The game is on. It’s now or never for around around five lakh aspiring students in the state. With the State government announcing the recruitment drive for the Group-I and Group-II services jobs, the gazetted officers and non-gazetted grade posts, all the students in the state are gearing up for the biggest test of their life.

The announcement has come after a long gap of four years – a lengthy time for an aspiring student. The Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy and the ruling Congress party may be eying the young generation’s vote bank in announcing the recruitment. Since the elections are fast approaching, (the next general elections are due to be held next year).

Besides, there are several posts lying vacant in various departments for a long time. And, several crucial departments are facing the staff crunch. No doubt, it will have its impact on the administrative functions of the government. Whatever may be the reasons behind the recruitment drive, for the aspiring students it’s an opportunity of a life time. In other words, it’s an acid test for all the youngsters.

As for as the number of vacancies are concerned, there are as many as 5,000 posts (4961 to be precise) both Group-I and Group-II combined. Details of the vacancies are given separately as a box item. No doubt, competition will be very tough with as many as five lakh students are expected to test their skills in the exam.

This time the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has made a few changes in the examination syllabus. The APPSC has decided to do away with optional papers in the Main exam. This change has been done keeping of the view that some of the students of optional subjects were scoring more than other subjects thus getting an unfair advantage over others. This change enables all the students to compete on equal terms.

Unlike the previous examinations, where the students have to choose two optional subjects of their choice along with the General Studies paper, which is common for all.

This time round the Group-I aspiring students have to appear for four compulsory papers, including Polity and History, Indian Economy and AP Economy Science and Technology and Data Interpretation in the Mains examination. Similarly, the Group-II aspiring students have to appear for Polity and History and Indian Economy besides the General Studies paper, which is common for all. However, there will be a Screening Test, which is a Preliminary exam, of objective type.

The age limit has also been revised. The State government this time round, fixed the upper age limit as 38 years. Earlier, it was 33 years. The State Government has increased the age limit to 34 years for all competitive Exams. However, this recruitment is being conducted after a long gap of four years, as a one time exception, this time the upper age limit has been raised to 38 years.

Big Business : 

With the State Government announcing the recruitment drive there is a frenzy among the student community for the preparation for the test. The aspiring student are ready to spend any amount of money to prepare in their best possible way for the exam. And, the coaching institutes are making most of the opportunity. With as many as five lakh student appearing for the tests, it’s a big business for the training centers in the state. Some rough estimates show that the aspiring students would be spending as much as Rs 100 croer for the sake of the examination, be it for coaching or for buying books. 

If 2 lakh students appear for the Group-I exam and another six lakh candidates appear for the Group-II each student would be spending a minimum of Rs. 1,000 for the preparation. This comes to around Rs 80 crore.

Besides there are other expenses involved. The students needs  facilities like boarding and lodging, transportation charges etc as they would be going to cities and big towns to get good coaching for the exam.  Certainly, it’s a big business. But, for the aspiring student, it’s now are never.

Pattern of Exam for Group-I:

Following is the PATTERN OF EXAMINATION PAPERS FOR GROUP-I SERVICES RECRUITMENT announced by the APPSC.

Paper-I

The candidate will have to write three Essays, one Essay from each Section.  Each Essay carries 50 marks. Each Section shall have three Topics.

Papers-II, III and IV

The Syllabus is divided into three Sections with each Section having five units.  In total, there are 15 units.  There shall be two questions for each unit of which the candidate shall have to write one answer.  In total the candidates will write 15 answers.  Each answer carries 10 marks.

Paper-V

The syllabus is divided into three Sections, each Section will have five questions.  The candidates will have to answer all five questions from each Section.  In total the candidates will write 15 answers.  Each answer carries 10 marks.

APPSC Group-1 Revised Syllabus For Screening Test

SYLLABUS FOR SCREENING TEST

(OBJECTIVE TYPE)
GENERAL STUDIES AND MENTAL ABILITY
Marks: 150 Minutes: 150

1.General Science – Contemporary developments in Science and Technology and their implications including matters of every day observation and experience, as may be expected of a well-educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific discipline.

2.Current events of national and international importance.

3.History of India – emphasis will be on broad general understanding of the subject in its social, economic, cultural and political aspects with a focus on AP Indian National Movement.

4.World Geography and Geography of India with a focus on AP.

5. Indian Polity and Economy – including the country’s political system- rural development – Planning and economic reforms in India.

6. Mental ability – reasoning and inferences.