The Nagaland Government has revamped the overall structure of the Nagaland Public Service Commission Examination. One of the major changes has been made in the prelims. So, understanding the NPSC Prelims New Pattern is essential for all the candidates looking forward to sitting in the NPSC Examination. Questions like “How many marks?” and “How many questions?” are natural for any student. In this article, we will discuss the new NPSC Prelims Pattern in simple terms
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What is the NPSC Prelims’ new pattern?
The NPSC Prelims pattern has been changed to make it more aligned with the UPSC structure. This has also been done to make the exam more competitive and eliminate random guesswork. Under the new NPSC Prelims pattern, candidates will have to attempt 100 MCQs. The paper will carry 200 marks in total. The exam duration will be 2 hours. This means each question will carry 2 marks.
Moreover, the biggest change is the introduction of negative marks. For every wrong answer, 0.66 marks will be deducted. Now, the exam is no longer just about attempting more questions. Accuracy will play a vital role. To understand better, let us compare it with the old pattern.
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| Old NPSC Prelims Pattern | New NPSC Prelims Pattern |
| 200 MCQs | 100 MCQs |
| 200 marks | 200 marks |
| 1 mark per Question | 2 marks per question |
| 3 hours | 2 hours |
| No negative marking | One-third marks deducted for wrong answers(0.66) |
| Screening test | Screening test |
NPSC Prelims Pattern: Key Highlights
The key highlights of NPSC Prelims Pattern are as follows-
- One objective-type paper: There will be one Objective-type paper in Prelims. Candidates must choose the correct option from the options given below
- Number of Questions reduced: The paper will now have 100 MCQs. Previously, the NPSC Prelims were conducted for 200 MCQs
- The total marks remain the same: The total marks of Prelims will be 200. Each question will carry one mark.
- Duration of the exam: Reduced to 2 hours from the previous 3 hours.
- Negative marking: There will be negative marking for incorrect answers. One-third of the marks allotted to a question will be deducted for every incorrect answer, i.e., 0.66. So, random guessing can reduce the final score
200 Marks and 100 MCQs: What Has Changed?
The NPSC has increased the weightage of each question, while the total marks remain the same. The NPSC Prelims New Pattern will now have 100 MCQs for a total of 200 marks. This means that each question will carry 2 marks each. Now, the value of each question becomes more important. Moreover, the duration of the exam is reduced from 3 hours to 2 hours. This will require better time management and MCQ-solving aptitude from the candidates. In brief-
- The number of questions is reduced from 200 to 100
- Total Marks remain the same- 200
- Each question will carry 2 marks, up from the earlier 1 mark
- The duration has been reduced from 3 Hours to 2 Hours
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What is the negative marking in NPSC Prelims?
This is probably the biggest change. Under the revised pattern,1/3rd of the marks allotted to a question will be deducted for every wrong answer. Since each question carries 2 marks, a wrong answer will lead to a deduction of around 0.66 marks. Earlier, there was no negative marking scheme in the NPSC Prelims. Here is the simple calculation:
- Correct answer: +2 marks
- Wrong answer: -0.66
- Unattempted question: 0 marks
Outcomes of negative marking in NPSC Prelims-
- Candidates will need better accuracy from now onwards in the NPSC Prelims
- Random guessing may lead to a reduction in overall marks.
- Mock test practice will become a must for NPSC Prelims
- Practising other states’ PYQs can give you a rough idea about the NPSC Prelims
- MCQ aptitude becomes crucial.
- Practing time bound exam simulation mocks becomes important
NPSC Prelims Subject-Wise Marks Distribution
The revised NPSC Prelims paper carries a total of 200 marks. The paper will have 100 MCQs, with each question carrying 2 marks.
As per the new syllabus, the subject-wise marks distribution is given below:
| Subject/Topic | Marks |
| General Science | 30 marks |
| History | 20 marks |
| Nagaland | 30 marks |
| Geography | 20 marks |
| Indian Polity and Economy | 50 marks |
| Indian National Movement | 14 marks |
| General Mental Ability Test | 26 marks |
| Current Events | 10 marks |
| Total | 200 marks |
What is the NPSC Prelims New Pattern Syllabus?
The new NPSC Prelims syllabus covers important areas from general studies, Nagaland-specific topics, Mental abillity and current affairs. The official Syllabus of NPSC Prelims is given below-
- General Science: General Appreciation and Understanding of the science, including matters of everyday observation and experience as may be expected of a well-educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific discipline.
- History: Broad general understanding of the subject in its social, economic, and political aspects, social and cultural heritage of India, emphasising unity in diversity.
- Nagaland: Political, economic, social, cultural, and heritage of its people.
- Geography: Geography of India, including the physical, social, economic, geography and main features of Indian agricultural and natural resources.
- Indian Polity and Economy: Country’s political, Executive, Judicial System, Local Bodies, Rural and Community Development, and Economic Planning in India.
- Indian National Movement: Nature and character of the Nineteenth century resurgence, growth of nationalism and attainment of independence
- General Mental Ability Test: Analysis of classified data, logical and behavioural reasoning, analogies, basic arithmetic, numerical ability and basic concepts of computers.
- Current Events: Latest development on all the fields detailed above, including science and technology and environmental awareness
Conclusion
To sum up, the NPSC Prelims New Pattern has made the exam more focused and accuracy-based. With 100 MCQs, 200 marks, 2 hours and negative marking, candidates must plan their attempts carefully. Therefore, preparation should not only focus on syllabus coverage. It should also include revision, mock tests and smart question selection. In short, accuracy will now play a major role in clearing NPSC Prelims.
Frequently Asked Questions
The NPSC Prelims New Pattern has one objective-type paper. It includes 100 MCQs for 200 marks. Each question carries 2 marks. The exam duration is 2 hours. The pattern also includes negative marking, so candidates must focus on accuracy along with syllabus preparation
Yes, negative marking has been introduced in NPSC Prelims. For every wrong answer, one-third of the marks allotted to that question will be deducted. Since each question carries 2 marks, around 0.66 marks will be deducted for one incorrect answer.
Candidates should first understand the revised pattern and syllabus clearly. After that, they should focus on high-weightage areas, regular revision and mock tests. Since negative marking is now included, aspirants must practise time-bound tests and avoid blind guessing during the exam.
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