What is the timing structure of the GPSC Class 1-2 exam?

One 3 hr overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only. You can move freely between sections and questions at any time. The timer cannot be paused once started. One 3 hr overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only. You can move freely between sections and questions at any time. The timer cannot be paused once started.

Is there negative marking in GPSC Class 1-2?

Yes — General Studies: −0.333 per wrong answer; General Studies: −0.333 per wrong answer.

GPSC Class 1-2

Cycle 2025

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

DRAFT — unverified

Unverified — pending official notification check.

Pattern from commission website and official notifications.

Exam pattern

1.Preliminary Examination

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Paper I — General Studies

Main Session

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
General Studies	Not timed separately	200	1	−0.333	Scored

Start mock test

Timing & navigation rules

One 3 hr overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only.
You can move freely between sections and questions at any time.
The timer cannot be paused once started.

Paper II — General Studies

Main Session

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
General Studies	Not timed separately	200	1	−0.333	Scored

Start mock test

Timing & navigation rules

One 3 hr overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only.
You can move freely between sections and questions at any time.
The timer cannot be paused once started.

2.Main Examination

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Descriptive papers as per GPSC pattern.

3.Interview

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Personality test.

Notes from the official source

Preliminary Examination · Paper I — General Studies · Main Session — qualifying criteria

Merit paper for Mains shortlisting.

Preliminary Examination · Paper II — General Studies · Main Session — qualifying criteria

Merit paper for Mains shortlisting.

Main Examination — note

Descriptive papers as per GPSC pattern.

Interview — note

Personality test.

Official syllabus

Source: GPSC official Combined Competitive Examination notification — scheme & syllabus (gpsc.gujarat.gov.in) · official document

Prelims

Paper 1: General Studies I (200 questions, 200 marks, 3 hours)

History of India and cultural heritage (Indus Valley Civilisation; Vedic age, Jainism and Buddhism; Mauryas and Guptas; Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara and Mughal empires; Bhakti movement and Sufism; Gujarat dynasties — Chaulukya/Solanki, Vaghela; Gujarat Sultanate; Gujarat under Mughals, Marathas and Gaekwads)
Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations
Mental ability

Paper 2: General Studies II (200 questions, 200 marks, 3 hours)

Indian economy and planning
Geography — physical geography of India and the world; Gujarat geography (Rann of Kutch, Gir, Gulf of Khambhat, rivers)
Science and technology
Current events of regional, national and international importance

Mains

Paper 1: Gujarati (150 marks, 3 hours, descriptive)

Essay (250–300 words)
Elaboration of ideas / thought expansion
Precis writing
Comprehension
Letter writing
Report writing
Translation (English to Gujarati)
Gujarati grammar

Paper 2: English (150 marks, 3 hours, descriptive)

Essay (250–300 words)
Letter writing
Report writing
Comprehension and precis
Grammar and vocabulary

Paper 3: Essay (150 marks, 3 hours)

Three essays from a choice of topics — descriptive, analytical, philosophical or based on current affairs

Paper 4: General Studies I — History, Culture and Geography (150 marks)

Ancient, medieval and modern Indian history with emphasis on Gujarat
Cultural heritage of Gujarat — Somnath, Modhera, Champaner, Rani ki Vav
Freedom struggle — Dandi March, Bardoli Satyagraha
Post-independence India and formation of Gujarat (1960)
Geography of India and Gujarat

Paper 5: General Studies II — Polity, Public Administration and Ethics (150 marks)

Indian Constitution — fundamental rights, DPSPs, fundamental duties
Parliament, state legislature, governor and chief minister
Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies in Gujarat
Gujarat administrative structure — collector, mamlatdar, taluka system
Public policy, social sector, RTI, public grievances
Ethics and public administration

Paper 6: General Studies III — Science, Economics and Current Events (150 marks)

Indian economy — GDP, fiscal policy, union budget, monetary policy
Gujarat economy — GSDP, industrial corridors, agriculture and cooperatives
Science and technology — space, defence, digital India
Social justice — scheduled areas, tribal welfare, SEBC
Current events of regional, national and international importance

Interview (Personality Test, 100 marks)

Combined Competitive Examination for Gujarat Administrative Service Class-1, Gujarat Civil Services Class-1 & 2, and Gujarat Municipal Chief Officer Service Class-2. Prelims: 2 papers x 200 marks, 3 hours each, 1/3rd negative marking. Mains: Gujarati + English + Essay + 3 GS papers (150 each) = 900; interview 100; merit = 1000.

Previous cutoffs

Source: GPSC official Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination result notices with category-wise qualifying standards (as published on gpsc.gujarat.gov.in)

GPSC Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination 2025 (Advt. 2024-25; exam 20 Apr 2025, result 5 Jul 2025; 17 GS questions cancelled, pro-rata scoring)· Prelims

EWS: 89.51
EWS (Female): 81.42
General: 89.51
General (Female): 81.42
SC: 89.51
SC (Female): 81.42
SEBC: 89.51
SEBC (Female): 81.42
ST: 82.19
ST (Female): 69.73

GPSC Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination 2023 (Advt. 20/2022-23; exam 8 Jan 2023, result 19 Apr 2023; 3,806 qualified)· Prelims

EWS: 184.77
EWS (Female): 163.56
General: 184.77
General (Female): 163.56
SC: 184.77
SC (Female): 163.56
SEBC: 184.77
SEBC (Female): 163.56
ST: 169.73
ST (Female): 134.12

GPSC Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination 2021 cycle (revised result 25 Jan 2022)· Prelims

EWS: 121.2
General: 121.2
General (Female): 100.44
SC: 121.2
SC (Female): 100.44
SEBC: 121.2
SEBC (Female): 100.44
ST: 99.32
ST (Female): 85.81

Prelims is out of 400 marks (2 papers x 200). GPSC publishes cutoffs separately for common and female lists within each category; ex-servicemen and PwD sub-category cutoffs also exist but are not listed here.

