Grama/Ward Sachivalayam 45-Day Preparation Plan: Day-wise Timetable, Exam Pattern and Mock Strategy

For a large number of young people in Andhra Pradesh, the Grama and Ward Sachivalayam posts are the one chance of a government job in their own village or their own mandal. That is why, every time news of a notification appears, lakhs of candidates begin preparing. The difficulty is that once a notification is out, there is usually not much time before the exam. In that short window, the candidates who have already decided what to read on which day are the ones who stay ahead. This article gives exactly that: a 45-day day-by-day plan with Part A and Part B work for each day, revision built into the middle, and full-length mock tests at the end.

Let us be clear about the current position first. As of 8 October 2026, no 2026 notification has been issued for Grama/Ward Sachivalayam posts. The Sachivalayam portal (gramawardsachivalayam.ap.gov.in) did not open on that day. Some websites are writing about "14,000+" or "37,000" posts; we have not seen those figures in any official document, so do not rely on them. This plan is built on the last pattern that was actually used, in the 2019 and 2020 recruitments. If the new notification changes the pattern, adjust the plan to match it.

For the structure of the Sachivalayam system, the Panchayat Secretary post, the job chart and the details of the 2019 notification, read the Sachivalayam Panchayat Secretary guide. For salary, probation and the nature of the work, see Sachivalayam salary and job profile. Here we concentrate only on preparation.

At a glance

This information is as of 8 October 2026.

• 2026 notification: not issued; awaited. Post counts quoted on websites are unverified.
• Last pattern (2019/2020): 150 questions, 150 marks, 150 minutes, OMR, for all posts.
• General (Grade-V type) posts: Part A General Studies and Mental Ability 75 + Part B relevant subject 75.
• Technical posts: Part A 50 (50 minutes) + Part B subject 100 (100 minutes).
• Negative marking: reported as −0.25 for every wrong answer in the 2019 pattern; confirm it in the new notification.
• This plan: 45 days, 5 to 6 hours a day; 4 phases; 8 full-length mocks.

1. The last official exam pattern (2019/2020)

Sachivalayam posts fall into two kinds. "General" posts are the first kind: Panchayat Secretary Grade-V, Ward Administrative Secretary, Welfare and Education Assistant, Ward Welfare and Development Secretary, Mahila Police, and the Ward Mahila and Weaker Sections Protection Secretary, among others. "Technical" posts are the second kind: Digital Assistant, Village Surveyor, Engineering Assistant, ANM, Animal Husbandry Assistant and the like.

Item	General posts	Technical posts
Total	150 questions / 150 marks / 150 minutes	150 questions / 150 marks / 150 minutes
Part A: General Studies and Mental Ability	75 marks	50 marks (50 minutes)
Part B: relevant subject	75 marks	100 marks (100 minutes)
Marking	+1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for a wrong one (reported)	Same
Mode	OMR, objective	OMR, objective

The key point in this table: for general posts the two parts are equal (50:50), while for technical posts the subject part is double the weight (33:67). That means one plan cannot serve both kinds of post. The 45-day table in this article is built for the general posts (75 + 75). Section 8 explains how candidates for technical posts should modify it.

Note: the details above are from the 2019/2020 recruitments. Because the Sachivalayam portal was not reachable, we could not re-verify them on that portal. The −0.25 negative marking is the item to look for most carefully in the notification, because it changes your attempt strategy.

One more practical point. 150 questions in 150 minutes means an average of one minute per question. In the technical posts, Part A is 50 questions in 50 minutes and Part B is 100 questions in 100 minutes, so the pace there is the same. In other words, if an arithmetic question takes you two minutes, that extra minute has to be saved on a memory-based question. Practising this pace again and again in the mock phase is the whole purpose of this plan.

2. The −0.25 negative marking: how the arithmetic works

Four wrong answers cancel one correct answer. Here are some illustrative examples (hypothetical).

