APPSC Group-I Services 2026
Which APPSC Group-I 2026 posts can I apply for with my degree and age, and how do the Screening Test, Mains and interview work?
APPSC Group-I is the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission's recruitment exam for the state's Group-I services. Notification No. 07/2026, dated 6 October 2026, offers 166 posts in 13 services, among them Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Educational Officer and Municipal Commissioner Grade-II. Applications opened online on 6 October 2026, and APPSC's web note of 27 October 2026 moved the last date to 9 November 2026, until 11:59 pm. Any bachelor's degree works for 12 posts; DSP (Communications) needs a B.E. or B.Tech in Electronics and Communication or a close branch. Most posts take ages 18 to 44 on 1 July 2026, DSP (Civil) 21 to 30 and DSP (Communications) 18 to 30, with 5 extra years for SC, ST, BC and EWS. The Screening Test on 24 January 2027 only shortlists 50 candidates per vacancy for the Mains. The final merit counts five 150-mark descriptive papers and a 75-mark interview, 825 marks in all.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 30 June 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Applications are open until 9 November 2026 (extended from 27 October). The Screening Test stays on 24 January 2027; Main exam dates will be announced on psc.ap.gov.in.
Exam at a glance
- Notification
- APPSC Notification No. 07/2026, dated 06/10/2026 (Group-I Services, general and limited recruitment); addendum dated 13.10.2026; last date extended by web note of 27.10.2026[1]
- Posts
- 166 vacancies across 13 post codes, 5 of them carried forward (CF) from earlier rounds[1]
- Apply
- Online at psc.ap.gov.in, 6 October to 9 November 2026, until 11:59 pm (extended from 27 October by the web note of 27.10.2026), after One Time Profile Registration (OTPR)[3]
- Degree
- Any bachelor's degree, held on 6 October 2026; DSP (Communications) needs a B.E. or B.Tech in Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Telecommunication, or Radio Engineering[1]
- Age on 1 July 2026
- 18 to 44 for 11 posts; DSP (Civil) 21 to 30; DSP (Communications) 18 to 30[1]
- Fee
- Rs 250 application processing fee plus Rs 120 examination fee; SC, ST, BC, PBD, ex-servicemen, white-card families and unemployed youth of Andhra Pradesh pay only the Rs 250[1]
- Screening Test
- 24 January 2027, offline on OMR sheets: two papers of 120 questions, 120 marks and 120 minutes each[1]
- Wrong answers
- Minus 1/3 of the question's marks in the Screening Test[1]
- Called to the Mains
- 50 candidates per vacancy, whatever the community[1]
- Mains and interview
- Telugu and English papers (qualifying), five 150-mark descriptive papers, then a 75-mark interview: merit out of 825 marks[1]
- Called to interview
- 2 candidates per vacancy (1:2)[1]
- Main exam date
- Not announced; APPSC says it will announce the dates later[1]
This check runs in your browser and sends nothing anywhere. It applies the degree and age rules in APPSC Notification No. 07/2026 of 6 October 2026 and the addendum of 13 October 2026, checked on 20 October 2026. It tells you which posts you can apply for, not your chances. APPSC verifies every certificate before it selects anyone.
Where the 825 merit marks come from
APPSC Group-I 2026: from form to selection
| Code | Post and service | Vacancies | Age on 1 July 2026 | Scale of pay (as printed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Deputy Collector, A.P. Civil Service (Executive Branch) | 12 posts | 18 to 44 years | Rs 61,960-1,51,370 |
| 02 | Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, A.P. State Tax Service | 14 posts | 18 to 44 years | Rs 61,960-1,51,370 |
| 03 | Deputy Superintendent of Police (Civil) Cat-2, A.P. Police Service | 36 posts (3 carried forward) | 21 to 30 years | Rs 61,960-1,51,370 |
| 04 | DSP (Communications), A.P. Police Service | 3 posts | 18 to 30 years | Rs 61,960-1,51,370 |
| 05 | District Educational Officer, A.P. Educational Service | 14 posts | 18 to 44 years | Rs 61,960-1,51,370 |
| 06 | Regional Transport Officer, A.P. Transport Service | 3 posts | 18 to 44 years | Rs 57,100-1,47,760 |
| 07 | District Tribal Welfare Officer, A.P. Tribal Welfare Service | 1 post | 18 to 44 years | Rs 57,100-1,47,760 |
| 08 | Deputy Registrar, A.P. Cooperative Service | 16 posts (1 carried forward) | 18 to 44 years | Rs 57,100-1,47,760 |
| 09 | Municipal Commissioner Grade-II, A.P. Municipal Administration Service | 12 posts | 18 to 44 years | Rs 54,060-1,40,540 |
| 10 | Assistant Treasury Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer, A.P. Treasury and Accounts Service | 2 posts | 18 to 44 years | Rs 54,060-1,40,540 |
| 11 | District Employment Officer, A.P. Employment Exchange Service | 3 posts (1 carried forward) | 18 to 44 years | Rs 54,060-1,40,540 |
| 12 | Assistant Audit Officer, A.P. State Audit Service | 15 posts | 18 to 44 years | Rs 54,060-1,40,540 |
| 13 | Divisional Development Officer, A.P. Panchayat Raj Service | 35 posts | 18 to 44 years | Rs 65,360-1,54,980 |
Total 166 vacancies. The split by community, multi-zone and zone is in Annexure-I of the notification. APPSC may add vacancies before the Screening Test through an addendum.[1]
