Maharashtra Talathi Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility

Two hours, objective multiple choice, two marks a question. Sessions are normalised when the test runs in more than one shift. Marathi and English are pitched at Class 12 level and the rest at degree level.

The advertisement lists the four subjects but not a topic-wise syllabus. General knowledge covers Maharashtra and India (geography, history, civics, science, current affairs); reasoning covers verbal and non-verbal reasoning and arithmetic; Marathi and English cover grammar, vocabulary and comprehension.

• Education: a degree from a recognised university.
• Age: 18 to 38 for open category, 43 for reserved categories, with a two-year relaxation for advertisements issued before 31 December 2023. Ex-servicemen, divyang candidates and a few other groups have their own limits in the advertisement.
• Language: Marathi is required. A candidate who did not study Marathi or Hindi in Class 10 must pass the departmental language test after joining.
• Computers: the government computer (MS-CIT type) certificate, or it has to be obtained within two years of appointment.

Merit is the online test score alone. A candidate must score at least 45 per cent of the total to be considered. Ties are broken by the rules in the advertisement. Shortlisted candidates go through document verification at their district, and the selection and waiting lists are published district by district on the collectorate sites.

Pay level S-8, ₹25,500 to ₹81,100, plus dearness allowance and the usual allowances.

Applications were online through the portal linked from mahabhumi.gov.in. The 2023 fee was ₹1,000 for open category and ₹900 for reserved categories, and nothing for ex-servicemen. The fee is not refunded. Uploads needed a photo, signature, certificates and proof of age and category.

For the 2023 cycle:

• Advertisement and applications opened: 26 June 2023
• Last date to apply and pay the fee: 17 July 2023, 11.55 pm
• Age counted on: 17 July 2023
• Exam dates: announced later on mahabhumi.gov.in and on admit cards

No Talathi notification is open now. The department advertises when the government clears the vacancies, so there is no fixed month.

The result and the district-wise selection and waiting lists appear on the collectorate website of each district, and the Land Records site carries the statewide notices.

Marathi and English together are 100 of the 200 marks and are the easiest to bring up with daily practice. Do the 25-question blocks under time, because two hours for 100 questions leaves little slack. Previous year Talathi papers on the site are the best guide to how hard the 2023 test was.

• Mahabhumi (Land Records Department)
• Talathi recruitment 2023 advertisement (PDF)

How many Talathi posts were there in 2023?

4,644 posts in 36 districts.

Is there an interview?

No. The written test decides the merit list.

What is the minimum qualification?

A degree from a recognised university, with knowledge of Marathi.

What was the fee?

₹1,000 for open and ₹900 for reserved candidates in 2023.