Nayab Subba Exam Preparation: Syllabus, Mock Tests & Practice Questions
The Nayab Subba exam is conducted by Nepal's Public Service Commission for Non-Gazetted First Class positions in administration, justice, audit, revenue, and parliamentary services. It has three stages: a preliminary MCQ screening test, a 200-mark main written exam across two papers, and a final computer skill test plus interview. A Bachelor's degree is required to apply. The total result is out of 240 marks.
Official PSC Syllabus PDFs
Who Can Apply
Eligibility requirements
Minimum Qualification
Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognised university
Age Limit
18–35 years (general)
18–40 years for women and persons with disabilities
No upper age limit for permanent serving civil servants
When age is counted: Age is counted on the last date of application in the advertisement (not the double-fee deadline or the exam date), using your Bikram Sambat date of birth from your citizenship certificate. You must have completed 18 by that date, and a man who completes 35 on that day is no longer eligible (completed 40 for women and persons with disabilities).
- Ex-army and ex-police can apply up to 40 for designated posts only.
- Women with five or more years of continuous temporary service in a government development project have no age bar in open competition.
Citizenship
Nepali citizen with a valid citizenship certificate
Other Requirements
Good health; no criminal conviction; meet conduct requirements per Civil Service Act 2049
Exam Pattern
Nayab Subba marks breakdown and stage structure
| Stage | Type | Marks | Pass | Final score? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage IPreliminary Examination | mcq | 100 | 45 | Screening only |
| Stage IIMain Examination | subjective | 200 | 80 | ✓ Yes |
| Final StagePractical + Interview | practical | 40 | — | ✓ Yes |
| Final result | 240 | Stage II (200) + Final Stage (40) | ||
Stage I Syllabus — Preliminary Exam
50 MCQ questions · 2 marks each · −0.4 per wrong answer · 45 minutes
Stage I is a screening test only. Your marks here are NOT added to your final score — you only need 45/100 to advance to Stage II. Focus on clearing the threshold, not maximising score.
Section A: General Knowledge30 Q × 2 = 60 marks
Unit 1: Universe & World Geography(3 Q, 6 marks)
- Solar system — sun, planets, satellites, asteroids, meteors, comets; Earth: introduction, origin and motion
- Continents, oceans, poles, latitude/longitude, international date line, time zones
- Mountains, deserts, earthquakes, volcanoes, rivers, glaciers
- Climate, trade winds, monsoon
Unit 2: Nepal Geography(4 Q, 8 marks)
- Physical features — types and characteristics
- Natural resources — types, achievements, current status
- Geographical diversity and life
- Climate types and their socio-economic effects
Unit 3: World & Nepal History(3 Q, 6 marks)
- Magna Carta, Industrial Revolution, French Revolution, American War of Independence
- Russian/October Revolution, World Wars I & II, Indian independence movement — events, causes and effects
- Kiranti, Lichhavi and Malla periods — social, economic and political conditions
- Modern Nepal — political events, causes and consequences
Unit 4: Social, Cultural & Economic Aspects of Nepal(7 Q, 14 marks)
- Customs, traditions, norms, values, religions, ethnicity, languages, cultures, arts, literature, music
- Types, characteristics and importance of cultural heritages
- Development infrastructure — agriculture, industry, trade, tourism, transportation, communication, health, electricity
- Development planning
Unit 5: Science, Technology, Health & Environment(6 Q, 12 marks)
- Direct impact of science and technology on human life; biotechnology, ICT, alternative energy
- Evolution and heredity, health, diseases, vaccines, food, nutrition, sanitation
- Daily-use materials — soap, plastics, fibre, glass, fertilizers, pesticides
- Ecosystem types and bio-geo-chemical cycle; sustainable development, biodiversity, rare flora and fauna
- Global warming, climate change, greenhouse effect, ozone depletion; pollution, population, urbanisation, migration
Unit 6: International Affairs & Current Events(7 Q, 14 marks)
- Nepal's relations with neighbours (India, China) and other countries (UK, USA, Japan etc.)
