Nayab Subba Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2083 (Lok Sewa)
Nayab Subba exam pattern 2083: 3 stages, 240 marks, Stage I pass mark 45. See every syllabus unit, Paper II and III topics, and negative marking.
The Nayab Subba exam under Lok Sewa Aayog has 3 stages and 240 final marks. Stage I is a 100-mark MCQ screening test with a pass mark of 45. Stage II is two written papers of 100 marks each. The final stage is a 10-mark computer skill test and a 30-mark interview.
This guide explains each stage in simple English. It uses the official PSC syllabus, so you can see exactly what to study and how the marks are divided.
Nayab Subba Exam Pattern: Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Post | Nayab Subba, Non-Gazetted First Class (राजपत्र अनंकित प्रथम श्रेणी) |
| Minimum education | Bachelor's degree or equivalent |
| Age | 18 to 35 years (18 to 40 for women and persons with disabilities) |
| Total stages | 3 |
| Final result | 240 marks (Stage II 200 + Final Stage 40) |
| Stage I | 100 marks, pass 45, screening only |
| Stage II | 200 marks, minimum 40 in each paper |
| Final Stage | Computer Skill Test 10 + Interview 30 |
| Negative marking | Stage I only: −0.4 per wrong answer |
For the full exam page, see the Nayab Subba exam page.
Stage I: Preliminary MCQ Test (100 Marks)
Stage I has 50 questions of 2 marks each. You get 45 minutes. You need 45 out of 100 to move to Stage II.
Stage I is a screening test. Its marks are not added to your final 240 marks. Your job here is to clear 45 safely. Do not spend all your time chasing a high score.
Each wrong answer loses 0.4 marks (20% of the question). Unanswered questions lose nothing. Read our guide to negative marking in Lok Sewa before you decide when to guess.
Section A: General Knowledge (30 Questions, 60 Marks)
| Unit | Topic | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Universe and World Geography | 3 |
| 2 | Nepal Geography | 4 |
| 3 | World and Nepal History | 3 |
| 4 | Social, Cultural and Economic Aspects of Nepal | 7 |
| 5 | Science, Technology, Health and Environment | 6 |
| 6 | International Affairs and Current Events | 7 |
| Total | 30 |
Units 4 and 6 are the biggest, with 7 questions each. Together they are almost half of Section A.
What each unit covers:
- Universe and World Geography: solar system, continents, oceans, latitude and longitude, time zones, mountains, rivers, climate and monsoon.
- Nepal Geography: physical features, natural resources, geographical diversity and climate types.
- History: Magna Carta, Industrial Revolution, French Revolution, World Wars, the Kiranti, Lichhavi and Malla periods, and modern Nepal.
- Social, Cultural and Economic: customs, religions, languages, cultural heritage, agriculture, industry, tourism, health, electricity and development planning.
- Science, Health and Environment: biotechnology, ICT, diseases, vaccines, nutrition, ecosystems, climate change and pollution.
- International Affairs: Nepal's relations with India, China and others, the United Nations, SAARC, BIMSTEC, ASEAN, the EU, and current events.
Section B: General Mental Ability Test (20 Questions, 40 Marks)
| Unit | Topic | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verbal Reasoning | 6 |
| 2 | Quantitative (Numerical) Reasoning | 8 |
| 3 | Non-verbal Reasoning | 6 |
| Total | 20 |
Quantitative reasoning has the most questions in this section (8). It covers series, percentage, ratio, average, profit and loss, time and work, calendar and data interpretation. No calculator is allowed, so practice mental math.
Stage II: Main Written Exam (200 Marks)
Stage II has two subjective papers. Each paper is 100 marks and 2 hours 30 minutes. Each has 14 short questions of 5 marks and 3 long questions of 10 marks.
You must score at least 40 in each paper. The Stage II pass mark is 80 out of 200. These papers are called Paper II and Paper III because Paper I is the Stage I MCQ test.
Paper II: Contemporary Studies and Public Service Management
This paper is the same for all candidates.
| Section | Marks | Main topics |
|---|---|---|
| A | 35 | Nepal's geography, society, economy, development planning, environment and current issues |
| B | 35 | Constitution, rights and duties, federalism, law, democracy, right to information, e-governance and good governance |
| C | 30 | Office management, government accounting and audit, budget, civil service, public service delivery |
Paper III: Service-Group Subject
Paper III depends on the service group you apply for. The groups are General Administration, Accounts/Audit, Revenue, Justice and Foreign Affairs. Check your vacancy notice to see which one applies to you.
