If you grew up in Gujarat hearing about Mamlatdars, Deputy Collectors and Deputy Section Officers, you already know what GPSC Class 1-2 is about. It's the state's biggest combined competitive exam, the one that decides who becomes a Class 1 or Class 2 officer in Gujarat's administration. Not one job, but a whole basket of posts rolled into a single exam.
People often mix up GPSC Class 1-2 with the separate Class 3 recruitment for Deputy Section Officer and Deputy Mamlatdar posts. This article covers the Class 1-2 combined exam in full, and also tells you where the DySO/Deputy Mamlatdar recruitment fits, so you don't confuse the two.
Quick Answer
GPSC has released Advertisement 05/2026-27 for the Class 1-2 combined competitive exam, covering roughly 213 posts across Gujarat Administrative Service Class-1, Gujarat Civil Services Class-1 and Class-2, and Municipal Chief Officer Class-2. Applications ran 2 to 16 April 2026. Prelims is tentatively 7 June 2026, mains tentatively 5 to 11 October 2026. Separately, the Class 3 DySO/Deputy Mamlatdar cycle (Advt 08/2025-26) has finished, with results out on 18 July 2026.
Latest Notification and Important Dates
The current cycle is Advertisement 05/2026-27, already in motion as of mid-2026.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification released | 2 April 2026 | Confirmed |
| Online application start | 2 April 2026 | Confirmed |
| Application last date | 16 April 2026 | Confirmed |
| Preliminary exam | 7 June 2026 | Tentative |
| Prelim result | July-August 2026 | Tentative |
| Mains exam | 5 to 11 October 2026 | Tentative |
| Admit card for mains | Last week of September 2026 | Tentative |
| Interview | Early-mid 2027 | Tentative |
| Final result | Mid-late 2027 | Tentative |
The linked Class 3 DySO/Deputy Mamlatdar cycle (Advt 67/2024-25, 127/2024-25, 08/2025-26) is now closed, its mains ran 20-24 February 2026 and the final result came on 18 July 2026. If you want a Deputy Section Officer post specifically, watch OJAS for the next advertisement of that kind.
Keep checking pareeksha.in's exam news, since GPSC calendars shift often.
What the Job Actually Is
A GPSC Class 1-2 officer runs a piece of Gujarat's government machinery, a taluka, a department wing, or a municipal corporation. You could end up a Deputy Collector managing land records and law and order, a DySP heading a police sub-division, a Mamlatdar handling revenue and welfare schemes, a Section Officer or Deputy Section Officer drafting policy files in Gandhinagar, or a Chief Officer running a municipality.
The work mixes file work, public dealing and field visits. You sign orders, resolve disputes, and coordinate with police and revenue departments. The pace picks up during elections, disasters or festival season, and postings rotate across districts, so be ready to work outside your home city.
Vacancy Details / Post Breakdown
Advt 05/2026-27 covers about 213 posts. Here's the rough category split.
| Category | Approx. Vacancies |
|---|---|
| General (Unreserved) | 98 |
| EWS | 22 |
| SEBC | 51 |
| SC | 14 |
| ST | 28 |
| Total | ~213 |
These cover posts like Deputy Collector, DySP, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Mamlatdar, Section Officer, Deputy Section Officer, and Chief Officer of Municipality. GPSC finalises the exact split in a corrigendum closer to mains, so treat this as approximate.
Eligibility
Age limit: 20 to 35 years for General and EWS candidates, as on the cut-off date fixed in the notification.
| Category | Age Relaxation | Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | — | 35 years |
| SEBC (Gujarat) | +5 years | 40 years |
| SC / ST (Gujarat) | +5 years | 40 years |
| Ex-servicemen | As per Gujarat govt rules | Varies by post |
| Persons with disability | +10 years (as applicable) | Varies |
Education: A bachelor's degree in any discipline is enough for most posts; a few specialised roles need a specific degree. Domicile: SEBC/SC/ST relaxation applies only to candidates from Gujarat. Physical standards: Only the DySP post has height and fitness requirements.
Application Process, Fee, How to Apply
You apply online through the OJAS portal.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹100 (plus payment gateway charges) |
| SC / ST / SEBC / EWS (Gujarat origin) | Exempted |
| Persons with disability | Exempted |
| Ex-servicemen | Exempted |
Steps to apply: Go to OJAS and find the notification link. Register with a mobile number and email. Fill personal, educational and category details carefully, since small mistakes cause rejection. Upload photo, signature and certificates in the specified format. Pay the fee online (skip if exempted), submit, and save the confirmation number. Do this early, servers slow near the deadline.
Exam Pattern
GPSC Class 1-2 runs in three stages, preliminary, mains and interview.
Preliminary Exam (screening only, marks not counted in final merit)
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 200 | 200 | 3 hours |
No negative marking applies in recent prelim papers, but confirm from the current notification since GPSC has changed this before.
Mains Exam (Descriptive, written)
| Paper | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarati Language | 300 | Qualifying (30% cut-off) |
| English Language | 300 | Qualifying (30% cut-off) |
| Essay | 150 | Counted for merit |
| General Studies 1 | 150 | Counted for merit |
| General Studies 2 | 150 | Counted for merit |
| General Studies 3 | 150 | Counted for merit |
| General Studies 4 | 150 | Counted for merit |
| Total for merit | 900 (varies by year) |
Interview: 50 to 150 marks depending on the year's rules. Final merit comes from mains plus interview marks; prelim is only a filter, shortlisting around 15 to 20 times the vacancies for mains. Practice on pareeksha.in's online test series with timed, full-length mocks.
Detailed Syllabus
GS 1: Indian history, freedom struggle, Gujarat's role in it, art, architecture, culture and heritage.
