APPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2026: Exam Patten, Syllabus PDF & Recommended Books

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) conducts the APPSC Group 1 examination to recruit civil servants in the state of Andhra Pradesh. For candidates who want government jobs within the state of Andhra Pradesh, it is a good opportunity for them. Interested candidates must start their preparation from the detailed APPSC Group 1 Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026. In this article, we have discussed the updated APPSC syllabus for the prelims & mains exams as per the latest exam pattern.

APPSC Group 1 Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

The selection of candidates for APPSC Group 1 2026 Vacancies will be done through three stages of the recruitment process, i.e., Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The candidate has to qualify in each stage for final selection, and the detailed syllabus will be the main step to reach your goal.

APPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2026- Highlights
Name of Examination	APPSC Group 1 Exam 2026
Exam Level	State Level
Category	Syllabus
Mode of Exam	Offline
Total Marks	Prelims- 240 marks Mains- 150 marks for each paper Personal Interview-75 Marks
Negative Marking	⅓ mark will be deducted in the preliminary exam
Selection Process	Prelims-Mains-Interview

APPSC Group 1 2026 Notification for 149 Vacancies- Click to Check

APPSC Group1 Selection Process 2026

The selection of candidates for the APPSC Group 1 Exam will be done through the three-stage selection process, i.e., Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The APPSC Group 1 Prelims syllabus 2026 comprises two papers; each paper consists of 120 questions for 120 marks, while the mains exam syllabus consists of seven papers, for 150 marks each. Those candidates who clear the preliminary and mains will be called for the interview round. The final merit list will be based on the marks obtained in the mains and interview round.

Preliminary Exam
Mains Exam
Interview

APPSC Group 1 Exam Pattern 2026

The APPSC Group 1 syllabus for all the posts is similar for the screening test, main examination, and interview. The exam pattern helps candidates to know the exam, the types of questions are asked, the marking scheme, the total number of questions and other details.

APPSC Group 1 Prelims Exam Pattern

There will be a negative marking of ⅓ of the mark for each incorrect answer.
The questions will be multiple-choice questions (objective).

APPSC Group 1 Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
Papers	Subjects	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper 1	A.History and Culture. B. Constitution polity, Social Justice and International relations. C. Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy and Planning. D. Geography	120	120	120 Minutes
Paper 2	A. General Mental Ability, Administrative and Psychological Abilities. B. (i) Science and Technologies. (ii) Current events of Regional, National and International importance	120	120	120 Minutes

APPSC Group 1 Mains Exam Pattern 2026

Those candidates who qualify for the prelims exam have to appear for the APPSC Group 1 main exam.
The main exam is a conventional offline-mode exam.
The marks of the main exam will be included in the merit list of APPSC Group 1.
The English and Telugu papers are qualifying in nature; their marks will not be included in the merit list. The rest of the five papers are of general studies; marks of these papers will be included in the final list.
Check the detailed exam pattern for the APPSC Group 1 mains exam.

APPSC Group 1 Mains Exam Pattern 2026
Papers	Name of Paper	Duration	Marks
Paper 1	Paper in Telugu (Qualifying Nature)	180 Minutes	150
Paper 2	Paper in English (Qualifying Nature)	180 Minutes	150
Paper 3	General Essay – on contemporary themes and issues of regional, national and international importance	180 Minutes	150
Paper 4	History and Cultural and Geography of India and Andhra Pradesh	180 Minutes	150
Paper 5	Polity, Constitution, governance, law and ethics	180 Minutes	150
Paper 6	Economy and Development of India and Andhra Pradesh	180 Minutes	150
Paper 7	Science, Technology and Environmental Issues	180 Minutes	150
Personal Interview		75 Marks	-

APPSC Group 1 Topic-wise Weightage & Trend Analysis

This distribution is derived from analysing the structure of past Group 1 prelims papers and is meant as a planning guide.

