APPSC GROUP- I SERVICES SYLLABUS

GROUP- I SERVICES SYLLABUS

(SCREENING TEST – OBJECTIVE TYPE) :

GENERAL STUDIES AND MENTAL ABILITY

1. General Science – Contemporary developments in Science and Technology and their implications

including matters of every day observation and experience, as may be expected of a well-educated

person who has not made a special study of any scientific discipline.

2. Current events of national and international importance.

3. History of India – emphasis will be on broad general understanding of the subject in its social,

economic, cultural and political aspects with a focus on AP Indian National Movement.

4. World Geography and Geography of India with a focus on AP.

5. Indian polity and Economy – including the country’s political system- rural development – Planning

and economic reforms in India.

6. Mental ability – reasoning and inferences.

MAIN EXAMINATION (CONVENTIONAL TYPE)

GENERAL ENGLISH:

(X CLASS STANDARD, QUALIFYING FOR INTERVIEW)

1. Comprehension

2. Precis-writing

3. Re-arrangement of sentences

4. Correction of sentences

5. Synonyms

6. Antonyms

7. Filling in the blanks

8. Correction of spellings

9. Vocabulary and usage

10. Idioms and phrases

11. Verb tenses

12. Prepositions

13. Active voice and Passive voice

14. Parts of speech

PAPER-I

GENERAL ESSAY

(Candidate should write three Essays one from each section compulsorily. Each section contains
three topics. Each Essay carries 50 marks.)

SECTION-I : Crisis management, Social problems, Analysis and solutions

.
SECTION-II : Current events of national and international importance.

SECTION –III : Current events relating to State of Andhra Pradesh.

PAPER-II

SECTION-I

HISTORY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF INDIA WITH EMPHASIS ON 20TH CENTURY HISTORY OF INDIA

1. Indus Civilization – Vedic Civilization – Distinction between Indus Civilisation and Vedic
Civilisation – Evolution of Varna, Jathi/caste system – Religious condition – Emergence of
Religious Movements (Jainism, Buddhism and other sects) – Rise of Magadha Imperialism –
Rise of Mahayana and Development of Art (Gandhara, Mathura and other Schools).

2. Advent of Islam and its impact – Influence of Islam on Indian Culture – Religious Movements
– Nature and significance of Bhakti Movements – Growth of vernacular languages, literature,
fine arts, architecture, monuments, Indo-Persian art and architecture - Vijayanagara empire
and their contribution to art, literature and culture – socio-economic conditions, administration,
fall of Vijayanagar empire – the Great Moghals and their contribution to Indian Fine Art,
Architecture and Fine Arts – Rise of Shivaji.

3. Stages of colonialism – changes in administrative structure and politics – factors leading for
the British supremacy, assistance of Indian Powers and the causes of failures – Civil rebellions
– Revolt of 1857 and its impact – Rise of nationalist consciousness and factors for the growth
of Indian Nationalism and Freedom Struggle : Three Phases :1885-1905, 1905-1920, 1920-47
and significance of Gandhian Era.

4. Rise and growth of Socio-Religious-cultural – anti-caste, Dalit and non-Brahmin, Justice/selfrespect
movements in modern India – Social reform organisations and role of intellectuals –
Raja Ram Mohan Roy - Dayanand Saraswathi - Jyotiba Phule - Narayana Guru - Mahathma
Gandhi - Ambedkar and others.

5. Nationalist Literature – growth of peasant and labour movements – role of leftist parties in antifeudaland anti-colonial struggles-rise and growth of Women’s movements – origin and growth
of communalism – workers and peasant movements –freedom and partition of India; important
historical events after independence.

SECTION-II

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF ANDHRA PRADESH

1. The Satavahanas and their contribution – social structure – religious conditions – growth of
literature and painting – Ikshvakus and their cultural contribution – Growth of Buddhism in
Andhra Pradesh – The Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi and their importance – socio-cultural
contribution – growth of Telugu language & Literature – education and learning – Religious
Sects – growth of art and architecture.

2. Socio- Cultural and Religious conditions in Andhra Desha between 1000 AD – 1565 AD
Growth of Telugu Language and Literature – Nannaya- Molla etc., fine arts and
architecture – Monuments – Significance – Contribution of Qutubshahis to Telugu
language and Literature – Art- Architecture- Monuments.