Attempted	Correct	Wrong	Net marks
150	110	40	110 − 10 = 100
135	108	27	108 − 6.75 = 101.25
120	102	18	102 − 4.5 = 97.5

Compare the first two rows: the candidate who attempted 15 fewer questions ended up with more net marks. But in the third row, the candidate who left too many questions fell behind. −0.25 is a small penalty. A pure guess, where you cannot eliminate even one of the four options, has an expected gain of almost zero (+1 × 1/4 − 0.25 × 3/4 = +0.0625). If you can eliminate even one option, the expected gain becomes positive. So the rule is: attempt the question if you can confidently eliminate at least one option; leave it only when you know nothing about it. Test this rule in your mocks and make it a habit.

3. The structure of the 45-day plan

We have divided the 45 days into four phases.

Phase	Days	Goal	Daily time
1. Foundation	1 – 15	Cover every topic of Part A and Part B once	5 hours
2. Practice	16 – 30	Topic-wise questions, second round for weak topics	5–6 hours
3. Mock phase	31 – 40	8 full-length mocks, each followed by analysis	6 hours
4. Revision	41 – 45	Error diary, short notes, rest	4–5 hours

Split every day into three parts: (1) a new Part A topic or Part A practice, (2) a new Part B topic or Part B practice, and (3) the daily non-negotiables: 20 reasoning/arithmetic questions and 20 minutes of current affairs. Every seventh day is a weekly revision day with a short test.

Why each phase is built the way it is

Phase 1 (Foundation, 15 days): the goal of this phase is breadth, not depth. Looking at every topic in the syllabus once removes the danger of "I did not even know this topic existed". Do not spend too long on any one topic; finish one Part A topic and one Part B topic in a day and move on. The old paper you write on day one is your starting score; write it down with the date and keep it.

Phase 2 (Practice, 15 days): here there is a topic test every day. It shows how much of what you read in phase 1 has actually stayed with you. Days 27 and 29 are "second round" days; on those days, re-read the two topics in which you scored lowest in the topic tests. The short notes you prepare on day 30 become your main book in the final week.

Phase 3 (Mocks, 10 days): full 150-minute papers test your speed, your stamina and your negative-marking decisions. The table is arranged so that there is at least one analysis session between mocks. Days 35 and 36, and days 38, 39 and 40, are back-to-back mocks; they are placed there deliberately so that you get used to exam-day pressure.

Phase 4 (Revision, 5 days): no new topics in this phase. The only goals are to consolidate what you have read, build confidence and get enough sleep. Write the day-43 mock at the same time as your actual exam (for example, 10 a.m.) so that your body and mind are tuned to that hour.

4. The day-by-day timetable: 45 days

This table is for the general posts (Part A 75 + Part B 75). The "daily non-negotiables" (20 arithmetic questions plus current affairs) happen every day, so they are not repeated in the table.

