u/VirtualDragonfly823

Guys I filled the form, submitted the documents and paid the fee for Advt. 5/2026-27 Mains. I also downloaded the receipts for the same. Did all of that about a week or so ago.
I received an email today from GPSC. It had been sent from the handle of one of the officials, I guess. I was in the “bcc”.
It was a reminder to fill the form, submit the documents and pay the fee. And a pdf of the same instructions was attached.

Did anyone else receive it too, after filling the form and completing the entire process?

Did I miss something ? A little confused.

How many questions are expected in GS papers in Mains this year (class 1-2 2026-27 Advt 5) ?
Advert 240 had 15 questions, to be answered in 3 hours.
Any changes incoming this year?
Any other updates on number of pages per question, etc ?
Would appreciate it. Thanks.

With regards to mains form filling, will Provisional Degree Certificate work for your graduate degree if you don’t have the actual certificate?

Is caste certificate required even from UnReserved (UR) (general) category candidates?

Someone said you need to produce a certificate as a proof of your basic computer knowledge.
Is this necessary to be submitted with the mains form, or does it have to be submitted at the time of the interview?

If someone has “computer education” mentioned in their 10th class marksheet (only in 10th, not present in 12th class marksheet) will this be sufficient or will they have to produce a separate certificate?
Please clarify

Guys, with regards to the ADVT.NO: GPSC/202627/5 class 1-2 mains form which is open for submissions,
Did the prelims form have a section where you were supposed to enter every educational qualification? And are you expected to repeat the same exactly as you did in prelims?

I can’t seem to recall if there was such a section. Would appreciate your insights. Thanks.

Guys it’s a big problem. I can somehow complete the answer in 7-8 minutes if I write fast but my handwriting looks horrible when I do that. And if I write slow I risk taking too long to complete the answer. Help!

Guys it’s a big problem. I can somehow complete the answer in 7-8 minutes if I write fast but my handwriting looks horrible when I do that. And if I write slow I risk taking too long to complete the answer. Help!

Guys it’s a big problem. I can somehow complete the answer in 7-8 minutes if I write fast but my handwriting looks horrible when I do that. And if I write slow I risk taking too long to complete the answer. Help!

Those who have appeared in mains earlier, can you please shed light on how to actually approach answering writing in the exam? Do we need to strictly adhere to the word limit or fill all the pages given? Short and crisp quality answers written in points with diagrams or paragraphs that fill the pages ?
With specific reference to the class 1-2 mains scheduled from 5th to 11th October.

Has form filling for ADVT.NO: GPSC/202627/5 class 1-2 mains 2026 ( prelims results for which were declared yesterday) begun? Last year's videos say a link is sent for the same via email.
Has anyone received it?

Hey guys, not a Maratha or a Marathi speaker, or from Maharashtra. I’d like to read about Maratha history in depth, as in from the origins of their political history till the end of the Maratha empire and their fragmentation into princely states till Independence.
Any recommendations? Thank you.

Guys if you remember I had made a post a few days ago where I talked about the total number of pages in a standard booklist being 10,000 at the very least. Add optional and mains specific books and you have around 20,000 pages to cover. Many people suggested that no body reads that much, you must prioritise etc.

I totally understand that. But from where exactly do those who clear the exam read from then? Is there a shortened version, like a set of notes they have ? Do they mark important chapters and study only them?

I keep on hearing stuff like, limited books maximum revision, etc.

But how?

How can I shorten all of this to 3,000-5,000 pages ?

Or is the actual number of pages you need to prepare from even less?

One person had remarked then, that the number of pages is irrelevant, what you learn from them is what’s important etc.

But there must be a finite amount of pages to work with.

Veterans, please advise.

Guys if you remember I had made a post a few days ago where I talked about the total number of pages in a standard booklist being 10,000 at the very least. Add optional and mains specific books and you have around 20,000 pages to cover. Many people suggested that no body reads that much, you must prioritise etc.

I totally understand that. But from where exactly do those who clear the exam read from then? Is there a shortened version, like a set of notes they have ? Do they mark important chapters and study only them?

I keep on hearing stuff like, limited books maximum revision, etc.

But how?

How can I shorten all of this to 3,000-5,000 pages ?

Or is the actual number of pages you need to prepare from even less?

One person had remarked then, that the number of pages is irrelevant, what you learn from them is what’s important etc.

But there must be a finite amount of pages to work with.

Veterans, please advise.

Guys if you remember I had made a post a few days ago where I talked about the total number of pages in a standard booklist being 10,000 at the very least. Add optional and mains specific books and you have around 20,000 pages to cover. Many people suggested that no body reads that much, you must prioritise etc.

I totally understand that. But from where exactly do those who clear the exam read from then? Is there a shortened version, like a set of notes they have ? Do they mark important chapters and study only them?

I keep on hearing stuff like, limited books maximum revision, etc.

But how?

How can I shorten all of this to 3,000-5,000 pages ?

Or is the actual number of pages you need to prepare from even less?

One person had remarked then, that the number of pages is irrelevant, what you learn from them is what’s important etc.

But there must be a finite amount of pages to work with.

Veterans, please advise.

Guys if you remember I had made a post a few days ago where I talked about the total number of pages in a standard booklist being 10,000 at the very least. Add optional and mains specific books and you have around 20,000 pages to cover. Many people suggested that no body reads that much, you must prioritise etc.

I totally understand that. But from where exactly do those who clear the exam read from then? Is there a shortened version, like a set of notes they have ? Do they mark important chapters and study only them?

I keep on hearing stuff like, limited books maximum revision, etc.

But how?

How can I shorten all of this to 3,000-5,000 pages ?

Or is the actual number of pages you need to prepare from even less?

One person had remarked then, that the number of pages is irrelevant, what you learn from them is what’s important etc.

But there must be a finite amount of pages to work with.

Veterans, please advise.

What if a person preparing for this exam (or any competitive exam) is not able to improve their concentration and focus ?
What if for 9-10 months before prelims, they have only two options -

1. Wing it without a schedule, study when they feel like it, best focus and concentration on some days but large gaps between the days they study
2. Poor focus, wavering mind, mostly passive reading, fighting background thoughts and struggling with drowsiness and distractions through the pages, but keeping at it every single day, completing the syllabus and revising, being consistent every single day.
   Following a fixed schedule daily without fail.
   Does choosing number 2. increase their chances of clearing in any way? Would you call it "hard work"?

What if a person preparing for this exam (or any competitive exam) is not able to improve their concentration and focus ?
What if for 9-10 months before prelims, they have only two options -

1. Wing it without a schedule, study when they feel like it, best focus and concentration on some days but large gaps between the days they study
2. Poor focus, wavering mind, mostly passive reading, fighting background thoughts and struggling with drowsiness and distractions through the pages, but keeping at it every single day, completing the syllabus and revising, being consistent every single day.
   Following a fixed schedule daily without fail.
   Does choosing number 2. increase their chances of clearing in any way? Would you call it "hard work"?

What if a person preparing for this exam (or any competitive exam) is not able to improve their concentration and focus ?
What if for 9-10 months before prelims, they have only two options -

1. Wing it without a schedule, study when they feel like it, best focus and concentration on some days but large gaps between the days they study

2. Poor focus, wavering mind, mostly passive reading, fighting background thoughts and struggling with drowsiness and distractions through the pages, but keeping at it every single day, completing the syllabus and revising, being consistent every single day. Following a fixed schedule daily without fail.

Does choosing number 2. increase their chances of clearing in any way? Would you call it “hard work”?