APPSC Group 2 Syllabus 2026 — Screening Test (Prelims)
The APPSC Group 2 Screening Test is one objective paper of 150 questions in five sections — Indian History, Geography, Indian Society, Current Affairs and Mental Ability — with 30 questions each. Below is every section with the chapters our Group 2 notes and mock tests are built on, so you can tick the syllabus off one chapter at a time.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-14
The Screening Test at a glance
The Prelims is a single 150-minute objective (OMR) paper of 150 questions for 150 marks. One-third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer and nothing for a question left blank. It is a screening test: it decides who reaches the Main Examination, and its marks are not added to the final merit.
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|
| A | Indian History | 30 | 30 |
| B | Geography (India, world & Andhra Pradesh) | 30 | 30 |
| C | Indian Society (structure, social issues & welfare) | 30 | 30 |
| D | Current Affairs | 30 | 30 |
| E | Mental Ability | 30 | 30 |
| Total | One paper · 150 minutes | 150 | 150 |
Section A — Indian History
History runs from the Stone Age to Independence. Questions test chronology, dynasties and their rulers, administration, religious movements and the freedom struggle, so learn events in order and connect each to its causes and results.
- Ancient India — Prehistory — The Stone Age; The Indus Valley Civilisation; The Vedic Age; The Mahajanapadas & Rise of Magadha; Jainism, Buddhism & Heterodox Schools; The Mauryan Empire; The Post-Mauryan Age — Satavahanas & the Sangam Age; The Gupta Age.
- Medieval India — Harshavardhana & Post-Gupta North India; South Indian Kingdoms — Pallavas, Chalukyas & Cholas; The Delhi Sultanate; The Vijayanagara & Bahmani Kingdoms; The Bhakti & Sufi Movements; The Mughal Empire; Sher Shah & Mughal Administration; The Marathas, Sikhs & 18th-Century Kingdoms.
- Modern India & the national movement — The Advent of the Europeans & British Conquest; Colonial Administration, Surveys & Legislation; Land Revenue Settlements; The Revolt of 1857; Socio-Religious Reform Movements; Rise of Nationalism — Moderates & Extremists; The Gandhian Era & Mass Movements; Revolutionary Movements & the INA; Constitutional Development, Independence & Partition.
Section B — Geography
Geography covers the earth and its atmosphere, India's physical and economic geography, and a full block on Andhra Pradesh. Study with a map open: rivers, irrigation projects, minerals and districts are asked directly.
- The earth & atmosphere — The Earth — Motions, Continents, Oceans & Time Zones; The Earth's Interior, Rocks & Landforms; The Atmosphere — Composition, Structure & Temperature.
- Indian geography — India — Physiography & Physical Features; Drainage System of India; Indian Climate & the Monsoon; Soils & Natural Vegetation of India; Population, Census & Settlements; Agriculture & Cropping Patterns; Minerals & Energy Resources; Industries of India; Transport, Ports & Trade; Environment & Biodiversity.
- Andhra Pradesh geography — AP — Location, Districts & Population; AP — Physiography; AP — Rivers & Water Resources; AP — Climate & Soils; AP — Forests & Wildlife; AP — Minerals; AP — Irrigation Projects; AP — Agriculture, Industry & Transport.
Section C — Indian Society
Indian Society has three parts: the structure of society, social issues, and the welfare mechanism — the constitutional and legal safeguards for vulnerable sections. Concepts, thinkers, articles and the welfare schemes behind each safeguard are all fair game.
- Structure of Indian society — Sociological Concepts; Western Sociological Thinkers; Indian Sociologists; Population & Demography; Social Stratification; Caste System & Untouchability; Tribes & Ethnicity; Family, Marriage & Kinship; Religion & Communalism; Social Change & Unity in Diversity.
- Social issues — Social Movements; Women & Gender Issues; Social Problems; Public Policies & Welfare.
- Welfare mechanism & safeguards — Constitutional Safeguards — Scheduled Castes; Constitutional Safeguards — Scheduled Tribes; Constitutional Safeguards — Backward Classes; Constitutional Safeguards — Minorities; Constitutional Safeguards — Women; Constitutional Safeguards — Children; Constitutional Safeguards — Persons with Disabilities; Constitutional Safeguards — Elderly, Transgender & Others.
