MH SET
Conducted by Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), acting as the State Agency for the Government of Maharashtra
About this exam
MH SET (Maharashtra State Eligibility Test) is conducted by Savitribai Phule Pune University as the State Agency for the Government of Maharashtra to determine eligibility for the post of Assistant Professor in universities and colleges of Maharashtra and Goa. It is an offline OMR examination held in two sessions on the same day: Paper I has 50 compulsory questions in one hour, and Paper II has 100 compulsory questions on the candidate's chosen subject in two hours. Every question carries two marks, each has four alternatives, and there is no negative marking, so a total of 300 marks is on offer. Paper I is general in nature and common to all 32 subjects, testing teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness. Every question is printed in both English and Marathi.
Eligibility
A master's degree or equivalent in the subject chosen for Paper II, with at least 55% marks (50% for reserved categories and persons with disability, as notified). Candidates in the final year of their master's may appear provisionally. There is no upper age limit, because MH SET qualifies a candidate for Assistant Professor only and does not award a research fellowship. Confirm exact criteria against the live SET Prospectus for the cycle you are applying to.
Important Dates
The 41st MH SET is CONFIRMED for 25 October 2026, with admit cards from 15 October 2026, per the SET State Agency's Important Dates page. That sitting was postponed three times: the Prospectus as advertised set it at 26 July 2026, it was then moved to 27 September 2026, and the agency's clearance notification of 13 September 2026 moved it to 25 October, citing clashes with UPSC and other competitive exams and travel difficulty around Anant Chaturdashi. Earlier sittings were 15 June 2025, 7 April 2024 and 26 March 2023, so the cycle is roughly annual. Verify against setexam.unipune.ac.in before relying on any later cycle.
Exam Pattern
| Section | Qs | Marks | Negative | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching & Research Aptitude (Paper I) | 50 | 100 | - | 60 min |
| Total | 50 | 100 | 60 min |
One timer for the whole paper. No negative marking.
| Section | Qs | Marks | Negative | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commerce (Paper II) | 100 | 200 | - | 120 min |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 120 min |
One timer for the whole paper. No negative marking.
| Section | Qs | Marks | Negative | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Paper II) | 100 | 200 | - | 120 min |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 120 min |
One timer for the whole paper. No negative marking.
| Section | Qs | Marks | Negative | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathi Literature (Paper II) | 100 | 200 | - | 120 min |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 120 min |
One timer for the whole paper. No negative marking.
Pattern as configured for our mock tests. Always confirm against the official notification.
Exam Tiers
Available Test Series
Official Previous Papers
Real papers on the official source, with our topic analysis. Practise the pattern with our original PYQ-pattern mocks.
The 41st-cycle precursor paper. 50 compulsory questions, 2 marks each, 100 marks in 60 minutes, four options labelled (A) to (D), and no negative marking. Printed bilingually with the English and Marathi versions of every question in the same booklet, and the Scheme of Examination makes the English version final in any dispute over translation. The booklet carries four codes A to D with the same questions in a different order, which is why our own mocks re-order options per paper rather than fixing one sequence.
Same 50-question, 100-mark, 60-minute shape. Useful as the most recent paper set to the current updated syllabus before the 2025 sitting, and a good check on whether MH SET's unit balance is stable year to year rather than drifting.
The first sitting under the updated syllabi that the portal says apply from 26 March 2023, which makes it the earliest paper fully comparable with the current pattern. Note the file lives under the SET_2022 folder despite being the 2023 exam, an artefact of the portal's own foldering.
Pre-dates the updated syllabi, so treat its unit balance as indicative rather than binding. Still valuable for question FORMAT, which has been stable across the decade.
Held in December 2020 after the pandemic postponement, which is why the paper file is named JUN00120 while the exam and its key are dated December. Pre-dates the updated syllabi.
The oldest sitting for which both the paper and its final answer key are published together on the portal. Pre-dates the updated syllabi.
Papers are hosted by the official source; linked, not copied. (Savitribai Phule Pune University, SET State Agency - official portal)
Frequently asked questions
No. Quiz4Exam is an independent practice platform. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any exam-conducting body. We use the MH SET name only to identify the exam you are practicing for.
Yes. There is a free starter series for MH SET with full mocks and sectional samples. Premium series, exam packages, and subscriptions unlock the full set.
Yes. Every test mirrors the real MH SET pattern, timing, and marking scheme, including sectional time limits and negative marking where applicable.
MH SET practice is available in English and Marathi. You can switch language any time during a test.
Yes. Scoring is instant, with section-wise analysis, an indicative All India Rank, and percentile.