The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has released the Group-I Services notification on September 15, 2026 under Notification Number 07/2026, announcing 163 provisional vacancies across 13 categories of gazetted posts. The recruitment covers some of the most sought-after administrative positions in the state, including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Divisional Development Officer, and Assistant Audit Officer. The online application window opens on October 6, 2026 and closes on October 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
This article provides complete details of the APPSC Group-I Recruitment 2026, including the post-wise vacancy breakdown, eligibility criteria, the three-stage selection process with the full prelims and mains marking structure, and what information is still awaited in the detailed notification.
APPSC Group-I Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) |
| Notification Number | 07/2026 dated 15/09/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 163 (provisional) |
| Post Categories | 13 |
| Detailed Notification Expected | On or before 6 October 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 6 October 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Selection Process | Screening Test, Mains Examination, Interview |
| Total Merit Marks | 825 (Mains 750 plus Interview 75) |
| Category | Latest Jobs |
| Official Website | psc.ap.gov.in |
APPSC Group-I Recruitment 2026: Post-Wise Vacancy Details
| Post Code | Post Name | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 03 | Deputy Superintendent of Police (Civil), Category-2 | 36 |
| 13 | Divisional Development Officer | 35 |
| 08 | Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Service | 15 |
| 02 | Assistant Commissioner of State Tax | 14 |
| 05 | Post designation reported differently across sources | 14 |
| 12 | Assistant Audit Officer | 14 |
| 09 | Municipal Commissioner Grade-II | 12 |
| 01 | Deputy Collector, A.P. Civil Service | 11 |
| 04 | Deputy Superintendent of Police (Communications) | 3 |
| 06 | Regional Transport Officer | 3 |
| 11 | District Employment Officer | 3 |
| 10 | Assistant Treasury Officer / Accounts Officer | 2 |
| 07 | District Tribal Welfare Officer | 1 |
| Total | 163 |
A note on Post Code 05: the designation for this 14-vacancy post is reported inconsistently across available sources, with some describing it as District Educational Officer and others as Fire Officer. Candidates should confirm the exact designation from the official notification on the APPSC website before applying, since the eligibility conditions for these two posts would differ substantially.
APPSC Group-I Recruitment 2026 Pay Scale
The posts fall across several pay bands. The Divisional Development Officer post carries the highest scale at Rs 65,360 to Rs 1,54,980. The Deputy Collector, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, and both Deputy Superintendent of Police posts carry a scale of Rs 61,960 to Rs 1,51,370. The Regional Transport Officer, District Tribal Welfare Officer, and Deputy Registrar posts carry a scale of Rs 57,100 to Rs 1,47,760.
For the remaining posts, including Municipal Commissioner Grade-II, Assistant Treasury Officer, District Employment Officer, and Assistant Audit Officer, available sources report the pay scale differently, with some placing them at Rs 54,060 to Rs 1,40,540 and others at Rs 57,100 to Rs 1,47,760. Candidates should confirm the applicable scale from the official notification.
APPSC Group-I Recruitment 2026: Eligibility Criteria
For most posts in this recruitment, including Deputy Collector, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Civil), Regional Transport Officer, District Tribal Welfare Officer, Deputy Registrar, Municipal Commissioner Grade-II, Assistant Treasury Officer, District Employment Officer, Assistant Audit Officer, and Divisional Development Officer, candidates need a Bachelor’s degree from any recognised university.
For the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Communications) post under Post Code 04, candidates need a B.E. or B.Tech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, or Radio Engineering.
Posts such as Deputy Superintendent of Police also carry physical standards and physical efficiency requirements, which will be detailed in the official notification.
APPSC Group-I Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
Selection is through a three-stage process comprising a Screening Test, a Mains Examination, and an Interview.
Stage 1: Screening Test (Preliminary)
The Screening Test is an objective, OMR-based examination consisting of two papers.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 120 | 120 | 120 minutes |
| Paper II | General Aptitude | 120 | 120 | 120 minutes |
There is a negative marking of one-third mark for each incorrect answer. Marks obtained in the Screening Test are used only for shortlisting candidates for the Mains Examination and do not count towards the final merit.
Stage 2: Mains Examination
The Mains Examination is descriptive in nature and consists of seven papers, of which two are qualifying in nature.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telugu | Language Paper | 150 | 180 minutes | Qualifying |
| English | Language Paper | 150 | 180 minutes | Qualifying |
| Paper I | General Essay | 150 | 180 minutes | Counts towards merit |
| Paper II | History, Culture and Geography | 150 | 180 minutes | Counts towards merit |
| Paper III | Polity, Constitution and Governance | 150 | 180 minutes | Counts towards merit |
| Paper IV | Economy and Development | 150 | 180 minutes | Counts towards merit |
| Paper V | Science, Technology and Environment | 150 | 180 minutes | Counts towards merit |
Stage 3: Interview
Candidates who qualify the Mains Examination will be called for an interview carrying 75 marks, assessing personality and suitability for administrative responsibilities.
