A balanced 2026 comparison of MPSC Group B vs Group C covering posts, exam pattern, negative marking, salary and difficulty, so you can pick the right target for your goals in Maharashtra.
The short answer to mpsc group b vs group c: pick Group B if you are a graduate chasing higher authority and pay, and pick Group C if you want an earlier, stable entry with a much larger intake. MPSC Group B fills mid-level non-gazetted officer posts, PSI (Police Sub Inspector), STI (State Tax Inspector) and ASO (Assistant Section Officer), all on pay level S-14. MPSC Group C fills entry-level posts like Clerk-Typist, Tax Assistant, Talathi, Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector (AMVI), Industry Inspector and Technical Assistant, spread across pay levels S-6 to S-14. Both are conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (mpsc.gov.in), both are bilingual in Marathi and English, and both now carry 1/4 (25 percent) negative marking under the Revised Scheme of Examination dated 20 May 2026, so switching your prep between them later is far easier than most aspirants think.
| Factor | MPSC Group B | MPSC Group C |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Mid-level, non-gazetted officer | Entry-level, non-gazetted |
| Sample posts | PSI, STI, ASO | Clerk-Typist, Tax Assistant, Talathi, AMVI |
| Typical eligibility | Graduate degree | 12th pass to graduate, post-wise |
| Pay level | S-14 (all three posts) | S-6 to S-14 (post-wise) |
| Negative marking | 1/4 (0.25 prelims, 0.5 mains) | 1/4 (0.25 per wrong) |
| 2026 cycle posts | 552 | 5,707 (revised per corrigendum dated 22 July 2026) |
The clearest difference is the level of the job. MPSC Group B is a combined examination for three mid-level officer posts: a PSI is the first-level investigating officer at a police station in the Home Department, an STI works in the State Tax (GST) Department on inspection and enforcement, and an ASO is a secretariat or Mantralaya desk officer processing government files. The 2026 Group B cycle carries 552 posts: PSI 310, STI 236 and ASO 6, with Prelims already held on 14 June 2026, the Prelims result declared on 1 July 2026 (about 9,253 candidates shortlisted for Mains) and Mains scheduled for 5 December 2026.
MPSC Group C sits one rung lower and fills the bulk of the state clerical and technical workforce. Advertisement No. 017/2026 originally announced 2,619 posts, but a corrigendum dated 22 July 2026 revised the intake to 5,707 posts (adding 3,088, including 1,539 Talathi or Gram Mahsul Adhikari posts now folded into Group C). The base cadres remain Clerk-Typist 1,864, AMVI 461, Tax Assistant 282, Industry Inspector 9 and Technical Assistant 3, with Talathi now the single largest added cadre. Clerk-Typist is clerical office work with a typing test, Tax Assistant supports the state sales tax and GST department, Talathi is a village-level revenue officer, and AMVI works in the Motor Vehicles Department at RTO offices. So Group B is about authority and investigation or administration, while Group C is a large, stable entry into government service, with AMVI the standout higher-pay technical post.
Both exams open with a Combined Preliminary paper of 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes, at degree standard, with 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer under the Revised Scheme dated 20 May 2026. The Prelims only shortlist you for post-wise Mains; its marks are not counted in the final merit. The Mains stage is where the two diverge in weight.
| Stage | MPSC Group B | MPSC Group C |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 100 Q / 100 marks / 60 min, neg 0.25 | 100 Q / 100 marks / 60 min, neg 0.25 |
| Mains Paper 1 (language) | Marathi 50 Q + English 50 Q = 100 Q / 200 marks | Marathi 60 Q / 120 marks + English 40 Q / 80 marks |
| Mains Paper 2 | Post-specific (PSI / STI / ASO), 100 Q / 200 marks | Post-wise GS plus aptitude |
| Mains negative marking | 1/4 (0.5 per wrong) | 1/4 (0.25 per wrong) |
| Extra stage | PSI only: Physical Test (100) + Interview (40) | Clerk-Typist: typing or skill test |
Two practical takeaways. First, Group B Mains carries 2 marks per question with 0.5 negative marking, so each wrong guess costs more, while Group C stays at the lighter 0.25 penalty throughout. Second, only Group B PSI adds a Physical Test and Interview, so uniform-post aspirants must plan for fitness too. The Prelims syllabus, however, overlaps almost entirely, which is why many aspirants prepare one Prelims and attempt both.
On entry pay, Group B is uniformly higher because all three posts sit on pay level S-14, whereas Group C spreads from S-6 to S-14. All figures below are anchored to Maharashtra 7th CPC pay levels and 60 percent DA effective 1 January 2026, as of July 2026; gross figures are our own estimate before HRA and deductions.
| Post | Group | Pay level | Basic + 60% DA (our estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSI / STI / ASO | Group B | S-14 | Basic ₹38,600, about ₹75,000 to ₹76,000 gross (X-city) |
| AMVI | Group C | S-14 | ₹38,600 + ₹23,160 = ₹61,760 |
| Tax Assistant | Group C | S-8 | ₹25,500 + ₹15,300 = ₹40,800 |
| Clerk-Typist | Group C | S-6 | ₹19,900 + ₹11,940 = ₹31,840 |
For Group B, all three posts (PSI, STI and ASO) share the S-14 scale of ₹38,600 to ₹1,22,800 with Grade Pay 4300, giving about ₹75,000 to ₹76,000 gross for an X-city posting before deductions. For Group C, the top post AMVI is on the same S-14 scale, so its basic plus DA of ₹61,760 already approaches Group B territory before HRA, while Tax Assistant (S-8) and Clerk-Typist (S-6) sit lower at about ₹40,800 and ₹31,840. In-hand for every post is somewhat below these gross figures after NPS and professional tax, and varies with the posting city.
