CTSE · Nagaland · 2026
CTSE Exam Pattern, Papers & Answer Keys
The Combined Technical Services Examination (CTSE) is the Nagaland Public Service Commission’s recruitment exam for engineers and technical officers in Nagaland government technical departments.
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CTSE Exam Pattern — 700 Marks
Source: NPSC/EXAM-1/2025 dt. 03.02.2025, Corrigendum dt. 26.03.2025 and Notification dt. 13.05.2025.
| Paper | Part | Details | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Paper | General English & General Knowledge | Mixed descriptive and objective. General English (Essay, Precis, Amplification) plus General Knowledge — Indian history, polity, economy, general science, Nagaland GK and current affairs. | 100 | 3 hrs | None |
| Elective Paper | MCQ Paper | 100 questions drawn from Elective Paper I & II in the candidate's own technical subject. 2 marks per question, 0 for unattempted. | 200 | 2 hrs | 1/3 of question marks (−0.67 per wrong) |
| Elective Paper | Descriptive Paper-I | Written response in the candidate's own technical subject. | 200 | 3 hrs | Not applicable (written) |
| Elective Paper | Descriptive Paper-II | Written response in the candidate's own technical subject. | 200 | 3 hrs | Not applicable (written) |
| Total | 700 | ||||
NagaLearn mock tests cover the Common Paper’s General Knowledge section and the Elective MCQ Paper — one free 20-question Common Paper sample per account, with daily mock tests on the Premium plan. The Common Paper’s English components and both Descriptive Papers are written-response and are not available as mock tests.
Exam Highlights
| Exam Name | Combined Technical Services Examination (CTSE) |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Nagaland Public Service Commission |
| Exam Level | State Level |
| Posts | Engineers and technical officers across state departments |
| Exam Mode | Written + Interview |
| Official Website | npsc.nagaland.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date / Details |
|---|---|
| Latest Notification | CTSE 2024 — released 07 June 2024 |
| Application Window | As per notification |
| Written Exam | To Be Announced |
| Interview | To Be Announced |
| Result | To Be Announced |
Selection Process
Screening
Objective
General studies screening for shortlisting candidates.
Written Exam
Common + Elective Papers
Common Paper: General English & GK (100 marks). Elective Paper: MCQ Paper (200 marks) plus Descriptive Paper-I and Paper-II (200 marks each) in the candidate's technical subject.
Interview
Personality
Personality test added to written marks for the final merit list.
CTSE — Frequently Asked Questions
What is CTSE?
CTSE is the Combined Technical Services Examination, conducted by the Nagaland Public Service Commission to recruit engineers and technical officers into Nagaland government technical departments.
What is the CTSE exam pattern?
Under NPSC/EXAM-1/2025 the CTSE written exam is a Common Paper plus an Elective Paper in the candidate's own technical subject. The Common Paper (General English & General Knowledge) is 100 marks over 3 hours and mixes descriptive and objective questions. The Elective Paper has three parts: an MCQ Paper of 100 questions drawn from Elective Paper I & II worth 200 marks over 2 hours at 2 marks per question, and Descriptive Paper-I and Descriptive Paper-II, each 200 marks over 3 hours.
Is there negative marking in CTSE?
Yes, but only on the Elective MCQ Paper: one third of the question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer, which is −0.67 on a 2-mark question. Unattempted questions score 0. The Common Paper carries no negative marking.
Where can I get CTSE previous year papers?
CTSE previous year papers are on the NagaLearn past papers page, and the official answer keys released by NPSC are linked from the answer keys page. NagaLearn also offers a free 20-question CTSE sample mock test drawn from the Common Paper General Knowledge section, which every CTSE candidate sits — one attempt per free account. Daily Common Paper and Elective MCQ Paper mock tests are available on the Premium plan.