Exam Pattern

MahaRERA Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2026

Updated 2026 8 min read IBPS Official Format

The MahaRERA real estate certification exam is conducted by IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) on behalf of MahaRERA. Every real estate consultant, broker or property professional operating in Maharashtra must clear this exam to legally facilitate property transactions. This page explains the complete exam pattern, syllabus, marking scheme, key sections and what to expect on exam day.

Quick links for candidates

MahaRERA exam date 2026 tracker - latest phase, hall ticket timeline and next-step checklist
MahaRERA exam syllabus 2026 - topic-wise study plan and weightage
Printable MahaRERA question paper sample PDF - short solved sample set for revision

Exam Format at a Glance

Total questions

Minutes allowed

MCQ

Question type

40%

Passing score

Max attempts

Online

Mode of exam

₹1,062

Exam fee (incl. GST)

None

Negative marking

EN/MR

English or Marathi

Check this pattern under exam pressure

The format is simple on paper: 50 MCQs in 40 minutes. The real test is whether you can answer cleanly at that speed.

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Complete Syllabus — Topic-wise Breakdown

Topic	Approx. Questions	Weightage	Key Areas
RERA Act 2016	14	28%	Definitions, registration, obligations, penalties
MahaRERA Rules	10	20%	Maharashtra-specific rules, portal, circulars
Agent Registration	8	16%	Registration process, renewal, agent duties
Promoter Obligations	6	12%	70% rule, disclosures, defect liability
Allottee Rights	6	12%	Information rights, possession, delay remedies
Due Diligence	4	8%	Title verification, approvals, RERA checks
Sales & Documentation	2	4%	Agreement for sale, stamp duty, registration

Marking Scheme

Correct answer: 1 mark
Wrong answer: No negative marking (you lose nothing for attempting)
Unanswered: 0 marks
Passing score: 40% (20 out of 50) — attempt every question

There is no negative marking in the MahaRERA IBPS exam. This means you should attempt every question — even if you are not sure of the answer, an educated guess is always better than leaving it blank.

What Kind of Questions to Expect

The exam does not test pure memory — it tests application of the law to real-world situations. A typical question gives you a scenario involving an agent, a buyer, or a promoter, and asks what the correct action or entitlement is under the RERA Act or MahaRERA rules.

For example, instead of asking "What is Section 18?", the exam might say: "A buyer's possession has been delayed by 8 months. Which of the following is the buyer entitled to claim?" — and you must apply Section 18 to the scenario.

This is why reading the Act alone is not sufficient. You need to practise applying sections to situations under time pressure.

What Happens if You Fail

You get 3 attempts total at the IBPS exam
If you fail all 3 attempts, your property consultant registration application is rejected
You must re-enrol in the 20-hour training programme before you can attempt again
This means re-paying the training fees and starting the process from scratch

This is the primary reason thorough preparation matters. The training, the waiting, and the fees for a second cycle are significant. Use the 3 attempts well.

Exam Day Tips

Attempt all 50 questions — no penalty for wrong answers

With no negative marking, leaving a question blank is always a mistake. If you are unsure, eliminate obviously wrong options and make your best guess from what remains.

Budget 45 seconds per question maximum

At 40 minutes for 50 questions, you have exactly 48 seconds per question. If a question takes more than a minute, mark it and move on. Return at the end if time permits.

Know the key numbers cold

70% designated account, 10% advance cap, 5-year defect liability, ₹10,000/day agent penalty, 60-day appeal window, 30-day deemed registration — these numbers appear repeatedly. Learn them without thinking.

Focus on Sections 3, 4, 9, 13, 14, 18 and 79

These 7 sections together cover the majority of exam questions. Know what each section says and, more importantly, what it means for a property professional in practice.

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The 7 Key Sections Every MahaRERA Exam Candidate Must Know

The IBPS exam tests application of specific RERA sections to property-practice scenarios. These 7 sections appear most frequently and together cover the majority of the paper. Know what each one does and what it means for a real estate consultant on the ground.