3. Modern Andhra - Socio-cultural awakening in Andhra – Brahma Samaj, Arya Samaj,
Theosohica society – Adi-Andhra, Movements and role of Veereshalingam and others –
Non-Brahmin, Adi- Andhra /Dalit and Justice/self – respect movements – Gurram Joshuva
– Boyi Bheemanna – Sri Sri and others – Growth of Nationalist Movement in Andhra and
the Andhra Leaders during the Freedom Struggle – Role of socialists – communists – antizamindari-kisan movements.

4. Asafjahi Dynasty – socio-cultural awakening in Telangana -Adi-Hindu Movement – Nizam
Rashtra Janasangham – Andhra Mahasabha – Andhra Saaraswata Parishat – The role of
Hyderabad State Congress and Vandemataram Movement.

5. Telangana People’s Armed Struggle – Ittehadul-Muslimeen – Razakars-anti-Nizam
Struggles and end of Nizam’s Rule and integration of Hyderabad State in Indian Union –
Formation of Andhra Pradesh.

SECTION-III

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION

1. Nature of the Constitution – constitutional developments – salient features – Preamble –
Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and their relationship -
Fundamental Duties, Distinctive features of Indian Federation.

2. Distribution of Legislative Powers between the Union and the State; Administrative and
Financial relations between the Union and the States – Powers and the functions of
Constitutional Bodies.

3. Unicameral and Bicameral Legislatures – Functions and crises of accountability, decline of
legislature - Delegated Legislation – Legislative and Judicial control over the delegated
legislation – Judicial review of administrative action.

4. Amendment of the Constitution – Basic Structure Theory – Emergency Provisions and Decentralisation– Community development experiment – 3 tier model of Panchayat Raj –
73rd and 74th amendments and their implementation.

5. Welfare Mechanism in India: Provisions for scheduled castes, Tribes and Minorities;
Reservations for SC, ST and Backward classes; Prevention of SC and ST Atrocities Act;
National and State SC and ST Commission; Women’s Commission; National and State
Minorities Commission and Human Rights Commission.

PAPER-III

SECTION-I

PLANNING IN INDIA & INDIAN ECONOMY

6. National and per capita income and human development - Sectoral changes in the Indian
Economy (GDP and work force).

7. Indian Planning – Objectives, priorities, specific aims of the recent 5 year plan-- experience
and problems. Changes in the role of public-Private Sectors and their shares in the total
plan outlay before and after economic reforms.

8. Poverty and unemployment problems-- magnitude and measures initiated to ameliorate
them.

9. Monetary policy – Structure of Indian Banking and non-banking financial institutions and
reforms in them since the 1990s—regulation of credit by RBI.

10. Pattern of revenue, expenditure and public debt and effects on the economy.

SECTION-II

LAND REFORMS & SOCIAL CHANGES IN A.P. AFTER INDEPENDENCE

1. Historical background of land reforms and the change in laws from time to time –
Intermediaries abolition, tenancy reforms, ceilings on holdings and land issues in A.P.

2. Structure of the Andhra Pradesh economy - its sectoral and regional distribution and the
extent of poverty. Agricultural inputs and technology.

3. Demographic features and social backwardness, literacy and occupation structure;
changes in the sectoral distribution of income and employment. Socio-political and
economic empowerment of women.

4. State finances and budgetary policy – tax structure, sharing central taxes, expenditure
pattern in revenue and capital account as well as plan and non-plan accounts. Public debt
– composition - internal and external debt including World Bank loans.

5. Five year plans of AP – Outlays, financing public sector plan and resource allocation
pattern in the recent 5 year plan.

SECTION –III

ANDHRA PRADESH’S ECONOMY, PRESENT STATUS, ITS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

1. Growth and structure of industries in AP; Factories, small and tiny sectors, their
comparison, growth, weaknesses and problems.

2. Structure of agricultural outputs. Administrated prices including support and procurement
prices - Public Distribution System in Andhra Pradesh.

3. Regional disparities in income, industrial output, rainfall, irrigation, health and education in
AP.

4. Institutional and non-institutional sources of rural credit in AP - structure and growth -
cooperatives and their share in total credit - adequacy and problems.

5. Service Sector of AP – Importance, composition and growth with special reference to
transport and communication, tourism and information technology.

PAPER-IV

SECTION-I

ROLE AND IMPACT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA:

UNIT 1: National policy of science and technology and changes in the policy from time to time,
Technology Missions.

UNIT 2: Space programme in India and its applications with special reference to industrial, agricultural
and other rural developmental activities, INSAT and IRS systems.