High-Scoring Topics in Prelims Exam

Topics	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level	Focus Priority	High-Scoring Sub-Topics
History & Culture(India & AP)	~30 Questions	Moderate	High	Modern Indian Freedom Movement, Satavahanas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara Empire, AP Social-Religious Reforms.
Polity & Governance	~30 Questions	Moderate to Hard	High	Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Panchayati Raj (73rd/74th Amendments), AP Reorganisation Act 2014 provisions.
Indian & AP Economy	~30 Questions	Hard	Very High	AP Socio-Economic Survey metrics, State Budget, GSDP, Polavaram, Ports & AP Industrial Corridors.
Geography (India & AP)	~30 Questions	Easy to Moderate	Medium	AP River Systems (Krishna/Godavari), Eastern Ghats, Soil/Vegetation types, Coastal Geography.
General Mental Ability & Reasoning	~60 Questions	Easy to Moderate	Top Priority (Scoring)	Data Interpretation (DI), Profit/Loss, Percentages, Coding-Decoding, Logical Reasoning.
Science & Technology	~30 Questions	Moderate	High	Space (ISRO developments), ICT & E-Governance initiatives, Renewable Energy, Biotechnology.
Current Events (National & AP)	~30 Questions	Moderate	High	AP Govt flagship schemes, recent MoUs/Investments, International Summits, Regional developments.

High-Scoring Topics in Mains Exam

Topics / Paper	Weightage / Marks	Difficulty Level	Focus Priority	High-Scoring Strategies
Paper I: General Essay	150 Marks (3 Essays)	Moderate	High	Pick socio-economic & AP state issues. Inject real data, policies, and balanced analytical conclusions
Paper II: History, Culture & Geography	150 Marks	Moderate to Hard	Medium to High	Practice hand-drawn AP Map diagrams for Geography. Quote specific dynasties & inscriptions for AP History
Paper III: Polity, Governance, Ethics	150 Marks	Hard	Top Priority	Quote Articles, SC Judgments, ARC Reports. In Ethics, frame case-study answers using AP administrative contexts
Paper IV: Economy & AP Development	150 Marks	Hard	Top Priority (Rank Maker)	Quote exact figures from the latest AP Socio-Economic Survey & State Budget. Focus heavily on AP Reorganisation impacts
Paper V: Science, Tech & Environment	150 Marks	Moderate	High	Structure answers around S&T applications solving local issues (e.g., AP coastal disaster management, aqua-tech)

APPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2026 for Prelims

Knowing the syllabus is important for candidates to better strategise their preparation for the exam. APPSC Group 1 Prelims syllabus includes Paper 1 & Paper 2, which are as follows –

APPSC Group 1 Prelims Syllabus for Paper 1

The topics included in the APPSC Group 1 Prelims Syllabus for Paper 1 are History and Culture; Constitution Polity; Social Justice and International Relations; and Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy and Planning and Geography. Candidates can check the topic-wise syllabus from here.

(A) History & Culture

The History & Culture section of APPSC Group 1 Prelims 2026 includes topics and sub-topics like Indus Valley Civilization, the Kanauj and their contributions, South Indian Dynasties and the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire and the Mughal Empire, the Bhakti Movement and Sufism, etc.

(A) History & Culture
Topics	Sub-Topics
Indus Valley Civilization	Features, Sites, Society, Cultural History, Art and Religion Vedic Age- Mahajanapadas, Religions-Jainism and Buddhism. The Maghadas, the Mauryan, Foreign invasions on India and their impact, the Kushans. The Sathavahanas the Sangam Age, the Sungas, the Gupta Empire- their administration- social, religious, and economic conditions- art, Architecture, Literature, science, and Technology.
The Kanauj and their Contributions, South Indian Dynasties	The Badami Chalukyas The Eastern Chalukyas The Rastrakutas The Kalyani Chalukyas The Cholas The Hoyasalas The Yedavas The Kakatiyas The Reddis
The Delhi Sultanate, the Vijaynagar Empire and the Mughal Empire, the Bhakti Movement and Sufism	Administration Economy Society Religion Literature Arts and Architecture
The European Trading companies in India	Their struggle for supremacy-with special reference to Bengal Bombay Madras Mysore Andhra and Nizam Governor Generals Viceroys
Indian War of Independence of 1857	Origin Nature Causes, consequences and significance with special reference to Concerned State, Religious and Social Reform Movements in 19th century in India and Concerned State India's Freedom Movement Revolutionaries in India and Abroad
Mahatma Gandhi, his thoughts, Principles and Philosophy	Important Satyagrahas The Role of Sardar Patel Subash Chandrabose in Freedom Movement Post-independence consolidation
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, his life and contribution to the making of the Indian Constitution, India after Independence	Reorganization of the States in India