Sources

Untitled document

Exam pattern

1.Preliminary Examination

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Paper I — General Studies

Main Session

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
General Studies	Not timed separately	200	1	−0.333	Scored

Start mock test

Timing & navigation rules

One 3 hr overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only.
You can move freely between sections and questions at any time.
The timer cannot be paused once started.

Paper II — General Studies

Main Session

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
General Studies	Not timed separately	200	1	−0.333	Scored

Start mock test

Timing & navigation rules

One 3 hr overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only.
You can move freely between sections and questions at any time.
The timer cannot be paused once started.

2.Main Examination

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Descriptive papers as per GPSC pattern.

3.Interview

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Personality test.

Notes from the official source

Preliminary Examination · Paper I — General Studies · Main Session — qualifying criteria

Merit paper for Mains shortlisting.

Preliminary Examination · Paper II — General Studies · Main Session — qualifying criteria

Merit paper for Mains shortlisting.

Main Examination — note

Descriptive papers as per GPSC pattern.

Interview — note

Personality test.

Official syllabus

Source: GPSC official Combined Competitive Examination notification — scheme & syllabus (gpsc.gujarat.gov.in) · official document

Prelims

Paper 1: General Studies I (200 questions, 200 marks, 3 hours)

History of India and cultural heritage (Indus Valley Civilisation; Vedic age, Jainism and Buddhism; Mauryas and Guptas; Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara and Mughal empires; Bhakti movement and Sufism; Gujarat dynasties — Chaulukya/Solanki, Vaghela; Gujarat Sultanate; Gujarat under Mughals, Marathas and Gaekwads)
Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations
Mental ability

Paper 2: General Studies II (200 questions, 200 marks, 3 hours)

Indian economy and planning
Geography — physical geography of India and the world; Gujarat geography (Rann of Kutch, Gir, Gulf of Khambhat, rivers)
Science and technology
Current events of regional, national and international importance

Mains

Paper 1: Gujarati (150 marks, 3 hours, descriptive)

Essay (250–300 words)
Elaboration of ideas / thought expansion
Precis writing
Comprehension
Letter writing
Report writing
Translation (English to Gujarati)
Gujarati grammar

Paper 2: English (150 marks, 3 hours, descriptive)

Essay (250–300 words)
Letter writing
Report writing
Comprehension and precis
Grammar and vocabulary

Paper 3: Essay (150 marks, 3 hours)

Three essays from a choice of topics — descriptive, analytical, philosophical or based on current affairs

Paper 4: General Studies I — History, Culture and Geography (150 marks)

Ancient, medieval and modern Indian history with emphasis on Gujarat
Cultural heritage of Gujarat — Somnath, Modhera, Champaner, Rani ki Vav
Freedom struggle — Dandi March, Bardoli Satyagraha
Post-independence India and formation of Gujarat (1960)
Geography of India and Gujarat

Paper 5: General Studies II — Polity, Public Administration and Ethics (150 marks)

Indian Constitution — fundamental rights, DPSPs, fundamental duties
Parliament, state legislature, governor and chief minister
Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies in Gujarat
Gujarat administrative structure — collector, mamlatdar, taluka system
Public policy, social sector, RTI, public grievances
Ethics and public administration

Paper 6: General Studies III — Science, Economics and Current Events (150 marks)

Indian economy — GDP, fiscal policy, union budget, monetary policy
Gujarat economy — GSDP, industrial corridors, agriculture and cooperatives
Science and technology — space, defence, digital India
Social justice — scheduled areas, tribal welfare, SEBC
Current events of regional, national and international importance

Interview (Personality Test, 100 marks)

Previous cutoffs

Source: GPSC official Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination result notices with category-wise qualifying standards (as published on gpsc.gujarat.gov.in)

GPSC Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination 2025 (Advt. 2024-25; exam 20 Apr 2025, result 5 Jul 2025; 17 GS questions cancelled, pro-rata scoring)· Prelims

EWS: 89.51
EWS (Female): 81.42
General: 89.51
General (Female): 81.42
SC: 89.51
SC (Female): 81.42
SEBC: 89.51
SEBC (Female): 81.42
ST: 82.19
ST (Female): 69.73

GPSC Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination 2023 (Advt. 20/2022-23; exam 8 Jan 2023, result 19 Apr 2023; 3,806 qualified)· Prelims

EWS: 184.77
EWS (Female): 163.56
General: 184.77
General (Female): 163.56
SC: 184.77
SC (Female): 163.56
SEBC: 184.77
SEBC (Female): 163.56
ST: 169.73
ST (Female): 134.12

GPSC Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination 2021 cycle (revised result 25 Jan 2022)· Prelims

EWS: 121.2
General: 121.2
General (Female): 100.44
SC: 121.2
SC (Female): 100.44
SEBC: 121.2
SEBC (Female): 100.44
ST: 99.32
ST (Female): 85.81