APSC Syllabus 2024– The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) exam is a prestigious competitive examination conducted by the APSC to recruit candidates for various civil service positions within the state of Assam. The APSC exam is considered one of the toughest state-level exams in India, and candidates who clear this exam are eligible for administrative roles such as Assam Civil Services (ACS), Assam Police Services (APS), and other Group A and Group B positions. The APSC exam follows a three-stage selection process, which includes:
Table of Contents
APSC Syllabus 2024
- Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
- Main Examination (Mains)
- Interview/Viva-Voce
Each stage of the exam is designed to test the candidate’s intellectual capabilities, general awareness, and suitability for civil services. Below is a detailed overview of the APSC exam syllabus:
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1. APSC Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
The Preliminary Exam consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II. It serves as a screening test for the Mains exam, and marks obtained in this stage are not counted for final selection.
Paper 1: General Studies I
- Total Marks: 200
- Duration: 2 hours
This paper tests the candidates’ knowledge across a broad range of topics such as:
- Current Affairs of National and International Importance:
- Focus on both Assam state-specific and global issues.
- Important recent events in areas like politics, economics, culture, sports, and international relations.
- Indian History and Assam History:
- Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History.
- Freedom struggle of India.
- Assam’s history, including its role in the freedom movement and socio-political changes.
- Indian and World Geography:
- Physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world.
- Geography of Assam including natural resources, agriculture, and economic geography.
- Indian Polity and Governance:
- Indian Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues, etc.
- Special focus on governance and political structure in Assam.
- Economic and Social Development:
- Indian economy, development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc.
- Focus on the economy of Assam, its growth, and developmental initiatives.
- Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change:
- General awareness of environmental conservation, ecological balance, and biodiversity with a focus on Assam’s environment and conservation efforts.
- General Science:
- Basic understanding of scientific principles and technological advancements.
- Application of science in everyday life with special attention to Assam’s scientific developments.
- Assam-specific Topics:
- Culture, language, literature, society, and major issues in Assam.
- Important government schemes and programs related to Assam.
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Paper 2: General Studies II
- Total Marks: 200
- Duration: 2 hours
The second paper is a qualifying exam where candidates must score at least 33% to pass. It tests the following:
- Comprehension:
- Ability to understand and interpret written content.
- Interpersonal Skills and Communication Skills:
- The ability to work and communicate effectively with people.
- Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability:
- Candidates’ problem-solving and logical thinking abilities.
- Decision Making and Problem Solving:
- Aptitude for making quick, rational decisions in challenging scenarios.
- General Mental Ability:
- Basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and logical reasoning.
- Basic Numeracy:
- Numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, data interpretation using charts, graphs, tables, etc.
- Data Interpretation:
- Interpretation of data from tables, graphs, and charts.
2. APSC Main Examination (Mains)
Candidates who qualify for the Prelims move on to the Main Examination. The Mains exam is descriptive in nature and is designed to assess candidates’ in-depth knowledge, analytical abilities, and clarity of thought.
APSC Mains Structure:
- Paper A (300 Marks – Qualifying):
- Assamese/Bengali/Bodo: The qualifying language paper is based on one of the three languages – Assamese, Bengali, or Bodo. Candidates are required to choose one language based on their preference.
- Candidates must secure at least 25% in this paper to be considered for the next stages.
- Topics: Essay writing, précis writing, comprehension, and grammar.
- Paper B (300 Marks – Qualifying):
- English: This paper tests the candidates’ English language proficiency.
- Topics: Essay writing, précis writing, comprehension, and grammar. This paper is also qualifying in nature and requires a minimum score of 25%.
General Studies Papers:
- General Studies Paper I (250 Marks):
- Indian History and Indian National Movement.
- Social, Political, and Economic History of Assam.
- Role of Assam in the Indian freedom struggle.
- Modern Indian history from the 18th century onwards.
- General Studies Paper II (250 Marks):
- Indian Constitution, Political System, Governance, and Social Justice.
- Parliament and State Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
- Important acts like PESA, RTI, MGNREGA, and other welfare schemes.
- General Studies Paper III (250 Marks):
- Indian Economy: Planning, resource mobilization, growth, development, and employment.
- Agriculture and industrial development in Assam.
- Sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and globalization effects on Assam.
- General Studies Paper IV (250 Marks):
- Ethics, integrity, and aptitude: This paper tests the candidates’ knowledge about the importance of ethics and morality in public life.
- Case studies related to ethical dilemmas, conflict of interest, integrity in governance, and accountability.
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Optional Subject Papers (500 Marks Total):
Candidates are required to choose one optional subject, which consists of two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2), each carrying 250 marks. Optional subjects include:
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce and Accountancy
- Economics
- Education
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Literature of Assamese/Bengali/Bodo/Hindi/Sanskrit
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology
Each optional subject is designed to assess the candidate’s understanding and ability to analyze complex topics within their chosen discipline.
3. Interview/Viva-Voce
The final stage of the APSC exam is the Interview or Viva-Voce. Candidates who qualify for the Mains are called for an interview, which carries 275 marks. This stage tests the candidate’s personality, communication skills, general awareness, problem-solving skills, and overall suitability for a civil service career. The interview panel may ask questions on the candidate’s background, current affairs, hobbies, and aspirations.
The interview is critical as it provides the panel with an opportunity to assess the candidate’s ethical grounding, leadership potential, and ability to handle responsibilities.
Final Merit List
The final selection of candidates is based on their cumulative scores in the Mains Examination (written papers) and the Interview. Marks from the Prelims are not counted in the final merit list.
Conclusion
The APSC exam syllabus covers a vast array of subjects, from general knowledge and current affairs to ethics and administrative topics. It requires a well-rounded preparation strategy that includes a thorough understanding of Assam’s socio-political landscape, the Indian Constitution, history, and geography. Aspiring candidates must also focus on language proficiency, optional subjects, and developing a strong ethical framework to succeed in this competitive exam.
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