- United Nations — bodies, specialised agencies, activities
- Regional organisations — SAARC, BIMSTEC, ASEAN, EU
- National and international current events — political, social, economic, scientific, cultural, sports, books, prizes, arts, literature, music (last 1–2 years)
Section B: General Mental Ability Test (GMAT)20 Q × 2 = 40 marks
Unit 1: Verbal Reasoning(6 Q, 12 marks)
- Comprehension, vocabulary, series, analogy, classification
- Coding-decoding, insert missing character, direction and distance sense test
- Logical reasoning, ranking order, assertion and reason
- Induction, deduction, courses of action
Unit 2: Quantitative (Numerical) Reasoning(8 Q, 16 marks)
- Series/sequence, analogy, classification, coding, missing character, common property, matrices
- Data interpretation, data checking, arithmetical reasoning
- Percentage, fraction, decimal, ratio, average, profit/loss
- Date/calendar, time and work
Unit 3: Non-verbal Reasoning(6 Q, 12 marks)
- Series, analogy, symmetry, classification, analytical reasoning, Venn diagrams, figure matrix
- Construction of squares and triangles, figure formation and analysis
- Dot situation, water images, mirror images, embedded figures, transposition of figures
Stage II Syllabus — Main Written Exam
2 papers · pass mark 80 marks total
Why Paper II and Paper III? Paper I is the Stage I MCQ screening test — the main written exam starts at Paper II. Paper II is the same for all candidates. Paper III varies by service group: you sit the version for your applied group (General Administration, Accounts/Audit, Revenue, Justice, or Foreign Affairs). Check your vacancy notice for the exact group.
Paper II: Contemporary Studies & Public Service Management100 marks · pass: 40 · 150 min
14 questions × 5 marks + 3 questions × 10 marks
Common for all service groups. Three sections: Nepal's current status and geography (A), constitutional and legal framework (B), and public administration and service delivery (C).
Section A — Nepal's Geographical, Social & Economic Status (35 marks)— 35 marks
- Physical geography and political geography
- Water resources and forests — status, importance, causes of deforestation, conservation measures
- Major religions, ethnicity, languages and cultures
- Economic development — agriculture, industry, trade, tourism, employment, infrastructure
- Development sectors — public, private and cooperative
- Development planning and current periodic plan
- Population management, urbanisation and migration
- Environment management, biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development
- Current issues — poverty, unemployment, food security, social security, energy crisis, IT, social media
- National and international current events
Section B — Constitutional Framework & Governance (35 marks)— 35 marks
- Nepal's Constitution — fundamental features, fundamental rights and duties, directive principles
- State structure and distribution of state powers
- Executive, Legislature and Judiciary
- Federalism in Nepal — federal, provincial and local governments
- Citizens' rights and duties; civil society and civic education
- Meaning and importance of law; sources of law and precedents
- Rule of law — concept and importance
- Inclusive representation and proportional representation
- Democracy and human rights
- Right to information and transparency
- E-governance
- Good governance, ethical conduct promotion, anti-corruption measures
Section C — Public Service Administration & Management (30 marks)— 30 marks
- Office management — concept, importance, records management, communication, MIS
- Government accounting system and revenue administration
- Store system, government accounting, revenue administration (tax, customs, internal revenue)
- Government budget
- Civil service — structure, recruitment, Civil Service Act and Regulations
- Human resource planning, development and management in civil service
- Provincial and local services
- Public service delivery — meaning, importance, delivery bodies and mechanisms
- Role of service provider and rights/duties of service recipient
Paper III: Service-Group Specific Subject100 marks · pass: 40 · 150 min
14 questions × 5 marks + 3 questions × 10 marks
Syllabus below is for the General Administration group (the most common). Other groups: Accounts/Audit covers financial admin, procurement and audit systems; Revenue covers Nepal's tax laws; Justice covers Nepali law and judicial administration; Foreign Affairs is conducted in English and covers diplomacy and international relations.