| Who | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC, ST, BC and EWS | 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PBD) | 10 years |
| Ex-servicemen | Deduct 3 years plus your armed forces service from your age |
| NCC instructors | Deduct 3 years plus your service as an NCC instructor from your age |
| Regular A.P. State Government employees | Deduct your regular State Government service, up to 5 years |
| Retrenched temporary employees of the State Census Department (6 months' service or more) | 3 years |
For ex-servicemen and NCC instructors, the age left after the deduction must still be within the post's maximum. Employees of corporations, municipalities and similar bodies don't get the State Government relaxation. PBD reservation does not apply to posts 03 and 04. SC, ST, BC and EWS candidates from other states can't claim reservation or the fee exemption.[1]
| Stage | Paper | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screening Test | Paper I General Studies: History and Culture; Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations; Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy and Planning; Geography (30 marks each) | 120 minutes | 120 marks (120 questions) |
| Screening Test | Paper II General Aptitude: General Mental Ability, Administrative and Psychological Abilities (60 marks); Science and Technology (30 marks); Current events (30 marks) | 120 minutes | 120 marks (120 questions) |
| Mains, qualifying | Paper in Telugu | 180 minutes | 150 marks, not counted for merit |
| Mains, qualifying | Paper in English | 180 minutes | 150 marks, not counted for merit |
| Mains | Paper I: General Essay on contemporary regional, national and international themes | 180 minutes | 150 marks |
| Mains | Paper II: History, Culture and Geography of India and Andhra Pradesh | 180 minutes | 150 marks |
| Mains | Paper III: Polity, Constitution, Governance, Law and Ethics | 180 minutes | 150 marks |
| Mains | Paper IV: Economy and Development of India and Andhra Pradesh | 180 minutes | 150 marks |
| Mains | Paper V: Science, Technology and Environmental Issues | 180 minutes | 150 marks |
| Interview | Personality test | not stated | 75 marks |
| Total for merit | Mains Papers I to V and the interview | 825 marks |
Screening Test marks only decide who goes to the Mains. In the Screening Test each wrong answer costs one third of the question's marks. Mains papers other than Telugu and English can be written in English, Telugu or Urdu, but all five in the same medium.[1]
| Community | Telugu and English papers (each) | Mains aggregate |
|---|---|---|
| OC, sportspersons and EWS | 40% of each paper | 40% of the aggregate |
| BC | 35% of each paper | 35% of the aggregate |
| SC, ST and PBD | 30% of each paper | 30% of the aggregate |
Clearing the minimum doesn't by itself give you a right to be selected.[1]
Group-I is the entry route into Andhra Pradesh's senior state services: revenue (Deputy Collector), commercial tax, police, school education, transport, tribal welfare, cooperatives, municipal administration, treasury, employment, state audit and panchayat raj. The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission fills all of them through this one exam.[1]
- It suits a graduate in any subject who wants a senior administrative post in Andhra Pradesh and can write long answers well in English or Telugu.
- Candidates who already prepare for UPSC Civil Services can reuse much of the polity, economy, history and geography work, but the Andhra Pradesh economy, history and the 2014 bifurcation get their own weight here.
- It is a harder fit if you can't read and write Telugu. The Telugu paper is only qualifying, but you need 40% (35% BC, 30% SC, ST and PBD) to stay in.
- For the two DSP posts you also need the height, chest and eyesight standards in the notification, and DSP (Civil) closes at 30.
Source[1]
Posts 01 to 03 and 05 to 13 are organised in two multi-zones (post 12 in six zones), and 95% of those vacancies go to local candidates of the zone under the Presidential Order 2025. Post 04, DSP (Communications), is a state cadre post with no local reservation.
You are local to an area if you studied there for at least four consecutive academic years up to and including the year you took Class 7, or lived there for those years if you weren't in school. Keep the study certificates for Classes 1 to 7, or a residence certificate, ready for verification.[1]
For posts 03 and 04, men need a height of at least 167.6 cm and a chest of at least 86.3 cm on full inspiration, with 5 cm expansion. ST men need 164 cm and 83.8 cm. Women need at least 152.5 cm and 45.5 kg. Both posts have eyesight standards without glasses, set out in the notification and its Annexure-V.[1]
The Screening Test is a filter. APPSC admits 50 candidates per vacancy to the Mains on Screening Test marks, irrespective of community, and may use relaxed standards for SC, ST, BC and disabled candidates if too few qualify. You must sit both Screening Test papers and every Mains paper; missing one disqualifies you.