Neither exam is objectively easier, because the Prelims pattern, marks and negative marking match. The real gap is in the Mains and the competition. Group B Mains goes deeper into post-specific law, taxation or secretariat administration, and its 0.5 negative marking per wrong answer punishes guesswork harder, while Group C Mains keeps a lighter 0.25 penalty. Group B draws graduates competing for far fewer high-value seats (552 posts), whereas Group C offers a much larger intake (5,707 posts as of July 2026, per the corrigendum dated 22 July 2026), which improves your statistical odds even though cut-offs stay competitive.
Use this simple framework:
MPSC Group B fills mid-level non-gazetted officer posts, PSI, STI and ASO, all on pay level S-14. MPSC Group C fills entry-level posts like Clerk-Typist, Tax Assistant, Talathi, AMVI, Industry Inspector and Technical Assistant across pay levels S-6 to S-14. Group B is about authority and investigation or administration, while Group C is a larger, more entry-friendly recruitment.
Both open with a Combined Prelims of 100 questions, 100 marks in 60 minutes with 0.25 negative marking, per the Revised Scheme dated 20 May 2026. Group B Mains carries 2 marks per question with 0.5 negative marking, while Group C Mains keeps 0.25. Only Group B PSI adds a Physical Test (100) and Interview (40); Clerk-Typist in Group C adds a typing test.
At entry, yes on average. Group B posts (PSI, STI, ASO) are all on S-14 with basic ₹38,600 and about ₹75,000 to ₹76,000 gross at 60 percent DA for an X-city posting, per our estimate. Group C ranges from Clerk-Typist at S-6 (₹31,840 basic plus DA) and Tax Assistant at S-8 (₹40,800) up to AMVI at S-14 (₹61,760), so the top Group C post approaches Group B pay.
At Prelims they feel similar since the pattern, marks and negative marking match. Group B is harder overall because its Mains goes deeper into post-specific law, taxation or administration, carries 0.5 negative marking, and competes graduates for only 552 posts. Group C has a lighter 0.25 Mains penalty and a larger 5,707-post intake (revised per the corrigendum dated 22 July 2026, up from 2,619).
Choose Group B if you are a graduate wanting officer authority and the highest entry pay and can prepare deeper Mains (plus fitness for PSI). Choose Group C for an earlier, stable entry with far more vacancies, or for a specific role like AMVI or Clerk-Typist. Because the Prelims overlap heavily, many graduates prepare once and attempt both in the same year.
Both MPSC Group B and Group C lead to a secure Maharashtra government career, and both now share the same Prelims format and 1/4 negative marking. Group B rewards graduates who want officer-level authority and the top S-14 pay; Group C rewards those who want an earlier entry, a much larger intake, and roles ranging from Clerk-Typist to the high-pay AMVI. Whichever you target, practise full-length mocks in the exact 2026 pattern on Quiz4Exam MPSC Group B and MPSC Group C. Read the deeper guides too: MPSC Group B salary and job profile 2026 and MPSC Group C syllabus and exam pattern 2026.
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MPSC Group B fills mid-level non-gazetted officer posts, PSI, STI and ASO, all on pay level S-14. MPSC Group C fills entry-level posts like Clerk-Typist, Tax Assistant, Talathi, AMVI, Industry Inspector and Technical Assistant across pay levels S-6 to S-14. Group B is about authority and investigation or administration, while Group C is a larger, more entry-friendly recruitment.
Both open with a Combined Prelims of 100 questions, 100 marks in 60 minutes with 0.25 negative marking, per the Revised Scheme dated 20 May 2026. Group B Mains carries 2 marks per question with 0.5 negative marking, while Group C Mains keeps 0.25. Only Group B PSI adds a Physical Test of 100 marks and an Interview of 40 marks; Clerk-Typist in Group C adds a typing test.
At entry, yes on average. Group B posts PSI, STI and ASO are all on S-14 with basic 38,600 rupees and about 75,000 to 76,000 rupees gross at 60 percent DA for an X-city posting, per our estimate. Group C ranges from Clerk-Typist at S-6 (31,840 rupees basic plus DA) and Tax Assistant at S-8 (40,800 rupees) up to AMVI at S-14 (61,760 rupees), so the top Group C post approaches Group B pay.
At Prelims they feel similar since the pattern, marks and negative marking match. Group B is harder overall because its Mains goes deeper into post-specific law, taxation or administration, carries 0.5 negative marking, and competes graduates for only 552 posts. Group C has a lighter 0.25 Mains penalty and a larger 5,707-post intake (revised per the corrigendum dated 22 July 2026, up from 2,619).
Choose Group B if you are a graduate wanting officer authority and the highest entry pay and can prepare deeper Mains, plus fitness for PSI. Choose Group C for an earlier, stable entry with far more vacancies, or for a specific role like AMVI or Clerk-Typist. Because the Prelims overlap heavily, many graduates prepare once and attempt both in the same year.
