The Main Examination is supposed to be held three and a half or four months after the result of the Prelims exam is declared. This examination is held at four centers viz. Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, and Nagpur. The candidates who qualify in the Preliminarily Examination and hold University degrees of graduation level are eligible to appear for Main Examination. From 2012 MPSC state services Mains there have been seen changes. The optional subjects have been removed from the exam and 4 papers for General Studies have been introduced.

MPSC has provided a detailed syllabus for these papers. There is a total of 6 papers in this exam, among them, 4 are GS papers. But unlike UPSC the nature of GS papers is multiple choice type. But English and Marathi language Paper – 1 is subjective (essay type) while English and Marathi language Paper – 2 is MCQ based. There is a 1/4 negative marking system for all the GS papers. The scope of General Studies has been expanded. In every single paper, the qualifying marks for open category candidates are 45 whereas for reserved category candidates it is 40.