(B) Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

APPSC Group 1 Prelims Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations section consists of topics as Indian Constitution, Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Parliament and State Legislatures and India's Foreign Policy etc.

(B) Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
Topics	Sub-topics
Indian Constitution	Evolution, features Preamble Fundamental Rights Fundamental Duties Directive Principles of State Policy Amendments Significant Provisions Basic Structure
Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Parliament and State Legislatures	Structure Function Power and Privileges Issues and challenges pertaining to Federal Structure Devolution of Power and Finances up to local levels and Challenges therein
Constitutional Authorities	Powers Functions and Responsibilities Panchayati Raj Public Policy Governance
Impact of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization on Governance	Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial bodies
Rights Issues	Human rights Women rights SC/ST rights Child rights etc.
India's Foreign Policy	International Relations Important Institutions Agencies and Fora Their structure and mandate Important Policies and Programmes of Central and State Governments

(C) Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy & Planning

The Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy & Planning section of APPSC Group 1 Prelims comprises basic characteristics of the Indian Economy as a developing economy, Indian Agriculture and etc.

(C) Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy & Planning
Topics	Sub-Topics
Basic characteristics of the Indian Economy as a developing economy	Economic development since independence objectives and achievements of planning NITI Ayog and its approach to economic development Growth and distributive justice Economic development Human Development Index India’s rank in the world Environmental degradation and challenges Sustainable Development Environmental Policy
National Income and its concepts and components	India’s National Accounts Demographic issues Poverty and Inequalities Occupational Structure and Unemployment Various Schemes of employment and poverty eradication Issues of Rural Development and Urban Development
Indian Agriculture	Irrigation and water Inputs of agriculture Agricultural Strategy and Agricultural Policy Agrarian Crisis and land reforms Agricultural credit Minimum Support Prices Malnutrition and Food Security Indian Industry Industrial Policy Make-in India Start-up and Stand-up programmes SEZs and Industrial Corridors Energy and Power policies Economic Reforms Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalization International Trade and Balance of Payments – India and WTO
Financial Institutions	RBI and Monetary Policy Banking and Financial Sector Reforms Commercial Banks and NPAs Financial Markets Instabilities Stock Exchanges and SEBI Indian Tax System and Recent changes GST and its impact on Commerce and Industry Centre, States financial relations- Financial Commissions Centre, States financial relations Financial Commissions Sharing of resources and devolution Public Debt and Public Expenditure Fiscal Policy and Budget
The characteristics/ basic features of Andhra Pradesh's economy after bifurcation in 2014	Impact of bifurcation on the endowment of natural resources and state revenue Disputes of river water sharing and their impact on irrigation New challenges to industry and commerce The new initiatives to develop infrastructure Power and transport Information technology and e-governance Approaches to development and initiatives in agriculture, industry and social sector Urbanisation and smart cities Skill development and employment Social welfare programmes
A.P. Reorganisation Act, 2014	Economic Issues arising out of bifurcation Central government’s assistance for building a new capital, compensation for loss of revenue, development of backward districts Issues such as Vizag railway zone, Kadapa steel factory, Dugarajapatnam airport, Express ways and industrial corridors etc. Special Status and Special Assistance Controversy Government’s stand and measure

(D) Geography

In the APPSC Group 1 Prelims Geography section questions will be asked from the topics such as physical , economical and social geography.

