APPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2026 - Prelims and Mains Exam Pattern and Subject-wise Syllabus

APPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2026 — Prelims and Mains Exam Pattern & Subject-wise Syllabus

About APPSC and the Group-I Services Examination

• The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) is the constitutional recruiting body of the State of Andhra Pradesh, constituted under Article 315 of the Constitution of India.
• The Group-I Services Examination is APPSC's premier examination for recruitment to senior administrative and executive posts in the State government.
• The examination consists of a Preliminary Examination (Screening Test), a Main Written Examination, and an Interview / Personality Test.
• Official website: https://portal-psc.ap.gov.in/
• Official syllabus pages: Prelims — Preliminary Syllabus, Mains — Main Examination Syllabus
• Candidates must read the official notification for eligibility, vacancies, dates, and examination conditions.

APPSC Group-I Examination — Key Highlights

• Conducting authority: Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC).
• Examination: APPSC Group-I Services Examination.
• Prelims: 2 objective papers — General Studies and General Aptitude.
• Prelims questions and marks: 120 questions for 120 marks per paper; 240 questions for 240 marks in total.
• Prelims negative marking: one-third of the marks assigned per incorrect answer.
• Mains: 7 written papers — Telugu and English qualifying papers plus 5 merit-based descriptive papers.
• Mains merit marks: 750 (5 papers of 150 marks each); qualifying language papers carry 150 marks each.
• Interview / Personality Test: 75 marks.
• Total final merit marks: 825 (750 Mains merit + 75 Interview).
• Job location: Andhra Pradesh.

Selection Process — At a Glance

• Stage 1 — Preliminary Examination: an objective-type screening test used for shortlisting candidates for the Mains.
• Stage 2 — Main Written Examination: seven papers, including two qualifying language papers and five merit-based descriptive papers.
• Stage 3 — Interview / Personality Test: a 75-mark assessment conducted after the written examination.
• Final selection: based on the Mains merit papers and the Interview as per the official scheme.

Preliminary Examination (Screening Test) — Pattern

• Mode: objective-type (multiple-choice) screening test.
• Each paper carries 120 questions for 120 marks and lasts 120 minutes.
• Negative marking: one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every incorrect answer.
• Prelims is a screening stage used to shortlist candidates for the Mains.
• Exact qualifying standards and shortlisting ratios are governed by the official notification.

Prelims Paper I — General Studies: Section-wise Marks

• Paper I covers General Studies in four sections with equal marks.
• Each section carries 30 marks — History and Culture, Constitution / Polity / Social Justice / International Relations, Economy, and Geography.
• The syllabus coverage below follows the official subject areas.

Prelims Paper II — General Aptitude: Section-wise Marks

• Section A (60 marks) covers General Mental Ability along with Administrative and Psychological Abilities.
• Section B covers Science and Technology (30 marks) and Current Events of regional, national and international importance (30 marks).
• The syllabus coverage below follows the official subject areas.

Prelims Paper I — Detailed Syllabus

• The breakdown below follows the official subject areas for General Studies.
• Always treat the official syllabus page as the final source for preparation.

1. History and Culture

• Indus Valley Civilisation and Vedic Age.
• Mahajanapadas, Jainism and Buddhism.
• Magadha, Mauryan Empire and Kushans.
• Satavahanas, Sangam Age and Gupta Empire.
• Ancient Indian administration, art and architecture.
• Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas, Kakatiyas and other South Indian dynasties.
• Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara Empire and Mughal Empire.
• Bhakti and Sufi movements.
• European trading companies in India.
• Governor-Generals and Viceroys.
• Revolt of 1857 and its significance.
• Social and religious reform movements.
• Indian National Movement and freedom struggle, including the roles of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation of Indian states.

2. Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

• Evolution and important features of the Indian Constitution; Preamble and Basic Structure.
• Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties; Directive Principles of State Policy.
• Constitutional amendments.
• Union and State Governments; Parliament and State Legislatures.
• Federalism and Centre-State relations.
• Constitutional authorities and institutions.
• Local self-government and Panchayati Raj.
• Public administration and governance; statutory and regulatory bodies.
• Social justice and rights-related issues.
• Women, children and disadvantaged communities.
• India's foreign policy; international relations and international organisations.
• Government policies and welfare programmes.
• Public distribution and citizen-centric service delivery concepts.
• Current developments in polity and governance.

3. Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy and Planning

• Indian economy after independence; economic planning and NITI Aayog.
• National income and economic development; Human Development Index and sustainable development.
• Poverty, inequality and unemployment; population and demographic trends.
• Agriculture, irrigation and agricultural reforms.
• Rural and urban development.
• Industry and industrial policy; Make in India and start-up initiatives.
• Economic reforms and globalisation; international trade and balance of payments.
• Reserve Bank of India and monetary policy; banking and financial sector reforms.
• GST, taxation and fiscal policy; public debt, budgets and government expenditure.
• Andhra Pradesh economy after bifurcation; Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
• State resources, revenue and infrastructure.
• Water-sharing and irrigation issues.
• Andhra Pradesh industrial development and employment.
• State welfare programmes and development initiatives.
• State budget highlights and economic survey themes.
• Current economic developments of India and Andhra Pradesh.

4. Geography

• Earth and the Solar System; structure and movements of the Earth.
• Landforms and geomorphology.
• Atmosphere and climate.
• Oceans and marine resources.
• Earthquakes, landslides and natural hazards.
• Major physical divisions of the world and India.
• Indian monsoon and climatic regions.
• Rivers and drainage systems.
• Natural vegetation and soil types.
• National parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
• Minerals and natural resources.
• Population distribution and demographic changes; urbanisation and migration.
• Agriculture, industries, services, transport, communication and trade.
• Physical and economic geography of Andhra Pradesh.

Prelims Paper II — Detailed Syllabus

• Paper II evaluates General Mental Ability, Administrative and Psychological Abilities, Science and Technology, and Current Events.
• The breakdown below follows the official subject areas.

1. General Mental Ability and Reasoning

• Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
• Number series and coding-decoding.
• Blood relations and relationship problems.
• Venn diagrams.
• Clocks, calendars and age-related problems.
• Number system; ratio and proportion.
• Averages, mean, median and mode.
• HCF, LCM, squares and cube roots.
• Percentages and variation.
• Profit and loss.
• Simple and compound interest.
• Time and work; speed, time and distance.
• Basic geometry and mensuration; algebra and simplification.
• Data interpretation and analysis; data sufficiency and probability.

2. Administrative and Psychological Abilities

• Emotional intelligence.
• Understanding and managing emotions.
• Empathy and stress management.
• Social intelligence.
• Interpersonal communication.
• Decision-making.
• Critical thinking.
• Problem-solving and personality-related assessment.

3. Science and Technology

• Science and technology in everyday life.
• Indian science and technology policies; important scientific institutions and contributions of Indian scientists.
• Information and Communication Technology; e-governance and digital services.
• Cybersecurity.
• Indian space programme and ISRO; satellite programmes.
• Defence technology and DRDO.
• Energy resources and renewable energy — solar, wind and nuclear energy.
• Environmental science and biodiversity.
• Climate change and global warming; environmental legislation.
• Biotechnology and genetic engineering.
• Nanotechnology and its applications.
• Disaster management.
• Health and public-health related scientific developments.
• Current science and technology developments of national importance.

4. Current Events

• Andhra Pradesh current affairs.
• National developments.
• International affairs.
• Government policies and programmes.
• Science and technology developments; economy and development updates.
• Major regional, national and international events.

Main Examination — Pattern

• Mode: descriptive written examination; each paper lasts 180 minutes.
• The Telugu and English language papers are qualifying in nature.
• The five numbered papers (General Essay, History-Culture-Geography, Polity-Constitution-Governance-Law-Ethics, Economy and Development, Science-Technology-Environment) contribute 750 marks to the final merit.
• Candidates qualifying the Mains as per the Commission's shortlisting rules are considered for the Interview.