Section A — Office Operations & Organisational Behaviour (35 marks)— 35 marks
- Registration, dispatch, filing, and official correspondence
- Note-writing, proposals and report writing
- Public relations management and grievance management
- Meeting management and minute-writing
- Conference, workshop and seminar management
- Records management and monthly/annual progress reporting
- Store management — demand form, purchase order, issue report and stock ledger
- Work description, delegation of authority, office inspection and monitoring
- Organisational norms and status system
Section B — Administration & Management (35 marks)— 35 marks
- Introduction, objectives and functions of public administration
- Public administration vs development administration
- Civil servant appointment, posting, promotion, leave, conduct, retirement and departmental action
- Introduction, objectives, forms and bases of organisation
- Key organisations — CIAA, PSC, Auditor General, PM/Cabinet Office, MoFAGA, Parliament Secretariat
- Introduction, concept, objectives, scope and functions of management
- Leadership, decision-making, motivation and morale
- Control, coordination, group dynamics, organisational change and development
- Importance of time management
Section C — Legal Framework for Public Service (30 marks)— 30 marks
- Work division rules of Nepal Government
- Local government operation legal framework and Local Administration Act 2028
- Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act 2064
- Public procurement and related legal framework
- Right to information and related legal framework
- Financial Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Act
- Disaster risk reduction and management
- Anti-money laundering (AML) — concepts and legal framework
- Federal Parliament Secretariat Act 2064 and Staff Administration Rules 2065
Final Stage — Practical & Interview
40 marks total
The Final Stage carries 40 marks. The Computer Skill Test (10 marks, 15 minutes) is a practical assessment on Windows, MS Word, and MS Excel. The interview (30 marks) is the biggest single factor in your result — it assesses your knowledge of the role, current affairs, the Constitution of Nepal, civil service rules, and personal qualities. Marks are awarded holistically, not per question. Prepare by reviewing the Constitution, recent PSC vacancy circulars, Civil Service Act provisions, and practicing structured, confident answers.
| Component | Marks | Time | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Skill Test | 10 | 15 min | Practical on-screen test: Windows OS operations, MS Word, MS Excel, file and folder management, and basic internet use. Assessed by PSC examiners. |
| Interview | 30 | — | Panel interview by PSC. Assesses role knowledge, current affairs, constitutional and civil service knowledge, communication skills, and personal qualities. Marks are holistic — no per-question breakdown. |
Salary & Benefits
Non-Gazetted First Class · FY 2083/84 pay scale (from Shrawan 1, 2083)
Basic Monthly Salary
Rs. 38,203
Non-Gazetted First Class · FY 2083/84 pay scale (from Shrawan 1, 2083)
Gross Monthly
Rs. 47,023
basic + allowances
Est. Take-Home
~Rs. 40,911
after PF and pension
- Basic salary (तलब)
- Rs. 38,203
- Incentive allowance (10% of scale)
- Rs. 3,820
- Dearness allowance (महँगी भत्ता)
- Rs. 5,000
- Gross monthly pay
- Rs. 47,023
- Provident fund, employee 10% (सञ्चय कोष)
- −Rs. 3,820
- Pension fund, employee 6%
- −Rs. 2,292
- Estimated income tax
- Rs. 0
- Estimated in-hand pay
- Rs. 40,911
Pay by years of service
One grade of Rs. 1,273 is added for each completed year, up to 10 grades.
| Grades | Basic + grade | Gross / month | In-hand (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 (new) | 38,203 | 47,023 | 40,911 |
| 1 | 39,476 | 48,296 | 41,979 |
| 2 | 40,749 | 49,569 | 43,049 |
| 3 | 42,022 | 50,842 | 44,119 |
| 4 | 43,295 | 52,115 | 45,187 |
| 5 | 44,568 | 53,388 | 46,257 |
| 6 | 45,841 | 54,661 | 47,327 |
| 7 | 47,114 | 55,934 | 48,396 |
| 8 | 48,387 | 57,207 | 49,465 |
| 9 | 49,660 | 58,480 | 50,534 |
| 10 | 50,933 | 59,753 | 51,604 |
- Provident fund and pension: the government matches your monthly contributions
- Dashain allowance equal to one month's basic salary plus grade
- One grade (Rs. 1,273) added for each completed year, up to 10 grades
- Pension eligibility after 20 years of service
- Gratuity on voluntary retirement (minimum 7 years)
- 98-day maternity leave; 15-day paternity leave
- Medical expense reimbursement
- Life insurance cover
⚠ Estimates based on the FY 2083/84 government pay scale for Non-Gazetted First Class posts. Your office calculates the final tax (TDS). Verify current figures from the official Ministry of Finance circular before the advertisement.