Final Merit Calculation
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Mains Papers I to V | 750 |
| Interview | 75 |
| Total | 825 |
Important Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| Group-I Official Notification PDF | Click Here |
| APPSC Recruitment Notifications Page | Click Here |
| APPSC Online Application Portal | Click Here |
| APPSC Official Website | Click Here |
Details Awaited in the Detailed Notification
The age limit and application fee have not been formally specified in the brief notification. Available reports indicate that the age band for APPSC Group-I posts is 18 to 42 years, reported as having been raised to 44 years under a recent government order, with relaxations of 5 years for SC, ST, and BC candidates and 10 years for PwBD candidates, alongside a fee structure comprising a Rs 250 application processing fee and a Rs 120 examination fee with exemptions for reserved categories. Candidates should treat these as indicative only and confirm the actual figures from the detailed notification expected on or before October 6, 2026. The category-wise reservation breakup across the 163 vacancies and the complete subject-wise syllabus are also expected with the detailed notification.
Part of the Larger APPSC 892-Vacancy Release
This Group-I notification is the flagship component of a much larger APPSC recruitment exercise announced in September 2026, under which the Commission issued 20 brief notifications covering approximately 892 vacancies. This Group-I batch shares its application window of October 6 to October 27, 2026 with the notifications for Assistant Environmental Engineer, Horticulture Officer, and Assistant Director (FSL). Other batches covering Hostel Welfare Officer, Assistant Statistical Officer, Inspector of Factories, Forest Range Officer, Executive Officer Grade-III, Supervisor Grade-I, and several other posts have separate application windows opening on October 9, October 13, and October 16, 2026.
How to Apply for APPSC Group-I Recruitment 2026
Once the application window opens on October 6, 2026, candidates can follow these steps.
- Visit the official APPSC online application portal.
- Complete the One Time Profile Registration (OTPR) process if not already registered, or log in using existing OTPR credentials.
- Open the Group-I notification under Notification Number 07/2026.
- Fill in the application form with your educational qualification, category, and personal details, and indicate your post preferences.
- Upload the required documents and photographs in the prescribed format.
- Pay the applicable application fee online as specified in the detailed notification.
- Submit the application before the closing deadline of October 27, 2026 and save a copy of the submitted form.
Key Points to Remember
Candidates should complete their One Time Profile Registration on the APPSC portal well in advance, since it is mandatory for all applications to the Commission. Given that the Screening Test marks do not count towards the final merit and the entire 825-mark merit calculation rests on the five Mains papers and the interview, candidates should structure their preparation around the descriptive Mains syllabus from the outset rather than treating the Screening Test as the primary hurdle. Candidates should also note that the two language papers in Telugu and English are purely qualifying, but failing to meet the qualifying standard in either would remove a candidate from consideration regardless of performance in the merit papers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many vacancies are there in APPSC Group-I Recruitment 2026?
There are 163 provisional vacancies across 13 categories of posts under Notification Number 07/2026.
2. When does the application window open for APPSC Group-I 2026?
The online application window opens on October 6, 2026 and closes on October 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
3. Which post has the highest number of vacancies?
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Civil) has the highest number with 36 vacancies, closely followed by Divisional Development Officer with 35 vacancies.
4. What is the educational qualification required for APPSC Group-I posts?
Most posts require a Bachelor’s degree from any recognised university, while the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Communications) post requires a B.E. or B.Tech in Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Telecommunication, or Radio Engineering.
5. What is the selection process for APPSC Group-I 2026?
Selection involves a Screening Test, a descriptive Mains Examination, and an Interview.
6. Do Screening Test marks count towards the final merit?
No, the Screening Test is only used to shortlist candidates for the Mains Examination and its marks do not count towards the final merit.
7. What is the total merit marks for APPSC Group-I 2026?
The final merit is calculated out of 825 marks, comprising 750 marks from the five Mains papers and 75 marks from the interview.
8. Are the Telugu and English papers counted in the merit?
No, both language papers carrying 150 marks each are qualifying in nature and do not count towards the final merit.
9. Is there negative marking in the Screening Test?
Yes, one-third mark is deducted for each incorrect answer in the Screening Test.
10. What is the age limit for APPSC Group-I 2026?
The age limit has not been formally specified in the brief notification and will be confirmed in the detailed notification expected on or before October 6, 2026.
Disclaimer: JobShouter.com is not affiliated with Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. Shared for informational purposes only, please verify details on the official website.
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