UNIT 3: Role of Information Technology in Rural India, basics of computers, computers in
communication and broadcasting, software development in economic growth. Broad IT applications.

UNIT 4: Energy Resources: Energy demands, renewable energy resources, nuclear energy, the
development and its utilisation in the country.

UNIT 5: Current Science & Technology Developments in India, Climate change, Disaster
Management (Floods, Cyclones and Tsunami); Crop science in India, Fertilisers, Control of pests anddiseases – scenario in India; Drinking water and supply, urbanisation and industrial development.

SECTION-II

GENERAL AWARENESS WITH THE MODERN TRENDS IN LIFE SCIENCES

UNIT 1: Progress of Agricultural Science and its impacts - Introduction to Biotechnology: History of fermentation development, industrially important fermentation products (antibiotics, organic acids, alcohols, vitamins, amino acids (only one in each category is to be studied)) Production of low volume, high value fermentation products (insulin, growth hormones, recombinant vaccines,
interferons)

UNIT 2: Plants and human affairs, characteristics of plants, usefulness for mankind, origin of
agriculture, useful and harmful plants. Introduction to animals, Domestic and wild animals, usefulness of animals for mankind, Exploitation of animals by man for food and medical advancements.

UNIT 3: Introduction to and applications of Genetic Engineering & Stem Cell Research: Basic
concepts (the basic process of genetic engineering) – Biotechnology in agriculture (Biofertilisers,
Biopesticides, Biofuels, Genetically modified crops, Tissue culture) animal husbandry (transgenic
animals- applications) and environment (Biotechnology in Environmental clean up processes).

UNIT 4: Microbial infections ; Common present day infections and preventive measures. Introductionto bacterial, viral, protozoal and fungal infections. Basic knowledge of infections caused by differentgroups of micro organisms – diarrhoea, dysentry, cholera, tuberculosis, malaria, viral infections like HIV, encephalitis, chikungunya, bird flu – preventive measures during out breaks.

UNIT 5: Vaccines: Introduction to immunity, Fundamental concepts in vaccination and traditional
methods of vaccine production (production of DPT and Rabies vaccine), Production of Modern
Vaccines (production of Hepatitis vaccine), Applications of immunological methods in diagnosis.

SECTION-III

DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENT PROBLEMS:

UNIT 1: Environmental Segments, Promoting Environmental Protection, The Environment (Protection) Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Water (Prevention and control of pollution) Act, Water pollution Cess Act, Forest conservation Act, Environmentalism

UNIT 2: Natural Resources: Forest Resources – Types of Forests, Uses of Forests. Water
Resources- Types of Dams, Drought Occurrences and Floods, Land Resources: Soils and Cropping patterns, Mineral resources.

UNIT 3: Eco-Systems and Bio-diversity: Terminology of Ecology, Basic Concepts of Ecology, concept of an Ecosystem, Food Chains in Eco systems, Types of Eco systems. Biodiversity and its
conservation: Types of biodiversity, Hotspots of Biodiversity, threats to diversity.

UNIT 4: Environment Pollution and Solid Waste Management: Air Pollution, water pollution, Soil
Pollution, Noise pollution. Solid Waste Management: Types of Solid waste, Factors affecting the
solid waste generation, Impact of solid wastes, Recycling and reuse.

UNIT 5: Role of Information Technology in Environment and Human Health. Global Environmental Issues like Climate Change, Acid Rain, Global warming, Wasteland Reclamation, Watershed management, watershed approach for sustainable development.

PAPER-V

DATA INTERPRETATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING

1. Data appreciation and interpretation using ratios, percentages and averages.

2. Drawing conclusions from the data present in tabular, graphical and diagrammatical forms and
to point out deficiencies, limitations or inconsistencies therein.

3. Problem solving using the following:
a) Sequences and Series: Analogies of numbers and alphabets, completion of blank spaces
in a:b,c,d, odd thing out, missing number in a sequence or series.
b) Coding and decoding problems: A given word or group of letters in English are to be coded
or decoded based on the given code(s).
c) Date, time and arrangement problems: Calender and clock problems, blood relationship
and seating arrangements.
d) Passage Analysis: A duly structured situation will be presented to the candidates and they
will be asked to analyse and suggest their own solution to the problem arising out of
situation. Alternatively, they may be called upon to prove the understanding of the
situation by answering certain searching questions based on the situation.