After the Mains, APPSC calls 2 candidates per vacancy to the interview. Final selection goes on the Mains (Papers I to V) and the interview. On equal marks, the older candidate ranks higher; if the ages match, the one who got the qualification first. You give post and zone preferences online before the Mains and again, finally, at certificate verification.
The addendum of 13 October 2026 adds that SC, ST, BC, EWS and PBD candidates who use the upper age relaxation are still considered for open competition seats.[1]
Screening Paper I is degree-standard General Studies: Indian history from the Indus Valley to the reorganisation of states, with South Indian dynasties and the Andhra region; the Constitution, federalism, rights issues and foreign policy; the Indian and Andhra Pradesh economy, including the effects of the 2014 bifurcation and the A.P. Reorganisation Act; and physical, Indian and state geography. Paper II covers mental ability and data, science and technology, and current events.
The Mains papers cover the same ground in descriptive form, plus an essay paper and Law and Ethics in Paper III. The full topic list is Annexure-II of the notification.[1]
Tips and tricks
- Check your OTPR before you pay. The details used for the fee and age relaxation come from it and can't be changed in the correction window.[1]
- A wrong answer costs one third of the question's marks, so a pure guess rarely pays. Once you can rule out an option, the guess is worth taking.[1]
- Don't neglect the Telugu and English papers. They carry no merit marks, but falling below 40% (35% BC, 30% SC, ST and PBD) in either ends your attempt.[1]
- Get the BC non-creamy layer or EWS certificate now if yours is older than 1 April 2026. It must be dated no later than the last date to apply.[1]
- Pick your Mains medium carefully. You can't switch languages between papers or inside a paper, and doing so makes your candidature invalid.[1]
- If you're local, find your Class 1 to 7 study certificates early. Local status mostly depends on where you studied in the four years up to Class 7.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the last date to apply for APPSC Group 1 2026?
9 November 2026, until 11:59 pm. The original last date was 27 October; APPSC extended it by a web note dated 27 October 2026 and says there will be no further extension. Applications opened on 6 October 2026 on psc.ap.gov.in.[3]
What is the age limit for APPSC Group 1 2026?
18 to 44 on 1 July 2026 for most posts. DSP (Civil) is 21 to 30 and DSP (Communications) 18 to 30. SC, ST, BC and EWS candidates get 5 more years and PBD candidates 10, except that PBD reservation doesn't apply to the two DSP posts.[1]
When is the APPSC Group 1 Screening Test?
24 January 2027, offline on OMR sheets. APPSC will announce the Main exam dates later.[1]
Is there negative marking in APPSC Group 1?
Yes, in the Screening Test. Each wrong answer costs one third of the marks for that question.[1]
Do Screening Test marks count in the final APPSC Group 1 merit?
No. The Screening Test only picks 50 candidates per vacancy for the Mains. The merit list uses the five Mains papers (750 marks) and the 75-mark interview.[1]
If I use the age relaxation, can I still get an open competition seat in APPSC Group 1?
Yes. APPSC's addendum of 13 October 2026 says SC, ST, BC, EWS and PBD candidates who use the upper age relaxation are also considered for open competition (OC) vacancies.[2]
How much is the APPSC Group 1 application fee?
Rs 250 processing fee plus Rs 120 examination fee. SC, ST, BC, PBD and ex-servicemen candidates, Andhra Pradesh families with a white card and unemployed youth of the state pay only the Rs 250. Candidates from other states pay both, unless they are PBD or ex-servicemen.[1]
Can final-year students apply for APPSC Group 1 2026?
No. You must hold the degree on 6 October 2026, the date of the detailed notification.[1]
In which language can I write the APPSC Group 1 Mains?
English, Telugu or Urdu for Papers I to V, chosen online before the Mains; all five must be in the same medium. The Telugu and English papers are qualifying.[1]
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Official and partner links
Sources
- Notification No. 07/2026 dated 06/10/2026: Direct Recruitment to Group-I Services (General/Limited Recruitment), 66 pages, Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. para 1 p. 1; para 3 pp. 3-4; physical standards pp. 4-5; para 4 pp. 6-8; para 5 pp. 8-9; paras 6-7 pp. 9-10; para 9 pp. 12-13; para 10 p. 13; para 12 pp. 14-15; para 15 pp. 18-19; Annexure-II pp. 26-28. Accessed 20 October 2026.
- Addendum to Notifications Nos. 07/2026, 08/2026 and 19/2026 (webnote) dated 13.10.2026, Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. 1 page (rewrites para 15.6). Accessed 20 October 2026.
- Web note dated 27.10.2026: extension of last date for online applications, Notifications 07/2026, 08/2026, 19/2026, 25/2026 and 26/2026, Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. 1 page. Accessed 2 November 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 2 November 2026.