APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026 — Exam Pattern and Subject-wise Syllabus (Notification 32/2026)

APPSC Technical Assistant Syllabus 2026 — Exam Pattern & Subject-wise Syllabus (Notification 32/2026)

About APPSC and the Technical Assistant Recruitment

• 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 Technical Assistant recruitment belongs to the A.P. Mines and Geology Sub-Service under Notification No. 32/2026.
• Selection is through a Computer-Based Recruitment Test (CBRT) with two objective papers.
• Official website: https://psc.ap.gov.in/
• Candidates must read the detailed notification for eligibility, vacancy break-up and all conditions.
• Job location: Andhra Pradesh.

APPSC Technical Assistant Recruitment — Key Highlights

• Conducting body: Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC).
• Post: Technical Assistant — A.P. Mines and Geology Sub-Service.
• Notification number: 32/2026.
• Exam mode: Computer-Based Recruitment Test (CBRT).
• Question type: objective.
• Papers: 2 — General Studies and Mental Ability; Geology.
• Total questions and marks: 300 questions for 300 marks.
• Total duration: 300 minutes (150 minutes per paper).
• Negative marking: one-third of the marks of a question per wrong answer.
• Brief notification: 13 October 2026 (as reported).

Selection Process — At a Glance

• Step 1 — Application: candidates apply online through the APPSC website within the notified window.
• Step 2 — CBRT (Paper I and Paper II): both papers are taken on computer.
• There is no separate screening test.
• Normalisation: if the exam is held in more than one session, the Commission may apply normalisation where necessary.

Important Dates (As Reported)

• Brief notification released: 13 October 2026.
• Detailed notification: on or before 6 November 2026.
• Online application starts: 6 November 2026.
• Last date to apply: 26 November 2026 (up to 11:59 PM).

CBRT Exam Pattern

• Both papers are objective type and set at degree standard.
• Paper I tests General Studies and Mental Ability; Paper II tests Geology.
• Each paper carries 150 questions for 150 marks in 150 minutes.
• The exam is conducted online in CBRT mode.
• Qualifying marks by category (UR/EWS/OBC/SC/ST): not specified in the sources checked — confirm from the detailed notification.

Marking Scheme and Key Rules

• Every question is objective type, and each paper carries 150 marks.
• Each wrong answer costs one-third of the marks assigned to that question.
• Unattempted questions carry no penalty — avoid blind guessing.
• Normalisation may be applied if the exam runs in multiple sessions, as per Commission rules.

Paper I — General Studies and Mental Ability

• Current affairs: major international, national and Andhra Pradesh events and issues.
• General science: everyday applications of science, developments in science and technology, and information technology.
• Indian history: social, economic, cultural and political aspects, with emphasis on Andhra Pradesh and the Indian National Movement.
• Geography: geography of India, with special focus on Andhra Pradesh.
• Indian polity and governance: constitutional issues, public policy, reforms and e-governance initiatives.
• Indian economy: the Indian economy and planning.
• Environment: sustainable development and environmental protection.
• Disaster management: vulnerability profiles, prevention and mitigation, and use of remote sensing and GIS in disaster assessment.
• Logical reasoning: logical reasoning, analytical ability and logical interpretation.
• Data analysis: tabulation, visual representation, basic statistics (mean, median, mode, variance) and data interpretation.

Paper II — Geology (Four Parts)

• Paper II covers Geology in four parts: (A) General Geology, Geomorphology and Structural Geology; (B) Crystallography, Mineralogy and Economic Geology; (C) Petrology; (D) Palaeontology and Stratigraphy.
• The topic lists below follow the structure given in the reference syllabus.

(A) General Geology, Geomorphology and Structural Geology

• General Geology — the solar system.
• General Geology — origin, age and internal structure of the Earth.
• General Geology — volcanoes: types, distribution and products.
• General Geology — earthquakes: intensity, magnitude, causes and effects.
• General Geology — isostasy, geosynclines and mountain building.
• General Geology — continental drift, sea-floor spreading and plate tectonics.
• Geomorphology — basic concepts; internal and external processes.
• Geomorphology — weathering and erosion cycles.
• Geomorphology — fluvial landforms and drainage patterns.
• Geomorphology — aeolian, marine, glacial and karst landscapes.
• Geomorphology — elements of remote sensing.
• Structural Geology — primary and secondary structures; dip and strike.
• Structural Geology — unconformities.
• Structural Geology — folds, joints, faults, foliation, lineations, overthrusts and nappes.
• Structural Geology — rock deformation.
• Structural Geology — block diagrams.
• Structural Geology — stereographic and equal-area nets.
• Field Geology — topographic map reading.
• Field Geology — geological mapping and field measurements.

