The APSC Mains Exam conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission holds significant importance in selecting candidates for various government posts in Assam. Consisting of six papers, one of which is the Essay paper, this examination plays a crucial role in the overall assessment of candidates’ abilities and skills.
The APSC has made significant amendments to the Assam Public Services Combined Competitive Examination (Amendment) Rules, 2019, and as a result, the CCE syllabus has been revised accordingly.
To ensure a transparent and streamlined selection process, the Government of Assam has introduced new provisions and modified the Assam Public Services Combined Competitive Examination Rules, 1989.
For this year’s main exam, notable changes have been introduced in the pattern. The optional papers have been eliminated, resulting in a reduction of the total marks from 2275 to 1775. Aspirants are strongly advised to thoroughly review the complete APSC syllabus before initiating their studies, ensuring they are well-prepared for the examination.
APSC exam pattern & syllabus
Exam Name: Combined Competitive Examination
Organizing Authority: Assam Public Service Commission (APSC)
The Combined Competitive Examination comprises the following two successive stages:
(i) Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
(ii) Main Examination (Written & Interview Test)
Preliminary Examination:
The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective type question papers on General Studies, each carrying 200 marks.
Main Examination:
The Main Examination comprises written examination and interview tests. It includes six papers on the subject of General Studies. The marks obtained by candidates in both the written examination and the interview will be considered to determine their final ranking.
Interview Test/ Personality Test
Type of exam: Interview
Total marks: 275 Marks
For more information read this: APSC Exam Pattern 2023
Also read: APSC CCE Exam Pattern 2023.
Download APSC Prelims Syllabus PDF:
For all aspiring candidates looking to appear in the APSC Prelims, a crucial step in their preparation is accessing the APSC Prelims Syllabus PDF. This valuable resource can be found on the official APSC website and holds the key to understanding the intricacies of the examination.
Delving into the depths of this comprehensive document, candidates will discover a wealth of detailed information pertaining to the topics and sub-topics included in the syllabus for both General Studies papers.
You can download the APSC Prelims Syllabus for both GS Paper 1 and GS Paper 2 from the links below:
GS Paper 1 – Download
GS Paper 2 – Download
APSC CCE Prelims Exam Pattern
The APSC CCE Preliminary Examination 2023 consists of two papers:
- Paper 1 – General Studies 1
- Paper 2 – General Studies 2.
The exam will be conducted in objective type questions format.
| Total Papers | Subject in the Exam | Total Marks | Time |
| Paper- I | General Studies- I | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper- II | General Studies- II | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Total | 400 | 4 Hours |
Paper 1: General Studies 1
| Total questions | To ensure a focus on Assam-related topics, 30% to 35% of the questions will compulsorily relate to Assam. |
| Full Marks | 200 marks |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
Paper 2: General Studies 2
| Minimum Qualifying Mark | 33% |
| Full Marks | 200 marks |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
Negative Marking: In both papers, 1/4 of the mark assigned to one question will be deducted for every wrong answer marked by the candidate.
Aspirants are advised to be well-prepared for the exam, considering the time limit, the type of questions, and the negative marking policy.
APSC CCE 2023 PRELIMS SYLLABUS
| APSC Prelims GS I Paper | APSC Prelims GS II Paper |
| Economic & Social DevelopmentPoverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.General ScienceCurrent Affairs – National & InternationalHistory of IndiaIndian National MovementPhysical, Social & Economical Geography of Indian & World | General Mental AbilityBasic Numeracy (Class X level)Data Interpretation (Class X level)English ComprehensionInterpersonal Skills & Communication SkillsLogical ReasoningAnalytical AbilityDecision MakingProblem-Solving |
APSC 2023 PRELIMS SYLLABUS IN DETAIL
PAPER- 1
| Subjects | Topics | Marks | TIme |
| Current Affairs | Current events at National and International level, Awards, Sports, Discoveries etc. | ||
| Indian national movement | National RenaissanceEarly uprising against British ruleIndian National Congress, Emergence of National leaders, Growth of Satyagraha and Militant Movements, Communalism and partition. | ||
| Indian history | Medieval India, Establishment of the British and 1857 revolt, INC, Swadeshi Movement, Role of Newspapers and Journals, Mahatma Gandhi Extremist Movement in India, Indian After Independence, Reorganisation of States, India’s Foreign Policy, Development in the Field of Science and Technology, Education, Health and Infrastructure, Political History of India Post 1951 | 200 marks | 2 hours |
| General science | Physics – Gravitation, Light, Motion, Volume, Weight etc.Chemistry – Metals and Non-Metals, Acid and Base, Chemical Reaction etc.Biology – Human Body, Disease and Bacteria etc. |
PAPER- 2
| Reasoning | Logical Venn Diagrams, Directions, Number, Ranking & Time, Sequence, Figural Pattern, Cubes and Dice, Analogies, Arrangements, Arithmetical Reasoning, Mathematical Operations, Number Series, Number Ranking, Figurative Classification, Classification, Blood Relations, Venn diagrams, Non-Verbal Series, Coding-Decoding. | 200 marks |
| English | Idioms and Phrases, Fill in the Blanks, Error Spotting, Comprehension Passages, One-Word Substitution, Grammar, Vocabulary, Synonyms/ Antonyms, Cloze. | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Time and Work, Mixture & Allegation, Discounts, Number Systems, Pipes and, Cisterns, H.C.F. and L.C.M, Profit and Loss, Average, Percentages, Problems on Ages, Time and Distance, Ratio and Proportion, Boats and Streams, Simple & Compound Interest, Data Interpretation. | |
| Interpersonal Skills | Interpersonal Skills & Communication Skills, Analytical Ability, General Mental Ability, Problem Solving. |
APSC CCE Mains 2023: Exam Details
To know the exam pattern Prelims, Mains, and interview round in a detailed manner, go through the following content.