Section 3

Mandatory Registration of Real Estate Projects

A project must register with RERA if it has more than 8 apartments OR the plot area exceeds 500 sq.m. — whichever condition applies. Both conditions do not need to be met simultaneously. An agent cannot facilitate any transaction in an unregistered project that should have been registered. Penalty for non-registration: up to 10% of estimated project cost.

Section 4

Registration Application and 70% Designated Account

The promoter must collect 70% of all amounts realised from allottees and deposit them in a separate designated bank account. This account can only be used for land cost and construction cost of that specific project. Withdrawals must be certified by an engineer, architect, and Chartered Accountant proportionate to construction stage. This is one of the most tested provisions in the exam.

Section 9

Registration of Real Estate Agents

Every real estate agent must register with MahaRERA before facilitating any sale or purchase in a registered project. The registration fee is ₹10,000 for individuals and ₹1 lakh for companies. Registration is valid for 5 years. An agent who operates without registration faces ₹10,000 per day penalty up to a maximum of 5% of the property's cost.

Section 13

10% Advance Cap Before Agreement for Sale

A promoter cannot accept more than 10% of the apartment's cost as advance before executing a registered agreement for sale. This is a hard cap — it cannot be waived by any private agreement between buyer and promoter. Agents who facilitate transactions where more than 10% is collected before registration of the agreement face liability under RERA.

Section 14

Adherence to Sanctioned Plans and Structural Defect Liability

The promoter cannot alter sanctioned plans without written consent of at least two-thirds of allottees. If delivered carpet area is less than what was agreed, the allottee gets a proportionate refund. Structural defects reported within 5 years of possession must be rectified free of cost within 30 days.

Section 18

Delay in Possession — Rights of Allottee

If the promoter fails to give possession by the agreed date, an allottee who stays in the project is entitled to interest at SBI's highest MCLR plus 2% for every month of delay. An allottee who withdraws is entitled to the full amount paid plus the same interest calculated from the date of each payment. Both promoter and allottee pay the same rate for their respective defaults — the rate is symmetric.

Section 79

Bar of Jurisdiction of Civil Courts

Civil courts are expressly barred from hearing matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the RERA Authority or Adjudicating Officer. Buyers and agents cannot take RERA-covered disputes to a civil court. The remedy lies exclusively within the RERA framework — RERA Authority, Adjudicating Officer, and then the Appellate Tribunal.

MahaRERA-Specific Rules You Must Know

Beyond the central RERA Act, Maharashtra has state-specific rules that are tested in the IBPS exam. These are the most commonly tested MahaRERA points.

Registration number format: Projects use P51800XXXXXX format; agents use A51800XXXXXX. Both must appear on all marketing materials.
Quarterly updates: Promoters must update the MahaRERA portal every 3 months in Form 2, covering construction progress, bookings and amounts collected.
QR codes in advertisements: MahaRERA Order 46C/2025 mandates QR codes in all real estate advertisements linking to the project's registration page.
Conciliation Forum: MahaRERA was the first state to implement a Conciliation Forum under Section 32(g) of RERA. 15 benches were set up in January 2018 — 10 in MMR and 5 in Pune.
Complaint fee: Filing a complaint with MahaRERA costs ₹5,000, payable by digital transfer only. Complaints can only be filed against registered projects.
MahaRERA portal: The official portal is maharera.mahaonline.gov.in — agents must verify every project's registration status here before facilitating any transaction.
Conveyance of common areas: Must be executed within 3 months of the Occupancy Certificate being issued.

Common Mistakes in the MahaRERA Exam

These are the errors that frequently cost candidates marks in the IBPS exam. Be aware of each one.

Confusing Section 59 and Section 60 penalties: Non-registration (Section 59) = up to 10% of project cost. False information at registration (Section 60) = up to 5%. Half as much — but candidates frequently mix them up.
Misreading the 500 sq.m. exemption: The exemption from registration applies when EITHER the plot is 500 sq.m. or less OR the units are 8 or fewer. You only need ONE condition, not both. This is a classic trap question.
Getting the interest rate wrong: The prescribed rate under Section 18 is SBI's highest MCLR plus 2% — not a fixed rate, not the RBI repo rate. The same rate applies both ways: promoter delays and allottee payment defaults.
Forgetting the agent is personally liable: An agent who makes representations beyond what is documented in the agreement for sale is personally liable for those representations. "The promoter said it" is not a defence.
Civil court jurisdiction confusion: Section 79 bars civil courts from RERA matters. The forum is RERA Authority → Adjudicating Officer → MREAT → High Court. Not directly to civil court or consumer court.