For General Administration, the sections are:
| Section | Marks | Main topics |
|---|---|---|
| A | 35 | Registration, filing, correspondence, note writing, meetings, records, store ledger |
| B | 35 | Public administration, civil servant rules, organizations, management, leadership |
| C | 30 | Work division rules, local government laws, Good Governance Act 2064, procurement, right to information, financial procedures |
The Foreign Affairs Paper III is in English only.
You can write answers in Nepali, English or both.
Final Stage: Computer Skill Test and Interview (40 Marks)
| Part | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Skill Test | 10 | 15 minutes, on a computer |
| Interview | 30 | Oral |
The PSC syllabus gives only the marks and time for the computer skill test. It does not list the topics. Typing, Windows basics, Word and Excel are sensible things to practice. For a task-by-task guide on a similar test, read our Computer Operator practical exam guide.
The interview is the largest single part of the final stage.
Who Can Apply
- Education: a Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized university.
- Age: 18 to 35 years for men. 18 to 40 years for women and persons with disabilities. Permanent civil servants have no upper age limit.
- How age is counted: on the last date of application in the advertisement, using the Bikram Sambat date of birth on your citizenship certificate.
- Citizenship: Nepali citizen.
If you only have a +2 qualification, look at Kharidar instead. See our Kharidar syllabus and exam pattern.
How to Spend Your Study Time
This is our suggestion, based on the marks above:
- Stage I first, but only to reach 45. Practice the units with the most questions: Social, Cultural and Economic (7), International Affairs (7), Science and Health (6), Nepal Geography (4) and Quantitative Reasoning (8).
- Start Paper II and Paper III early. They carry all 200 marks of your final result. Writing answers needs practice. Time yourself: 17 answers in 150 minutes is less than 9 minutes per answer on average.
- Learn the Constitution and the Civil Service Act. They appear in several papers.
- Keep current affairs for the last few weeks. They change, so top them up closer to the exam.
Stage I marks do not count toward your final result, so a mock score tells you only whether you are safe to advance. A weekly readiness score shows if your weak units are improving.
Start free Nayab Subba practice →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nayab Subba exam pattern?
The exam has 3 stages. Stage I is a 100-mark MCQ screening test. Stage II is two subjective papers of 100 marks each. The final stage is a 10-mark computer skill test and a 30-mark interview. The final result is out of 240 marks.
What is the pass mark for Nayab Subba Stage I?
You need 45 out of 100 in Stage I. Stage I is a screening test. Its marks are not added to your final result.
Is there negative marking in the Nayab Subba exam?
Yes, in Stage I only. Each wrong answer loses 0.4 marks, which is 20% of a 2-mark question. Unanswered questions lose nothing. There is no negative marking in Stage II.
How many questions are in Nayab Subba Stage I?
There are 50 MCQs of 2 marks each, to be answered in 45 minutes. Thirty are General Knowledge and 20 are General Mental Ability.
What is Paper II and Paper III in Nayab Subba?
They are the two subjective papers of Stage II. Paper II covers contemporary studies and public service management and is common to everyone. Paper III is the subject for your service group, such as General Administration. Each is 100 marks and needs at least 40 to pass.
Which Paper III should I prepare?
Prepare the one for the service group in your vacancy notice. The groups are General Administration, Accounts/Audit, Revenue, Justice and Foreign Affairs.
How is the final Nayab Subba result calculated?
The final result is out of 240 marks. It adds Stage II (200 marks) and the final stage (40 marks: computer skill test 10 and interview 30). Stage I marks are not included.
What is the difference between Nayab Subba and Kharidar?
Nayab Subba is Non-Gazetted First Class and needs a Bachelor's degree. Kharidar is Non-Gazetted Second Class and needs a +2. Both follow the same three-stage structure.
Final Words
Nayab Subba has a clear pattern: clear 45 in Stage I, then win the 200 marks in Stage II, then do well in the interview. Know the units, practice under time, and track your weak areas every week.
Last checked: 1 November 2026, against the official PSC Nayab Subba syllabus: Paper I (PDF), Paper II (PDF) and Paper III (PDF). Rules can change, so always read the latest notice at psc.gov.np. Quizmandu Lok Sewa Prep is an independent study app and is not part of Lok Sewa Aayog.