DGMA MSA Exam at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting body | Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), Mumbai |
| Post | Management Support Associate (MSA), purely contractual, 30 posts |
| Stage I | Computer Based Test (CBT), MCQ based, 100 questions, 200 marks, 90 minutes |
| Stage II | Typing Test, 15 minutes, 35 w.p.m. in English, qualifying in nature |
| Stage III | Document and eligibility verification |
| Stage IV | Interview and / or functional proficiency assessment by DGMA |
| Marking | 2 marks for each question, no negative marking |
| Language | English only |
| Exam centres | Only within Greater Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai region |
DGMA MSA Selection Process
Selection is done in 4 stages. Final selection will be as per the approved merit methodology and after fulfilling all eligibility and contractual conditions.
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Computer Based Test | Objective MCQ test of 200 marks. If it is conducted in many shifts, normalisation method will be applied. |
| 2. Typing Test | 15 minutes, English medium only. It is qualifying in nature. |
| 3. Document Verification | Documents and eligibility are checked with originals. |
| 4. Interview | Interview and / or functional proficiency assessment will be conducted by DGMA. Date will be notified. |
DGMA MSA Exam Pattern
The CBT has 4 parts and each part has 25 questions of 50 marks. All the questions are objective multiple choice and there is no negative marking.
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | English Language and Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
| II | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| IV | General and Digital Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Total | All four parts | 100 | 200 |
| Test | Marks | Time | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Based Test (MCQ) | 200 | 90 minutes | Objective, no negative marking |
| Typing Test | Qualifying | 15 minutes | Qualifying, 35 w.p.m. in English |
About typing test: candidates should have typing speed of 35 words per minute.
DGMA MSA Syllabus
Syllabus of the CBT is given in the table. It is an indicative syllabus as per the notification.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| English Language and Comprehension 25 questions |
Vocabulary, grammar, sentence correction, comprehension, synonyms, antonyms, idioms, cloze test and usage. |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning 25 questions |
Analogies, classification, coding-decoding, series, problem solving, judgement, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. |
| Quantitative Aptitude 25 questions |
Number systems, arithmetic, percentages, ratio, averages, time and work, time and distance, mensuration, algebra, geometry and data interpretation. |
| General and Digital Awareness 25 questions |
Current affairs, polity, Constitution, economy, geography, history, science, environment, Government schemes, digital governance and basic maritime awareness. Computer fundamentals, MS Office awareness, email, internet, file management, data privacy, confidentiality and cyber-security basics. |
Tips for the Exam
- No negative marking means even if you have no idea, tick something and move ahead.
- 100 questions in 90 minutes is less than a minute for each. I would advice you to start with General and Digital Awareness because you either know the answer or you dont and it takes less time. Keep Quantitative Aptitude for the end, it eats the clock.
- The computer part inside that section i.e. MS Office, email, file management, cyber safety is the easiest scoring area if you use computer daily, dont skip it just because it looks like a small topic.
- Maths topics are basic ones: percentage, ratio, average, time and work, data interpretation.
- The whole paper is in English and there is no other language option. Comprehension passages are where most people lose time, so practice them with timer.
- Dont take the typing test lightly, 35 wpm may looks easy but accuracy is also checked and since it is qualifying you have to clear it.
Common Questions
Is there negative marking in the DGMA MSA exam?
No, negative marking does not apply in the CBT. Each question carries 2 marks.
How many questions come in the CBT?
100 questions of 200 marks in 90 minutes. English 25, Reasoning 25, Quantitative Aptitude 25 and General and Digital Awareness 25.
What is the typing speed required?
35 words per minute in English, tested for 15 minutes. The typing test is qualifying in nature.
In which language will the exam be held?
The CBT and the typing test are in English only.
Where will the exam centres be?
Only within Greater Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai region.
What happens after the CBT?
Typing test (qualifying), then document and eligibility verification, and then Interview and / or functional proficiency assessment by DGMA.
What if the CBT is held in more than one shift?
Then a normalisation method will be applied to the marks.
