The MSBTE syllabus is the set of course documents that MSBTE, the state's technical education board, prescribes for every diploma programme in its affiliated polytechnics, organised by scheme (curriculum version), programme and semester. Recent batches study under the K scheme, while students admitted earlier finish under the older I scheme, and the two have different course codes and marks rules.
This page helps you work out which syllabus of MSBTE applies to you, what a typical six semester diploma covers, how the marks are split under each scheme and how to plan a semester around the document. For a closer look at the newer curriculum, see the MSBTE K scheme syllabus guide.
Exam at a glance
Board
Maharashtra State Board of Technical EducationLevel
Post SSC diploma, six semesters (three years)Current scheme
K scheme, for recent batchesOlder scheme
I scheme, five digit codes starting with 22Theory marks (I scheme)
ESE 70 plus PA 30Theory marks (K scheme)
SA-TH 70 plus FA-TH 30Exam sessions
Winter and summer, for odd and even semesters
Which MSBTE syllabus applies to you
The board revises its curriculum every few years and names each version with a letter. Your scheme is fixed by your year of first admission, not by your current semester, so a student repeating a course still follows the scheme of the original batch until that scheme's papers are withdrawn.
- K scheme: the current outcome based curriculum, with six digit course codes such as 311302 for Basic Mathematics.
- I scheme: the earlier curriculum, with five digit codes such as 22103 for Basic Mathematics.
- Older schemes such as G: long since closed; the board issues notices when it stops setting papers for a scheme.
Your hall ticket and mark sheet print the scheme letter and course codes, which is the quickest way to check.
The board publishes notices about discontinued schemes and last chances for backlog papers. If you have pending I scheme courses, check those notices on the board's portal and with your polytechnic before planning.
What a six semester diploma covers
The first year is largely common across engineering branches, and branch subjects take over from the second year. As an example, the I scheme Computer Engineering programme ran like this:
| Semester | Main courses |
|---|---|
| I | English, Basic Science (Physics and Chemistry), Basic Mathematics, Fundamentals of ICT, Engineering Graphics, Workshop Practice |
| II | Applied Mathematics, Basic Electronics, Elements of Electrical Engineering, Programming in C, Web Page Designing with HTML, Business Communication Using Computers |
| III | Object Oriented Programming using C++, Data Structure using C, Computer Graphics, DBMS, Digital Techniques |
| IV | Java Programming, Software Engineering, Data Communication and Computer Networks, Microprocessors, Environmental and Sustainable Energy Technologies |
| V | Industrial Training, Operating Systems, Advanced Java, Software Testing, Elective I, Entrepreneurship Development, Minor Project |
| VI | Programming with Python, Mobile Application Development, Electives II and III, Major Project |
Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics programmes follow the same shape: maths, science and graphics first, core branch courses in the middle, then electives, training and a project. Course names and codes are different in the K scheme, so do not mix lists across schemes.
Marks and passing rules in each scheme
| Component | I scheme | K scheme |
|---|---|---|
| End semester theory paper | ESE, 70 marks | SA-TH, 70 marks |
| Internal theory marks | PA, 30 marks (two tests averaged for 20, micro project 10) | FA-TH, 30 marks (average of two 30 mark class tests) |
| Practical | ESE and PA, usually 25 each | Internal FA-PR, plus an SA-PR exam in certain courses |
| Self learning | Micro project inside PA | Separate SLA head (micro project, assignments, activities) |
Under the I scheme you need 40 percent in each end exam head, for example 28 of 70 in theory. Under the K scheme you must clear FA, SA and SLA separately; a shortfall in FA-PR gets you detained, while an SLA failure sends the work back for resubmission. Course wise minimums appear on the scheme sheet of each programme.
Reading a course document in the MSBTE syllabus
Every course file, in either scheme, is built the same way, and three parts matter most while you study:
- Course outcomes: the five or so things you should be able to do by the end. Exam questions are mapped to them.
- Specification table: marks per unit, often split into remember, understand and apply levels. Read it to see how the 70 marks are spread.
- Practical list: the experiments you must perform and record in your journal, which feed the internal and practical marks.
The rest (rationale, suggested micro projects, books and learning websites) is useful for projects and viva, but the specification table is your study map.
Where to get the official files
The board posts curriculum documents on its official portal, arranged by scheme, programme and semester, and your polytechnic shares the same files. Look for your programme by its short code (for example CO for Computer Engineering or ME for Mechanical Engineering), then the semester, then the course code. Sample question papers and model answers, where the board has issued them, sit in a separate section and follow the specification table of the same course.
Once you know your syllabus, the MSBTE previous papers page explains how to practise from old winter and summer papers.
Planning a semester around your course files
A diploma semester is short, so the internal heads decide more than students expect. A workable rhythm:
- First two weeks: print the specification table of each theory course and mark the two heaviest units.
- Before each class test: revise only the units that test covers; these marks are locked once the test is over.
- Practicals: write the journal the same week as the experiment, since late journals are the usual reason for low internal marks.
- Last four weeks: solve the board's sample paper and two past papers per course under the real time limit.
Pooja is in the third semester of Civil Engineering with a backlog in Applied Mathematics from the I scheme. She keeps two folders: the K scheme files for her current courses and the I scheme file for the backlog, with its own code and past papers, so she never revises from the wrong list.
After the diploma
Diploma holders can join the second year of engineering degrees through Maharashtra's direct second year admission process, so strong marks in the final semesters matter. Many later prepare for public sector posts or postgraduate study; the GATE syllabus page shows the level of maths and core subjects those routes expect. For school and board level syllabi, browse the school boards section.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I am in the I scheme or the K scheme?
Check your hall ticket or mark sheet: it prints the scheme letter and course codes. K scheme codes have six digits (such as 311302), while I scheme codes have five digits starting with 22.
Do all engineering branches share first year courses?
Largely. Maths, science, English, ICT and graphics courses are shared across most engineering branches, while workshop and some practical courses change by branch group.
What score clears an MSBTE theory course?
In the I scheme it is 40 percent of each end exam head, which is 28 out of 70 in theory. In the K scheme you must clear FA, SA and SLA separately, each with its own minimum set out per course.
Can I study from an I scheme book for a K scheme course?
Only partly. Many topics overlap, but units, codes and weightage differ, and the K scheme adds self learning work and Indian Knowledge System topics. Always follow the course file of your own scheme.
Where is the syllabus msbte publishes for each course?
On the board's official portal, under curriculum, sorted by scheme, programme and semester. Your polytechnic can also give you the same document.
How often does MSBTE hold exams?
End semester exams are held in two sessions, winter for odd semesters and summer for even semesters. Backlog papers are taken in these same sessions.