APPSC Group 2 2026 Notification - Complete Syllabus, Eligibility, & Exam Pattern
- vinex online
- Mar 22
- 8 min read
The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has officially announced 750 vacancies for Group 2 Services in the AP Job Calendar 2026, with the notification expected on 15th September 2026. If you are serious about cracking this exam, your preparation window starts today not after the notification drops.
The APPSC Group 2 2026 notification is officially scheduled for 15th September 2026, as confirmed in the AP Job Calendar 2026 released by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. With 750 vacancies across executive and non-executive posts, this is one of the largest AP state government recruitment drives of the year.
If you are an aspirant in Andhra Pradesh targeting a government career, the APPSC Group 2 2026 exam is your most concrete opportunity this cycle. This guide covers everything you need to know before the notification drops — the posts available, salary, eligibility criteria, and the complete APPSC Group 2 exam pattern for both Prelims and Mains.
Already know the basics?
Jump straight to our detailed APPSC Group 2 syllabus 2026 and 5-month preparation plan →
Table of Contents
1. What is APPSC Group 2? Posts, Salary & Job Profile
APPSC Group 2 is a state-level competitive examination conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission to recruit candidates for executive and non-executive posts across multiple departments of the AP state government.
These are not ordinary clerical jobs. Group 2 officers manage land records, revenue administration, labour enforcement, treasury accounts, and grassroots governance. A Deputy Tahsildar resolves property disputes and manages revenue villages. An Assistant Section Officer drafts files in the AP Secretariat. A Sub-Registrar oversees property registrations. These roles carry genuine authority and public responsibility — and that is precisely why this exam is so competitive.
Executive Posts
Executive posts are gazetted or semi-gazetted positions with field-level authority:
Post | Department | Pay Scale (7th Pay Commission) |
Deputy Tahsildar | Revenue | ₹28,940 – ₹78,910/month |
Sub-Registrar Grade II | Registration & Stamps | ₹28,940 – ₹78,910/month |
Municipal Commissioner Grade III | Municipal Administration | ₹28,940 – ₹78,910/month |
Assistant Labour Officer | Labour | ₹28,940 – ₹78,910/month |
Assistant Commercial Tax Officer | Commercial Taxes | ₹28,940 – ₹78,910/month |
Assistant Registrar (Co-op) | Co-operative Department | ₹28,940 – ₹78,910/month |
Extension Officer | Agriculture / Horticulture | ₹28,940 – ₹78,910/month |
Prohibition & Excise Sub-Inspector | Prohibition & Excise | ₹28,940 – ₹78,910/month |
Assistant Development Officer | Panchayat Raj | ₹28,940 – ₹78,910/month |
Non-Executive Posts
Non-executive posts are primarily secretariat and accounts-level positions:
Post | Department | Pay Scale |
Assistant Section Officer (ASO) | AP Secretariat / GAD | ₹26,600 – ₹77,030/month |
Senior Auditor | Accountant General | ₹26,600 – ₹77,030/month |
Senior Accountant | Treasury & Accounts | ₹26,600 – ₹77,030/month |
Junior Accountant | Various Departments | ₹16,400 – ₹49,870/month |
Junior Assistant | Various Departments | ₹16,400 – ₹49,870/month |
Auditor | AG / Treasury | ₹16,400 – ₹49,870/month |
Career Growth
Group 2 is not a ceiling — it is a launchpad. Many Group 2 officers have gone on to:
Clear Group 1 services while in service and become Deputy Collectors or DSPs
Get promoted through departmental promotions to Class I gazetted posts
Move into training roles, administrative management, and senior secretariat positions
The job brings lifelong pension, medical coverage, government quarters (for certain posts), and the genuine satisfaction of public service at the grassroots level.
2. APPSC Group 2 2026: Notification Date, Vacancy & Important Dates
Official Notification Date
As per the AP Job Calendar 2026, released officially on 19th March 2026 by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission, the APPSC Group 2 Notification 2026 is scheduled to be released on 15th September 2026.
APPSC Group 2 2026 Vacancy
The AP Job Calendar 2026 has announced 750 vacancies for Group 2 Services in 2026. For reference, the previous cycle (Notification No. 11/2023) had 905 vacancies:
Executive posts: 331 vacancies
Non-executive posts: 566 vacancies (including 53 carried forward)
The 2026 vacancy distribution across Executive and Non-Executive categories will be confirmed in the official notification PDF.