Day	Part A (General Studies and Mental Ability)	Part B (subject: AP, polity, rural development)	Practice / revision
1	Number system, HCF, LCM	Indian history: highlights of ancient India	One old paper, untimed (to find your level)
2	Percentages	Andhra history: Satavahanas, Ikshvakus	25 questions
3	Ratio, proportion, averages	Andhra history: Eastern Chalukyas, Kakatiyas	25 questions
4	Profit and loss, discount	Andhra history: Vijayanagara, Qutb Shahis	25 questions
5	Series (number, letter)	Modern Andhra: national movement, social reformers	25 questions
6	Coding-decoding, directions	Andhra movement, Andhra State 1953, 1956	25 questions
7	Weekly revision	Weekly revision	50-question mixed test + error diary
8	Blood relations, seating arrangement	2014 bifurcation, Reorganisation Act	25 questions
9	Time and work, pipes	AP geography: physical features, rivers	25 questions
10	Speed and distance, trains	AP geography: soils, forests, minerals, ports	25 questions
11	Simple and compound interest	Indian Constitution: Preamble, rights, Directive Principles	25 questions
12	Data interpretation: tables, bar graphs	Constitution: Centre-State relations, Governor, Legislature	25 questions
13	Data interpretation: pie charts, line graphs	Panchayati Raj: Balwant Rai Mehta and Ashok Mehta committees	25 questions
14	Weekly revision	Weekly revision	50-question mixed test + error diary
15	General English: grammar basics	73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, 11th and 12th Schedules	25 questions
16	Telugu and English comprehension	AP Panchayati Raj system: village, mandal, district levels	Topic test: arithmetic 30 questions
17	Computer basics: hardware, software	Urban local bodies: municipalities, corporations	Topic test: Andhra history 30
18	Computers: internet, MS Office, shortcuts	Indian economy: basic concepts, banking	Topic test: reasoning 30
19	General science: everyday applications of physics	AP economy: agriculture, crops, irrigation	Topic test: AP geography 30
20	General science: chemistry	Major welfare and development schemes of the AP government	Topic test: polity 30
21	Weekly revision	Weekly revision	75-question Part A set (75 minutes)
22	General science: biology, health	Self-help groups, women's empowerment	Topic test: Panchayati Raj 30
23	Sustainable development, environmental protection	Central rural development schemes	Topic test: science 30
24	Recent developments in S&T and IT	Society, social justice, rights issues	Topic test: computers 30
25	Current affairs: last 6 months, national	Current affairs: last 6 months, AP	Topic test: schemes 30
26	Current affairs: last 6 months, international	AP culture, arts, festivals	Topic test: current affairs 30
27	Weak-topic second round (arithmetic)	Weak-topic second round (history/polity)	Error diary revision
28	Weekly revision	Weekly revision	75-question Part B set (75 minutes)
29	Weak-topic second round (reasoning)	Weak-topic second round (geography/economy)	50 mixed questions
30	Data interpretation speed practice	Prepare short notes on Panchayati Raj and schemes	50 mixed questions
31	Mock 1 (150 minutes)	–	Analysis: sort errors into three kinds
32	Weak Part A topics from Mock 1	Weak Part B topics from Mock 1	30 questions
33	Mock 2	–	Analysis
34	Weak topics from Mock 2	Weak topics from Mock 2	30 questions
35	Mock 3	–	Analysis + review of attempt strategy
36	Mock 4	–	Analysis
37	Weak topics	Weak topics	Error diary
38	Mock 5	–	Analysis
39	Mock 6	–	Analysis
40	Mock 7	–	Analysis + decide your exam-day order
41	Short notes: formulas, shortcuts	Short notes: history timeline	Error diary (first half)
42	Short notes: computers, science	Short notes: polity, Panchayati Raj	Error diary (second half)
43	Mock 8 (at the actual exam time)	–	Light analysis
44	Final current affairs revision	Final revision of schemes and AP figures	Read nothing new
45	A light look through; hall ticket, centre details	–	Rest, sleep on time

How to use this table

• The table is only a framework. If a day has been given to a topic you are already strong in, it will be done in half a day; give the remaining time to a weak topic.
• If you fall behind, compress phase 2, not phase 3. The mock phase is the most valuable; that is where your real score shows itself.
• Never skip the weekly revision days. Remembering what you have read is harder than reading new topics.
• If your post has a different subject, change the Part B column. For a Welfare Assistant or Mahila Police post, for example, the topics will follow the Part B syllabus given in the notification.

5. How to spend a day: an hour-by-hour template

The table above says "what to study". This one says "when to study". It is a template for roughly five and a half hours of study a day.

Time	Task	Duration
6:00 – 7:00 a.m.	Daily non-negotiable: 20 arithmetic/reasoning questions	1 hour
7:00 – 7:20 a.m.	Current affairs: the day's newspaper, notes	20 minutes
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.	The Part A topic from the table	1.5 hours
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.	The Part B topic from the table	1.5 hours
5:00 – 5:45 p.m.	25 questions on the day's topics	45 minutes
8:30 – 9:00 p.m.	Error diary; the day's learning in three sentences	30 minutes

There is a reason for putting arithmetic practice first thing in the morning: the mind is fresh at that hour and calculation errors are fewer. Reading the memory-based Part B topic in the afternoon and then answering questions on it in the evening gives you same-day revision. Writing the error diary at night looks like a five-minute chore, but in the mock phase it becomes your most valuable book.

6. Weekly targets and self-testing

Set a target for where you should be at the end of each week. The numbers below are only a suggestion; adjust them according to the score you got on the old paper on day one.