(D) Geography
Topics	Sub-Topics
General Geography	Earth in Solar system Motion of the Earth Concept of time Season Internal Structure of the Earth Major landforms and their features Atmosphere structure and composition Elements and factors of Climate Airmasses and Fronts Atmospheric disturbances Climate change Oceans: Physical, chemical and biological characteristics, Hydrological Disasters, Marine and Continental resources.
Physical	World, India and concerned State Major physical divisions Earthquakes Landslides Natural drainage Climatic changes and regions Monsoon Natural Vegetation Parks and Sanctuaries Major Soil types Rocks and Minerals
Social	World, India and concerned State: Distribution Density Growth Sex-ratio Literacy Occupational Structure SC and ST Population Rural-Urban components Racial, tribal, religious and linguistic groups Urbanization Migration Metropolitan regions
Economic	World, India and concerned State: Major sectors of the economy Agriculture Industry and Services, their salient features Basic Industries-Agro, mineral, forest, fuel and manpower based Industries, Transport and Trade, Pattern and Issues.

APPSC Group 1 Prelims Syllabus for Paper 2

The APPSC Group 1 Prelims Exam for paper 2 comprises the topics from general mental ability and psychological abilities, and science and technology. The paper 2 exam will consist of a total of 120 questions for a total of 120 marks.

(A) General Mental Ability and Psychological Abilities

In the APPSC Group 1 Prelims Paper 2, General Mental Ability and Psychological Abilities section contains questions related to shapes and their sub-sections, Venn Diagram, problems based on clocks, calendars and age, number systems and order of magnitude, ratios, proportions and variations, etc.

General Mental Ability and Psychological Abilities
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability. Number Series Coding-Decoding Problems Related to Relations. Shapes and their Sub-sections, Venn Diagram Problems based on Clocks, Calendar and Age Number system and order of Magnitude Ratio, proportion and variation Central Tendencies - mean, median, mode — including weighted mean Power and exponent, Square, Square Root, Cube Root, H.C.F. and L.C.M Percentage, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and loss Time and Work, Time and Distance, Speed and Distance Area and Perimeter of Simple Geometrical Shapes, Volume and Surface Area of Sphere, Cone, Cylinder, cubes and Cuboids Lines, angels and common geometrical figures — properties of transverse and parallel lines, properties of triangles, quadrilateral, rectangle, parallelogram and rhombus. Introduction to algebra — BODMAS, simplification of weird symbols Data interpretation, Data Analysis, Data sufficiency, and concepts of Probability Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and analyzing emotions, Dimensions of emotional intelligence, coping with emotions, empathy and coping with stress Social Intelligence, interpersonal skills, Decision making, Critical thinking, problem-solving and Assessment of personality.

General Mental Ability and Psychological Abilities

Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability.
Number Series
Coding-Decoding
Problems Related to Relations.
Shapes and their Sub-sections, Venn Diagram
Problems based on Clocks, Calendar and Age
Number system and order of Magnitude
Ratio, proportion and variation
Central Tendencies - mean, median, mode — including weighted mean
Power and exponent, Square, Square Root, Cube Root, H.C.F. and L.C.M
Percentage, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and loss
Time and Work, Time and Distance, Speed and Distance
Area and Perimeter of Simple Geometrical Shapes, Volume and Surface Area of Sphere, Cone,
Cylinder, cubes and Cuboids
Lines, angels and common geometrical figures — properties of transverse and parallel lines,
properties of triangles, quadrilateral, rectangle, parallelogram and rhombus.
Introduction to algebra — BODMAS, simplification of weird symbols
Data interpretation, Data Analysis, Data sufficiency, and concepts of Probability
Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and analyzing emotions, Dimensions of emotional intelligence,
coping with emotions, empathy and coping with stress
Social Intelligence, interpersonal skills, Decision making, Critical thinking,
problem-solving and Assessment of personality.

(B) Science & Technology

In the Science & Technology section of APPSC Group 1 Prelims paper 2 question will be appear from topics such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology in Space & Defence and Environmental Science.

