APPSC Group 2 Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern: Screening Test, Mains, CPT

• • Mode: Objective type
• • Level: degree standard.
• • The Screening Test date will be announced in the detailed notification on or before 10/11/2026.

• • Each paper has two sections of 75 marks each.
• • Mode: Online, objective type (OMR sheet), degree standard Computer Based Test.

The Screening Test is a single paper on General Studies and Mental Ability with five sections of 30 marks each.

1. Indian History (30 marks)

• Ancient India: Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Age, Buddhism and Jainism, Mauryan Empire, Gupta Empire, Harshavardhana and his times.

• Medieval India: major dynasties and kingdoms, Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms, Mughal Empire, Bhakti and Sufi movements, art and architecture.

• Modern India: arrival of Europeans, expansion of British rule, Revolt of 1857, socio-religious reform movements, Indian National Movement (Moderates, Extremists and the Gandhian phase), independence and partition.

2. Geography (30 marks)

• General and Physical Geography: the Earth in the solar system, interior of the Earth, major landforms and their features, structure and composition of the atmosphere, climate, ocean water (tides, waves, currents), drainage system.

• Economic Geography of India and AP: natural resources and their distribution, agriculture and agro-based activities, distribution of major industries and industrial regions.

• Human Geography of India and AP: human development, demographics, urbanization and migration, racial, tribal, religious and linguistic groups.

• Cultural heritage of India, including Andhra Pradesh.

3. Indian Society (30 marks)

• Structure of Indian society: family, marriage, kinship, caste, tribe, ethnicity, religion and women.

• Social issues: inequality, poverty, unemployment, urbanization, population and gender-related issues.

• Social change and welfare: social movements, and welfare measures for SCs, STs, BCs, minorities, women and persons with disabilities.

4. Current Affairs (30 marks)

• Important events and developments at the regional (Andhra Pradesh), national and international level.

• Government schemes and policies, important appointments, awards, summits, sports and science news.

• Tip: focus on the last 12 months before the exam.

5. Mental Ability (30 marks)

• Logical reasoning, analytical ability and data interpretation.

• Number series, coding-decoding, relationships, directions, arrangements and puzzles.

• Basic arithmetic and data sufficiency at degree level.

Section A: Social History of Andhra Pradesh (75 marks)

History of social and cultural movements in Andhra Pradesh:

• Social and cultural life in early and medieval Andhra: Satavahanas, Ikshvakus, Eastern Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Reddy kingdoms and Vijayanagara. Religion, society, literature, art and architecture.

• Advent of colonial rule in Andhra and its impact on society and economy.

• Socio-religious and cultural reform movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, including the reformers, the library movement and the Adi-Andhra and Justice movements.

• Growth of nationalism in Andhra and the freedom movement.

• Andhra Mahasabha and the movement for a separate Andhra state.

• Formation of Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana movement and the reorganization of the state in 2014.

• Women, tribal, Dalit and peasant movements in Andhra.

Section B: General Overview of the Indian Constitution (75 marks)

• Evolution of the Constitution, Preamble, salient features and sources.

• Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties.

• Union and State executive, legislature and judiciary; Governor and Chief Minister; the Parliament and the State Legislature.

• Federalism and Centre-State relations; distribution of powers; local government (73rd and 74th Amendments).

• Constitutional and statutory bodies: Election Commission, UPSC and State PSCs, CAG, Finance Commission, and bodies for human rights and women, SC/ST and minorities.

• Emergency provisions, amendment procedure and important constitutional amendments.

• Public policy and governance: Right to Information and welfare legislation. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 is a high-value topic for AP candidates.

Section A: Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy (75 marks)

• Indian economy: economic growth and development, planning and NITI Aayog, national income, poverty, unemployment, inflation and human development.

• Sectors: agriculture and allied activities, industry, services, infrastructure and external sector.

• Public finance and money: Union budget, taxation including GST, fiscal policy, monetary policy, RBI, banking and financial inclusion.

• Andhra Pradesh economy: state finances and budget, sectoral composition, agriculture and irrigation (including major projects), industrial and infrastructure development, social sector and welfare schemes, and economic issues after the reorganization of the state.

Section B: Science and Technology (75 marks)

• Role of science and technology in development; space, defence and ICT missions.

• Energy: conventional and non-conventional sources, and energy policy.

• Ecosystem and biodiversity, waste management, pollution control and environmental issues.

• Climate change, disaster management and sustainable development.

• Public health, nutrition, biotechnology and recent developments in science and technology.