End of week	What should be complete	Target in the weekly test
Day 7	Arithmetic basics, Andhra history up to 1956	30 correct out of 50
Day 14	Reasoning, DI basics, AP geography, Constitution, start of Panchayati Raj	33 out of 50
Day 21	Computers, science, local bodies, economy, schemes	48 out of 75 in the Part A set
Day 28	Six months of current affairs, culture, weak-topic second round	50 out of 75 in the Part B set
Day 35	Three mocks with analysis	95 out of 150 (net) in a mock
Day 42	Seven mocks, short notes	105 out of 150 (net) in a mock

Do not panic if you miss a weekly target. Identify the topic where the marks were lost and give it priority on the "second round" days of the following week. If you score above the target, put the extra time into more question practice, not into new books.

7. Part A: section-wise strategy

Part A is common to all posts. It usually contains mental ability, reasoning, arithmetic, data interpretation, language comprehension, computer basics, general science and current affairs. Check the notification for the exact list.

Mental ability and arithmetic: this is the most controllable part of Part A. Twenty questions a day for 45 days means 900 questions of practice in total. For shortcuts, see reasoning and arithmetic shortcuts, and for data interpretation see data interpretation and mental ability.

Computer basics: the daily work of a Sachivalayam job is on a computer, so do not take this section lightly. MS Word and Excel shortcuts, internet terms and file types are easy marks. See the computer awareness notes.

Comprehension: Telugu and English passages. Read the questions first, then look for the answers in the passage. Getting into the habit of one short passage a day saves time in the exam.

General science and environment: focus on everyday-life applications. Read sustainable development and environmental protection separately and specifically.

Current affairs: regional (AP), national and international. Twenty minutes a day, and a revision of your notes once a week.

8. Part B: subject strategy

For the general posts, the 2019 Panchayat Secretary syllabus listed Part B topics such as Indian and AP history and culture, the political system, governance (including the 73rd and 74th Amendments), the economy, society, the physical geography of AP, the effects of state bifurcation, government welfare schemes and self-help groups. The detailed list is in the Sachivalayam guide. Notice how close this syllabus is to the actual work of a Panchayat Secretary: the panchayat system, schemes and self-help groups.

Notes to read: Panchayati Raj notes, AP government schemes, AP Reorganisation Act 2014, AP geography.

How to modify the plan for technical posts

In the technical posts, Part B carries 100 marks and Part A only 50. Therefore:

Change	General-post plan	Technical-post plan
Daily time share	Part A 50% / Part B 50%	Part A 33% / Part B 67%
Part B topics	History, polity, rural development	Your diploma/degree subject (survey, engineering, nursing, computer science, and so on)
Timing in mocks	75 + 75 minutes	50 + 100 minutes
Part A reduction	–	Shorten current affairs and general science; keep the daily arithmetic and reasoning practice going

For example, in the Part B column of the 45-day table for days 9 to 13, put the units of your technical subject in place of AP geography and the Constitution. Compress the history topics of days 1 to 6 into two days and give the remaining days to the subject.

9. How to analyse a mock test

There are eight mocks between day 31 and day 43. The analysis of a mock teaches more than writing it. After every mock, fill in this table.

Type of question	Count	Next action
Wrong because I did not know it		Re-read that topic
Knew it but got it wrong in a hurry		Build the habit of reading the question carefully
Left because time ran out		Change the order of sections
Guessed and got it wrong (negative)		Follow the attempt rule

In the first mocks, "did not know" errors will dominate. If by the last mocks only "hurry" errors remain, your preparation is on the right track. If you are wondering where to write mocks, see the online test series; to find your starting level, write the free mini-mock.

10. Time management on exam day

Stage	Time (general post)	Task
First look	3 minutes	Turn through the whole paper and spot the easy sections
Part B (memory-based)	55 minutes	Fast, known questions first
Part A current affairs, science, computers	25 minutes	The memory-based part
Part A arithmetic, reasoning, comprehension	50 minutes	The time-consuming part
Marked questions, OMR check	17 minutes	With the negative-marking rule in mind

This is a template. Whichever order works best in your mocks is the order to follow on exam day; do not experiment on the day itself.