GS 2: Physical geography of India and Gujarat, Rann of Kutch, Gir forest, agriculture, irrigation, environment, disaster management.
GS 3: Indian Constitution, Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies, Gujarat's administrative structure (Collector, Mamlatdar, TDO system), economic policy and schemes.
GS 4: Science and technology, space and IT policy, social justice, ethics in public service, current national and Gujarat affairs.
Essay: Structured, balanced writing on social, economic or political topics under time pressure.
Language papers: Gujarati and English test grammar, translation, comprehension and précis writing. Qualifying only, but many aspirants lose their whole attempt scoring below 30% here.
Use topic-wise practice sets to drill GS question types, and the General Awareness guide for current affairs and static GK together.
Salary, Pay Scale, Allowances
Pay depends on the grade you land.
| Grade | Pay Level | Pay Scale (₹) | Approx In-hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class-1 (Deputy Collector, DySP, etc.) | Level 10 | 56,100 – 1,77,500 | ₹65,000 – 75,000 |
| Class-2 (Mamlatdar, Section Officer, DySO, Chief Officer) | Level 8 | 44,900 – 1,42,400 | ₹48,000 – 55,000 |
On top of basic pay you get DA, HRA, Travel Allowance and pension benefits; Class-1 officers also get government quarters and an official vehicle. Career growth is steady if slow: a DySO or Mamlatdar can rise to Deputy Collector and beyond over 15-20 years, and DySPs move up toward Superintendent of Police.
Previous Year Cut-off
Cut-offs swing with vacancy count and paper difficulty, but recent trends give a fair benchmark.
| Category | Prelims (out of 200) | Mains (out of ~900-950) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | Around 110 | Around 580 |
| SEBC | Around 100 | Around 545 |
| SC | Around 88 | Around 490 |
| ST | Around 78 | Around 460 |
For the DySO/Deputy Mamlatdar Class 3 cycle (Advt 08/2025-26), the mains cut-off (out of 400) ranged from about 95 for the lowest reserved group to over 214 for the toughest general slot. Treat these as rough targets, not fixed lines.
Best Books and Preparation Strategy
Start with NCERT books for basics if weak, then move to Gujarat-specific material, which forms a big chunk of the paper.
Month-wise approach for 8 months before prelims:
- Months 1-2: History, geography, polity basics. Start a current affairs habit.
- Months 3-4: Gujarat-specific static content and daily current affairs.
- Months 5-6: Weekly full-length mocks, review wrong answers, work on speed and essay writing.
- Months 7-8: Full revision, more mocks, fix weak areas, stop adding new sources.
For quant and reasoning that show up in GS papers, the Quantitative Aptitude guide and Reasoning guide give you a solid base. Build a study plan that fits your schedule.
Common Mistakes and Honest Advice
Most aspirants underprepare for the Gujarati and English qualifying papers since they don't carry merit weight, then fail the 30% cut-off and lose the attempt. Spend a couple of hours a week on language practice even if it feels boring.
Another trap is studying only from national-level UPSC material. GPSC papers lean heavily on state history, geography and administration, and generic prep won't cover that gap. Don't wait for the "perfect" notification date either, since GPSC's calendar shifts and late starters run out of time.
Don't skip mock tests thinking you'll "read more first." Free mock tests show weak spots faster than passive reading.
FAQ
Is GPSC Class 1-2 notification 2026 out? Yes, Advertisement 05/2026-27 came out on 2 April 2026, with applications open till 16 April 2026.
How many vacancies are there in GPSC Class 1-2 2026? Around 213 posts, across Class-1 and Class-2 services including Deputy Collector, DySP, Mamlatdar, Section Officer and Municipal Chief Officer.
What is the GPSC Class 1-2 exam date 2026? Prelims is tentatively 7 June 2026 and mains 5 to 11 October 2026, both subject to confirmation from GPSC.
What is the age limit for GPSC Class 1-2? General candidates need to be between 20 and 35 years old. SEBC, SC and ST candidates from Gujarat get a 5-year relaxation, up to 40 years.
Is GPSC Class 1-2 different from Deputy Section Officer Class 3 recruitment? Yes. Class 1-2 is the combined exam for Class-1 and Class-2 posts, while DySO/Deputy Mamlatdar (Advt 08/2025-26) was a separate Class-3 recruitment whose result came on 18 July 2026.
What is the salary of a GPSC Class 2 officer? Class-2 posts carry Pay Level 8 (₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400), with in-hand pay of roughly ₹48,000 to ₹55,000 with allowances.
What is the qualifying mark for Gujarati and English papers in GPSC mains? At least 30% in both, though they don't count toward your final merit score.
Where can I apply for GPSC Class 1-2 exam? Only online, through the OJAS portal, linked from the official GPSC website.
Related reads on Pareeksha
Mapping out your Gujarat government exam plan? These guides are worth a look:
- Gujarat Police Constable exam guide
- GSSSB Talati cum Mantri exam guide
- GSSSB Junior Clerk exam guide
You can also browse the full Gujarat exam guides section on pareeksha.in for other state-level opportunities.
Final Word
GPSC Class 1-2 is a long haul, not a quick win. The syllabus is wide, competition is genuinely tough since thousands chase a few hundred seats, and the process from application to result can stretch beyond a year. But it's also one of the most respected career paths in Gujarat, with real authority and a clear promotion ladder.
If the 2026 cycle applies to you, lock down your prelim prep before June and start on Gujarat-specific static knowledge now. Check pareeksha.in's exam news for updates, and use the free Reading Room and current affairs section to stay on track. Start early, this is a marathon.
Official sources: GPSC official website | OJAS recruitment portal
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