Section D — Current Affairs
Current Affairs covers national, international and Andhra Pradesh events, plus the static general knowledge that sits behind the news. Our Group 2 current-affairs stages run month by month from August 2025 to August 2026; keep adding the latest months until the exam.
- India & the world — Polity & Governance — Key Developments; Economy & Infrastructure — Key Developments; International Relations — Key Developments; Science & Technology — Key Developments; Environment — Ecology, Ecosystems & Biodiversity; Environment — Pollution, Climate Change & Conventions; Disaster Management — Hazards, Vulnerability & Risk; Disaster Management — Disaster Cycle, Policy & Institutions; Disaster Management — Preparedness & Response; Society, Culture, Sports & Awards.
- Andhra Pradesh — AP Polity & Governance — Key Developments; AP Economy & Infrastructure — Key Developments; AP Science & Technology — Key Developments; AP Society, Culture, Sports & Awards — Key Developments.
- Static general knowledge — Indian Art & Culture — Dances; Indian Art & Culture — Famous Temples; Indian Art & Culture — Forts & Palaces; Indian Art & Culture — Festivals; India — Places & Natural Features; Institutions — Headquarters & Taglines; Reports & Indices — Who Releases What; World — Countries, Capitals & Currencies; World — International Organisations & Their Heads; Important National & International Days; Awards & Honours; Sports — Trophies, Events & Venues.
Section E — Mental Ability
Mental Ability is school-level arithmetic and reasoning under time pressure. It is the one section where steady practice turns directly into marks, because the same question types return every year. Below is a selection of the chapters in our study guide.
- Arithmetic & data — Number System — Basics; HCF & LCM; Simplification — BODMAS & Fractions; Percentages; Ratio & Proportion; Partnership; Averages & Mixtures; Simple Interest; Compound Interest; Time & Work; Pipes & Cisterns; Speed, Time & Distance; Problems on Trains; Boats & Streams; Progressions & Series; Mensuration — Solids; Data Interpretation; Data Sufficiency (Quantitative).
- Reasoning — Analogy & Classification; Number Series; Coding-Decoding; Blood Relations; Direction & Distance; Ranking & Order; Problems on Ages; Clocks; Calendars; Venn Diagrams; Syllogism; Statements — Conclusions, Assumptions & Courses of Action; Seating Arrangement & Puzzles; Mirror & Water Images; Cubes & Dice; Decision Making & Ethical Judgment.
And after the Prelims: the Mains
Candidates who clear the Screening Test write the Main Examination. In the scheme on our Mains exam page it has two objective papers of 150 marks each: Paper I on the social and cultural history of Andhra Pradesh and a general overview of the Indian Constitution, and Paper II on the Indian and Andhra Pradesh economy and science & technology. A Computer Proficiency Test follows where applicable. Confirm the Mains scheme in the detailed 2026 notification.
Always confirm dates, vacancies, eligibility and the exam scheme in the official notification on psc.ap.gov.in, the official portal of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC). AP Groups Hub is an independent preparation platform and is not connected with APPSC.
How to use this syllabus
- Read, then test — Read one chapter in the notes, then take the 20-question micro warm-up on it the same day.
- Give the five sections equal respect — Each section carries 30 marks, so no section can be skipped. Keep Mental Ability and Current Affairs in every week.
- Check with real papers — Solve the previous-year Group 2 papers to see how deep each chapter is asked.
Keep going
Everything else you need for APPSC Group 2, in English and Telugu:
Frequently asked questions
How many sections are there in the APPSC Group 2 Prelims?
Five: Indian History, Geography, Indian Society, Current Affairs and Mental Ability, with 30 questions (30 marks) each — 150 questions in one 150-minute paper.
Is there negative marking in the Group 2 Screening Test?
Yes. In the scheme on our exam page, one-third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer and nothing for a blank. Confirm the rule in the 2026 detailed notification.
Which months of current affairs should I cover?
Our Group 2 current-affairs stages run month by month from August 2025 to August 2026. Keep adding the newest months until the exam, with extra attention to Andhra Pradesh news.
Is the Group 2 syllabus available in Telugu?
Yes. On AP Groups Hub the notes, mock tests and solutions for every chapter above are available in English and Telugu. The medium of the exam paper itself is as per the official notification.
Is the Mains syllabus the same as the Prelims?
No. The Mains papers focus on Andhra Pradesh social and cultural history, the Indian Constitution, the Indian and AP economy, and science & technology. See the Group 2 Mains exam page and confirm in the detailed notification.
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