APPSC Group-I syllabus and exam pattern

Exam pattern

The screening test only decides who writes the Mains: its marks don't count for the ranking. A wrong answer in the screening test costs one-third of a mark. Telugu and English are qualifying papers. The five counted Mains papers (750 marks) and the interview (75) decide the ranking.

Prelims Paper I: General Studies

• History and culture of India, with emphasis on Andhra Pradesh: ancient, medieval and modern; the freedom movement; consolidation after independence and the reorganisation of states.
• The Indian Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations: Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles, amendments, Centre-State relations, Panchayati Raj, constitutional bodies, human rights and foreign policy.
• The economy and planning of India and Andhra Pradesh: planning and NITI Aayog, national income, poverty, agriculture, industry, banking and the RBI, GST and public finance; the economy of Andhra Pradesh after bifurcation and the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
• Geography of the world, India and Andhra Pradesh: physical geography (climate, landforms, soils, vegetation), population, migration, urbanisation, agriculture, industries and transport.

Prelims Paper II: General Aptitude

• General mental ability: reasoning, number series, coding, data interpretation; arithmetic such as percentages, interest and time and work; basic geometry, algebra and probability.
• Psychological abilities: emotional and social intelligence, decision making and critical thinking.
• Science and technology: ICT and e-governance, cyber security, space and defence, energy, biotechnology and nanotechnology.
• Environment: biodiversity, climate change and environmental issues.
• Current events of regional, national and international importance.

Mains: qualifying papers

• Telugu and English test comprehension, précis, letter and essay writing, translation, grammar and vocabulary. You must pass both, but their marks don't count for the ranking.

Mains Paper I: General Essay

• Three essays on current affairs, social, political and economic issues, the environment, culture, history and civic topics.

Mains Paper II: History, Culture and Geography of India and Andhra Pradesh

• History and culture of India, from prehistory to modern Indian nationalism and the freedom movement.
• History and culture of Andhra Pradesh, from ancient times to the reorganisation of the state, and the effects of bifurcation.
• Physical, economic, social and environmental geography of India and Andhra Pradesh.

Mains Paper III: Polity, Constitution, Governance, Law and Ethics

• The Constitution of India, federalism and Centre-State relations; Union and State governments; the judiciary; local self-government.
• Public administration, good governance and e-governance; welfare policies and how they are delivered.
• Ethics, human values, attitude and emotional intelligence; probity in public life.
• Basics of law: civil, criminal, labour, cyber and tax laws.

Mains Paper IV: Economy and Development of India and Andhra Pradesh

• Economic challenges, resource mobilisation, budgeting and inclusive growth in India.
• Agricultural and industrial development; infrastructure.
• Economic development of Andhra Pradesh, and the issues arising from bifurcation.

Mains Paper V: Science, Technology and Environmental Issues

• Science and technology in everyday life; IT and ICT; space and defence technology; energy.
• Biotechnology and nanotechnology, including their use in agriculture and animal husbandry; human diseases and public health.
• The environment: pollution, environmental laws and environmental management.