Mains Paper I — General Essay

• Candidates must write three essays, one from each of the prescribed sections, of approximately 800 words each.
• Current affairs.
• Social and political issues.
• Economic challenges and development.
• Environmental concerns.
• History and culture.
• Civic awareness and public issues.
• Reflective and analytical topics.

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

• Prehistoric cultures and ancient Indian civilisation.
• Ancient and medieval Indian history.
• Modern Indian history and the Indian National Movement.
• Andhra Pradesh history and cultural heritage.
• Ancient and medieval Andhra dynasties.
• Social and political developments in Andhra Pradesh.
• Formation and bifurcation-related developments.
• Physical geography of India.
• Geography of Andhra Pradesh.
• Population and settlement patterns.
• Agriculture, natural resources and economic geography; infrastructure.
• Environmental geography.

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

• Indian Constitution and constitutional development.
• Federalism and Centre-State relations.
• Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
• Local governance.
• Public administration and governance reforms.
• Transparency and accountability; citizen-centric administration.
• Public service values and ethics.
• Integrity and probity in governance.
• Human values and attitude.
• Emotional intelligence.
• Foundations of Indian law.
• Basic civil, criminal, labour, cyber and taxation laws.

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

• Indian economic development; economic planning and policy.
• National income and economic growth.
• Public finance and budgeting; resource mobilisation.
• Fiscal and monetary policy.
• Agriculture and rural development.
• Industrial development; infrastructure and investment.
• Employment and labour.
• Poverty and inequality; inclusive and sustainable growth.
• Andhra Pradesh economy.
• Development challenges after state bifurcation.
• Government welfare programmes.
• State-specific development initiatives.

Mains Paper V — Science, Technology and Environmental Issues

• Role of science and technology in national development.
• Information Technology and ICT; digital technologies and governance.
• Indian space programmes.
• Defence technology.
• Energy security and renewable energy.
• Environmental conservation; environmental pollution and control.
• Climate change and mitigation.
• Environmental legislation.
• Biotechnology.
• Nanotechnology.
• Human diseases and public-health related scientific issues.
• Agricultural and animal husbandry biotechnology; emerging scientific developments.

Telugu Qualifying Paper — Syllabus

• The Telugu qualifying paper carries 150 marks and is conducted for 180 minutes at the prescribed language standard.
• Essay writing.
• Elaboration of poetic or literary thought.
• Precis writing.
• Reading comprehension.
• Formal speech writing.
• Publicity statements.
• Letter writing.
• Debate writing.
• Application writing.
• Report writing.
• Dialogue writing.
• Translation from English to Telugu.
• Telugu grammar.

English Qualifying Paper — Syllabus

• The English qualifying paper carries 150 marks and lasts 180 minutes.
• Essay writing.
• Formal letter writing.
• Press release and appeal writing.
• Report writing.
• Writing based on charts, graphs and visual information.
• Formal speech writing.
• Precis writing.
• Reading comprehension.
• English grammar.
• Tenses, voice and narration.
• Articles, determiners and prepositions.
• Idioms and phrasal verbs; synonyms, antonyms and one-word substitutions.
• Translation from a regional language into English.
• The Telugu and English papers do not contribute to the final merit total, but candidates must meet the applicable qualifying conditions.

Interview / Personality Test

• Candidates qualifying the Main Examination as per the Commission's shortlisting rules are considered for the Interview / Personality Test.
• Maximum marks: 75.
• Final merit: Mains merit papers plus Interview — a total of 825 marks.
• Assessment covers general awareness, analytical ability, communication, and suitability for public service.

Negative Marking (Preliminary Examination)

• One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every incorrect answer in the Prelims.
• For a one-mark question, this is a deduction of one-third mark.
• Unattempted questions carry no penalty — avoid blind guessing.