Science & Technology
Subjects	Topics
Science and Technology	Nature and Scope of Science & Technology Relevance of Science & Technology to the day-to-day life National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation Institutes and organizations in India promoting the integration of Science, Technology and Innovation, their activities and contribution Contribution of Prominent Indian Scientists
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)	Nature and Scope of ICT ICT in day to day life ICT and Industry ICT and Governance Various government schemes promoting use of ICT, E-Governance programmes and services Netiquettes Cyber Security Concerns National Cyber Crime Policy
Technology in Space & Defence	Evolution of the Indian Space Programme Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)-it's activities and achievements Various Satellite Programmes Satellites for Telecommunication, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) Satellites Satellites for defence Eduset or Satellites for academic purposes Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)- vision, mission and activities
Energy Requirement and Efficiency	India's existing energy needs and deficit India's Energy Resources and Dependence Energy policy of India Government Policies and Programmes Solar, Wind and Nuclear energy
Environmental Science	Issues and concerns related to environment- Its legal aspects, policies and treaties for the protection of the environment at the national and the international level Biodiversity-its importance and concerns Climate Change, International Initiatives (Policies, Protocols) and India's commitment Forest and Wildlife - Legal framework for Forest and Wildlife Conservation in India Environmental Hazards, pollution, carbon emission, Global warming National Action plans on Climate Change and Disaster management Biotechnology and Nanotechnology- Nature, Scope and application Ethical, Social, and Legal issues Government Policies Genetic Engineering Issues related to it and its impact on human life Health & Environment

APPSC Group 1 Mains Syllabus 2026

The APPSC Group 1 Mains syllabus consists of seven papers, out of which two papers, the Paper in Telugu and the Paper in English, are of a qualifying nature, while the other five papers consist of 150 marks each. The merit list for the interview round will be based on the marks obtained in the mains exam, except for the paper in Telugu and the paper in English. Candidates can prepare for their mains exam through the APPSC Group 1 Mains Syllabus PDF which is given here.

APPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF for Prelims & Mains

APPSC Group 1 Exam Strategy

Stage	Paper/Area	Focus Topics
Prelims	Paper I: General Studies	Memorize micro-facts from the latest AP Socio-Economic Survey
Prelims	Paper II: Mental Ability & Applied S&T	Master Emotional Intelligence & Decision-Making scenarios in Paper II
Mains	Paper I: General Essay	Embed state development themes (e.g., Vision AP, ports, renewable hubs)
	Paper II: History, Culture & Geography	Link ancient AP history (Satavahanas, Vijayanagar) with contemporary heritage tourism
	Paper III: Polity, Governance, Law & Ethics	Quote AP administrative case studies (e.g., e-Governance models)
	Paper IV: Economy & AP Development	Use exact metrics from AP Budget & Socio-Economic Survey
	Paper V: Science & Technology	Apply S&T to AP-specific issues like cyclone mitigation along the coast

Recommended Standard Reference Books for APPSC Group 1

Indian Polity – M. Laxmikanth
Modern History – Spectrum's "A Brief History of Modern India"
Ancient & Mediaeval History – NCERT Class 11–12 (Old & New)
Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh, or NIOS Economy modules
Geography- NCERT Class 11–12 + G.C. Leong for physical geography
AP-specific content – AP State Board Class 10 Social Studies + APPSC's own Telugu Academy materials
Science & Tech / Current Affairs- Monthly compilations + The Hindu/Indian Express daily

Related Links
APPSC Group 1 Previous Year Question Papers	APPSC Group 1 Salary 2026

FAQs

APPSC Group 1 Syllabus for Prelims includes Paper 1 & Paper 2.

APPSC Group 1 Prelims Exam consist of 120 questions in each paper.

There will be a negative marking of ⅓rd mark for each incorrect answer for Prelims Exam and there will be no negative marking for mains exam.

There are a total 7 papers in the APPSC Group 1 Mains Examination 2026.

Paper 1 (History, Polity, Economy, Geography) and Paper 2 (Mental Ability, Science & Tech, Current Affairs)

Yes, ⅓ mark deducted per wrong answer in Prelims; no negative marking in Mains.

No – it is incorporated with history, economy, geography and polity papers. So, it needs dedicated preparation.

75 marks, after qualifying Mains.

No, Prelims is qualifying only; only Mains + Interview marks count.