(B) Crystallography, Mineralogy and Economic Geology

• Crystallography — crystal structure and laws of crystallography.
• Crystallography — symmetry of the seven crystal systems.
• Crystallography — interaction of light with crystals; petrological microscope and Nicol prism.
• Crystallography — pleochroism, double refraction, extinction angle, birefringence and twinning; isotropic, uniaxial and biaxial minerals.
• Mineralogy — physical, chemical and optical properties of common rock-forming minerals: quartz, feldspar, mica, pyroxene, amphibole, olivine, garnet, chlorite, carbonates and aluminosilicates.
• Mineralogy — silicate structures and crystal chemistry.
• Mineralogy — gemstones.
• Economic Geology — ores, ore minerals and gangue.
• Economic Geology — classification and formation of ore deposits.
• Economic Geology — Indian occurrences of aluminium, chromium, copper, gold, lead, zinc, iron, manganese and radioactive-element ores.
• Economic Geology — abrasives, refractories and ceramic minerals.
• Economic Geology — coal, petroleum and mineral prospecting.

(C) Petrology

• Igneous Petrology — origin of magma and formation of igneous rocks.
• Igneous Petrology — Bowen's reaction principle; crystallisation of binary systems.
• Igneous Petrology — classification, textures and structures; granite, syenite, diorite, mafic and ultramafic rocks, anorthosites and alkaline rocks.
• Sedimentary Petrology — sedimentary processes and products; classification; sedimentary structures.
• Sedimentary Petrology — residual and clastic deposits; mineral composition and texture.
• Sedimentary Petrology — quartz arenites, arkoses, greywackes, and siliceous and calcareous deposits of chemical and organic origin.
• Metamorphic Petrology — types and factors of metamorphism; zones, grades and facies.
• Metamorphic Petrology — regional and contact metamorphism; textures and structures.
• Metamorphic Petrology — metamorphism of argillaceous, arenaceous, calcareous and basic rocks; metasomatism.

(D) Palaeontology and Stratigraphy

• Palaeontology — habits and habitats of animals; fossils, fossilisation and modes of preservation; applications of fossils.
• Palaeontology — morphology and geological history of Foraminiferida, Brachiopoda, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Trilobita, Echinoidea and Anthozoa.
• Palaeontology — Siwalik mammals and Gondwana flora.
• Stratigraphy — fundamental laws of stratigraphy; lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic classification; geological time scale.
• Stratigraphy — physiographic divisions of India and stratigraphy of India.
• Stratigraphy — the Dharwar, Vindhyan, Gondwana and Siwalik Supergroups: subdivisions, lithology, fossils, distribution and economic importance.

How to Prepare for the APPSC Technical Assistant Exam

• Split the syllabus by paper: make one checklist for General Studies and Mental Ability and a separate one for the four Geology parts, and tick topics off as you finish them.
• Give Geology equal time: both papers carry 150 marks, so the technical paper decides as much of the result as the general one — spend extra time on mineral and rock identification, structural geology and Indian stratigraphy.
• Make Andhra Pradesh the core of Paper I: the syllabus repeatedly stresses the state, so prepare its history, geography, governance and current events first.
• Practise reasoning and data questions regularly: logical reasoning and data interpretation are scoring areas that respond well to daily practice.
• Take timed mock tests: you get 150 minutes per paper, so practise full-length sets and review every wrong answer.
• Attempt only questions you can narrow down: with one-third negative marking, eliminate options first and skip questions where you cannot rule anything out.

60-Day Study Plan (Indicative)

• Days 1–15 — Foundation: cover Paper I sections (current affairs, history-geography-polity-economy with AP focus, environment, disaster management) and Geology Part (A).
• Days 16–30 — Geology core: complete Parts (B) and (C) with mineral/rock identification practice and labelled diagrams.
• Days 31–45 — Completion: finish Part (D) stratigraphy, Paper I reasoning and data analysis drills, and sectional tests.
• Days 46–60 — Mocks: full-length 150-question mocks per paper under 150-minute timing, error analysis, and revision of weak areas.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Under-preparing Paper II Geology despite its equal 150-mark weightage.
• Ignoring Andhra Pradesh-specific content in history, geography and current affairs.
• Blind guessing despite the one-third negative marking.
• Skipping diagram and map practice for structural geology and field geology topics.
• Not reading the detailed notification (due on or before 6 November 2026) before finalising preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the APPSC Technical Assistant syllabus 2026? Two papers — Paper I: General Studies and Mental Ability (current affairs, science, history, geography, polity, economy, environment, disaster management, reasoning, data analysis); Paper II: Geology (general geology, geomorphology, structural geology, crystallography, mineralogy, economic geology, petrology, palaeontology, Indian stratigraphy).
• What is the exam pattern? A computer-based objective test with two papers of 150 questions and 150 marks each; each paper is 150 minutes — 300 questions, 300 marks, 300 minutes in total.
• How many questions are asked? 300 in total: 150 in Paper I and 150 in Paper II.
• Is there negative marking? Yes — one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every wrong answer.
• Is there a separate screening test? No — the exam pattern states there is no separate screening test.

Important Links — Official Only

• APPSC Official Website: psc.ap.gov.in (Official Website)
• The detailed notification and exam scheme are published on the official APPSC website only.

Disclaimer

• This page is an informational summary of the APPSC Technical Assistant examination pattern and syllabus for the A.P. Mines and Geology Sub-Service (Notification 32/2026) based on published sources.
• It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission.
• The detailed notification and official syllabus are the binding and final sources for all details, including eligibility, dates, qualifying marks and pattern.
• Always verify details at https://psc.ap.gov.in/.