Prelims vs Mains — Key Differences

• Exam type: Prelims is objective; Mains is descriptive.
• Number of papers: Prelims has 2 papers; Mains has 7 papers.
• Purpose: Prelims is a screening test; Mains decides selection merit and language qualification.
• Marks: Prelims carries 240 marks; Mains carries 750 merit marks plus 300 qualifying language marks.
• Duration: 120 minutes per Prelims paper; 180 minutes per Mains paper.
• Counted in final merit: Prelims is not counted; the five Mains merit papers plus the Interview (825 marks) decide the final merit.

How to Download the Official Syllabus PDF — Step by Step

• Visit the APPSC official website: https://portal-psc.ap.gov.in/
• Open the Syllabus or Group-I Services section.
• Select the Group-I Services syllabus page.
• Choose Preliminary Syllabus or Mains Syllabus as required — Prelims Syllabus / Mains Syllabus
• Verify the notification number and examination scheme.
• Download or save the document and use it as a checklist for preparation and revision.

Preparation Tips

• Study the complete Prelims and Mains syllabus before preparing a timetable.
• Allocate separate study sessions for General Studies and General Aptitude.
• Give special attention to Andhra Pradesh history, economy, geography and current affairs.
• Revise the Indian Constitution, governance and social justice topics.
• Practise reasoning, data interpretation and numerical ability regularly.
• Read current affairs covering Andhra Pradesh, India and important international developments.
• Solve previous-year APPSC Group-I question papers.
• Attempt objective mock tests with the prescribed negative marking.
• Practise descriptive answer writing and essays for Mains, and prepare the Telugu and English qualifying papers alongside the merit papers.
• Maintain revision notes and review test performance to focus on weak areas.

90-Day Study Plan (Indicative)

• Days 1–30 — Foundation: cover Paper I sections (History-Culture, Polity, Economy, Geography) and Paper II mental ability basics; begin daily current affairs.
• Days 31–60 — Practice: sectional tests for all Prelims sections, previous-year questions, and timed mock tests with negative marking; start essay and précis practice.
• Days 61–90 — Revision and mocks: full-length Prelims mocks, descriptive Mains answer writing, Telugu/English qualifying-paper practice, and weak-area revision.
• Weekly review: analyse performance objectively and adjust the plan.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring Andhra Pradesh-specific topics in history, economy, geography and current affairs.
• Neglecting the Telugu and English qualifying papers — clearing Mains merit papers is not enough without them.
• Blind guessing in Prelims despite the one-third negative marking.
• Not practising descriptive writing within the 180-minute Mains paper duration.
• Skipping mental ability and data interpretation practice for Paper II.
• Relying only on third-party summaries instead of the official syllabus pages.

Exam Day Tips

• Reach the examination centre early with the admit card and required documents.
• Read the on-screen and written instructions carefully before starting.
• In Prelims, attempt sure-shot questions first and respect the negative marking.
• In Mains, plan essay structures before writing and allocate time per question.
• Keep answers neat, structured and within the word/time limits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the APPSC Group 1 syllabus? General Studies, General Aptitude, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science and Technology, Current Affairs, General Essay, and the qualifying language papers.
• How many stages are there in the selection process? Three — Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interview / Personality Test.
• How many papers are there in Prelims? Two papers — General Studies and General Aptitude.
• How many questions are asked in Prelims? Each paper contains 120 questions, making a total of 240 questions.
• What are the total marks for Prelims? The Preliminary Examination carries 240 marks across two papers.
• Is there negative marking? Yes — one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each incorrect answer in Prelims.
• What is the total final merit? 825 marks — 750 from the five Mains merit papers plus 75 from the Interview.

Important Links — Official Only

• APPSC Group-I Prelims Syllabus: Check Preliminary Syllabus
• APPSC Group-I Mains Syllabus: Check Main Examination Syllabus
• APPSC Official Portal: https://portal-psc.ap.gov.in/ (Official Website)

Disclaimer

• This page is an informational summary of the APPSC Group-I Services examination pattern and syllabus based on the official syllabus published by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission.
• It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission.
• The official notification and syllabus pages are the binding and final sources for all details, including eligibility, dates, vacancies, marks, and pattern.
• Always verify details at https://portal-psc.ap.gov.in/.