APPSC Inspector of Factories 2026
Can I apply for APPSC Inspector of Factories 2026 with my engineering degree and experience, and how does the exam work?
Inspector of Factories is a post in the Andhra Pradesh Factories Service, and APPSC fills it by direct recruitment. Notification No. 14/2026, dated 13 October 2026, offers 12 posts spread over the six zones of the state. You apply online at psc.ap.gov.in from 13 October to 2 November 2026, until 11:59 pm; APPSC's 27 October extension covers five other notifications but not this one. You need a degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or Industrial Engineering and at least 2 years of industrial work experience in medium or large-scale manufacturing process industries. The age limit is 18 to 44 on 1 July 2026, with 5 more years for SC, ST, BC and EWS; persons with benchmark disabilities are not eligible for this post. Selection rests on a 450-mark computer-based test in two papers, followed by a qualifying computer proficiency test.
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Applications are open from 13 October to 2 November 2026. The written test date will be announced on psc.ap.gov.in.
Exam at a glance
- Notification
- APPSC Notification No. 14/2026, dated 13/10/2026 (Inspector of Factories, A.P. Factories Service, general recruitment)[1]
- Posts
- 12, zonal (95% of each zone's posts go to local candidates)[1]
- Apply
- Online at psc.ap.gov.in, 13 October to 2 November 2026, until 11:59 pm, after One Time Profile Registration (OTPR)[1]
- Qualification
- Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or Industrial Engineering plus at least 2 years of industrial work experience, both held on 13 October 2026[1]
- Age on 1 July 2026
- 18 to 44 years; SC, ST, BC and EWS get 5 more years[1]
- Scale of pay
- Rs 65,360-1,54,980 (as printed)[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]
- Written test
- Computer based (CBRT): Paper I 150 marks and Paper II 300 marks, 150 questions and 150 minutes each[1]
- Wrong answers
- Minus 1/3 of the question's marks[1]
- Exam centres
- Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupathi, Ananthapuramu (three preferences)[1]
- Exam date
- Not announced; APPSC says it will tell candidates later[1]
Where the 12 seats are
| Zone | OC | SC Group-I | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone I (Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli) | 1 local | None | 1 |
| Zone II (Alluri Sitarama Raju, East Godavari, Kakinada, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema) | 1 local | None | 1 |
| Zone III (West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna) | 1 open | 1 local | 2 |
| Zone IV (Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore) | 1 open, 1 local | 1 local | 3 |
| Zone V (Tirupathi, Chittoor, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa) | 1 open, 1 local | 1 local | 3 |
| Zone VI (Nandyal, Ananthapuramu, Kurnool, Sri Sathya Sai) | 1 open | 1 local | 2 |
OC 8 (4 open, 4 local) and SC Group-I 4 (all local): 12 in all. There are no BC, EWS or ST seats this time, and no posts for women or sportspersons. A local seat goes to a candidate who studied (or, without schooling, lived) in that zone for four consecutive years up to class 7.[1]
| Who | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC, ST, BC and EWS | 5 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 44 or under. Employees of corporations, municipalities and similar bodies don't get the State Government relaxation. Persons with benchmark disabilities are not eligible for this post, so there is no PBD row. SC, ST, BC and EWS candidates from other states get no reservation.[1]
| Paper | Questions | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General Studies and Mental Ability (objective) | 150 questions | 150 minutes | 150 marks |
| Paper II: Industrial and Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (objective, degree standard) | 150 questions | 150 minutes | 300 marks |
| Computer Proficiency Test (practical, after the written test) | Practical tasks | 60 minutes | 100 marks, qualifying only |
Papers I and II make up the 450 merit marks, and Paper II carries twice the weight of Paper I. A wrong answer costs 1/3 of the question's marks. Paper I is set in English and translated into Telugu; Paper II is in English only. To be shortlisted you need an aggregate of 40% (OC, sportspersons, ex-servicemen, EWS), 35% (BC) or 30% (SC, ST). The computer test needs 40 marks (OC), 35 (BC) or 30 (SC, ST) out of 100.[1]
Inspector of Factories is a post in the Andhra Pradesh Factories Service. The notification does not describe the duties, but the syllabus shows what the department expects: Paper II is entirely about industrial safety, risk assessment, process safety, occupational health, labour welfare and industrial waste.