11. Common mistakes

1. Waiting for the notification. The 2026 notification has not come, but the basics of Part A and Part B can be started now. Once the notification arrives, this 45-day plan works as a second round.
2. Believing rumours about the number of posts. Do not pin your hopes on figures that have no official document behind them.
3. Using one plan for every post. In the technical posts, Part B carries double the weight.
4. Skipping computer basics. Easy marks are lost.
5. Forgetting negative marking, or leaving too many questions out of fear of it. −0.25 is a small penalty; if you can eliminate one option, attempting is a gain.
6. Not analysing after mocks. If you only look at the score, the same mistakes will repeat.
7. Reading a new topic on the last day. Days 44 and 45 are for revision and rest only.

Health and motivation across the 45 days

In an intense 45-day study period, most people are enthusiastic for the first two weeks and tired by the third. Expect this in advance and be ready for it. At least seven hours of sleep a day is non-negotiable; if you cut sleep, both memory and calculation accuracy drop. Take a ten-minute break after every 50 minutes of study. On the weekly revision day, keep part of the evening for family or a walk. If a mock score drops one day, treat it as information rather than failure: it is telling you which topic is weak. If you study with a friend, get into the habit of asking each other ten questions a day; it improves both motivation and memory.

12. What to do on the day the notification arrives

When the 2026 notification comes, work through this list instead of panicking.

1. Read the exam-pattern page first. Are the Part A and Part B marks, the time and the negative marking the same as in 2019/2020? If they have changed, change the time share in this plan.
2. Print the Part B syllabus for your post. Mark each topic "know / know a little / do not know". Rearrange the 45-day table so that the "do not know" topics fall in the first two weeks.
3. Count backwards from the exam date. If there are fewer than 45 days to the exam, compress phase 2; do not cut the mock phase or the revision phase.
4. Read the eligibility, age limit, fee and local-status rules. These can change with every notification. Get the required certificates (study, caste, residence) ready in advance.
5. Do not wait until the last day to apply. Server congestion in the final days is common.
6. Bookmark the official portal. Corrigenda, hall tickets and keys all appear there; do not depend on social media posts.

13. Panchayati Raj: a one-page revision before the exam

The Panchayati Raj and local-bodies part of Part B is directly connected to the Sachivalayam job. Here is a table of the key fixed facts for the day-42 revision.

Item	What to remember
Lord Ripon's resolution	1882; the foundation of local self-government
Balwant Rai Mehta Committee	1957; recommended three-tier Panchayati Raj
Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh	First and second states to launch Panchayati Raj (1959)
Ashok Mehta Committee	1977; recommended a two-tier system
73rd Constitutional Amendment	1992; constitutional status for panchayats; 11th Schedule, 29 subjects
74th Constitutional Amendment	1992; urban local bodies; 12th Schedule, 18 subjects
PESA Act	1996; extension of panchayat provisions to Scheduled Areas
Local government	A subject in the State List of the Seventh Schedule

Write this table out again by hand on a sheet of paper. What is written by hand stays in memory longer. Chronology questions (which came first, which came later) are frequently set from this part, so remember the years in order.

14. Ten practice questions

1. Who elects the Zilla Parishad Chairperson? A) All the voters of the district B) The MLAs of the district C) The Governor D) The elected ZPTC members

2. How is the Gram Panchayat Sarpanch elected in Andhra Pradesh? A) By the ward members B) By the Panchayat Secretary C) Directly by the village voters D) By the MPTC members

3. Which was the second state, after Rajasthan, to implement Panchayati Raj? A) Gujarat B) Andhra Pradesh C) Maharashtra D) Karnataka

4. Arrange in chronological order: Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, Ashok Mehta Committee, 73rd Amendment, PESA Act. A) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, 73rd Amendment, Ashok Mehta Committee, PESA Act B) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, Ashok Mehta Committee, PESA Act, 73rd Amendment C) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, Ashok Mehta Committee, 73rd Amendment, PESA Act D) Ashok Mehta Committee, Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, 73rd Amendment, PESA Act