Frequently Asked Questions — MahaRERA Exam Pattern

What is the total duration of the MahaRERA IBPS exam?

The exam is 40 minutes long for 50 questions — exactly 48 seconds per question on average. There is no section-wise time limit. You can attempt questions in any order. The online platform allows you to mark questions for review and return to them before final submission.

Can I use a calculator in the MahaRERA exam?

No. The exam is conducted online on a computer and no physical calculator is allowed. The numerical questions in the exam — such as calculating delay interest or stamp duty — involve straightforward arithmetic that can be done mentally. Practise these calculations without a calculator during your preparation.

Is the MahaRERA exam conducted in Marathi or English?

The exam is available in both English and Marathi. Candidates can choose their preferred language at the time of registration or at the start of the exam. RERAExam.com provides practice questions in English, which covers the English medium option thoroughly.

What happens after I pass the MahaRERA exam?

After passing, IBPS issues you a Certificate of Competency. You then complete the MahaRERA agent registration process on maharera.mahaonline.gov.in, paying the registration fee of ₹10,000 for individuals or ₹1 lakh for companies/firms. Your registration number (A51800XXXXXX format) is then issued and is valid for 5 years.

What is the fee for the RERA exam in Maharashtra?

The MahaRERA agent exam fee is ₹1,062 (₹900 + 18% GST), payable online at the time of exam registration on maharera.maharashtra.gov.in. This is separate from the agent registration fee paid after passing (₹10,000 for individuals, ₹1 lakh for companies/firms). Full walkthrough: MahaRERA agent exam registration guide.

What is the qualification for the RERA exam?

Completion of the mandatory 20-hour MahaRERA agent training from an approved training partner is required before registering for the exam. No minimum educational qualification is prescribed beyond the training.

How much time should I spend preparing for the MahaRERA exam?

Most candidates who use RERAExam clear the certification within 2-3 weeks of daily practice. The daily challenge (10 questions, free) takes about 15 minutes. A full mock exam takes 40 minutes. Aim for one mock exam every 2 days and review the explanations for every wrong answer. Focus extra time on whichever topics your score shows as weakest.

What is the MahaRERA certification exam pattern?

The MahaRERA certification exam has 50 MCQ questions, a 40-minute time limit, and is conducted online by IBPS. It covers 7 topics: RERA Act 2016, MahaRERA Rules, Agent Registration, Promoter Obligations, Allottee Rights, Due Diligence, and Sales and Documentation. The passing score is 40%.

Is there negative marking in the MahaRERA exam?

No. There is no negative marking in the MahaRERA IBPS certification exam. A wrong answer scores 0 marks. You should attempt every question — even if unsure, eliminating options and guessing is better than leaving blank.

How many attempts are allowed for the MahaRERA exam?

You are allowed a maximum of 3 attempts at the MahaRERA certification exam. If you fail all 3, you must re-enrol in the mandatory 20-hour training programme and start the process again.

Which topics carry the most marks in the MahaRERA exam?

The RERA Act 2016 carries the highest weightage at approximately 28% (14 questions), followed by MahaRERA Rules at 20% (10 questions), and Agent Registration at 16% (8 questions). These three topics together make up 64% of the exam.

What is the passing score for MahaRERA certification exam?

The passing score is 40%, meaning you need to answer at least 20 questions correctly out of 50. Since there is no negative marking, you should attempt all 50 questions.

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Disclaimer: RERAExam is an independent exam preparation platform. It is not affiliated with MahaRERA, IBPS, or any government authority. Syllabus information is based on the official MahaRERA agent handbook and publicly available exam information.