This page sets out the APPSC Group-I syllabus as printed in Annexure-II of the detailed Notification No. 07/2026 (dated 6 October 2026). Topic lists are condensed from the official text. Where the notification uses a heading, we use the same heading. For marks, timings and negative marking, see the exam pattern.
Syllabus at a glance
| Stage | Paper | Parts and marks | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screening Test (objective) | Paper-I General Studies | A History and Culture 30; B Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations 30; C Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy and Planning 30; D Geography 30 | Degree |
| Screening Test (objective) | Paper-II General Aptitude | A General Mental Ability, Administrative and Psychological Abilities 60; B(i) Science and Technology 30; B(ii) Current events of regional, national and international importance 30 | Degree |
| Mains (descriptive, qualifying) | Telugu paper; English paper | 150 each, not counted in the total | SSC |
| Mains (descriptive, counted) | Paper-I General Essay | 150 | Degree |
| Mains | Paper-II History, Culture and Geography of India and Andhra Pradesh | 150 | Degree |
| Mains | Paper-III Polity, Constitution, Governance, Law and Ethics | 150 | Degree |
| Mains | Paper-IV Economy and Development of India and Andhra Pradesh | 150 | Degree |
| Mains | Paper-V Science, Technology and Environmental Issues | 150 | Degree |
Screening Test Paper-I: General Studies
A. History and Culture. Indus Valley Civilization, the Vedic age and Mahajanapadas, Jainism and Buddhism, the Magadhas and Mauryas, foreign invasions and the Kushans, the Satavahanas, the Sangam age, the Sungas and the Gupta empire. South Indian dynasties: Badami Chalukyas, Eastern Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Cholas, Hoysalas, Yadavas, Kakatiyas and Reddis. The Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara and the Mughals, with the Bhakti movement and Sufism. European trading companies and their struggle for supremacy, including Andhra and the Nizam. The 1857 war of independence, 19th-century reform movements, the freedom movement and revolutionaries. Gandhi's thought and satyagrahas, Sardar Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose, Dr B.R. Ambedkar and the making of the Constitution, and the reorganisation of states.
B. Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations. Evolution and features of the Constitution, Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles, amendments and basic structure. Union and states, Parliament and state legislatures, federal issues and devolution to local levels. Constitutional authorities, Panchayati Raj, public policy and governance. The impact of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation on governance, and statutory, regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies. Rights issues (human, women, SC/ST, child). India's foreign policy, international institutions, and important central and state programmes.
C. Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy and Planning. Features of the Indian economy, planning and NITI Aayog, HDI, sustainable development. National income, demography, poverty, unemployment and rural and urban development. Agriculture, irrigation, MSP and food security; industry, Make in India, SEZs and corridors; reforms, trade, balance of payments and the WTO. RBI and monetary policy, banking reforms and NPAs, SEBI, taxation and GST, fiscal federalism, finance commissions, debt and budget. AP economy after bifurcation in 2014: natural resources and revenue, river-water disputes, infrastructure, IT and e-governance, social welfare; and the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014: capital assistance, revenue compensation, backward districts, the Vizag railway zone, Kadapa steel plant, Dugarajapatnam, corridors, and the special status debate.
D. Geography. General geography (the Earth, time, seasons, interior, landforms, atmosphere, climate, oceans). Physical geography of the world, India and the state. Social geography (population, literacy, SC/ST population, migration, urbanisation). Economic geography (sectors, basic industries, transport and trade).
Screening Test Paper-II: General Aptitude
A. General Mental Ability, Administrative and Psychological Abilities (60 marks). Logical reasoning and analytical ability; number series and coding-decoding; relations; shapes and Venn diagrams; clocks, calendar and age; number system; ratio and variation; mean, median, mode and weighted mean; powers, roots, HCF and LCM; percentage, interest and profit and loss; time and work, time and distance; mensuration and basic geometry; BODMAS and simplification; data interpretation, data sufficiency and probability. It also lists emotional intelligence and social intelligence: empathy, coping with stress, interpersonal skills, decision making, critical thinking and assessment of personality.