Expected Important Dates (Tentative)
Event | Expected Date |
Notification release | 15 September 2026 |
Application window opens | September 2026 |
Last date to apply | October 2026 (approx.) |
Prelims (Screening Test) | November–December 2026 (TBA) |
Mains Exam | 2027 (post prelims result) |
Computer Proficiency Test | 2027 |
Note: Exam dates will be announced separately by APPSC along with the notification.
Application Fees
Application Fee
Category | Fee |
General (OC) | ₹330 |
SC / ST / BC / PH / Ex-Servicemen | ₹250 |
Candidates from Other States | ₹80 + ₹250 processing fee |
Application is done online through the official APPSC portal at psc.ap.gov.in using a One-Time Profile Registration (OTPR) ID.
3. APPSC Group 2 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
The minimum qualification for APPSC Group 2 2026 is a Bachelor's Degree from a recognised university in any discipline.
Final year degree students may apply, subject to producing the degree certificate before the date of joining
Specific posts may require subject-specific qualifications (e.g., commerce background for certain accounts posts) — the official notification will specify post-wise requirements
APPSC Group 2 Age Limit
Category | Age Limit |
General (OC) | 18 – 42 years |
OBC / BC | 18 – 45 years (5 years relaxation) |
SC / ST | 18 – 47 years (5 years relaxation) |
Physically Handicapped (PH) | Additional relaxation as per AP Govt norms |
Ex-Servicemen | Additional relaxation as per AP Govt norms |
Age is calculated as on 1st July 2026 (tentative — the official notification will confirm the exact reference date).
Domicile / Nativity Requirement
Candidates must qualify as local candidates of Andhra Pradesh. This means:
Studied in Andhra Pradesh for not less than 7 years during Classes VI to XII (or equivalent); OR
Born in Andhra Pradesh; OR
One or both parents must be domiciled in AP
This requirement is strictly enforced. Non-local candidates can apply for unreserved vacancies only, as specified in the notification.
Nationality
Must be a citizen of India.
4. APPSC Group 2 Exam Pattern 2026 — Prelims, Mains & CPT
The APPSC Group 2 selection process has three stages. Clearing each stage is mandatory to proceed to the next.
Stage 1: Screening Test (Prelims)
The Prelims is an objective-type screening test conducted offline (OMR-based). Its sole purpose is to shortlist candidates for the Mains — Prelims marks do not count in your final merit list.
Parameter | Details |
Mode | Offline — OMR-based |
Type | Objective (MCQs) |
Total Questions | 150 |
Total Marks | 150 (1 mark per question) |
Duration | 150 minutes (2.5 hours) |
Negative Marking | Yes — 1/3rd mark per wrong answer |
Prelims marks in final merit? | No — screening only |
Subject-wise distribution:
Subject | Questions | Marks |
Indian History | 30 | 30 |
Geography | 30 | 30 |
Indian Society | 30 | 30 |
Current Affairs | 30 | 30 |
Mental Ability | 30 | 30 |
Total | 150 | 150 |
Key insight: Current Affairs carries the same weight as History in Prelims — 30 marks each. Most aspirants over-index on static subjects and under-prepare current affairs. Read a quality newspaper daily throughout your preparation.
Stage 2: Mains Examination
Mains is the merit-determining stage. Your Mains score out of 300 is what decides your final rank and post allocation. There are two papers, each of 150 marks.
Parameter | Details |
Mode | Offline — OMR-based |
Number of Papers | 2 |
Marks per Paper | 150 |
Total Marks | 300 |
Duration per Paper | 150 minutes |
Questions per Paper | 150 MCQs |
Negative Marking | Yes — 1/3rd mark per wrong answer |
Paper I — Social & Cultural History of AP and Indian Constitution
Section | Coverage | Marks |
Section A | Social & Cultural History of Andhra Pradesh | 75 |
Section B | Indian Constitution | 75 |
Total | 150 |
Paper II — Indian & AP Economy and Science & Technology
Section | Coverage | Marks |
Section A | Indian Economy + AP Economy | 75 |
Section B | Science & Technology | 75 |
Total | 150 |
Critical note: The AP-specific content in both papers — AP History & Culture in Paper I, and AP Economy in Paper II — is where candidates consistently under-prepare. This is exactly where rank differentiation happens. A coaching programme that gives AP content the same rigour as general content is essential.