Career Progression
From Kharidar to Secretary — the civil service ladder
- L4
Kharidar
entry level
- L5
Nayab Subba
You start here - L7
Section Officer
~8–12 yrs
Gazetted
- L9
Under Secretary
Gazetted
- L11
Joint Secretary
Gazetted
- L12
Secretary
Gazetted
What score do you need?
Merit list cutoff varies by vacancy cycle. Check the official PSC result notice for the cutoff of each specific advertisement.
Important Notes
- Paper III content varies by service group. You must prepare the version for your specific applied group — General Administration, Accounts/Audit, Revenue, Justice, or Foreign Affairs. Confirm your group from the official vacancy notice.
- Stage I is a screening test only. Your Stage I marks do not count toward the final 240-mark result. You only need 45/100 to proceed to Stage II.
- Stage I has negative marking: −0.4 marks for each wrong answer (20% deduction). Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
- Nayab Subba requires a Bachelor's degree or equivalent. If you hold only a +2 / Intermediate qualification, apply for Kharidar instead.
Nayab Subba FAQs
Common questions about the exam pattern, syllabus and scoring
What is the difference between Nayab Subba and Kharidar?
Nayab Subba is Non-Gazetted First Class, one rank above Kharidar (Non-Gazetted Second Class). Nayab Subba requires a Bachelor's degree; Kharidar requires +2 or Intermediate. Both have the same three-stage structure and a 240-mark final result, but Nayab Subba's Computer Skill Test is 10 marks (vs Kharidar's 5 marks) and its Stage II papers cover more advanced administrative topics.
Does Stage I count toward my final score?
No. Stage I is a screening test only. You need 45/100 to pass through to Stage II, but those marks are not added to your final result. The final result is calculated out of 240 marks (Stage II: 200 + Final Stage: 40).
Why is there no Paper I in Stage II?
Paper I refers to the Stage I preliminary MCQ exam. The main written exam starts at Paper II, which is why Stage II has Paper II and Paper III — not Paper I.
Which Paper III should I prepare for?
It depends on which service group vacancy you are applying for. The five groups are: General Administration (the most common), Accounts/Audit, Revenue, Justice, and Foreign Affairs. The official vacancy notice from PSC will specify the group. Paper III for each group is entirely different.
What is the pass mark for Stage II?
Each paper in Stage II has a minimum pass mark of 40/100. You must pass both Paper II and Paper III individually. The combined Stage II pass mark is 80/200.
What does the Computer Skill Test cover?
The Computer Skill Test is a 15-minute practical assessment worth 10 marks. It covers basic Windows OS operations, MS Word, MS Excel, file and folder management, and basic internet use. It is conducted on a computer by PSC examiners.
How is the final result calculated?
The final result is out of 240 marks: Stage II total (200 marks, both papers combined) plus the Final Stage total (40 marks: Computer Skill Test 10 + Interview 30). Stage I marks are not included.
Is there negative marking?
Only in Stage I. Each wrong MCQ answer deducts 0.4 marks (20% of the 2-mark question). Unanswered questions carry no penalty. There is no negative marking in Stage II or the Final Stage.
Is the Foreign Affairs Paper III in Nepali or English?
The Foreign Affairs service group Paper III is conducted entirely in English. It includes an English language section (translation, grammar, comprehension, essay) as well as sections on international relations, diplomacy and foreign policy.