The Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has released the official syllabus notification for the Common Combined Examination Scheme, 2026 applicable to Direct Recruitment to Group-A and Group-B, Gazetted, Non-Ministerial (Technical) posts in the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. The syllabus covers the General English and General Studies (Objective) paper, which is common to all posts under this scheme. Posts covered include Agriculture Development Officer, Horticulture Development Officer, Veterinary Officer, Sub-Treasury Officer, Assistant Director and other Group-A and Group-B Gazetted Technical posts. The written examination is a three-paper pattern (one objective + two descriptive) carrying 450 marks, followed by a Viva Voce of 50 marks, for a total of 500 marks. The syllabus PDF is available on the official APPSC website appsc.gov.in.
Important Note: Two clarifications must be read before using this post. First, this is Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, not Andhra Pradesh PSC – both use the abbreviation APPSC, and both have active 2026 notifications. The official website is appsc.gov.in (Arunachal Pradesh). Second, the APPSC has so far published the syllabus only for the General English and General Studies (Objective) paper. The syllabus for the Concerned Subject Papers I and II (Descriptive) is post-specific and will be finalised by the Commission in consultation with the respective departments. Candidates should monitor appsc.gov.in for the subject-specific syllabus relevant to their applied post. Additionally, the notification does not specify exam duration, question count, or negative marking rules for any paper – these will be specified in the admit card and exam instructions.
APPSC Group A and B Exam 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) |
| Examination Name | Common Combined Examination Scheme for Direct Recruitment to Group-A and Group-B, Gazetted, Non-Ministerial (Technical) Posts, 2026 |
| Posts Covered | Agriculture Development Officer, Horticulture Development Officer, Veterinary Officer, Sub-Treasury Officer, Assistant Director and other Group-A and Group-B Gazetted Technical posts |
| Total Marks (Written + Viva Voce) | 500 |
| Syllabus Released For | General English and General Studies (Objective) – 150 marks |
| Subject-specific Syllabus | Not yet published; to be finalised post-wise in consultation with respective departments |
| Negative Marking | Not specified in the notification |
| Exam Duration | Not specified in the notification |
| Official Website | appsc.gov.in |
APPSC Group A and B Selection Process 2026
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Recruitment Test / Preliminary Examination – conducted only if applicants exceed the ratio fixed for the written examination; used solely to shortlist candidates for the main written exam |
| Stage 2 | Written Examination – three papers as per the scheme |
| Stage 3 | Viva Voce Test – 50 marks, final stage before preparation of the merit list |
The Recruitment Test / Preliminary Examination (Stage 1) is not held automatically – it is invoked only when the number of applicants exceeds a threshold set by APPSC under Rule 4 of the scheme. If it is held, it is qualifying and used only for shortlisting; its marks are not added to the final merit.
The final merit list is prepared out of the combined marks of the Written Examination (450 marks) and Viva Voce (50 marks) = 500 marks total.
APPSC Group A and B Exam Pattern 2026
| Paper | Type | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General English and General Studies | Objective (MCQ) | 150 |
| Paper II: Concerned Subject – Paper I | Descriptive | 150 |
| Paper III: Concerned Subject – Paper II | Descriptive | 150 |
| Viva Voce Test | – | 50 |
| Total | 500 |
Notes on the exam pattern:
- The notification does not specify the number of questions, exam duration, or negative marking rule for any paper.
- The Concerned Subject papers (Paper II and Paper III) are post-specific – they are different for Agriculture Development Officers, Veterinary Officers, Sub-Treasury Officers, and so on.
- The General English and General Studies (Objective) paper is the same for all posts under this scheme.
- Detailed exam-day instructions (timing, question count, negative marking) will be on the admit card.
APPSC Group A and B Syllabus 2026 – General English and General Studies (Objective) – 150 Marks
This is the only paper whose syllabus has been officially published. It is a common paper for all posts under the scheme.
Section 1: General English
The section tests fundamental language competency:
- Fundamental language skills
- Grammar rules
- Vocabulary skills
- Reading and comprehension
Section 2: General Studies
This section tests general awareness of the surrounding environment and its implications for society, at the level expected of an educated person without specialised study in any specific discipline. The APPSC notification specifies the following coverage:
- Current Affairs and Recent Developments – national, international, and specifically North-East India affairs
- Day-to-day pragmatic observations and matters of importance in current life
- Science and Technology – general awareness of recent scientific and technological developments
- General Awareness related to International, National, and North-East India Affairs – covering significant events, policies, socio-economic issues, and developments in the region
Concerned Subject Syllabus – Papers I and II (Descriptive)
The syllabus for the Concerned Subject Papers I and II is not detailed in the official notification released on 29 July 2026. Under Rule 5 of the Common Combined Examination Scheme 2026, these papers are post-specific and will be finalised by APPSC in consultation with the respective Government of Arunachal Pradesh departments. Candidates who have applied for or are preparing for specific posts (Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary, Finance, Law, etc.) should watch the APPSC Notifications section on appsc.gov.in for these subject-specific syllabi.
