The MPSC Deputy Director and Senior Research Officer Syllabus 2026 covers the recruitment examination for the Group-A (Gazetted) post under the Planning Department. The selection process consists of a written examination worth 200 marks followed by an interview worth 50 marks, and the written paper tests candidates on eight core subject areas including Planning, Economic Analysis, Statistics, Research Methodology, and Governance. This article explains the complete exam pattern, negative marking rules, and a topic-wise breakdown of the syllabus based on the official notification.
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MPSC Deputy Director and Senior Research Officer Syllabus 2026 - Post Overview
This section gives a quick snapshot of the post, department, and selection stages before you go into the detailed exam pattern and syllabus.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Deputy Director / Senior Research Officer |
| Group / Grade | Group-A (Gazetted) |
| Department | Planning Department |
| Selection Stages | Written Examination + Interview |
| Total Marks | 250 (200 Written + 50 Interview) |
MPSC Deputy Director and Senior Research Officer Exam Pattern 2026
The MPSC Deputy Director exam pattern is divided into two stages: a written examination of 200 marks and a personal interview of 50 marks. The written paper is an objective, multiple-choice test covering subject matter related to the duties and responsibilities of the post.
Written Examination Pattern
The written exam consists of a single paper with 100 objective-type questions carrying 200 marks, to be completed in one hour.
| Paper | Number of Questions | Marks | Duration | Question Type | Medium | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject related to Departmental Duties and Responsibilities | 100 | 200 | 1 Hour | Objective (Multiple Choice) | English | Degree Level |
MPSC Deputy Director and Senior Research Officer Syllabus 2026: Subject-Wise Topics
The syllabus for the written examination is spread across eight major subject areas. Each topic focuses on a specific aspect of planning, statistics, research, and governance relevant to the Planning Department. The complete topic-wise breakdown is given below.
1. Planning
This topic covers the fundamentals of planning as a management function, from setting objectives to monitoring outcomes.
- Definitions, needs and goals of planning
- Process of planning, setting objectives, analysing current situations, forecasting and assumptions
- Staffing, directing and controlling
- Performance evaluation and supporting ongoing learning
- Output-outcome monitoring framework
2. Economic Analysis
This section deals with development indicators, poverty measurement, and key public policy areas.
- Indicators of development
- Measures of poverty indices, including the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
- Environmental accounting of development
- Public policy issues: economic and fiscal policy
- Public health and welfare
- Environmental and energy policy, social and civil rights, global security and technology
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): monitoring and implementation
3. Basic Statistical Analysis
This topic tests foundational statistical concepts used in data analysis and research.
- Collection, compilation, analysis and interpretation of primary and secondary data
- Descriptive statistics
- Inferential statistics
- Use of computers in statistical analysis
- Regression and correlation
4. Advanced Statistical Analysis
This section covers higher-level statistical modelling techniques.
- Multivariate analysis: cluster analysis, factor analysis, multidimensional scaling, etc.
- Structural equation modeling
5. Research Methodology
This topic focuses on the research process, from formulating objectives to evaluating policy outcomes.
- Research objectives
- Literature review
- Formulation of objectives and hypothesis
- Research design
- Sampling design
- Survey methods and action research methods for implementation of government policies, along with implementation and evaluation
6. Economics
This section covers macroeconomic concepts and survey-based data collection.
- Macroeconomic analysis
- Census and types of surveys
7. Project and Quality Management
This topic tests knowledge of project lifecycle management and quality assessment.
- Project conceptualization, project finance, implementation, review and evaluation
- Measures of quality: definition, measurement and improvement of quality parameters
8. Governance
This section covers the structure and functioning of government machinery at different levels.
- Organizational structure of national, state and district level government machinery and its impact on development
- Roles and responsibilities in government functions
Preparation Tips for MPSC Deputy Director / Senior Research Officer Exam Syllabus
Since the exam covers a mix of statistical, research, and governance-related topics, a structured study approach can help candidates cover the syllabus effectively.
- Prioritise core statistical concepts such as descriptive and inferential statistics, regression, and correlation, as these form the base for advanced topics.
- Revise government schemes, SDGs, and public policy topics regularly, as these are dynamic subject areas.
- Practice objective-type questions to build speed and accuracy for the 1-hour, 100-question format.
- Keep the negative marking rule in mind and avoid guessing answers without reasonable elimination.