APPSC Departmental Test Notification | May 2026 Session

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission has officially released Notification No. 03/2026 announcing the schedule and guidelines for the Departmental Test, May-2026 Session.

This session is exclusively meant for departmental qualification, promotions, and transfers of serving government employees (with select papers open to the general public). It is not a recruitment notification.

1. Key Dates & Application Window

The entire application process is hosted online through the official APPSC website. Hand-written, typed, or physical photo copies of applications will be rejected outright.

• Application & Fee Payment Start Date: May 13, 2026
• Last Date for Submission & Fee Payment: June 2, 2026 (Fee payment closes at 11:00 PM)
• Examination Dates: To be announced later by the Commission.

The OTPR Requirement

Applicants must register or log in using the One Time Profile Registration (OTPR) system on the APPSC portal http://psc.ap.gov.in

• Existing Users: Candidates who already have an OTPR ID from previous tests can apply directly but must update their working district to reflect the new 26-district map of Andhra Pradesh before submitting.
• New Users: Must complete the OTPR registration first to generate a unique User ID.

2. Structure & Scheme of the Examinations

The examination will be conducted across two distinct formats depending on the subject paper:

• Objective Type Papers: Conducted entirely as a Computer Based Test (CBT). Candidates can utilize the Mock Test facility on the APPSC website to get used to the interface.
• Conventional / Descriptive Type Papers: This applies strictly to Language Tests and Survey & Settlement papers. These exams use traditional paper-and-pen mode, where candidates will be given answer booklets attached with a Bar Code sheet. Answers must be written with a blue or black pen.

Examination Timings

Mode	Duration	Forenoon (FN) Session	Afternoon (AN) Session
Objective (CBT)	2 Hours (120 Mins)	10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon	03:00 PM – 05:00 PM
Conventional (Descriptive)	3 Hours (180 Mins)	10:00 AM – 01:00 PM	03:00 PM – 06:00 PM*

* Note: Paper Code 05 (Second Class Language Test) is an exception for conventional papers; its afternoon session runs for 2 hours only (03:00 PM to 05:00 PM).

3. Examination Centers

The exams will be held across all 26 updated districts of Andhra Pradesh. Candidates are generally allotted a test center within the district they are currently working in. If local accommodation or systems are insufficient, they will be allocated a center in the nearest neighboring district.

4. Eligibility Criteria & Special Conditions

General Eligibility

• Primarily open to employees of the Government of Andhra Pradesh as prescribed by their respective Departmental Service Rules.
• Open to All: Paper Codes 05, 08, 10, 18, 19, 27, 28, 36, 43, 45, 49, 62, 67, 77, 98, 108, 127, 136, 137, 141, 142, 144 to 148, and 155 are open to everyone, whether they are in government service or not.

Special Departmental Conditions

• Divisional Test (PC Nos. 30, 63, 81, 113 & 138): Senior Assistants and Superintendents in Public Works, R&B, Irrigation, Public Health, Panchayat Raj Engineering, and Ports departments with 3 or more years of service are eligible. They must upload a scanned Service Certificate signed and sealed by their Controlling Officer. Commerce graduates seeking exemption from Paper-I must upload their degree certificate.
• Mines & Geology (PC No. 150): Requires uploading the official scanned Service Certificate format.
• Criminal Judicial Test: Candidates with a Law Qualification must upload their Law degree certificate to claim exemptions for Papers I and II.
• Language & Translation Tests: Question papers are generally in English. However, Surveyor’s Tests and Translation Tests will feature the chosen regional language alongside English. Language Test candidates must pass all parts simultaneously. For PC No. 05, 06, and 7, passing the Part-A written exam is mandatory to qualify for the subsequent Viva-Voce (oral test).

5. Fee Structure & Payment Mode

• Application & Examination Fee: Rs. 500/- per paper (Application processing fee is separate as per active G.O.s).
• Exemptions: No fee is prescribed for Gujarathi (PC No. 6) and Marwari (PC No. 7) Language Tests.
• Payment Method: Exclusively online through the APPSC Payment Gateway using Net Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card. IPOs and Demand Drafts (DDs) are strictly rejected.
• Corrections: If you make a mistake on the application specific data, you can correct it within 2 days of the last application date on payment of Rs. 100/- per correction. However, no changes are allowed for critical fields like Name, Personal Details, and Fees.

6. Important Guidelines to Avoid Rejection

The APPSC has specified strict grounds on which an application or answer script will be summarily rejected:

1. Missing Credentials: Failure to upload a clear photograph (JPEG, <50 KB) or signature (JPEG, <30 KB).
2. Incomplete Documentation: Failing to upload a signed/sealed Service Certificate where explicitly mandatory (e.g., Divisional Test or Mines & Geology).
3. Conventional Paper Errors: For descriptive tests, failing to properly write, encode, or verify your Register Number, Subject Code, or signatures on the BAR CODE Sheet will disqualify the script.
4. Use of Whitener: Applying whitener on the Bar Code sheet results in automatic disqualification.
5. Re-appearance Rule: Candidates who have already cleared a specific Departmental Test are legally barred from re-appearing for it. Doing so will lead to disciplinary action and debarment.

7. Results, Marks, and Recounting

• No Physical Certificates: APPSC will not issue individual physical pass certificates. Results hosted on the official portal (https://psc.ap.gov.in) serve as the authentic publication for all official promotions and benefits.
• Objections: Following the cancellation of the negative marking system, the practice of calling for answer-key objections has been permanently dissolved to expedite results.
• Memorandum of Marks: Unsuccessful candidates can obtain their marks sheet by paying Rs. 200/- via IPO/Bank Draft addressed to the Additional Secretary, APPSC, Vijayawada, along with a copy of their Hall Ticket within one month of the results display.
• Recounting: Available only for Conventional (written) papers. Candidates must apply within 15 days of result declaration with a payment of Rs. 300/- per paper via IPO/Bank Draft.
• Revaluation: Requests for full revaluation of answer sheets will not be entertained under any circumstances.

Helpdesk & Technical Support

For any online application glitches or trouble downloading Hall Tickets, candidates can contact the APPSC helpdesk on working days between 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 01:30 PM to 05:30 PM:

• Phone Numbers: 08662527820 & 08662527821
• Email Support: appschelpdesk@gmail.com