In 2008, 1.90 Lakh Candidates Had Applied.A record number of 3.02 lakh candidates are slated to appear for 350 posts in the Group-1 examinations conducted by APPSC this year. There has been a 50% increase in the number of applicants for the top state service examination. For the last Group-1 examinations, conducted in 2008, a total of 1.90 lakh candidates had applied. 

   Officials of Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission said that the increase in the number of applications could be the result of a compact time frame announced by APPSC. Unlike previous years, where schedules of preliminary and main exams were not announced along with the notification, the commission this year had announced the dates of written tests and interviews well in advance. 

   “More candidates are taking the examination seriously this year. The commission believes that once a strict framework for the examinations is given, candidates will be able to prepare in a better way. While so far we have announced about 304 posts, fifty more posts are expected to be added to the pool,” said Poonam Malakondaiah, secretary, APPSC. “There will be no change in the dates of examinations,” she said.    APPSC officials said that the number of applications could have gone up also because of the state government’s decision to relax the age limit by two years. The age limit has gone up from 32 years to 34 years this year. About 20% candidates of this year’s Group-1 would be of above 32 years of age, officials said. However, in 2008 examinations, the state government had relaxed the age limit up to 39 years. The preliminary examinations for Group-1 will be held on May 27 this year.