B(i). Science and Technology (30 marks). Science and technology policy and institutions, prominent Indian scientists; ICT, e-governance and cyber security; ISRO, satellite programmes (including IRNSS and IRS) and DRDO; India's energy needs and solar, wind and nuclear energy; environmental science, biodiversity, climate change and India's commitments, forest and wildlife law, disaster management; biotechnology, nanotechnology and genetic engineering; health and environment.
B(ii). Current events of regional, national and international importance (30 marks). No sub-list is given, so read "regional" as Andhra Pradesh.
Mains: Telugu and English qualifying papers
Both are SSC standard, 150 marks and 180 minutes, and qualifying only. The English paper has an essay, a formal letter, a press release or appeal, report writing, writing on visual information (graph or table), a formal speech, précis, a reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary questions, and translation from the regional language into English. The Telugu paper has an essay, elaboration of verses from Vemana and Sumathi Satakam, précis, comprehension, a formal speech or press statement, letter and application writing, report writing, translation both ways, word meanings and synonyms and antonyms.
Mains Paper-I: General Essay
Three essays, one from each section. Section I: current affairs. Section II: socio-political, socio-economic and socio-environmental issues. Section III: cultural and historical aspects, civic awareness and reflective topics. Credit goes to format, grammatical correctness and originality.
Mains Paper-II: History, Culture and Geography of India and Andhra Pradesh
- A. History and Culture of India: ancient India to the Guptas and Kanauj, early educational institutions; the Pallavas to the Cholas, the Delhi Sultanate, Bhakti and Sufi; the Mughals; British rule from 1757 to 1856; Indian nationalism in three phases.
- B. History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh: the Satavahanas, Ikshvakus and Salankayanas; medieval Andhradesa; European trade settlements and Andhra under British rule; the nationalist movement and the role of Andhra leaders; the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and its impact.
- C. Geography of India and Andhra Pradesh: physical features and resources, economic geography (agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishery, industry), social geography, fauna and flora, environmental geography and sustainable development.
Mains Paper-III: Polity, Constitution, Governance, Law and Ethics
- A. Indian Polity and Constitution: salient features, federal issues, the 73rd and 74th amendments, Parliament and state legislatures, the judiciary.
- B. Public Administration and Governance: nature and scope of public administration, government policies for development, civil society and NGOs, statutory and quasi-judicial bodies, good governance and e-governance.
- C. Ethics in Public Service and knowledge of law: ethics and human interface, human values, attitude, public service and probity, corruption, Lokpal and Lokayukta, and basic laws: civil and criminal courts and new criminal law developments, labour law, the IT Act and cyber crime, and tax laws including GST.
Mains Paper-IV: Economy and Development of India and Andhra Pradesh
Twelve units: challenges of the Indian economy; resource mobilisation in India and in AP; government budgeting in India and in AP (including the latest finance commission and the state finance commission); inclusive growth and AP welfare schemes, PDS and DWCRA; agricultural development in India and AP; industrial policy in India and the AP industrial policy; and infrastructure in India and AP.
Mains Paper-V: Science, Technology and Environmental Issues
Science, technology and innovation policy; ICT; the Indian space programme; energy needs and clean energy; development versus environment; pollution and solid waste management; biotechnology; human diseases and infections; intellectual property rights.
Where the screening test and mains overlap
This is our reading of the two syllabi, not APPSC's:
| Screening part | Mains paper it feeds |
|---|---|
| Paper-I A History and Culture, D Geography | Paper-II |
| Paper-I B Constitution, Polity | Paper-III (A and B) |
| Paper-I C Economy and Planning | Paper-IV |
| Paper-II B(i) Science and Technology | Paper-V |
| Paper-II B(ii) Current events | Paper-I Essay, and every paper |
| Paper-II A Mental Ability (EI, social intelligence) | Paper-III C Ethics |
Two areas have no screening counterpart: the AP history section of Paper-II is far deeper than the screening list, and the law portion of Paper-III is new at mains. Start both early. The preparation strategy builds a plan around this table.
How to use this syllabus
- Print the official Annexure-II from the detailed notification and tick topics as you finish them.
- Practise each topic as you complete it. Topic-wise practice on Pareeksha is Pro; the 10-question mini-mock and Daily Dangal are free.
- Recheck the notification before each stage. APPSC can issue corrigenda; this page was checked on the date shown.
Related: Exam pattern · Cut-off · Preparation strategy