Name of exam: CCE Main Examination 2023
| Date of exam: | June 2023 |
| Type of questions: | Descriptive and Objective type questions |
| Medium of exam: | A candidate shall be allowed to write his/her answer papers in English or Assamese language. |
| Total papers: | 6 Papers |
| Total marks: | 1500 Marks (250 marks each) |
| Duration of exam: | 3 Hours for Each Paper |
APSC Mains 2023 Exam Pattern
After successfully passing the preliminary exam, candidates will become eligible to participate in the main exam.
The exam format table for the main exam is provided below, detailing the marks allotted for each paper:
| Paper | Type of Paper | Marks | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Essay | 250 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper II | General Studies I | 250 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper III | General Studies II | 250 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | 250 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper V | General Studies Iv | 250 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper VI | General Studies on Assam | 250 Marks | 3 Hours |
APSC Mains Syllabus
We present to you the comprehensive syllabus required for the APSC mains examination, encompassing all the General Studies papers. It is essential for aspirants to be well-versed with the topics covered in each GS paper to excel in the examination.
To facilitate your preparation, we have also provided a downloadable link for the APSC mains syllabus.
Accessing this valuable resource will offer a detailed understanding of the subjects, enabling you to plan your study strategy more effectively.
| Paper 2: General Studies I (GS I) | Paper 3: General Studies II (GS II) |
| Globalization, Social Empowerment, Regionalism, and SecularismSalient Features of India’s & World’s GeographyDistribution of Key Natural resourcesImportant Geophysical phenomenaIndian Culture – Art forms, Literature & Architecture from ancient to modern timesModern Indian history from about the middle of the 18th centuryThe Freedom StrugglePost-independence consolidation & reorganization of countryIndian Society & its DiversityRole of Women and Women’s OrganizationPopulation & Associated issuesPoverty and Developmental Issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remediesGlobalization, Social Empowerment, Regionalism and Secularism | Development processes and the development industryWelfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the populationHealth, Education & HR Development related issuesRole of Civil Services in DemocracyIndia & its neighbourhood relations Effects of policies and politics of developed countries on IndiaImportant international institutes, organizations, and forumsStructure, Organization & Functioning of Government Judiciaries and Departments.Representation of People’s ActGovernment Policies and their implementation for development in various sectorsconstitution of IndiaFunctions & Responsibilities of the UnionSeparation of Powers and dispute redressal mechanismParliament & State legislatures |
| Paper 4: General Studies III (GS III) | Paper 5: General Studies IV (GS IV) |
| Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, etc.Environmental issuesDisaster and its managementChallenges to internal securityVarious Security forces and agenciesIndian Economy & its issuesInclusive growth and issues arising from itGovernment budgetingMajor crop cropping patterns in various parts of the countryInfrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.Investment modelsScience and technological adaptations and their effectsIndigenization of technology and development of new technology | Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities in civil servicesPublic/Civil service values and ethics in public administrationProbity in GovernanceCharters, work culture, quality of service delivery, utilization of public funds and challenge of corruptionCase studies on the above-mentioned issues.Attitude – Content, Structure, Functions, its influence and relation with thought and behaviorMoral & Political attitudes, social influence and persuasionAptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanshipObjectivity, Empathy, Tolerance and Compassion for weaker sectionsEthics and human interfaceHuman values – lessons from great leaders, reformers and administrators; the role of family, society, and educational institutions in inculcating values |
| Paper 6 (General Studies on Assam |
| HistoryHeritage Culture Geography Governance PolitySocial Justice International Relations, Economic Development, Bio-diversity Environment, Security and Disaster Management of Assam) |
APSC Mains Syllabus Download
Paper 1 – Essay ( Download)
Paper 2- General studies – I ( Download)
Paper 3-General studies – II (Download)
Paper 4- General studies – III ( Download)
Paper V- General studies – IV ( Download)
Paper VI- General subject paper on Assam ( Download)
APSC Exam Pattern 2023 Interview:
Applicants who pass the mains examination will be considered qualified to take the Interview. The selected candidates are called for the interview on a given date marks allotted in the interview is mentioned in the table below:
| APSC CCE Interview | |
| Personality Test | 275 Marks |
ALSO READ: APSC BEST BOOKS 2023: Subject wise book recommendations
1. On the APSC CCE Exam, is there negative marking for choosing the wrong answer?
Yes, there is a negative marking system for the APSC CCE Exam. A 0.25 point deduction will be applied for each wrong response.
2. Does the APSC CCE Mains Exam’s language component score factor towards the creation of the final merit list?
No, the language test is only used to qualify for the mains. The scores obtained on the language exams won’t be included for creating the merit list.
3. Where can I find the APSC CCE Syllabus?
The syllabus for each of the CCE Exam papers is available on the official APSC website. You can obtain the official APSC CCE Exam syllabus at apsc.gov.in.