Posts Covered Under This Scheme
The Common Combined Examination Scheme 2026 covers multiple Group-A and Group-B Technical posts. Posts mentioned in the APPSC notification and associated documents include:
- Agriculture Development Officer
- Horticulture Development Officer
- Veterinary Officer
- Sub-Treasury Officer (STO)
- Finance and Accounts Officer (FAO)
- Treasury Officer (TO)
- Assistant Director (various departments)
- Other Group-A and Group-B Gazetted Non-Ministerial Technical posts as notified
Candidates should confirm the specific posts available in their cycle from the official APPSC advertisement page at appsc.gov.in.
Preparation Tips
- The General English and General Studies paper is common to all posts, so this should be the first area of preparation since every candidate will be tested on it.
- For General Studies, focus specifically on North-East India – the notification explicitly lists this as a separate focus area alongside national and international affairs, which is unusual compared to most state PSC exams.
- Science and Technology is a named component of the syllabus, so follow recent developments in ISRO, DRDO, and health/agricultural technology as they affect North-East India and the country.
- For the descriptive subject papers, do not start preparing without the official post-specific syllabus from APPSC, since syllabus scope and paper pattern vary significantly by department.
- Since Viva Voce carries 50 out of 500 marks, it contributes 10 percent of the total score and should not be neglected after clearing the written exam.
- Keep checking the APPSC Notifications section and the Syllabus section for any post-specific syllabus releases.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| General English and General Studies Syllabus PDF | Click Here |
| APPSC Notifications Section | Click Here |
| APPSC Syllabus Section | Click Here |
| APPSC Advertisements Section | Click Here |
| APPSC Official Website | Click Here |
APPSC Group A and B Syllabus 2026 – FAQs
Q1. Which APPSC is this – Arunachal Pradesh or Andhra Pradesh?
✅ This is the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, at appsc.gov.in. Both commissions use the abbreviation APPSC. The Andhra Pradesh PSC uses psc.ap.gov.in. Always check the full state name and website before applying.
Q2. What exam pattern is followed for APPSC Group A and B Technical posts 2026?
✅ Three-paper written examination – General English and General Studies (Objective, 150 marks), Concerned Subject Paper-I (Descriptive, 150 marks), and Concerned Subject Paper-II (Descriptive, 150 marks) – followed by a Viva Voce of 50 marks, for a total of 500 marks.
Q3. For which paper has APPSC released the syllabus so far?
✅ Only the General English and General Studies (Objective) paper – 150 marks, common to all posts under this scheme.
Q4. Where is the subject-specific syllabus for Concerned Subject Papers I and II?
✅ Not yet published. It will be finalised post-wise in consultation with the respective departments and uploaded on appsc.gov.in. Monitor the Notifications and Syllabus sections regularly.
Q5. What does the General Studies section of APPSC cover?
✅ Current affairs and recent developments, day-to-day pragmatic observations, Science and Technology, and general awareness related to International, National and North-East India affairs. North-East India is a specific focus area.
Q6. Is there a Preliminary Examination for APPSC Group A and B Technical posts?
✅ A Recruitment Test / Preliminary Examination may be held only if the number of applicants exceeds the ratio fixed for the written examination. It is not compulsory and is used only for shortlisting, not merit.
Q7. Does the APPSC Group A and B exam have negative marking?
✅ Not specified in the notification. The notification does not mention negative marking, question count, or exam duration. These details will be in the admit card and exam instructions.
Q8. What is the total marks and weightage for the final selection?
✅ The final merit is prepared out of 500 marks – Written Examination (450 marks across three papers) plus Viva Voce (50 marks).
Q9. Which posts are covered under this Common Combined Examination Scheme 2026?
✅ Agriculture Development Officer, Horticulture Development Officer, Veterinary Officer, Sub-Treasury Officer, Finance and Accounts Officer, Treasury Officer, Assistant Director and other Group-A and Group-B Gazetted Technical posts, as notified by APPSC.
Q10. Where can I download the APPSC Group A and B Syllabus PDF 2026?
✅ From the official appsc.gov.in website – the General English and General Studies syllabus PDF link is provided in the Important Links table above. Post-specific subject syllabi will be uploaded in the same Notifications and Syllabus sections when released.
Disclaimer
The information above is compiled from the Syllabus Notification for General English and General Studies (Objective) for the Common Combined Examination Scheme 2026 released by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) on its official website appsc.gov.in on 29 July 2026, and from the associated recruitment notification. The syllabus for Concerned Subject Papers I and II is not yet published and will be released post-wise by APPSC. The exam duration, question count, and negative marking rules are also not stated in the available notification. Candidates are strongly advised to monitor the official APPSC website for all further updates. All links above lead only to the official APPSC website.