Stage 3: Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
The CPT is a qualifying test — you must pass it to be considered for certain posts, but CPT marks do not add to your Mains merit score.
Parameter | Details |
Mode | Practical — computer-based |
Duration | 60 minutes |
Total Marks | 100 |
Qualifying Marks — OC | 40 / 100 |
Qualifying Marks — BC | 35 / 100 |
Qualifying Marks — SC / ST / PH | 30 / 100 |
CPT tests practical skills in MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, internet and email usage, and basic file management. It is not a difficult hurdle for most candidates — consistent practice in the months leading up to the CPT is sufficient.
Posts requiring CPT: Deputy Tahsildar, ASO, Senior Accountant, Junior Assistant, Auditor, and others as specified in the notification.
APPSC Group 2 Final Selection — How Your Rank is Decided
Stage | Marks | Counts in Merit? |
Prelims / Screening Test | 150 | No |
Mains Paper I | 150 | Yes |
Mains Paper II | 150 | Yes |
Total Mains | 300 | Yes — determines rank |
CPT | 100 | Qualifying only |
Final merit = Mains marks out of 300, subject to CPT qualification and document verification.
APPSC Group 2 - Syllabus & Preparation
Now that you understand the APPSC Group 2 exam structure, eligibility, and what's at stake, the next step is building your preparation strategy around the exact syllabus.
Read our complete guide: APPSC Group 2 Syllabus 2026 — Paper-wise Breakdown, Best Books & 5-Month Preparation Plan →
At Vinex IAS Academy, our APPSC Group 2 batch for 2026 started on 28th March — covering the full Prelims and Mains syllabus with AP-focused content, weekly mock tests, and both online and offline options.
Contact us to know about fees, schedule, and joining a batch that gives you the maximum preparation runway before the September notification.
5. Frequently Asked Questions — APPSC Group 2 2026
Q: When will APPSC Group 2 2026 notification be released? The APPSC Group 2 2026 notification is officially scheduled for 15th September 2026 as per the AP Job Calendar 2026, released by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission on 19th March 2026.
Q: How many vacancies are there in APPSC Group 2 2026? The AP Job Calendar 2026 has announced 750 vacancies for APPSC Group 2 Services. The post-wise category breakup will be confirmed in the official notification.
Q: What is the age limit for APPSC Group 2 2026? 18 to 42 years for General (OC) candidates. OBC/BC candidates get 5 years relaxation (up to 45 years). SC/ST candidates get 5 years relaxation (up to 47 years). Age is calculated as on 1st July 2026 (tentative).
Q: What is the educational qualification for APPSC Group 2? A Bachelor's Degree from any recognised university in any discipline. Final year students may also apply conditionally.
Q: What is the exam pattern for APPSC Group 2 2026? Three stages: Prelims (150 MCQs, 150 marks — screening only), Mains (2 papers × 150 marks = 300 marks — determines final rank), and CPT (60 minutes practical — qualifying only). Negative marking of 1/3rd applies in both Prelims and Mains.
Q: What are the posts available in APPSC Group 2? Executive posts include Deputy Tahsildar, Sub-Registrar Grade II, Municipal Commissioner Grade III, Assistant Labour Officer, Assistant Commercial Tax Officer, and others. Non-executive posts include ASO, Senior Auditor, Senior Accountant, Junior Assistant, and Auditor.
Q: What is the salary for APPSC Group 2 posts? Executive posts: ₹28,940 – ₹78,910 per month (basic pay scale). Non-executive posts: ₹16,400 – ₹26,600 per month (basic pay scale). Gross salary including all allowances is significantly higher.
Q: Is there negative marking in APPSC Group 2 Prelims? Yes. Both Prelims and Mains carry 1/3rd negative marking — one-third of a mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
Disclaimer: All dates, vacancy numbers, and eligibility criteria in this article are based on the official AP Job Calendar 2026 and previous APPSC Group 2 notifications. Final details are subject to confirmation in the official notification. Always verify from psc.ap.gov.in before applying.
Published by Vinex IAS Academy. For coaching enquiries, contact us via our official channels.
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