examination, then dates and fee. Doing it in that order tells you within ten minutes whether to apply.

Start with the list of posts and the qualification each one needs, because a single notification can bundle posts with different degree requirements. Next, find the age clause and the date on which age is counted; a day either side can decide eligibility. Then read the reservation section, including any local-candidate or language conditions, to see which seats you can actually compete for.

The scheme of examination comes next. Note how many papers there are, which are qualifying and which count for merit, and whether there is an interview. Only then look at the application window and fee. Save the PDF and the syllabus annexure, because commissions sometimes revise notification pages and you will want the version you applied under.

What do most guides on State PSC exams get wrong?

Most guides copy the UPSC preparation model and tell state aspirants to read the same national-level books. State PSC papers give real weight to the state's own history, geography, economy, culture and government schemes, and several states test or require the local language. A Telangana candidate who knows national polity well but cannot explain the state's formation or its welfare schemes is underprepared.

The second error is chasing every notification. Writing Group I, Group II, Group IV and a bank exam in one year spreads preparation thin. Pick one primary exam that matches your degree and age, and one back-up with an overlapping syllabus, such as the SSC CGL and CHSL guide for general studies and aptitude.

What does a 90-day State PSC preparation plan look like?

A 90-day plan should cover general studies first, then the state-specific layer, then answer writing and mocks. It will not finish a Group I syllabus, but it will make you ready for a preliminary exam or a lower-grade exam.

1. Days 1 to 10: Download the last notification and syllabus for your target exam and list every topic. Create or update your OTR.
2. Days 11 to 35: Cover Indian polity, history, geography and economy basics from standard school textbooks of your state board.
3. Days 36 to 55: Build the state layer: state history, geography, economy, budget highlights and major government schemes, in your state language where the exam uses it.
4. Days 56 to 70: Add aptitude and mental ability daily for 45 minutes, and current affairs for 30 minutes.
5. Days 71 to 85: Take two full preliminary mocks a week. If your target has a descriptive Main, write one answer a day.
6. Days 86 to 90: Revise, check hall ticket instructions, and plan exam-day travel.

Keep a back-up in view. The IBPS PO, Clerk and SBI guide and the railway jobs guide share much of the aptitude syllabus, and engineers can add the PSU jobs through GATE guide. For the full map of central and state options, start from the government jobs in India guide.

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FAQ

What is the difference between UPSC and State PSC exams?

UPSC recruits for all-India and central services, while each State PSC recruits for its own state's services under Article 320 of the Constitution. State exams set their own age limits, local-language rules and syllabus, and give weight to the state's history, geography and schemes. Officers selected by a State PSC serve in that state's administration.

Can a candidate from another state apply for TNPSC or TSPSC?

Often yes, but rules on local candidates, reservation and language can limit your chances. Some states reserve a share of posts for local candidates or test the state language. Read the eligibility and reservation sections of the specific notification on the commission's official site before applying from outside the state.

What is OTR in State PSC exams?

OTR is one-time registration, a profile you create once on the commission's website and reuse for every notification. You still apply separately to each exam. Keep your OTR details current; TSPSC's site, for example, asks candidates to update their OTR information to be able to apply for upcoming notifications.

What is the age limit for State PSC Group 1 exams?

It depends on the state, the post and the cycle. Each commission sets its own minimum and maximum age and its own relaxations for reserved categories, and some states revise limits by government order between notifications. Check the age clause and reference date in the current notification on the commission's official website.

Which State PSC exam should a fresh graduate start with?

Start with the exam that matches your degree and your state of domicile, and pick one primary target rather than every notification. Lower-grade group exams have shorter syllabi and suit a first attempt, while Group I-type exams need longer preparation with a descriptive Main. Keep one back-up exam with an overlapping syllabus.

Final thoughts

State PSC exams reward candidates who know their own state deeply and read every notification carefully, because no two commissions use identical rules. Choose one primary exam, keep your OTR current and build the state layer early. To plan a back-up path alongside, try Asuraa's career path planner.