APPSC runs the recruitment. The post is organised by zone, so you are allotted to a zone according to your merit, your local status and the zone preferences you give.[1]
- It suits a Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or Industrial engineer who has spent at least 2 years in a medium or large manufacturing plant, ideally in safety, health and environment work. The age limit of 44 leaves room for people well into their careers.
- Fresh graduates cannot apply: the 2 years of industrial experience must be complete on 13 October 2026, and the Chief Executive of the industry must sign the certificate.
- Paper II carries 300 of the 450 marks, so your safety and risk knowledge decides the result far more than general studies.
- With only 12 seats, all OC or SC Group-I, a BC, EWS or ST candidate competes for the 8 OC seats. Find your zone in the seats table before you commit months to preparation.
Source[1]
Everyone sits both papers of the computer-based test; missing one ends your candidature. Merit is the total of the two papers, out of 450, after normalisation if the test runs in several sessions. Candidates shortlisted from that merit list then take a 60-minute practical Computer Proficiency Test on office software, which you only need to pass.
There is no interview and no physical test. Appointment depends on certificate verification and a medical fitness check.[1]
Paper I, General Studies and Mental Ability: current events, general science, history of India with a focus on Andhra Pradesh, geography, polity and governance, the Indian economy, sustainable development, disaster management, logical reasoning and basic data analysis (mean, median, mode and variance).
Paper II, Industrial and Occupational Safety, Health and Environment: concepts, policies and legal framework; quantitative risk assessment (consequence analysis, FTA, ETA, dispersion models); process and system safety (PHA, HAZAN, HAZOP); engineering design for safety, including pressure systems, relief design, electrical and fire safety; reliability and maintenance; ergonomics; safety management and accident analysis; occupational health; labour welfare; and industrial waste and effluent treatment.[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]
- Give Paper II most of your time: it carries 300 of the 450 marks and every unit is about safety, risk and health in industry.[1]
- A B.E. or B.Tech through distance mode counts only if AICTE recognised or approved it.[1]
- Practise office software early. The computer test comes after the written result and has its own pass mark.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the last date to apply for APPSC Inspector of Factories 2026?
2 November 2026, until 11:59 pm. Applications opened on 13 October 2026 on psc.ap.gov.in, and the 27 October extension does not cover this notification.[1]
What qualification do I need for APPSC Inspector of Factories?
A degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or Industrial Engineering (or an equivalent recognised qualification) and at least 2 years of industrial work experience in medium or large-scale manufacturing process industries, both held on 13 October 2026.[1]
What is the age limit for APPSC Inspector of Factories?
18 to 44 on 1 July 2026. SC, ST, BC and EWS candidates get 5 more years. Ex-servicemen and NCC instructors deduct 3 years plus their service, and the result must be 44 or under.[1]
Can persons with disabilities apply?
No. The notification says persons with benchmark disabilities are not eligible for this post.[1]
How many vacancies are there?
12 zonal posts: OC 8 and SC Group-I 4. Zone I 1, Zone II 1, Zone III 2, Zone IV 3, Zone V 3 and Zone VI 2. There are no posts for women or sportspersons this time.[1]
What is the salary of APPSC Inspector of Factories?
The notification prints the scale of pay as Rs 65,360-1,54,980.[1]
Connected pages
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Official and partner links
Sources
- Notification No. 14/2026 dated 13/10/2026: Direct Recruitment to the post of Inspector of Factories in A.P. Factories Service (General Recruitment), 30 pages, Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. para 1 p. 1; paras 2-3 p. 2; para 4 pp. 2-4; para 5 p. 4; para 6 pp. 4-6; para 7 pp. 6-7; paras 8-10 pp. 7-8; para 11 p. 9; para 12 pp. 9-10; para 14 pp. 10-11; Annexure-I p. 13; Annexure-II pp. 14-17. Accessed 29 October 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 29 October 2026.