MPSC Advertisement No. 117/2025

Maharashtra Group B (Non-Gazetted) Services Combined Preliminary Examination 2025

Date of Advertisement: 29 July 2025
Conducting Body: Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) has released Advertisement No. 117/2025 for the Group B (Non-Gazetted) Services Combined Preliminary Examination 2025. This competitive examination aims to fill various prestigious Group B posts in different departments of the Government of Maharashtra, including State Tax Inspector (STI), Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector (AMVI), Assistant Town Planner, and Assistant Development Officer. Among these, the post of State Tax Inspector (STI) is one of the most sought-after due to its attractive salary structure, administrative responsibilities, and career growth. The STI plays a critical role in the Finance Department under the Sales Tax wing, where their duties include tax collection, enforcement of tax laws, audits, inspections, and dealing with tax evasion cases. The STI is a field-level officer who reports to higher authorities like Assistant Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Sales Tax.

As per the advertisement, the online application process for the MPSC Group B exam has commenced on 29th July 2025, and the last date to apply is 19th August 2025. Candidates are advised to visit the official website https://mpsc.gov.in and complete the application through the Online Application System (OAS). The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled to be held on 5th October 2025, while the Main Examination will likely be conducted between December 2025 and February 2026, depending on the post. Only those who clear the prelims will be eligible to appear for the mains exam.

To be eligible for the STI post, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. The minimum age limit for STI is 18 years, while the maximum age is 38 years for candidates from the general category. Age relaxation is applicable for candidates belonging to reserved categories as per the Government of Maharashtra norms. Candidates must also possess adequate knowledge of the Marathi language. There is no physical test for the STI post, unlike the PSI post, making it more accessible for candidates who prefer administrative roles over physically demanding ones.

The Preliminary Examination will be an objective-type test consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions from General Studies. The paper carries 100 marks and must be completed in one hour. Negative marking is applicable, with 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer. The questions will be based on subjects such as Indian polity, economics, current affairs, geography, history, general science, and reasoning. This exam acts as a screening test, and the marks scored in prelims will not be counted for the final merit list.

Candidates who qualify in the prelims will be called for the Main Examination, which is more comprehensive and post-specific. For STI, the Mains exam comprises two papers – Paper I (Marathi, English, and General Knowledge) and Paper II (General Ability and Knowledge relevant to the STI post). Each paper carries 100 marks, and the duration for each paper is one hour. The questions in the mains exam will test the candidate’s in-depth understanding of public administration, taxation laws, governance, and analytical skills. The final merit list will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the main exam, subject to document verification and other formalities.

The salary of a State Tax Inspector is based on the 7th Pay Commission and falls under Pay Band: ₹38,600 – ₹1,22,800 along with Grade Pay and other allowances like HRA, DA, travel allowances, and medical benefits. In-hand salary ranges between ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 per month, depending on the posting location. STIs are often posted in urban locations, with regular office timings, and have opportunities for career progression to posts like Sales Tax Officer, Assistant Commissioner, and eventually Deputy Commissioner through departmental promotions and MPSC’s departmental exams.

The application fee for the exam is ₹544 for General category candidates and ₹344 for candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, and EWS. Candidates must pay the fee online using internet banking, debit card, or UPI. The MPSC has also provided a reservation for candidates with benchmark disabilities under various categories such as blindness (B), low vision (LV), hearing impairment (HH), orthopedically handicapped (OA, OL, etc.), and others.

Candidates are advised to thoroughly read the official advertisement PDF available on the MPSC website to understand the exact eligibility, post distribution, important dates, and syllabus. Preparation for STI requires consistent study, solving previous year’s papers, staying updated with current affairs, and practicing mock tests. Since STI is one of the high-ranking non-gazetted posts under the Finance Department, aspirants should aim for a high score in the mains exam to secure this post.

In conclusion, Advertisement No. 117/2025 presents a golden opportunity for aspiring candidates to join the prestigious State Tax Department through the MPSC Group B exam. With a structured selection process, attractive salary, job stability, and ample scope for promotion, the STI post continues to be a top choice among Maharashtra’s civil service aspirants. Interested candidates must not delay and apply before the deadline to ensure they are part of this highly competitive recruitment process.

Notes

• The notification serves as the official call for candidates to apply for Group B posts through a single combined examination.

• Candidates must read the full notification carefully on the MPSC website before applying.

• Post-specific qualifications, physical requirements (especially for PSI and AMVI), and detailed syllabi are available in the full PDF and on the official portal.