5. In which year was Lord Ripon's resolution on local self-government issued? A) 1857 B) 1919 C) 1909 D) 1882

6. Who heads a revenue division? A) Mandal Parishad Development Officer B) Revenue Divisional Officer C) Joint Collector D) Tahsildar

7. Consider the following statements: (i) Seats in panchayats are reserved for SCs and STs in proportion to their population. (ii) The Constitution makes reservation for Backward Classes mandatory at all levels. Which of these is/are correct? A) (i) only B) (ii) only C) Both (i) and (ii) D) Neither (i) nor (ii)

8. Find the next number in the series: 3, 10, 31, 94, 283, ? A) 851 B) 850 C) 849 D) 852

9. A shopkeeper marks his goods 40% above the cost price and allows a 20% discount. What is his profit or loss percentage? A) 12% loss B) 20% loss C) 20% profit D) 12% profit

10. Through how many degrees does the hour hand of a clock turn in 3 hours 20 minutes? A) 110° B) 120° C) 90° D) 100°

Answers

Question	Answer	Explanation
1	D	In AP the Zilla Parishad Chairperson is elected by the elected ZPTC members.
2	C	The Sarpanch is elected directly by the village voters.
3	B	After Rajasthan (2 October 1959), Andhra Pradesh (1 November 1959) launched Panchayati Raj.
4	C	Balwant Rai Mehta (1957), Ashok Mehta (1977), 73rd Amendment (1992), PESA (1996).
5	D	The 1882 Ripon resolution is regarded as the foundation of local self-government.
6	B	A revenue division is headed by the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO).
7	A	SC and ST reservation in proportion to population is mandatory; the Constitution leaves BC reservation to the discretion of the states.
8	B	Each term = previous term × 3 + 1; 283 × 3 + 1 = 850.
9	D	100 → 140 → 112 after a 20% discount; profit 12%.
10	D	The hour hand moves 30° per hour; 3⅓ hours × 30° = 100°.

Frequently asked questions

1. Has the Sachivalayam 2026 notification been issued? Not as of 8 October 2026. The figures seen on websites for the number of posts, such as 14,000+ or 37,000, are unverified. Wait for the official notification.

2. What is the exam pattern? Under the last official pattern (2019/2020): 150 questions, 150 marks, 150 minutes. General posts have Part A 75 + Part B 75; technical posts have Part A 50 + Part B 100. The 2026 notification may bring changes.

3. Is there negative marking? The 2019 pattern was reported as −0.25 for every wrong answer. Confirm it in the new notification.

4. Are 45 days enough? If you have an Intermediate/degree-level foundation and can study 5 to 6 hours a day, this is a reasonable plan. We cannot guarantee a result. If you start before the notification, you can complete this plan twice.

5. Can I follow this plan while working? If you have only 3 hours a day, stretch the 45-day plan to 75 to 90 days: split each day's work across two days. For details, see preparing while working.

6. Does this plan apply to technical posts? The framework applies, but the time share has to change: two-thirds of your time goes to Part B. See the table in section 8.

7. Which books should I read? Finishing the books you already have matters more than buying new ones. For AP history, geography and polity, the state textbooks (classes 6 to 10) are a good foundation. For Panchayati Raj and schemes, see our free notes (links below). Keep one source per topic and revise that same source again and again.

Related reading

• Sachivalayam Panchayat Secretary complete guide
• Sachivalayam salary and job profile
• Panchayati Raj notes
• Reasoning and arithmetic shortcuts
• VRO / VRA guide
• Negative marking, time management and mock strategy
• Sachivalayam 45-day preparation plan in Telugu
• Andhra Pradesh state guide: history, geography, government and every AP exam

Make today day one

Day one of the 45-day plan is an old paper written without a time limit. In its place, you can write the free AP mini-mock and see your current level. Use that result to identify which topics in the table above need more of your time. For full-length mocks, see the online test series. For the notification, the posts and the dates, rely only on the official Sachivalayam portal or the announcement of the department concerned. Once the notification arrives, we will update this plan to the new pattern; until then, keep taking one step forward every day.